Patience Is a Virtue!

I find I am often asked why I like gardening as much as I do. 

What's not to love! The feeling never gets old of seeing hard work pay off, whether it is digging over beds, mowing the lawn, pottering about dead heading plants and of course sowing seeds to either fill your eyes and heart with beautiful sights of blooms that attract nature or being able to pick/dig up scrumptious goodies to devour at the table (if they make it that far!) But what I really love about gardening is that it's the greatest teacher you could have!

Now bare with me on this one it will make sense I promise. 

The biggest and most important thing that can be learned from gardening is Patience. 

For some it doesn't happen straight away ( like me, being super keen to get stuck in!). You have a few successes of something growing well and think "Yes I've nailed it!" And then go charging through all the seed/plant brochures (the temptation when they drop through the letterbox is rather hard to ignore!), visiting the garden centres & nurseries to grab pretty much anything that turns your head. Then it ALL gets sown/planted and your bouncing around like a child in a sweet shop UNTIL............ Pretty much most of it fails to grow past the seedling pots or dies in the ground and you feel like a complete FAILURE! 

Yep that was pretty much me last year haha! Oh how I can sit and laugh now because gardening kicked my over enthusiastic butt and put me firmly in my place. At the time I blamed sowing things much too late (and some I did!) but actually I just didn't plan out what I wanted to gain from growing over the year. I also planted in some plants in not so great spots (skim reading the advice tags)

With my little lesson learnt, this year I decided it was best to sit and have a good sort out of the seeds that have accumulated over the last few years. Some will be donated as I know they wont be used and the rest I can work on what I want from the garden AND more importantly what is going to be achievable for me to keep going. I'm also taking notice of the gardens dynamics. There is something actually quite therapeutic in just sitting and observing your space and really take notice of how the light moves around all its angles. My saving grace this year will be my greenhouse (watch this here to see how happy it made me!). It will allow for me to learn to grow more BUT there is still plenty of time to jump on the sowing bandwagon.

March-June

February-August

February-May

 Its so easy to feel left behind when you see others sowing away and already have seedlings but don't let that put you off. Most seeds/tubers/bulbs etc have a good date range on for when they can be sown by (as can be seen above). We are of course only just at the beginning of February so for some things its still a little early to bust them out the packets just yet. The other thing to remember is some seeds need to be sown little and often to keep a succession of crops/flowers going over the growing seasons. 

Don't be disappointed or put off when things don't quite work out or go to plan. Something that will work one season wont necessarily be guaranteed next season. That's the beauty of gardening, it constantly keeps you on your toes. You cant have success without failure, its how we learn and get by in everyday life too! Take your time, gardening isn't a race. Find what is right for you and your space.

Remember: Good things come to those who wait 😉

Until Next Time

N xx

Six on Saturday- February 10th 2018

Still in the throws of winter it's sometimes too easy to forget the garden is still a wave of activity. Whilst we are busying around doing our everyday jobs and doing our best to keep warm on the really cold biting days, it's lovely to know that there seems to be an air of magic happening right underneath our noses! 

Which brings me nicely on to sharing with you my Six on Saturday.

1: Daffodils.

These are the main signs that spring is on its way in my garden. With a hot cuppa in my hands having a little wander around the garden, the feeling of being stopped in my tracks to uncover the delightful spears of green will never get old! These Daffodils look like they could be their best year yet with a good amount of stems breaking the earth.

2: Honeysuckle- Aureoreticulata

A little afternoon inspection and the kiss of the low winter sun brings Aureoreticulata to my attention. I purchased this last year because of its spectacular leaf detail. A lovely semi evergreen climber which will grace the new trellis frame and put on a great show in the summer with its tubular colour changing flowers.

3: Moss

Moss would never be something that I would ever look that closely to before but now I think I've missed out on this clever little species. Something that can grow by itself with not much needs is a brilliant eye opener to the way nature can be the best survivor to be admired. I also like that its quite a tactile little thing and cannot help fluff it a bit when I spot some growing on the little walls in my back garden. 

4: Shield Bugs

This little fella caught my eye (only just!) when I was having a little tidy up of some leaves and cardboard in the corner of the patio. I first saw a shield bug only last year but when it was fantastically bright green. A clever little creature that turns to brown in the autumn/winter gives it the perfect disguise to hibernate amongst the fallen leaves. Although I will be keeping a watchful eye on the plants once its in full summer mode as they are known to feast on plant sap!!

5: Drumstick Primula

I LOVE seeing this gorgeous plant starting to emerge. I have had this a number of years and it boasts the most wonderful white ball of flowers in the spring. I also like how once its flowered the leaves stay a lovely bright green for a few months that look almost like cabbage.

6: Babies

All together now, Awwww! This wee little baby will one day grow up to be a tomato plant. Seeing this pop up in the little propagator on my windowsill made me squeal with utter delight! Sounds cheesy I know but I cant help be drawn in by the hope it flourishes and stands tall and proud when it matures. Ok I get it I sound like a crazy protective Mum haha but this is one of the greatest little sights that (AGAIN!) never grows old.

There you have it, my Six on Saturday that pretty much is all about new life/beginnings. Make sure to check out The Propagator's Six on Saturday and others over on his Blog

Thankyou for reading

Until Next Time 

N xx