Over the FENCE
Losing myself in the garden!
I'm spending more time than ever in the garden. With my husband working from home and three of our adult 'children' safely here with us, the garden is the quietest place to be. I'm losing myself in the borders surrounded by weeds, rapidly growing plants and the sound of birdsong – bliss!
The garden seems to be turning into a haven for ducks at the moment. We feel very lucky to have a pair of Mandarin ducks nesting in a partially hollow apple tree near the back door, close enough to be observed without scaring them.
We’ve also been 'adopted' by a mallard duckling who appeared one afternoon from beneath the yew hedge. There was no sign of any other duck in the vicinity so we've been caring for it ever since. It's growing rapidly and is proving a welcome distraction for everyone as lockdown continues.
The rustic terraco a pots of pelargoniums
I'm keeping up with successional sowing of vegetable seeds, having planted several rows of spinach, carrots, parsnips, beetroot and cut-and-come-again lettuce. Broad beans are in flower and the first spears of asparagus have been picked and enjoyed.
I've started planting up terracotta pots with scented-leaf pelargoniums – all cuttings taken last autumn. I'm planting into sieved garden compost mixed with slow-release fertiliser as I've run out of multipurpose. They'll be grouped together on the terrace once the plants are hardened off.
I also like to have a display of scented-leaf pelargoniums in the greenhouse in individual pots. I've managed to overwinter all my mature plants this year so have been busy tidying them up, cutting back a little and feeding with slow-release fertiliser. They’ve been spaced out along the potting bench and hopefully will give a good show.
Read more about the garden at www.talesfrom acountrygarden.co.uk.