Squatter in the Greenhouse

Aeonium arboreum atropurpureum Scwarzkopf

Hardly a remarkable photo..........you might suppose. Just an Aeonium standing in a greenhouse. 

Mr Toad alias Bufo bufo of the family Bufonidae

Take a look at the second photo and see who our latest resident is sitting at the base of the Aeonium! He moved in about 3 weeks ago but was reluctant to pose until this evening. Now isn't that surprising when we consider the fact that the greenhouse has only been up since May. Any guesses when he hopped in? Bufo Bufo!  What a great name!!  We decided to call him Mr. Morse!

Side by Side in the Greenhouse

Whilst improvements to all the potting amenities were in progress, in the quiet humidity of the greenhouse cucumbers were sneaking higher and higher up their strings and beneath their huge sand-papery leaves, cucumbers are slyly swelling. So far, I'm managing to keep the dreaded white fly at bay and we can't wait to taste them. Next to the cucumbers in another quiet corner is a single Zantedeschia bloom. It looks to perfect to be real and more like a wax sculpture. No scent whatever, you can't eat 'em but such purity! Because of all the recent rains, I have postponed putting any geraniums out cos they just hate wet weather. This explains why the staging is looking a tad over crowded! Fingers crossed for some more seasonal weather.

New Potting Shed Open for Business

Well...it is a potting shed!

New, canopy, barge boards and finial

The new Potting Shed was declared open for business today. Most of the ply wood boarding has been treated with my usual mixture of 50/50 turpentine and linseed oil. Sadly, I ran out before the bottom half was finished.  A most enjoyable day was spent organising, tool shed miscellanea. The exterior of the tool shed enjoyed a bit of an upgrade thanks to Chris's eagle eyed expertise! I never really liked the lack of overhang and guttering. Chris came up with the idea of putting barge board over the tile edges and making oak finials for both apexes. The finials were made from the remainder reclaimed oak fencing and mimic our gate designs. Chris also made a smaller canopy (strategically sited to avoid any further head injuries!) with pretty brackets over the pot racks. I creosoted it today and its such a shame we can't see its amazing grain from below! (...and no - I can't paint upside down!)

Probably the world's tidiest tool shed!

Bespoke Potting!

Breaking up concrete prior to digging out the trench

Tools & sawdust everywhere!

Laying drain pipes in gravel

Long shadows in a long potting shed!

How come building a new potting is quite such fun?  Well, I certainly think it's great fun - even working in the rain and putting in much needed drainage to cope with rainfall on the greenhouse roof and prevent water from overflowing and entering the potting shed is all now completed. The 'Gingerbread House' oriel window looks so quaint and having found some architrave in the barn looks even prettier on the inside!  In fact; Chris said it was his best mitred corner ever!! There were of course comments about having to move the recently completed shelf in order to accommodate prettiness before practicality!!  In my defence; it was Chris that found it and such an amazing window deserved both the extra time and the detail! Another plus is the fact that it's west facing and throws more light through the hatch and into the tool shed. Even the door has a little heart shaped window. Compact, bijou, cosy and dry - what else could a girl ask for? I can hardly wait to move in!  Potting Progress Piccies

Check out the heart shaped window!

Flood prevention!

Shedding more light in a shed!

Positioning the lead roof

Chris's (really neat!) lead welding

Heavy showers didn't stop potting shed progress today. Chris arrived with a triangular oriel window frame (which he'd been slyly making on his own!) and some rather neat (dare I even say girlie sized?) welding equipment. We dug around for some lead left overs and found enough to weld together and make a top for the the window. I did have a go at welding but alas, it failed the Genever Test of Excellence miserably  I was allowed however to cut out the scallops. It fitted perfectly allowing Chris to glaze it and it really does look a real delight. With the cleverly designed overhang, water is drained off and away from the window frame. It gives a new view of the garden, adds great character and detail. More importantly; it sheds additional light to a working area. More photos

Cutting the scallops

More Wisteria History

Further to my earlier post see: Wisteria History (28 May 2016) I came across this photo of the Dog at Dunley.
Now!  Given that my wisteria is a direct descendant of the Wisteria growing up this very pub: how fascinating is the following information???

The Dog at Dunley

This photo is from an old Stourport News and it shows the front of The Dog Inn,Dunley the photo was from Sam Baylis who was born in Dunley and planted the Wisteria outside when he was aged 11 in 1926, the Timber carriages in the picture belonged to Powells of Bromyard and the Model T Ford was owned by Sam Powick who stayed at The Dog Inn. (photo from the civic society archives)

Every Gardener Needs a Potting Shed!

Builder & Labourer at work!

Potting bench & temporary window

Who's a lucky girl? Chris and I have nearly finished a potting shed.  It's part conversion and part new build. A sort of hybrid as we've enclosed an area behind the tool shed and cut a hatchway into the back of  tool shed where the potting bench is now sited. It's an amazing transformation - not only because of the extra facility but now a dark tool shed is flooded with light. There's still a few things to complete such as shelving and an oriel window. It's the nearest you could get to a drive-thro potting bench!!