Return Surprise!

Main long wall

Main gable end wall

After a bit of a trip 'up north', we came back to an amazing surprise. We found a beautifully finished greenhouse base complete with a dog's tooth course of bricks beneath the blues on the 'front' side.  Chris had even found time to lay slabs between the base and the sleeper retaining wall.  How does he do it?  Even the door thresholds were all finished! We can't wait for Hartley Botanic to do their bit now! Josh Heywood, their design engineer has been most attentive when it comes to design detail and dimensions and we await their visit tomorrow. They have promised for installation to commence on 18th April. Hopefully, that will give us enough time to finish off before our first open garden event on 1st May (shiver!)

Easter Monday Building

Slate plaque & ridge tile installed

Milk bottle niche - imagine the geranium in a clay pot!

Thanks to Chris sacrificing most of his Easter weekend, huge leaps forward on building were made today.  Even the weather cooperated although we commenced operations in high winds and glacial temperatures! Gradually the winds dropped and the temperature climbed a tad.  Either side of the south facing door we have the milk bottle niche that Chris gave me on the right with the freshly engraved slate plaque on the left. I found some ridge tiles which Chris cut and laid above both features. Both look amazing! Since these photos were taken, the blue bricks on the top were finished. The labourer was in trouble (again) this time for unsatisfactory workmanship whilst brushing off the pointing! Despite such failings, I'm sure that Hartley Botanic will be bowled over when they see this base!

Man with a plan!

Squally Weather!

Plum blossom

Acer leaves unfurling

Elsewhere in the garden: buds are swelling, bees are buzzing in the old chimney and despite the gusting squalls, it's definitely spring-like.  Taking shots in sunshine between the squalls give no impression of the high winds which are giving the blossom a real beating. 

Whilst I was lugging barrowfuls of bricks, Chris P. carried on doing border work and aerating compacted areas of lawn.  The top lawn borders look very neat and weed-free.  Funny how freshly tilled soil improves it appearance so very much! The temperatures have remained too low for the grass to put on any growth but the lawn man came and gave them their spring feed so, they should start greening up very soon. Settled or dry weather for building to continue tomorrow? Let's hope!

Understanding Churchill!

An old book-like piece of slate

Mr. Perfection at work

Despite battles against the storms, high winds, coughs and colds; there has been huge progress on the greenhouse base.  There have been faux pas on all sides. Chris G. underestimated the required skip size, Chris P. was a tad out with one of the trenches and mine was probably the worst - in that I failed to make crystal clear to Dave, the exact dimensions of the wall given the lack of play on the existing electric cable! This means an underground joint will now be needed as the existing cable is far too short - GRR! So with the scores even we pressed on in spring like sunshine on Friday and vicious squalls yesterday. It's no surprise to find that Chris's brickwork dimensions are so exact and precise, it's almost breathtaking! The foundation bricks are red semi engineering bricks but above there are quite pretty replicas of old bricks. The colours vary and they exhibit quite a soft appearance which, when weathered will look even better. 

Building walls means there's flexibility for personalization! A piece of old slate was pressed into use, cut to size and engraved.  When I say engraved, the letters are a LONG way from perfect but, as a rushed job it's now legible. Scratching away with a punch meant that I lost the use of my fingers after an hour's work.  Worse still, when wet, the words just disappeared so today, I went over them with a dremmel. The lettering styles leave much to be desired but it's a record.

Weather protection for both bricks and grapevine!

I SO understand Churchill's fascination with bricklaying.  It's totally captivating and so much to learn! You'd think that piling bricks up and sticking them together with mortar would be quite easy. In fact, there's a zillion things to think of. The two types of bricks came in different sizes so the joints where they meet had to be planned.  As for keeping the entire structure perfectly upright, straight and square.........need I say more?  Yes, I do cos there's the 8 stainless steel threaded bars required by Hartley Botanic which needed even more precise spacing and placing! 

And the good news for Al? The piles of bricks and sand on the drive are getting rapidly smaller!

Witton Hill Bake Off - Round IV

Hot Cross Buns & Drop Scones

Joan's had pieces of apple in them

Mine had mixed spices

Two different recipes were followed for hot cross buns with work starting at 10:30am.  Both recipes were followed to the letter. Joan followed Paul Hollywood and I followed Mary Berry. Joan's were ready by 4:15pm whilst mine came out of the oven at 6:20pm.  All the waiting for rising and proving took FOREVER!!! Both had different twists and both were really lovely but different.  Moral: allow a lot of time!! It was surprising how much better they looked after applying a glaze.

During the long waiting times, we made two batches of drop scones - sweet and a cheesy savoury version which we ate for lunch with strawberry jam and guacamole.

More baking photos here.

Savoury stilton drop scones

Greenhouse Progress

Chris's injury!

Bill from Travis Perkins unloading

It still feels like demolition at this stage but Chris slaved away ALL day and dug out the trench in readiness for footings for the base wall. However, NOT before the old greenhouse had its revenge! The main reason for replacing our wooden one is because of its low door and because the taller people just KEPT on hitting their heads time after time! Following a major delivery, the drive is now full. The skip is too full and all the wheel barrows are full!  The trench is finished and all as neat as can be - well done Chris! 

A very full drive (and skip!)

We're praying for dry weather and await the arrival of the other Chris on Thursday evening (with cement mixer and hose pipes at the ready!)

More photos here

Finished trenches.

Operation New Greenhouse

Evacuation & Dismantling

Chris & Kyle removing the roof panes

Covering Dave's electrics & a lonely tree fern!

It's all very well ordering a new greenhouse BUT: when is a good time to do it when one's current greenhouse has to be emptied of its tender contents and dismantled? Add to that all the constraints and restrictions of space, dates, extraordinarily busy builders, exacting building requirements, very precise measurements, deadlines, designs......I could go on and on!. There's a zillion things to think of. No gardener wants to miss a growing season - the thought of no home grown tomatoes is too sad. In the end, we were forced to have a bespoke design because the standard sizes just didn't fit. The nice man at Hartley Botanic has come up with a new design to the guttering which will allow us to retain our two water butt system - one inside and one outside.  As I type, the conservatory looks more like a plant sale with everything squeezed inside and more in the porch and the garage.  We now have a skip on the drive and tomorrow, bricks, sand and cement are expected to join the skip!  We're really hoping for dry weather during the building process .....................shiver! 

Chris G's new greenhouse!

Dave was the first to arrive at 8am sharp to disconnect the greenhouse electrics.  Chris & Kyle arrived shortly after and following coffees all round, operations commenced under some welcome spring sunshine. Typically, it soon clouded over and the glacial temperatures of Saturday made a most unwelcome return! Time for the gardener to change to baker! Six loaves are now proving on the Aga. I must mention that my much cherished antique tiles now have even more meaning. We discovered that they once belonged to Kyle. Kyle's tiles!!

Triumphant Kyle!

More photos of Chris & Kyle's exploits here!

No particular reason...

Mosses among the Sempervivums

For some reason, I just like this photo taken in the early morning sun! We have an old cast metal table and chair, with shallow pots of Sempervivums and laid like a dining table.  An old beet hook is the knife and trowel for the spoon...etc. This is a large bowl which looks like the main course and contains Stone crops and an ancient grey squirrel's skull - it just caught my eye this morning.

Viola Villa!

Chinese pots near the porch

One of 3 urns near the old chimney

With spring around the corner, it's time to brighten up all the pots and tubs with some violas. For the past couple of years, I've given up an universal winter Pansies.  I have found that they succumb to blackspot and other fungal diseases so, rather than see plants struggling to make it through the winter, I have been leaving planting up until the worst of the winter weather is over,  I also find that Violas are a little more disease resistant than Pansies and aren't completely flattened by high winds or heavy rains!

Carpentry in Arctic Conditions & Turf Laying.

Door progress

Despite f-r-e-e-z-i-n-g weather, work continued on the Secret Steps door. Dull, overcast and glacial temperatures really didn't help but it now has its arched top and, most importantly, door studs!  Placing door studs proved a tad confusing but thanks to Chris's endless and precisely accurate mathematical calculations, we got there in the end!  Not so when it came to fitting the latch as, I had been sold 2 catches but no latch or keeper - sigh!  That has now been rectified but, to stop the biting north wind, Chris fitted a temporary turn key.

Chris removing worn turf

Meanwhile down towards the compost heap, the other Chris was laying surprise turf on what had been a very worn and uneven path.  I say surprise because it was beautiful quality but unwanted turf!  There was enough to do the whole path and a couple of rolls this side of the granite sets.  how lucky are we? As time ran out, and after checking on the watering situation (!) Chris returned on Sunday afternoon to finish the job.  The weather had warmed up hugely and we worked without coats.  I finished all my creosoting so now, all garden seats have had a coat and also the compost slats have all been done.  Smugness all round!

Lush new path!

  Another big thank you to Chris!