Busy, busy, busy, and a well deserved rest

As it should be, my blogging has been completely ignored over the past few gloriously hot and sunny days, as I enjoyed as much time as possible out of doors, catching up on jobs in the garden, greenhouse and on the plot.

The first job was to clear a space in the greenhouse for the tomatoes and cucumber plants. Within a few minutes inside, I was struggling in the heat, and glugging down pints of water, but Mike came to my rescue and threw an old sheet over the greenhouse roof, to shade me from the sun. 'Clearing a space' involved filling all the area outside the greenhouse with the evacuated vegetable plants - and this year there seemed to be more than ever. Then, somehow, they have to go back - somewhere! Some were crammed into the already overfilled mini-greenhouse.

The next job was to empty the spring bulbs from various pots and the window box. Then I spent far too much time moving the heavy pots from one place to another, until I was happy with their 'final' positions. Final positions? During the summer, no doubt, they will be rearranged on a regular basis.

At last, some of the vegetable plants in the overcrowded greenhouses, have been taken down to the plot and planted out, and one by one, more will follow. The warm weather has brought things on a treat, and we are enjoying plenty of salad leaves and the first radishes. However, the weeds are also thriving, I spent some time over the weekend on my knees, clearing them from between my vegetable seedlings. It was very peaceful, the birds were singing, and I was actually very happy at my work. I even enjoyed a long rest, sitting on my new bench, before returning home.

Back at home, I'm particularly pleased with the 'woodland' section at the bottom of the garden, where the hardy geraniums are at their best, the ferns are unfurling, Sweet Cicely in flower, and this lovely group of contrasting foliage, with white bluebells. This is the best place to sit when the sun is just a bit too hot.

What's the point in working hard to make the garden look good, if I don't sit and admire the results on the odd occasion?

Yesterday the family came round for Sunday dinner. Today Mike and I went out for lunch with our good friends D & D, at the Park Gate, followed by a stroll around Castle Ring, where there were good views across Cannock Chase, and a cuckoo calling. Then back for trifle and wine in D & D's pretty garden.