Spring Garden Update .....

The boys and I have been pottering around among our patio pots today. We had some re-potting to do, and change over some flower pots that had seen better days. We also added a few new herbs. next weekend I might tackle some more veggie garden building.

Here's an update of what's happening on our patio. I love it when the pots are all happy and healthy, makes me happy :)

First up we added 3 more Pink Strawberry plants as Josh's were looking so great he wanted to add one more and Sam wanted some too. These hang off the balcony railing and hopefully will grow some strawberries! If not they have lovely pink flowers :) Here's one of Josh's:

 

and here's Sam with his newly planted ones:

 

I replanted the standard Fuschia that the boys gave me for Mothers day a few years ago (it's a tradition that they always give me a new plant for Mothers Day). This is now looking happy and healthy and we can look forward to some lovely new flowers.

 

I also spotted this new Fuschia in Bunnings yesterday called 'Susan Young' and thought it would be lovely in our big sandstone urn. As you can see it has some growing to do but the flowers are double and full and a lovely pale pink.

 

My Hydrangeas are also looking so healthy (I have 2 big pots of them on the balcony) and the flowers are starting to form. These look fantastic when they are in full flower.

 

We also added some new herbs. We already had Rosemary, Thyme and Oregano so we added some more Italian Parsley and some mint, both common mint (ready for summer Tabouli) and this amazing 'After Dinner Mint' which I had previously grown. It really smells like after dinner mint and is a great addition or garnish to berry or chocolate based desserts.

 

My sage also has some lovely flowers on at the moment. I love blue in the garden.

 

We also made up some happy flower pots, with these dwarf Dahlia's. They will be bright and happy when they flower.

 

We must try and find a stick or small picket to go on the back of this sign (Sam might get a bit tired holding it, lol). It has sentimental value as my sister made it for me years ago :)

 

I have a couple of hanging baskets of trailing geraniums which are bursting into flower. I have spotted some more places for baskets though, so they might be my next project after the veggies. Maybe some bright and happy petunias, but I also read about a tomato you can grow in a hanging basket so might give that a try too! I love the idea of the flowers and edible plants being all mixed up like the traditional kitchen garden. My Mum and sister Kate are actually driving through Tuscany and other areas of Italy at the moment. So jealous!

 

Finally, here are my little gardeners hard at work (one thinks it's summer, the other winter, lol). I love that they seem to enjoy gardening. They get excited when they see new flowers and seem keen to help with watering and looking after the plants too. Of course they love choosing new plants too (that's the fun bit!). This pot is soon going to be full of Impatiens which I like to grow each summer.

 

and here's Sam topping up the mint and getting dirty!

 

I hope this has inspired some of you to dig out the flower pots and gardening gloves and to grow a little happiness. I plan to share some recipes using fresh herbs over the coming months and would love to hear from other bloggers who blog about gardening or cooking with fresh ingredients. I'm on a mission to reduce the processed and added ingredients in our meals! For those who follow my blog for scrapbooking and stamping inspiration, promise there will be some of that in there too!

Have a happy week,

Claire xx

Comments

[kay koufalakis]

HI Claire, loved reading this post, being gluten free I have not had anything processed for years. We grow a lot of herbs and veggies, and fruit in our garden, I'll let you know when I post about them, and will try to include some receipes too, mainly greek homemade handed down receipes so you won't find them in a book

Kay

[Ros Davidson]

I'm attempting to grow tomatoes, hanging style at the moment and it is not going so well.

[Jacqui]

Ah, so miss my huge veg garden at McKees Hill however my new herb en garden has now been completed. Yipee! Love your plants Claire, and your boys clearly love getting their hands dirty, good on them.

[Mad]

We did our little gardens last week. Planted some corn, zucchini, basil, tomatoes and lettuce. Mark even rigged up some kind of timer system and an elaborate hose thing (very techinical! lol) to water the plants for us. We really do suck at gardening! lol

[Sharnee Torrents]

HEllo Lovely Claire!
Oh how I love to see your garden! I sooo love Fuchias's and would love some in my garden, we too have planted some herbs and are waiting for me to get our act together to do some seeds, so many seeds to plant this year, I'm hoping they will take off well!!!
So wonderful to see your special boys helping, what a blessing it is to see them take part!!!
Happy week dear lady!
SMiles Sharnee :)

[sharon]

Hi Claire and your garden assistants!

You guys have inspired me to 'clean' up my succulents and propagate some new ones.....we too have planted out the vege garden and look forward to plenty of homegrown goodness. Love the pink strawberries - never seen those before!!
Take care and happy green thumbs guys!!