Saturday 26 June 2021

Last Saturday in June

First of all a BIG thank you to all the comments this week about my charity shop finds on Monday, cheesemaking on Tuesday, books on Wednesday (one comment gave me an idea for another post and no, I definitely don't want a kindle!) the new raised beds on Thursday and my  post that wasn't a post on Friday, it wasn't about bloggers and I'm glad it raised a smile as it was meant to. 
Apologies for not replying to everyone.
 
A few notes from the week................
 
On Monday I baked a batch of Fruit Slices (on the separate recipe page, scroll down) but realised once I got started that I hadn't got any ground almonds or almond essence so they are a bit plain! I'm still gradually restocking the cupboards after running things down before moving.
 An email on Monday announced the availability of early-bird tickets for the Suffolk Show 2022 which will be on the 31st May and 1st June next year. On the website was a countdown clock with 343 days to go and hours, minutes and seconds counting down..............that's really looking ahead with enthusiasm!! 
Better get my ticket and save £3. Had to smile on the ticket application page as Adults are able to get a 2 day ticket making a saving over the cost of 2 x 1 day tickets,  but that choice isn't available to seniors over 65, perhaps they think us poor old people wouldn't manage to walk round the acres of showground on both days..............in my case they're probably right!

The greenhouse glass and frame arrived before 8.30 on Tuesday morning and it was only by luck that I knew it was coming. I'd rung on Monday to check the actual size needed for the concrete base and asked what the time lag was now on delivery and installation. He looked it up and said "it's coming tomorrow, you should have had an email or text message". No I said or I wouldn't be asking! Luckily I managed to shift a few things in the garage to make a space for the crate of glass also luckily the driver was willing to bring the bits right up to the bungalow as "they are only obliged to deliver to the kerbside!" Pleased it has arrived already as initially it wasn't expected until September although installation is still a date unknown in the future, which will give time for the concrete base to harden up.

On Wednesday......
 Someone asked what will I be growing in my 3 vegetable beds - and the answer is - much the same as I did at Clay Cottage (but without the potatoes) but not this year. The soil needs building up and  lots of compost added to make it good enough for seeds  as what was under the grass was solid heavy clay. There's time for runner beans I hope and  perhaps some winter veg plants. Next year the greenhouse will be up and then I'll be all set.

Thursday morning was shopping, Morrisons was so busy, the A140 was so busy, everywhere is busy.....is it really because the part of the population who usually head off to foreign places are having to stay at home?!

Yesterday I had to be up in good time for the men to arrive to do the concrete base for my greenhouse. They arrived and took off the turf, got the wooden bits in round the edges (that have a proper name that I can't think of) and then it started to pour with rain which isn't much good for laying concrete. So they'll be back Monday afternoon. The ballast, sand and cement are all here ready. (They could have finished because the rest of the day was fine- Oh well)

Flowers on the table this week was just one rose at a time. This is a lovely peach colour from a small bush, sadly no fragrance at all.

and then a gorgeous yellow/orange. Again very small roses from a small leaved bush and no fragrance. 

I've sniffed my way round all 6 climbing roses and the same number of smaller bushes and only one has any perfume to speak of.

It's dawned on me that the colourful plants in the garden that were here when I arrived all have relatively short flowering periods (apart from the climbing roses which should keep going for several weeks). Lupins, foxgloves,peonies, - beautiful for a while but then gone....maybe a few second-flush flowers later if it's not too dry.  So more absent friends I've thought of are Penstemons and perennial Salvias both tend to flower for more than a few days.

This week I'm grateful for

  • Lots of help from BiL
  • The beginnings of a greenhouse base
  • Getting the garage tidier and finding the 3 plant supports that I thought I'd left behind!
  • Watching some of the Wimbledon qualifying matches - the stars of the future?


Have a lovely weekend - I will be back on Monday
Sue

28 comments:

  1. Your garden is starting to come together now. I always pick roses with a fragrance, although I have some that have been bought for me without any scent. I can't see the point of unscented roses, or is that just me? xx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Just 1 climbing rose is scented - such a shame. I've never been a huge rose fan - every rainfall knocks all the petals off and then they are just green for the rest of the year!

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Of course - why couldn't I think of it? It's not as if I didn't have a builder father and a heap of it at the smallholding before we moved!

      Delete
  3. Well, that's very positive. I bet you can't wait for your greenhouse to be up and running. My husband thinks I don't need a greenhouse (you can tell he's not a gardener) and I have the plastic polytunnel so why do I need glassed greenhouse? Sigh . . .

    What a shame your roses have no perfume. Mine have all got lovely fragrances but most are David Austin roses, bred with that in mind, and since I got to chose them, that thought went alongside the beauty of each rose - and to be honest, the names! Had to have my Hardy collection here. They are l repeat flowerers so I get to enjoy them all summer.

    The woman who lived here before planted for low maintenance gardening - I plant for colour and perfume. I am building up my Salvia collection as they last longer too, but just one Penstemon so far!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I always preferred working in the greenhouse rather than the polytunnels yet Col was quite happy to work in the polys for hours - must be a man thing!

      Delete
  4. Thanks for the idea of penstemons - had forgotten them.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I just bought 3 off a market stall in town this morning. Lovely colour

      Delete
  5. You have had a very productive week. I too have a yellow/orange rose that was here when I came and is full of flowers. My sister brought me some anemio bulbs sometime ago and have just started to grow first time I have grown them. So pleased they have started on your greenhouse I have always had one and was pleased that there was one here it is shed/greenhouse which is handy.
    My young sister might be coming to see me on Sunday from Hadleigh,Suffolk which will be nice.
    Have a good weekend Sue and everyone else.
    Hazel ๐ŸŒˆ๐ŸŒˆ๐ŸŒธ

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I haven't been to Hadleigh for many years probably need to go that way sometime for Church visits.
      I've had a greenhouse at nearly all houses. The first one cost us £10 off a friend and we moved it twice. This one is costing a lot more!!

      Delete
  6. What a pity your roses aren't scented. For a long flowering season, you can't beat hardy geraniums, if you pick the right varieties. 'Rozanne' flowers all summer! I find them so useful and so easy to grow.
    Great news that you're getting a greenhouse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There are several perennial geraniums here, although they seem to have more leaf than flowers!

      Delete
  7. You are accomplishing tasks at record speed. The greenhouse sounds excellent. Your roses are lovely colors and add to your indoor decor. Unscented roses are more common than I thought. Penstemons and salvias, as favorites, will add lovely color.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I wonder if scented roses are now only available from specialist growers and cost more?

      Delete
  8. We have only been in our temporary new home for a month and I am really missing our garden now. I can't wait to find our new home so that we can get started on a garden.
    I shall be keeping up to date with yours for inspiration.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hope you find somewhere soon. At least I was only garden less for 9 weeks and through the worst weather. Just a bit late for somethings this year

      Delete
  9. I popped another batch of dwarf broad beans in today , thought it might be worth a go as they seem to be very quick to get to eating size

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I tipped half a bag of compost onto of one corner of the heavy clay in one bed and shoved in some Runner beans. Hope they might get going

      Delete
  10. Certainly moving along at a good pace with the garden...excellent that the greenhouse fittings have been delivered. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate the next time the cement folks show up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It will be lovely to get my greenhouse sorted ready for next year

      Delete
  11. I've seen peach colored roses a few places when out on a walk. We need to keep watering plants this weekend as it's hot. Megan and I couldn't handle the heat Friday evening after 8 p.m. She watered the plants and I took a short walk with Phil. He continued to walk after I got home. Oregon is finally opening on June 30th. Last state to open. PTL!! I'm glad you're getting help for what needs done at your home. ๐ŸŒน๐Ÿ˜have a nice weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I had to look up PTL! I'm a bit slow sometimes!
      Hope your State gets back to normal as expected. Here things are dragging on into July

      Delete
  12. Sorry I suggested a Kindle! I love mine and just wanted to share the idea. No offense intended.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. No offence taken! I find trying to read a book on a screen just doesn't work for me and it's the actual books I love as well as the reading of them - although a kindle would probably save me a fortune!

      Delete
  13. Those roses are beautiful! It does sound like you've had a good week. How exciting it is to be getting the base poured for the greenhouse. I'm sure you will enjoy it once it is all together and organized. You are quickly making big steps towards making this home truly yours!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Having a green house will be so convenient.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Good morning all coming along well! We grow potatoes in 3 large plastic pots, we don't get enough that we still have to buy them, but they taste so wonderful when they are so fresh, it is a treat. I am the same with the kindle, love actual books, and when I tried one found my eyes seemed tired. Watching a Le Tour last night, roll on Wimbledon!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I am glad you mentioned the fruit slices on the recipe page because I had never noticed that link before. Thanks for including so many recipes and pictures too! It is interesting to see what dishes are popular where you live.

    ReplyDelete