How does your garden grow?

IMG_1072There’s been a hubbub of activity in the Dove garden this week. Daddy finished coating POD’s new playhouse so it’s evergreen with a lighter green on the windows. It looks like it belongs in the garden now and sits on the site of our beloved willow tree. POD has spent much time demanding she be pushed on her swing or explaining the rules of the playhouse.

We’re trying to teach her not to pull the heads off flowers – or eat them. There have been less casualties this week so we are making progress.

Daddy re-planted a couple of shrubs and a tree, from the decked area that’s been demolished, to the main part IMG_1668of the garden. They may not survive the transition but we’re hopeful they might with much watering. POD’s been helping with this. She rarely lets go of the hose though so the grass has seen a good splattering.

Our apple tree has started to show signs of life, as has a nearby gooseberry bush. We’ll have to wait to see whether they produce anything we can eat.

There have been some new additions to the garden this week too. A small Clematis which in time will inject colour into a bed and soften the new fencing. An old tub has been brought to life with with Gerbera, Marigolds and Carnations.

IMG_1660I was delighted to discover our red hot pokers are starting to grow. Although they currently resemble something from a field, they’ll be bright orange when they bloom. They look amazing.

The pot plants are coming along nicely too despite receiving a regular beating from POD. She had one of her dollies dancing across them the other day.

We’re so lucky it’s been so beautiful these past days. POD has loved being outside and we’re starting to fall in love with our garden again.

We’re linking this post up with How does your garden grow? over at Mammasaurus. If you’d like to join in, click the badge below.

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  • Mammasaurus June 8, 2013 at 12:26 pm

    Ooo I’m looking forward to seeing those red hot pokers when they are orange – not sure I have ever seen any before. That’s a really beautiful family garden that you have there – I hope you’re enjoying it this sunny weekend x

    • Charly Dove June 8, 2013 at 5:05 pm

      I love the red hot pokers – they look like reeds most of the time but when they come they’re quite dramatic! I think the garden is looking better from some good old fashioned close-ups but thank you. Have a lovely weekend, good luck in Race for Life tomorrow 🙂

  • Multi Layer Mummy June 8, 2013 at 1:43 pm

    Our neighbour has red hot pokers, they look great every year, I keep meaning to pinch, I mean ask for some of the seed heads. I love your slide show xx

    • Charly Dove June 8, 2013 at 5:09 pm

      I do love them – they don’t seem to stay around for long though. I’ve just got some more as bulbs – presume they won’t come up this year though. Would help if I planted them! Thanks 🙂

  • Claudia June 8, 2013 at 2:01 pm

    you have such a beautiful garden. happy you have been getting sunshine. beautiful photos too. as always 🙂

    • Charly Dove June 8, 2013 at 5:10 pm

      Thank you Claudia, I think those close-ups can be deceptive but it’s looking better. Getting a little obsessed with taking photos of flowers though 🙂

  • Dragonsfypoppy June 8, 2013 at 3:18 pm

    Red hot pokers – they’re such striking plants! My mum has some of those at hers, and this has just made me think that our northerly corner border (where we are always looking for splashes of colour) would be just the perfect place for some. What’s that beautiful red/orange flower in your first picture? As usual beautiful words and pictures – can’t wait to meet you at Britmums xx

    • Charly Dove June 8, 2013 at 5:15 pm

      I do love red hot pokers – they’re fabulous. You should definitely get some. Ours just look like reeds most of the time and then they suddenly come to life. Some orange has already started to appear amazingly! The red/orange flowers are great, I can’t find the label for them though!!! So looking forward to BritMums, will be so nice to put names to faces 🙂

  • Nichola Fabfortymum June 9, 2013 at 12:32 am

    Oh I love Red Hot Pokers, my mum has them and they look fabulous. I love your garden, it’s so colourful and I want your gooseberries 🙂

    • Charly Dove June 9, 2013 at 11:40 am

      Thank you – the red hot pokers are coming along nicely! Seem to already be turning orange. The gooseberries are coming along, I’ve no idea what we’ll do with them if they’re edible 🙂

  • Nell @ the Pigeon Pair and Me June 9, 2013 at 10:00 am

    We have the same problem with Gwen and the flower heads! Luckily the garden’s quite well-established, or she’d have trashed it by now. We have a clematis – they work wonders. You have such gorgeous plants in your garden, by the look and sound of it…..

    • Charly Dove June 9, 2013 at 11:56 am

      I’m glad it’s not just POD pulling off flower heads! You’re lucky your garden is well established, ours is too but not the flowers! I can’t wait to see the clematis thrive. I still think our garden looks a mess but thank you 🙂

  • Helvetia Handmade June 10, 2013 at 1:23 pm

    What a lovely garden! I love red hot pokers, although they went out of fashion a few years ago it is great to see people still have them. My daughter still picks flowers from our garden, very annoying

    • Charly Dove June 10, 2013 at 6:34 pm

      Thank you – there’s still a lot to do! We inherited the red hot pokers, they look incredible when they’re out 🙂

  • older mum in a muddle June 10, 2013 at 9:06 pm

    I love your garden – so full of colour. And I would love to see some more pictures of Pods play house – the external and interior – it sounds fabulous. X.

    • Charly Dove June 11, 2013 at 12:41 pm

      Thank you so much – I do feel like it needs more! I may do another post on POD’s playhouse – now it’s been painted 🙂