A finite amount of space.......

Apple blossom on the tree. There is masses of blossom this year, so hopefully that will mean many apples later on!

I have concluded, my friends, that my planting plans do not coincide with the size of my garden. At all. This is the horticultural equivalent of my eyes being bigger than my stomach.

Once upon a time, many moons ago, I had a reasonable sized garden, and then we extended the house. The planning officer told me to go as big as I wanted, because, Mrs Linds, you will use the rooms all year round, and the garden maybe just for a few weeks a year. And I knew he was right, so we went big. And don't get me wrong, I love my big airy kitchen-family room. I do indeed.

However, those were the days when I had not yet discovered that I could actually grow things and not kill them and that they would be beautiful and bright, and good heavens, I could grow stuff to eat too! And the washing line had to go because it interfered with the roses, and hanging baskets festoon every available wall, and troughs, and pots, and raised beds.......

The shed went last year, and the garden was re-arranged to accommodate the squirrel fortress, and so the new chairs arrived, and here we are. I HAVE NO ROOM. Too many pots, with too many beautiful things growing, and too many seedlings, and too many greenhouses and the sun is a factor, so they all need to be in the same place, and....

I need a double-decker garden. Maybe I could expand onto the roof - the new flat one I just had repaired......

Those sticks in the background are where my peas will grow. And there is the squirrel fortress on the left with the potatoes and spinach growing inside. Hahahahahahaha! Linds=1 Squirrels=0.

In the background on the left, you will see the tomato greenhouse - the one with the 3 sticks sticking out the top. It was in a box in the shed. I have had it for years I think, and never opened it but I bought it when it was on sale, and I am delighted I have it now. So today it went up, and the new chairs have NO ROOM. But my tomatoes will grow in the sun.

The tulip pots have veg seeds in them too, so once the tulips are over, the broad beans etc should take their place. And I have flower seedlings exploding in the greenhouse which will go in the pots too. My gem squash seeds I kept from last year have finally started growing as well. They go in a growbag on the top of the shed. I am nothing if not inventive. They climbed the wall last year, and hopefully will do the same this year.

And I gave in and replanted the peas. At book club last night, some of my experienced vegetable growing friends mentioned that the mice had eaten their peas, so I made an educated guess at the fact that my ex-mice had eaten mine too. The beds are now netted and I will be sitting there with a blunderbuss to exterminate any rodent who tries to eat the new lot.

Speaking of book club - it was here last night, and I excelled myself - I had not read a thing for book club. Other things, yes, but the book club things? That would be no. And all 10 of us were present and correct, which is highly unusual. The only thing that saves me is that I actually started the book club all those years ago, so they can't kick me out. Mind you, I am at the stage where I think that it is time to move on and try something different, seeing that books and I are not a great combination at the moment. I just can't remember what I read. the focus thing is wonky.

The nibbles were good though.

It is the most beautiful of days today, and I can't believe how different my attitude to the day is when the sun shines, and the doors are open and the fresh air is gently blowing through the house. I just love it. Jean and I popped up to the wonderful garden centre in the next village this morning, and had coffee and fruit scones - their restaurant is superb. I could hardly dare to look left or right as we walked through the rows of plants, seedlings, climbers, flowers..... I wanted to buy them all. But back to the moan earlier - I have run out of space. Maybe I should just move to Switzerland and fight my sister for her enormous garden. I could have a little wooden house in the corner, and dig.

Hmmmmm........ you never know......

And don't remind me of the allotment. I know. I have one, and it is at the bottom of the village, but it is not outside my door, and I have to drive there, and yes, I do know how lucky I am and there is stuff growing on it, but there are rabbits who eat things, and I just want it to be here at my house.

And on that note, I will go and take up position as sentry next to the peas.