19th August 2007

As usual much weeding and mulching - I try to do something each day, but because I have been involved with a work project that has sometimes been difficult.

Inroads are being made. Most of the weeding is done, and mulching also. Some smaller bits remain to be done, but the back of it is broken. The side garden has to be worked up. The woodland has to be weeded. I have dozens of plants in pots waiting to be planted.

But we will get there.

Today I planted the horse chestnut I grew from a conker from Ashcotte's garden. It will be my only living link back to that garden so it was an important moment. I hope the poor thing survives as I think I crushed its head, plus half of its root system, as I was trying to get it out of the pot. *oops*

The apple trees and weeping elm I planted last month (did I mention those? Surely so ...) seem to still be alive, which is a bonus, and all the roses (mostly still waiting to be planted) are sprouting nicely. I have been shifting lilies so that I can turn a flower bed into a pumpkin patch.

A local carpenter came about and enclosed most of the car port for me, then filled it with shelves. Viola! I have a wonderful dry space for my gardening equipment. He also built me a huge potting bench - thanks Tony.

The white pebbles I had delivered in July have been used to make a wonderful area out by the potting sheds - what was once muddy weedy area is now levelled and pebbled and has many terracotta pots waiting to be filled with tomatoes and herbs. It looks fabulous and really brightens up what was once a dull and useless area.