Fantastic isn’t it…..

The big dig has started and Mike and I are shovelling thirty minutes at a time to dig out this ten tons of wrong sized gravel to have it replaced with ten tons of the right sized gravel, and although this is a tough and non motivational task we know it is for the long term good and we will pat ourselves on the back when the job is done. One of the more exciting outcomes of the great gravel move is that we have taken the opportunity to top up in other gardens where we laid a little thin at the time and the wood garden and poly tunnel terrace have benefited from an extra couches. Whilst we were at the wood garden we moved the potting shed pots and relocated our concrete bench to give us a better view  point.

 Whenever we move things about I allow myself the luxury of taking my time to make sure that whatever we are doing is right. Design on this spontaneous level can be a bit like being on a roller coaster, it is a great thrill whilst you are there in motion but when you stop you suddenly realise you may have made a mistake. We have

had to unravel many an error and the gravel move is living proof that we all make mistakes and you have to be gracious in the revamp activities as they present themselves. I therefore stand back and contemplate the decision whenever I can and you can see that Mike is prone to take the opportunity to put his feet up because this could take some time and will inevitably incur extra work.

I finally got around to clearing out the brussel sprout patch motivated by the fact that some of this seasons plants  are already seedlings in the potting shed.  We have cauliflower, broad bean and peas at identifiable stage showing signs of having a personality and already the sweet peas are almost adult and the sunflowers and screaming to be let out. Patience is the true virtue of the gardener and as I am still such a novice and still lacking the calm approach of weather forecasting and understanding why the moon should be in the last quadrant on the cusp of the new phase, what ever that might mean. I just want my plants out in the sunshine and for that we need to prepare the earth, count the days, calculate the frost threat and absolutely                                                                                                          don’t plant out before the end of April, so I have a long two months of seedling care and potting on before we can proceed with this seasons planting. The Hens are on a gastronomic stint as we deposit all the left overs for them to triage and peck over then once they have finish it’s into the compost heap and the whole cycle starts again, fantastic isn’t it…..