LP's Garden

[Dutchy]

Plocket February now. Are you planning on letting LP sow her own bean in a pot?
I remember growing beans on a wet sponge in the windowsil.
Always ended up a tumbling mess but it was such good fun.
( Mind you, it might be the reason why it took me so long to start growing my own veg )

[Plocket]

Goodness me is it bean time already? Yes we'll be growing beans this year, along with other things that we haven't yet planned. I think LP's hoping to grow flowers in her garden this year because the vegetables weren't brilliant - not enough sun. I'm proposing that we grow carrots in our old recycling boxes - we can put them on the drive where they will get lots of sun and LP can be in charge I'd better start a list of things that will grow in shade

Funny you should mention beans on sponge though - when I was little we grew them in jars. We'd roll blotting paper or newspaper and shove it into the jar, then push beans round the edge and dampen the paper. We'd watch the roots and shoots with much delight. I even demonstrated and assisted the reception children at LPs school for a couple of years. I wonder if they'll ask me to help again this year?

[Dutchy]

Mum used to get a new sponge every Spring and I got the old one to grow things on.
It always needed a lot of soaking to get all soapy things out. That was maybe the major fun.
I grew cress and other things on one spunge I think.
Made quite a mess. Now you mention the glass jarr you are right I think my memory tricked me cause you could see the roots.
I also once had a peanut in a pot that made root like things from the plant down and in theory that is where the peanuts would have grown. ( never got that far )
Hm maybe it was in a jar then.

Would you like to assist with the kids at LP's school again?
Bet they would love for you to help.

[Plocket]

LP regularly grows cress on cotton wool - and eats it herself! I'm not sure I'd want to eat stuff on an old sponge though!

Yes I probably would help again. It was best the first year because then LP was in pre-reception and I knew a lot of her friends. Last year was more daunting because she wasn't there and I didn't have a clue who the children were. They all enjoyed it though, and some of them even spotted me outside the school gates later in the year and said that their beans had grown. I believe in helping the school so yes I'd do it if asked

[Dutchy]

;D Old sponges never killed me ( but it might explain the madness )

As you did this before and the kids loved it I think you will not have a big problem doing it again. It would be a lovely project. Wait and see if they ask then.

[Plocket]

I'll let you know Dutchy ;D

LP did a bit of weeding today and has drawn chalk pictures all around the woodwork She's asked to go to the garden centre to choose some seeds so that's something we'll do at half term.

[Dutchy]

She is hooked at a tender age then
Seeds and GCs ;D oh dear.
When are the hols then?
Where I live they have a week off from 23 Feb to 2 March.
Which is why we go skiing the week after.
Peacefull and not such long ques at the lifts.

[Plocket]

I hope she's hooked - she was more interested in covering the patio in chalk drawings today but at least she enjoyed being outside.

Yes going to the GC is a bit of a downer NOT!!! ;D She's off school this week so 11th Feb to 15th Feb. We've got some stuff planned including going to see the Mr Men at the theatre

Oooh skiing - where do you go skiing? Goodness I respect you for doing that. My balance is awful and I don't like snow ;D

[Dutchy]

I love the crisp mountain air. We go to Austria because we like to see trees besides the piste and not just big boring white ski slopes like in France.
We are lazy as well so don't need 200 km of slopes. 50 Does us fine.
We are going to Grossarl. Staying with a young family we have been with before. They do 7 guestrooms B&B.
On the north side of the vilage you can ski and with some luck the southside will be all spring again and we can do walks.
www.grossarltal.info/w_ort_grossarl.html
I tried to find the English version but you will have to brush up your German ;D

This is the 22nd year we go skiing. So yes we love it.

[Plocket]

Have a wonderful time Dutchy!!

Which reminds me, OH is seriously considering a holiday or short break in The Netherlands this summer. I know it's far too late to do the bulbs, but are there any particularly interesting areas suitable for a two week holiday? By interesting I mean with plenty to entertain a nearly-7-year old! (Not theme parks, but gardens, castles and stuff).

Ooo I nearly forgot the point of me posting here!!! I've put three "seed pod" feeders in LP's garden so that she can see the birds more clearly, and I can hopefully get some better photos. As the garden is very close to the house I'm hoping for some good shots! ;D

[Dutchy]

The birds will be real happy ;D

Going to the Netherlands hm.
The Isles are great fun. I'd try and find some space on Terschelling. It is the third one counting from the UK.
Weather in summer is generally best on the Isles. There is pure beach on the sea side there is the posibility of mudflatwalking looking for cockels and mussles on the other side fo the island.
There are some small musea. And yes even a gardencenter and gardens. Not much in the castles department though.
But a very varied maritime landscape.
And lots to do. Try not to go during Oerol. Almost half the country goes there than as it is the best festival in the land.
Sorry tried to get an English website but as I search from a dutch base I get all the dutch language ones.

That was the first tip.
I'll think about some more.
Maybe Groningen or Friesland. Flat as flat can be and lots of gardens and historic buildings.

[Plocket]

That's a fantastic start Dutchy, thank you so much. OH has bought himself a book so with those suggestions it gives him a good start!

When are you off skiing then?

[Dutchy]

Next friday we leave. The one time in 4 years one can travel on this day
A whole week ... I hate the eleven hour drive but I love it when we are there.

[Dutchy]

Plocket how is LP's garden coming along?
What has she got on the go?

[Plocket]

Hia Dutchy! Well her garden has expanded a bit to include pots in the rest of the garden

In her huge planter she's got forget-me-nots, snapdragons, a margarite, a busy lizzy, a little pink aquilegia, lots of violas and some primulas which have finished now. She's also got a strawberry plant which has lots of flowers but as it doesn't get much sun I'm not sure how the fruits will ripen. We've got hanging baskets of strawberries elsewhere in the garden though so she'll still be happy. It's not exactly a thoughtfully planted little garden but it's still very pretty and colourful, and she's righfully proud of it.

She's also growing three types of tomatoes in a gro-bag and every morning she counts how many fruits are coming. And dad gave her three runner bean plants which she is very proud of even if they are still quite small. She's got a pumpkin in a pot that a friend gave her, although that too is quite small. And we are growing some potatoes in a barrel too and she's the one who tops it up when necessary.

I think I'm going to have to get her to grow some parsley in her garden too because she keeps eating mine! ;D

Here's a side view, which I've just taken for you

[Weeterrier]

That's beautiful Plocket, full to bursting, just the way I like things.

[Ladygardener]

Thats a lovely garden LP well done, you've obviously got your Mum's green fingers.

[Plocket]

LP says

"Thank you for your replies. I think they are nice things to say.

Here's a joke: why didn't the skeleton go to the New Year party?

















Because he had no body to go with!!! ;D "

(I don't know why she wanted to say the joke, but I'm just the typist!!!!!)

[JennyWrenn]

Aw bless her what a lovely garden - love the ornaments

Well done LP

[Plocket]

Thank you Jenny! The little bird lurking in the background is from Australia, from mum and dad (grandma and grandpa!). The rabbit was from OH and me because she loves rabbits, and she chose it. The butterfly was from me, and the little green wire flower was also from grandma. She's got a little teddy with a watering can lurking in there too but you can't see him! The little red cup thing in the bottom right corner is a seed feeder for the birds - the robins in particular love it

[isabella]

Plocket - Please tell LP that I think her garden is beautiful

Love
Pam x

[Plocket]

I've passed that on Pam and she's grinning (and eating her breakfast)! Did you spot the marguerite? Some of the other plants are a bit small to notice at the moment, but she loves the daisies

[Dutchy]

That has come along real nice LP
Your garden is a real mini piece of heaven,
Now what is growing or going to grow up that cane with the little joghurt bottle on?

Is she gathereing her own seeds from those pansies yet?
;D

[Plocket]

Hia Dutchy! They are actually violas so they should keep on going for a while, but I'll remind her to collect seed so she can grow them somewhere else - thanks for the reminder! I think she's going to have to do a bit of rearranging too because my clematis is taking over some of the primulas

There's nothing growing up that stick - it was marking something but I'm not sure what

I'll show her your messages later - thank you all for your interest

[Deleted]

LP's little garden is wonderful P ;D

Will LP share her strawberries I wonder ......

[Plocket]

I doubt it somehow! She's already harvesting the alpine strawberries (from hanging baskets) but the other strawberries aren't ripe yet. She does share them though

[Weeterrier]

I've just noticed the two little Violas in the background. They look as if they are smiling for the camera.

[madonplants]

Jun 16, 2008 9:06:56 GMT Weeterrier said:

I've just noticed the two little Violas in the background. They look as if they are smiling for the camera.

They do, don't they?

Tell her she has done/doing a good job, Plocket.

[Plocket]

Hahaha! The yellow ones? I bet the posed!!!

I sure will Madon - thank you (I trust you and yours are well )