Friday, 11 July 2025

A Peek into the Garden

This time of year is when the garden is looking at its best. I don't have plants with year-round colour, so during the colder months, it usually looks drab and unkempt. My lack of any sort of garden planning doesn't help with that, and I'm really not green fingered, no matter how much I wish that were the case. Then, of course, the long, dark, and extremely wet winters see me preferring to keep cosy and dry indoors instead of tending to the soil. And on those days when the sun is actually shining, I'd much rather be out walking in the fells. So, it's during high summer that I enjoy being out in the garden the most. 

My garden isn't anything special. In fact, any real gardeners might question more than just a few of my choices, but it's mine, and I realise just how fortunate I am to have this little outdoor space.

I remember during the pandemic, we spent so much time in the garden. I'd even been gifted several plants from a local garden centre when they'd initially had to close their doors. One of which was a fabulous hydrangea, which really brightens the corner space in front of the kitchen window. During the earlier lockdowns the weather had been glorious, and as I'd been unable to work for the first few months, we spent the majority of our mornings home learning, then our afternoons we would be spent outside, enjoying the sunshine. The paddling pool got a lot of use during that time, and I have some very fond memories. Although I am in no doubt, it was a very different story for many. 

Most of the plants have been added over time. Some have been gifts, like my lovely acer. One of my pots was won in a raffle, and this year's sweet peas were grown from the seeds of the plants it contained. Then, of course, there are the lemon and apple trees, which grew from the pips I planted. I'm still waiting for them to produce some fruit, but I might need to wait a while longer :) Thankfully, the blackcurrant bush has already earned its place in front of the dry stone wall.

Some of the flowers only last for a summer, although thanks to the slugs, the marigolds didn't even survive that long. The lone sunflower is growing taller by the day, and the bees and butterflies are enjoying the continually flowering nasturtiums. The carnations were a random purchase, as they're far from being one of my favourite flowers, but they are conveniently hardy and very low maintenance.

Then there's the little raised bed. This year, I've grown spinach, spring onions, carrots, and beetroot. I do enjoy being able to grow just a few of our vegetables. Much as I would love a larger area in which to grow our own food, I simply don't have the time just now. 

We have strawberries and blueberries growing in pots, an abundance of mint, and just today, the recent addition of some chives, which I brought home from work :)

And yet, I never did get round to buying myself some new garden furniture. Maybe next year.

J. X



36 comments:

  1. Your garden looks very colourful, my garden is too small for all round colour, but I do like the structure, bare trees limbs. As for what others think, it's your garden so don't worry.

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    1. Thank you, Marlene. I intentionally aimed for more colour this season. Xx

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  2. I think your garden looks very colourful, and it's great that you have also been able to grow spinach, spring onions, carrots, and beetroot ...
    Then there is your strawberries, blueberries, mint and chives ... enjoy home-grown!

    Have a great weekend, I'm hoping to watch some tennis, it's been a good Wimbledon.

    All the best Jan

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    1. You really can't beat homegrown produce, even in small amounts. X

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  3. I enjoyed a peek into your garden, it looks great and so colourful, productive too with home grown produce:)

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    1. Thank you, Rosie. I like that the garden is easy to manage. X

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  4. A garden is a joy, no matter how you use it and what you use it for. We're lucky to have an outdoor space, especially when the weather is so good. I have a hydrangea in a pot outside my front door and it's just getting a second flush of flowers, I love plants that keep giving throughout the season. I enjoyed seeing, and hearing about, what you're growing.

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    1. I really learned to appreciate the garden during lockdown. X

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  5. Your garden is lovely and very special to you. It’s important that we put our own mark on a garden, growing what we like most. I love hydrangeas too and I’m wishing you lots of fruit from your lemon and apple tree. B x

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    1. I'm keeping my fingers firmly crossed for the lemon trees. I'll be shouting from the rooftops the moment I (hopefully) see any signs of buds :)

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  6. Your garden really is very pretty. Far better to have one season of loveliness than bare concrete.

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  7. I think you have a beautiful garden with a lovely assortment of flowers, fruits, and vegetables. I think you have green fingers because your plants seem very lush and healthy. Thank you for letting us have a peek at your garden. I quite enjoyed it. :)

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    1. It's thanks to your reminder, that I have nasturtiums this year, Bless. I know they can run wild, but I do love their bright flowers, and it certainly looks like the bees do, as well. Xx

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  8. I think your garden is beautiful, Jules! If you only spend time in there during the Summer it makes sense only to plant summer flowering plants. We're always being given old garden furniture our neighbours don't want, if you lived closer I'd pass the excess on to you! xxx

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    1. It's usually far to damp and miserable here to be spending time out in the garden, during the winter months. Thank you! If I lived closer, I'd be more than happy to accept your kiind offer :)

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  9. I think your garden looks lovely. We have clay soil so i don't bother with bedding plants, you can't even get a spade in it at the moment! And like your garden ours looks rather bleak in Winter as everything dies back. I think it gives great satisfaction to grown some things to eat, even if it's only a few things. Enjoy :-)

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    1. The soil here, is full of stones. I've removed as many as I can, but they are still nuisance. X

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  10. Enjoy the wonderful mix of Summer colours that you have and the fresh veg that you will be able to harvest. Your garden is lovely and unique to you.

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    1. Thank you, Beverley. I've pulled and frozen some of the spring onions just this morning. X

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  11. I would struggle without my garden. Mind you with ¼ acre I sometime struggle with a garden too.

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    1. You have a great plot, Graham. I'm rather envious. Your views are stunning as well. X

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  12. My goodness, my friend. What a beautiful space you have created there! Thank you for sharing it with us here. I hope you are enjoying it and the summer so far. Hugs!

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    1. Thank you, Billie Jo. It's only a small garden, but I rather like it. Xx

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  13. Cough, splutter, for someone who is not necessarily a keen gardener your garden is certainly looking well manicured! Xx

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    1. The garden is already looking a little summer weary, Jackie. The sweet peas are fading fast, and the salvia have become rather top-heavy :)

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  14. Hi Jules, your garden looks lovely with your flowers, fruit and vegetables and your outdoor table and chairs. You most certainly have green fingers :o) There isn't much flowering now in my garden as it is Winter here in New Zealand. Although the Spring plants are being fooled by the warmer weather we are having and they have started to push through the soil. The pretty colours in your garden are making me wish for Spring to arrive quickly here! Hugs, Rose xxx

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    1. Thank you, Rose. Although, I don't think it will be looking lovely for much longer. Fingers crossed your spring plants won't arrive too soon. Xx

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  15. Your garden looks glorious Jules. It's been a great year for flowers and vegetables.

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    1. That's very kind of you to say, Dave. I cooked some of the carrots yesterday, and the beetroot will be harvested later this week. X

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  16. Your garden looks beautiful! I think your approach to gardening is a little like my own, slowly growing and changing over the years, with plants added here and there. We came across a large vegetable garden during our holiday, it was beautiful and full of produce but I imagine so much work! And more than the two owners could ever eat. I think a little bit of growing your own vegetable goes a long way, it makes me happy to eat the three carrots that made it this year!

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    1. Thank you, Christina. I don't really know what I'm doing, so the garden has just evolved over time. I've just been looking at photographs of when I filled the raised bed with wildflowers :) I'm sure the carrots were delicious. Xx

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  17. It is lovely to see your colourful little garden where many plants have a story to tell.
    Sharon ~ Sunshine & Celandines.

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    1. Thanks, Sharon. It's far from perfect, but I love my little garden. X

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