The Patch

15th February 2005
 

Before the Attack!

On this day, I invited The Gardeners along with their parents and guardians to help dig the garden. I had always dug it alone, which was hard work! The Gardeners were keen to help, and I was very glad to have it. Little did I know how helpful they would be. I took a few photos to show what needed to be done before they launched themselves upon the soil with all forks and spades blazing...
 

So What's Going on Here?

The Mini-Garden Hippo woke up soon after I came along (he sleeps longer in the winter months - you can tell he has just woken up as he still has some mud on him from where he was sleeping on the soil) and came along to inspect the garden and give his advice. One of the many amazing things about the Mini-Garden Hippo is that you never hear him speak, but you know exactly what he means.
 
It was time to decide what was going to stay, and what was going to be dug out and put on the compost heap.
 
     
IN
  
OUT
 
 
 
SAVED - There were thousands of Honesty seedlings growing all over the place. We want some of these to grow this year to flower next year.  

TO THE COMPOST HEAP - The Spinach has been in the garden since it began, but to get good Spinach leaves, we need to plant some new plants.
 
 
 

SAVED - This strawberry plant found it's own way into our garden. Most of it's strawberries were eaten last year by birds and slugs. We're hope for better luck this year.

  
TO THE COMPOST HEAP - These white onions only wanted to grow leaves and didn't grow any bulbs for us to eat. Goodbye - you are the weakest link!
 
These plants were saved, but moved to a different place:
 
 
 
This Foxglove will flower this year. Last year it spent all of it's time growing into a rosette. Once the winter has gone it will start to make a tall and impressive flower spike. Plants like this one that live for two years and flower in their second year are called 'biannuals'.
 
This young Buddleja will grow anywhere. You can find it along railway lines, on the top of houses - you can even see one growing from the pavement near our city library! We won't throw it away though as they are fantastic at attracting loads of butterflies.  
 
 
 
 

Once you have planted a Poached Egg plant in your garden, you will have it there forever. This patch has been holding it's ground over the winter and will take over the garden if we don't do something quick.

  There are hundreds of Nasturtium seeds in the soil, just waiting to sprout and grow next spring. Mr S. will be overjoyed to see them all growing...!
 
Click on the 'Next' arrow to see how quickly this garden was transformed.
 
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