Cold grey day...but new plants growing

Today has felt like the greyest day. It's 6 degrees with a cold strong wind. The sky is like concrete.

Bought some primroses, hyacinths and mini-daffodils from Homebase. One of the primroses was out so I planted it in a little pot and put it inside on the windowsill with the hyacinth bulbs. I can look at them as I eat my breakfast.

Also bought some lily of the valley and bleeding heart (lamprocapnos) bulbs to plant now for flowers in May/June/July. I had to remove the most ENORMOUS lumps of masonry from the front garden in order to plant them. I kid you not, these lumps were at least one foot cubed in size. I needed the spade to lever them out of the earth, which was left scarred by two huge craters.

I was extremely cheered to see a load of shoots coming through in the terracotta pots on the back terrace. No idea what they are, but I can't wait to find out.

Even on the greyest day like today, new life will out.

Hello toad

Feared I had somehow accidentally killed my resident toad, but last night's deluge must have encouraged the slugs and snails out to tempt him. We stared at each other fondly through my french windows, although, to be honest, I'm not entirely sure my warm feelings were reciprocated, but what can you do.

Nosy neighbour

Spent an hour of last night's warm sunny evening walking around St John's Wood, Kilburn and the places in between.

Really LOOKED at the buildings for the first time. So interesting to note the different styles, all crammed in together. Neo-gothic victorian mansions next to 1970s council blocks next to Georgian town houses next to 1930s Poirot-style flats.

We came across a old chapel (not sure what it's used for now) that a woman had built in Kilburn, in memory of her brother. The stone plaque in the wall said he'd spent the last nine years of his life preaching what sounds like the open air. His first sermon was delivered in Abbey Fields, presumably somewhere around the present-day Abbey Road (of Beatles stuido fame). His last sermon was delivered on a bridge in Brondesbury.

Also came across a church that F instantly recognised as Catholic, by the architecture. It was next to a community centre outside which an elderly man in a suit was smoking a cigarette. F said he would put money on him being Irish. He said Irish men of a certain age always put a jacket on to go the pub.

I also spent ages being extremely nosy, trying to find an entrance to the mythical meadow, more of which in a future post.

My urban garden update

Very excited about the progress in my garden (well someone has to be). The sunflower is doing well after being initially chomped by snails. The fuschia is about to burst into red flowers. The thyme made a delicious addition to tonight's supper of broad beans from my mum's compound, asparagus, lemon, mozzarella and wholewheat spaghetti. Mmmm. The mint is looking sturdy. And the wildflower seeds are starting to germinate.

Only the poor old honeysuckle is succumbing to mildew. I'm watering it LOADS, but I fear the soil is a bit sandy and the mould may have set in for good.

Bought some phosphorous plant foot that I'm adding to the water. No idea if it's making any difference.

Urban country garden

Climbed the hill to Fenton House in Hampstead this morning. The gardens are a mixture of formal 18th century topiary and a traditional cottage garden. It's got an orchard and a couple of humming beehives as well as a vegetable patch and a greenhouse. Here are some pics.

Summer resolution

The green (the communal garden I live on in London) is looking very lovely. I am lucky to live on it. Here are some pics.

I resolve to join the gardening group. It's in the morning of the first Sunday of every month (oops, missed it for June...)

Gourmet gastropods

Gastropod sounds like a boutique gourmet lunch spot, which is how snails seem to view my young sunflower. Grr.

Nick gave me the hardy-looking seedling last week to add to my urban, mainly paved, garden. Being a complete novice, my garden contained a grand total of four plants:

1. a new honeysuckle (courtesy of Homebase)

2. ivy

3. those purple-flowing plants that grow out of walls

4. some kind of laurel-type plant left by the previous inhabitant of my tiny flat.

So I was delighted to get a newcomer.

I lovingly transferred the sunflower seedling to a bigger pot, added compost, watered, and set it in the sunniest part of my basement garden to watch it grow. I even considered measuring it every day, but had to have a word with myself at that point.

Last night was beautifully balmy - summer has definitely arrived in NW6. Stepping out of my backdoor in the twilight I just about avoided skidding on a large brown slug. Looking down I saw my garden's resident toad crossly creeping back to his log, hungry no doubt. My clodding great feet had just interrupted his slug patrol. Damn.

I spent the next 5 minutes picking up the slimy buggers and throwing them in to the neighbour's garden, holding back the urge to run away. Slugs make me feel wierd. By the way, before you go thinking how antisocial I am, the neighbour is an office and their garden is entirely paved with no plants whatsoever.

After ridding the paving stones of as many slimy friends as I could find, I looked up at my sunflower, calmy resting on its ledge.

Hang on.

Even in the gloom I could see a dark patch under its crown of bright green new foliage....

As I pulled the snail off, rudely interrupting its meal, it gave a crunching sort of slurp, and left behind a delightful trail of slime. Yuk.

I've now put coffee grinds in the sunflower's pot, which hopefully will poison the snails/slugs and not the flower. Any other suggestions?