Progress and plans in the garden

The Long Border (which sounds rather grander than it is in reality) has at last been planted with an assortment of shrubs, perennials and cuttings we have either been given or have moved from other locations in the garden.  Clumps of grape hyacinths (muscari) have been dug up, split and redistributed - they are obliging bulbs and should be OK about being moved just as they are about to flower.  I've also got my fingers crossed over the shrubs we transplanted, they were well fed and watered in so I'm hoping for the best.  There are still gaps to be filled but at least it's a start.

New growth at the base of the climbing rose we pruned back recently

N has also dug out a new bed for the beans, and repaired the garden bench which has seen better days but with a little spruce-up will certainly do for another couple of years.  As we've been working in the garden, sizing up shrubs and discovering plants hidden by others, we have finally been able to see what to do with the front 'garden'.  It had been a real problem area for us and for a long time we just couldn't envisage any planting plan for it at all, but gradually over the last week or so ideas took shape and we now have come up with a solution which we think will be the compromise we have been looking for.  

There are seedlings germinating everywhere and N has been kept busy potting on - and checking we have sufficient larger pots for growing veggies outside and in the greenhouse.  

One of the charity shops in town had a £1 sale on this week and I managed to buy two jackets which I'm really pleased with.  A wash and iron, a couple of buttons re-sewn - they've come up well and will be very useful additions to the wardrobe.

We're off to London for the day tomorrow, meeting up with children, celebrating a birthday and hearing everyone's news.  And with a surprise in store for someone, there should be plenty of photo opportunities, too.  Looking forward to a great day out.