I had written a little list of stuff I wanted to do/grow etc in the garden this year. Amongst the seeds, Cosmos suddenly came to me when I trotted to the bathroom around 3 a.m. (I slept well by the way - 11 1/2 hours! Not right through, elderly bladders don't allow for that, but I woke feeling more with it again.) The list also included pricing up a new two-wheel wheelbarrow. I looked on line - anything from around £60 upwards. I then went into the realms of Fantasy Wheelbarrows . . . Scrolling down, there was a tidy looking one but at £498 that was never going to happen. I decided to see just how dear wheelbarrows could get. £681 for a tipping wheelbarrow (don't they all?!) . . . then if you want battery-powered, we are talking £899. Then I found the wheelbarrow of my dreams, totally automated and all-terrain as it had caterpillar tracks - oh that would be perfect on my rough triangles of land! Only £1,614.98!!!
Anyway, Pam came to the rescue to take me to the garage to pick up the car. I mentioned going to the Garden Centre and she said, oh let's go together, so we did. Mind you, the prices soon quelled our excitement. They didn't have much choice of seeds in - only Mr Fothergill's, some Expensive Johnson seeds £3.99 - £5.49! and Franchi's. I bought a pack of Cosmos - Seashells mixed, and a pack of Pak Choi. Then some Garlic - French hardneck Garlic, Edenrose. I will dig a bed for this - it didn't do well in a long tub last year. I wanted a deep pink Hellebore, but wasn't going to part with £21.99. I knew it would be dear there, but that is ridiculous. I will hope that they have some at the Crossgates nursery when it opens again next month. The shopping list includes Rose Feed, young Lupins (lots), a deep pink Hellebore, Pot Marigold seeds, a lawn edging tool (shears), and lots of raspberries, as I am about to dig up the grass edge to the path up the bank to the polytunnel, put down membrane and lots of muck heap beneath it, and put raspberries all the way up. I will mulch it well on top of the membrane. I would like a Jostaberry too. I had one bush at Ynyswen, but the blackbirds always beat me to it! I now need to ask friend Chris if I can lessen her muckheap for her - with two horses it soon mounts up. A couple more wriggly tin raised beds are also on the list. Oh, and the wheelbarrow.
The car is back (just as well I didn't go mad at the Garden Centre!) and it is quite a novelty to have water jets that spray to the top of the windscreen. I don't think it has ever done that in all the years we've had it!
Pam walked her dog Foxy before we went to the Garden Centre, and so as it was dry then, I went out with my trusty secateurs and pruned back The Lark Ascending, dead Hollyhock and Echinacea stems, and started on one of the yellow roses I inherited when we bought the house. They were scared little things when in planters, but now in the ground grow nearly as tall as me and flower from end May to nearly Christmas.
Have a good Friday.
Sooo fun to go to the garden center in January. Summer dreams. I did the Seashell cosmos recently, cosmos don't do well here---but I babied them along and theyre very pretty. Did you save some hollyhock seeds?
ReplyDelete"Fantasy Wheelbarrow" made me laugh. Go for the lesser one, I think.
Well, it's not like going in spring or summer, but it was just good to get OUT, and get some ideas too. I want to get the Cosmos started inside this year and then go out as established young plants. The Hollyhock should have self-seeded but I think I saved some. I'll have to check my stash.
DeleteGlad that you liked the title today. It tickled me too.
You had enough dry to go outside?! You're lucky.
ReplyDeleteI do hope the posh wheelbarrow was gold plated.
Not for long, but I made the most of it. It has bucked me up no end to get started on the garden tidy up in January! I am full of plans now. We have another storm arriving tonight (Ingrid), arriving from Portugal . . . Or named by them anyway. Posh wheelbarrow would climb mountains!!
ReplyDeleteOnly a gardener would understand fantasy wheelbarrows. I was on the lookout for a fantasy kettle because mine has given up. I really fancied a blue one but I'm not going to pay over 50 pounds just to get colour, so back to black or stainless steel it is.
ReplyDeleteAt that price, I would expect that wheelbarrow to load and unload itself!
ReplyDeleteSlugs make short work of lupins here so they need lots of protection. It’s great to make plans for the garden. Good luck with all your endeavours. Charmaine
ReplyDeleteFor some reason, I cannot summon reply. So, Susan - I reckon these companies take advantage of us. Want a pretty colour - price is extra; anything horsey or yachty, double the price! Debby - they were a bit in the realms of dreams at those prices. Charmaine - I will get a bag of sheep fleece to put around my Yummy Plants.
ReplyDeleteYou can tell spring is on the way.. The itch to get out and do gardening. Everything seems expensive though and I am talking seeds and plants. Is it perhaps the 'big boys' have pushed in and all those lovely little nurseries have gone?
ReplyDeleteWell, February is winter/thinking of spring, and we are nearly in February now. Rewilding Jude has inspired me as he works so hard in his garden. I do wonder if Garden Centres are like vets, and have been invested in by Hedge Funds . . . The little nursery at Crossgates is definitely a family business and priced that way.
DeleteI'd never really seen many two wheeled wheelbarrows until I saw Rewilding Jude with his, they are a really good idea aren't they. I doubt I would go to some of the prices you mention for the fancy-pants ones though. ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'd seen Danette's and been envious. As I get older it seems to make more sense to have a barrow that is better balanced - no fun when my single wheel one tips over sideways.
DeleteI can send you some Jostaberry cuttings....
ReplyDeleteOOh - I wouldn't say no to those. Thank you.
DeleteI have some unusual pink and yellow Aquilegia seeds to barter if you like.
DeleteI remember my dad made his own Wheelbarrow which works fine for years, I can’t remember what happened to it. I just use a builders barrow, works ok for me. Why would anyone spend 600 quid on a barrow?
ReplyDeleteI think sometimes folk have more money than sense - and a gardener to push fancy pants wheelbarrow too! I have an ordinary metal one but the weather has had at it in the last couple of years.
DeleteBlogger is playing up!
ReplyDeleteI’ve noticed you are very knowledgeable about plants, always a lovely skill to have. Prices at garden centres are enough to bring on palpitations sometimes!
Alison in Devon x
I wouldn't say Very knowledgeable, but I know what I like and grow mostly cottage garden perennials and roses. Garden centres can be a bit money-grabbing. I noticed on the Rewilding Jude programme - he went to a garden centre for bits and bobs and his camera trailed across a Malus something or other with a price tag of £99!!!
DeleteI don't know if it was an orchard apple or a fancypants crabapple. Probably the latter.
DeleteNothing at all like that open here. Most garden things do not open until May.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Most here are open all year round. Not that many people actively garden and plant in winter, but run up to Christmas and then people start looking ahead to spring.
DeleteThese photos made me smile. Thank you so much.
ReplyDeletersrue.blogspot.com
Glad that you enjoyed them and welcome.
DeleteOH treated me to a Gardener's World magazine and there are 3 free packs of seeds. Sunflowers, lettuce and a white cosmos. I love cosmos, so am going to get those going. My dining room windows let in all the sun so will be great for seed starting. No room here to store a wheelbarrow plain or fancy. I just buy the green potato sacks from Poundland and use them to move stuff/weeds/lawn cuttings. Xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweetheart. I have a good wide windowsill in my craft room where I start off seeds. Cats permitting . . . Will get going this week.
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