I took a long hard look at our garden last week, I know it looks great in the photos but I’m very selective!!! I’ve felt this summer that it isn’t as colourful as usual. Two years ago my new year resolution was to take a photo of the garden every day, the result being that I actually gardened a lot more and the garden looked fantastic, the best it’s ever been! I made the photos into a photobook, it’s a lovely record of a year in our garden. I was showing someone the book last week and it really brought it home how good it was.

‘Was’ being the operative word. I know I haven’t gardened as much this year, the weather hasn’t helped as I am a fair weather gardener. When I really looked at the beds I realised that the reason they look really green, but not a lot of flowers, is that there are so many weeds. What I thought was a spreading geranium, was actually a marauding buttercup!

I decided to tackle the pond area. I’ve given the gravel path a good weed (three bags later!) and started pulling out the buttercup. It already looks a lot better, Zac, my Patterdale cross, came over to inspect! As the hostas are doing so well here (the toads and frogs are clearly doing a good job!) I’m thinking of making this mainly a hosta bed, with more candelabra primulas and irises too for a bit of colour. It’s quite a shady spot so hopefully they will be happy! It will also help keep the path a bit clearer as they are not quite so spreading as some of the plants there now.

The AA garden is going to be completely revamped as I’ve mentioned before. I’ve decided on a large gravel circle with deep raised beds. I’ll stick to the same amber and amethyst colour scheme as I’m pleased with that. This part of the garden gets the evening sun so I’m planning a nice seating area. This year I just need to spot which plants I want to keep and maybe pop them in planters whilst I get organised. One to save will be these coneflowers

…and the veronica too.

And now a few more the pretty photos to keep me going…

The two clematis by the patio are still looking great, the arch is smothered in flowers.

Day lilies have started to flower.

…and my favourite rose, Champagne Moments, is covered in roses. We bought these roses when we got married nine years ago.

I’m intending to get myself a bit more organised and productive on my free days with a couple of hours gardening, a couple of hours housework and then a few hours of guilt free sewing…watch this space 🙂