I’ve been going through a bit of a rough patch lately, but trying to find little joys everyday, and one place that I can always find a sense of purpose and peace is our garden. As summer is almost over, it seems like a good time to reflect on some of the successes, failures and lessons of the growing season.
We’ve built two new raised bed in the front garden, and filled them with soil from digging out the pond. We had dried peas from ages ago, so decided to use them as a cover crop to improve the soil in one of the new raised beds. Next year, my husband plans to turn this bed into a permanent strawberry and asparagus patch.
I find courgettes and pumpkin will grow almost anywhere so I’m growing some in the other new raised bed in the front garden. The slugs got quite a few of the early yellow courgettes so we’ve only picked a handful that made it to a reasonable size. Next year, I might grow them in the greenhouse.
Our oldest daughter is always an enthusiastic little helper in the garden, we let her plant carrot seeds in some tubs, which turned out to be one of our biggest successes. I’ve never had any luck with root veg, but we were all thrilled when my daughter pulled up the carrots she had grown all by herself.
The biggest disappointment were the brassica, the sprouting broccoli, brussel sprouts and kale that all got devoured by the slugs.
We’ve been gathering handfuls of strawberries through June, then a few blueberries and wine berries. The rhubarb has been disappointing, I suspect it struggled with too much sunlight and heat early in the season.
My husband lost interest in the tomatoes; some become pot bound, the ones in the greenhouse were dehydrated while the ones outside were drenched by the rain. I’ve never grown tomatoes before but I’ve taken charge of the survivors. My husband says we’ll get 10 tomatoes if we’re lucky, and I say challenge accepted!
August often seems like monsoon season in the west of Scotland, hot and wet, but I noticed rowan and elderberries, horse chestnuts and acorns on the trees, and I’m so looking forward to Autumn and hopefully harvesting a few pumpkins and apples too. Have a lovely week. X
Lovely and Grateful 
Wow what an abundant garden! Looks amazing! Well done 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, not bad for a couple of haphazard gardeners. ☺️
LikeLike
Its all trial and error right?! I just love being out there!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely – I have way more failures than successes but it feels like such an achievement to harvest a few fruit and veg or see the Borders buzzing with different bees. 😊
LikeLike
Absolutely! I am so happy sitting in my garden just starring at my flowers and watching the bees!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely pictures especially the little one demurely behind her carrots. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
She was very proud of herself. 😊
LikeLike
There’s nothing like garden therapy to heal the body and soul . . . and what a lovely harvest, you should be proud. Congratulations to the little carrot grower, she’s done a wonderful job! 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Agreed, it’s a wonderful way to gain a sense of perspective and remember how small most of our worries and troubles are. The carrots were the biggest surprise and success, she’s very chuffed with herself. 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Well done! The carrots look great. Are your purple peas blauschocker? I’ve found them particularly good
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think they were Shiraz? They were supposed to be mangetout but most of them had turned into marrowfat by the time we picked them.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Good luck with saving the tomatoes. And well done on all you have grown. Sounds pretty good to me.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks! I just hope most of them ripen before the weather cools down, I’m not a fan of green tomato chutney!
LikeLiked by 1 person