Photos.

Houdini chicken

Poppy is the break out artist of the group.
To  keep the greenhouse cool we opened the door on Sunday, with two chairs blocking the entrance so that no curious chicks escaped. However, we underestimated one little chick.

Having flown up onto the top chair she then flew down to freedom. 

Once she had found her feet she was off investigating.

Scooting past the herb patch.

With Luke and his camera in hot pursuit..., Poppy in the long grass.

Either side of the glass, Lunar watches the great escapee.

Time to put her back in the greenhouse, Socks showed some interest in the little brown bird and she had to be chased off. Until the babies are bigger they need to be protected.  Mind you, it didn't stop Poppy from doing the same again today. This time she met Lola and that scared her even more.  

Safe and well with the girls.

And so to bed.

Slowly the grass is being eradicated just as it was in the previous garden. That one was a lot smaller though so this one can lose a little lawn without it mattering too much. I've always liked the idea of several gardens within a garden; little surprises that delight the visitor. Without loads of space, time and money that won't be happening anytime soon but this way I can have a point of interest that still makes one's eye stop for a moment before searching further behind to the rest of the garden.

Do you remember a few weeks ago I sprinkled sand on the grass in the rough shape that I wanted for a small bed just in front of the veg patch? Well, it is almost pay day so now I've been able to put my plans into practise. First off, I had to cut the edges of the new bed cleanly with an edger before slicing up the grass and then getting the fork to aerate the ground and remove the copious amounts (again!) of stones.

it

Not wishing to waste the grass I popped it into the greenhouse for the chickens to nibble at. After all, we all need our greens!

Once it was the shape I wanted I moved to different parts of the garden to check how it looks. I also took a photograph from the bedroom window to ensure if looked well from all angles.

So, next was the planting scheme. I buy my plants, as I've said before, like I buy my wardrobe. I choose what I like without much thought of what will match. I also like a bargain but this time I wanted to choose plants that would work together. I wanted evergreens for year round interest and some perennials to reach up to the sky and give some vertical interest. I also wanted to soften the whole effect with a frond type plant and ground cover too. 

I had a bit of a dilemma when reaching the garden centre as there were some simply stunning plants in blue and lilac shades that begged to be taken home and I was torn between colour and the luminosity of white plants. I stuck to my guns though because I wanted that area to shine rather than be too showy.

Imagine my horror when I got to the till to find that I had spent £68! Oh my goodness!

For that I bought four crackled glass solar globes to dot around the garden and the rest was for my plants for this little bed. Blimey, it was only meant to be small project.

So let me tell you what I got for my money..,

3 Saxifraga, normally used in rockeries. Slender, compact stems with a creeping habit so they will cover the ground nicely. Two of them have white flowers in the Spring.

2 Gypsophila (Baby's Breath).. One of them is a dwarf variety, only two inches tall, with tiny trumpet white flowers. The other Gypsophila grows to 18 inches tall and will be like a mist of tiny white snow flakes. 

1 Plectranthus (sounds like a dinosaur, doesn't it?). This plant is often used in hanging baskets or pots and whilst it does have white flowers I bought it for the bright green leaves, edged in white.

Similarly I added a Hosta, Ginko Craig that has slender ovate leaves, lush green with bright white edges. These will give some leaf interest without having to be too showy..

Deeply planted were 8 Gladioli Nanus Alba. As you may know, Alba is Latin for white. It's recommended that they are planted every few weeks over two months (April till June) for continual flowering. Sadly I bought the last packet so that won't be happening..

Onto the show stoppers, a lean Digitalis, named Camelot White that will be three feet tall and quite majestic 

Then there is a beautiful Delphinium which always takes up more room in it's second year than I ever expect. This one is called Galahad. They also had Guinevere and Lancelot which made me smile. Arthurian legends brought to life with different Delphimiums. One was a rich purple, one a dazzling blue and the one I chose? White, of course!

It is the tallest plant in this bed with spikes of flowers above clumps of leaves. This is another typical 'cottage garden' plant, much like the foxglove and lupins. 

Last but not least one of my absolute favourites, Agapanthus 'Artic Star'. This robust plant is an evergreen and has arching leaves with stems that hold big balls of white flowers. 

As usual I have planted everything rather tightly because I want them to bustle and compete with one another to create a strong form from ground level up to four feet.. 

So, now the planting. Once it was all brought safely back (I always drive home like a new parent bringing a precious newborn home after once buying an expensive agapanthus only to knock it's head off as I loaded it into the car) I laid it out in various ways in the bed. Still in the pots this allows one to stand back and evaluate.

When I was happy with the planting scheme it was time to give them all a good soak, dig in some organic matter and firm them in. 

Right now it doesn't seem like much but I am hoping for some good growth over the next few months.

After a day of sun and a morning of fine but persistent rain it could not have had a better start.

Watch this space.

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Well, three days later there is now a chair over the bed. Mega chicken has developed a taste for the Digitalis leaves and stripped the plant within a few minutes. In order to give it a chance to regenerate I've made it somewhat out of bounds but I don't hold out much hope for it whilst I'm so indulgent of those hens!

My view of the world.

My trip to the chickens' house this morning .......,

The right corner of the garden, looking over to Jack's workshop.

The left corner, starting from the monochrome corner and looking up the fruit border to the veg patch and the hen house.

My three bottles with candles in the base. Taken at seven this morning.

Small chickens, big shadows.

Yes, you knew it wouldn't be long before I mentioned...,

The chickens!

Mrs Bun continues to amuse us.

Having a stretch.

Buckster looking good.

This strange view is Lola getting up from her sunny spot on the decking.

You can see how different the combs are on the two chicken. Buckster has a rose comb, close to the head, whereas Lola looks like she is wearing an inflated rubber glove on her heard. She looks scary but is a real softie.

As you can see!

And she does create a fine egg, the only chicken who is laying right now, Buckster is a little too old and the chicks are still too young. Lola is a hybrid bred for great laying abilities. At this rate we'll be eating omelettes for weeks to come.

Shadows.

The sun shines all weekend and creates shadows that are longer than the item itself.

Bottoms up.

Okay, a bit wierd, looking at chickens's bottoms I  know but you have to admit these little bums in the shape of buns are sweet.

A week in politics.

They say that a week in politics is a long time. For plants it can seem like an instant. Now this it's split open you can see the flowers about to burst out. By next week it should be different again.

Again, just days after being tightly wound this flower has now burst forth.

The white lilac has opened  up too.

Bells , spikes, spires; the range of flowers available is amazing and I love to pick things that will make me double take.

I always lose the tulips and think they are the most welcome sight after a long winter.They look great in rain or shine.

This blue Camassia was bought half price but has produced eye catching flowers so I've bought three more, this time in white.

I'm a big fan of white flowers, they glow in the dark like little spirits.

For a couple of quid I bought a pot of colour to stick in this bit of wood that I haven't got the muscle to torpedo.

This tree paeony flower had to open up for me to know what colour it was as the labels had blown out of the pots of various coloured plants. It's in the hot border so it not int he right place but I'm not going to be moving it - I'm jsut delighted it has flowered in it's first year. Thanks Mum for the plants.

 In the front garden is this lovely lime and lilac clematis. So much variety to be found.