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A Place to Potter and Ponder

DIY PROJECTS· IN THE GARDEN

1 Aug

July 2018 ~ a stunning perennial border from the gardens of Floors castle, Kelso

Hello August and hello to you! Its the 1st of the month today, but I have a feeling it will be the 31st in a blink of an eye. The days are whizzing by and autumn is on the horizon; so say the Chrysanthemums I found in the garden centre at the weekend. And even though I really don’t want summer to end, I couldn’t help but pick up a couple of autumnal coloured ‘mums’ for my front door step as a nod to the upcoming season.

mums-in-pots
front-step

Anyway, on to the main topic of todays post. The potting shed! Did you catch the blog post where we built the shed? If not you can read all about how the shed came to be here. Once it was built, it was very quickly filled to the brim with seed trays, pots of tubers, bags of seed sowing compost and other paraphernalia needed to start the growing season off. Then things got away from me, and the shed became a bit of a dumping ground for discarded pots, tools and the like. Come July and it suddenly looked like this.

I know, I know…

A very good excuse for a makeover I say, and who doesn’t like a good before and after post. I started with the paint…

Wall paint ~ Willow Green by Cuprinol

I went with Cuprinol again for the interior. The paint dries waterproof and is supposedly weather proof for 6 years.

Paint drying…still not interesting but helps explain the effect I was going for

Instead of 2 proper coats. I put on one, then did a swishy affect for the second, so the shed ended up with a more aged look, with touches of the original orange ever so slightly visible.

Whilst waiting for the paint to dry I harvest some courgettes.

Floor paint ~ Urban Slate by Cuprinol

My 9 year old son helped me paint the floor. Well, for all of 10 minutes until the smell of roasting chicken came wafting up from the kitchen and he was off like a shot. The floor got two proper coats of paint with an hours drying time between them.

tractor-stool-before
tractor-stool-after

The shed was sorely lacking a place to sit down for a cuppa, so I sourced a vintage style tractor stool from Wayfair online (similar here) and spray painted it Oxford racing green. I may add a cushion at some point.

funnel-DIY-1
funnel-neck-DIY-2
funnel-neck-DIY

An old funnel makes a great spot for twine. I popped a hole through it and hung it to the wall.

A couple of days later and another courgette harvest.

making-the-potting-bench
potting-bench-ready
storage

The potting bench is available from NOTH. Although, I got mine from Amazon on sale. Its sturdy once put together and a good height to work at. We found some extra gold hooks in the garage which were perfect for hanging hand tools from. You’ll never guess what happened next…

Yup more courgettes, which I gave away to friends and neighbours. At the time of writing this post I have harvested 51 courgettes in total from just two plants. Needless to say next year, I shall only be planting one!

rowen-and-wren-wall-planter
front-close-up
potting-shed-exterior

The outside was spruced up with a door handle (exciting times!) and a rustic zinc planter from Rowen and Wren potted up with violas and ivy.

And here you have it. A dang sight prettier and not staged at all, ok well a little bit, but for inspiration purposes only. 😉

The shed is such a welcoming spot now, that I love to escape to for a read, or to watch the latest YouTube episode from Garden Answer and of course to have a cup of tea in the peace and quiet.

I’m still on the hunt for some galvanised bins for compost, sowing mixes and grit, but all in good time.

The shed is from Tiger sheds and is 8 x 6 ft. A great size, especially with the full length staging table.

And there you have it my little bolt hole behind the beech hedge.

Before I go, here are a few other jobs we (Andrew and I) tackled in July:

  • The 5th raised bed was built and is ready for garlic planting in late Autumn
  • A winter crop of beetroot seeds were sown where the spring onions were harvested.
  • The rose garden area was cleared out and and a hedge of english lavender and the first rose were planted. The rose variety is a beautiful climber called, Teasing Georgia by David Austen.
  • The broccoli plants have been pulled up, and winter cropping leek (Musselburgh) and spring onion (White Lisbon) seedlings have been popped in their place.
  • Lastly, I started off an experiment with some pea seedlings (Kelvedon Wonder) from Harrod Horticultual. Its very late in the year to be growing them up here in Scotland, but you never know!

Until next time! x

2---lavender-hedge
1---raised-bed-number-5-from-quick-crop
1---a-pea-experiment
1---deadheading-on-repeat
1---potting-shed-view
1---the-first-dahlia
1-a-very-green-cutting-flower-garden
bed-number-5
1---winter-cropping-leeks
2---teasing-georgia-rose
sunlight-on-the-house

2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Tracey says

    August 21, 2018 at 12:21 pm

    The shed looks great. I like your choice of colours.

    Reply
    • dianayates says

      August 22, 2018 at 7:16 pm

      Thanks Tracey! Its my little spot of calm! x

      Reply

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A Little About Us…

A spark has been ignited in both Andrew and I, to continue the garden transformation, grow more food and focus on the idea of creating a sustainable do it yourself lifestyle around us, incorporating our new found loves of sewing and even more DIY renovation projects.

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Today’s glorious garden pickings. The first of t Today’s glorious garden pickings. The first of the garlic scapes and sweet peas, along with some new potatoes and ranunculus. This right here is the epitome of garden joy for me, the first humble gatherings for the garden before the main crop harvests 🙌🥰🌿💛🌸

#growyourown #gardengathered #kitchengarden #raisedbedgarden #organicgardening #sweetpeas #gardeninspiration #scottishgarden #gardenjoy #littlestoriesofmylife
A flower does not think of competing with the flow A flower does not think of competing with the flower next to it. It just blooms. 💛 

Happy Friday! 💛

(A buttercup and daisies along the driveway) 

#daisy #buttercup #wildflowers #naturesbeauty #garden #mygarden #momentsofjoy #countrystilllife #country #mycountrylife
Lupin ‘Terracotta’ in the sunshine this mornin Lupin ‘Terracotta’ in the sunshine this morning. 🌿💛

#scottishgarden #inmygardentoday #perennialgarden #welcometomygarden #gardensofscotland #sunnygardentime #gardenjoy #countrygardens #gardensofig #lupin
Garden pickings popped in a jug on my new (old) fa Garden pickings popped in a jug on my new (old) farmhouse table, a bargain from FB marketplace. It’s been sanded down to remove the varnish without removing too much of the natural patina. I’m now trying to decide between wax, stain or a clear sealer. 🤔🥰 Happy Friday folks! 🌸

#loveofcountryhouses #farmhousetable #farrowandballssudburyyellow #diningroomdecor #foragedflowers #cutflowers #gardencuttings #freshblooms #diningroomdecor #myperiodhomestyle #slowdecoration #countryliving #fromgardentotable #flowerstagram
The kitchen garden is casually moseying along with The kitchen garden is casually moseying along with the cool spring we’ve had. I sowed climbing beans, spinach and edamame beans directly outdoors a week ago and they’re all up and thriving. I was hoping for more blooming flowers for cutting before now, but that said the ranunculus all have buds, the anemones are beginning to put on a show and the sweet peas are climbing. There will be flowers for cutting and lots of veggies to harvest before too long. How is your garden doing? 🌿🥕🥦💛🧄🌸 Happy peak of the week to you! 

P.s if you zoom in you’ll see where I positioned the new composter @hozelock sent out, doesn’t it blend in well! 🌿 (gifted) 

#kitchengarden #growyourownfood #organicallygrown #gardeninspiration #scottishgarden #gardensofscotland #gardensofig #vegpatch #fromgardentotable #raisedbeds
How has your week started? I’ve had lots of ques How has your week started? I’ve had lots of questions about the plant theatre lately. So I thought it would be helpful to answer the most frequently asked here. 

The hostas all came back from last year. I  bought specimens from @_siennahosta_ and a couple I transplanted from a border to pots earlier this spring. Less chance the slugs will find them 🐌🤞

The astilbes were also transferred from a border that didn’t work out, and they’ll be enjoyed here throughout the summer before transplanting to their final location in the autumn.

The osteospermums / African daisies are mostly a perennial variety called Tresco. The plant tag says they’re fully hardy but time will tell. 

I overwintered a couple of vanilla scented nemesia plants in the greenhouse but they don’t look near as good as the plants I picked up this spring. They still smell amazing 🙌

Most of the pots are from @yorkshireflowerpot that I picked up from @quercusgardenplants last summer or the summer before 🤔🪴 I think that covers it! 💛🌿🌸

#containergardening #plantsofinstagram #plants #planttheatre #beechgrovegarden #countrygarden #scottishgarden #gardensofscotland #gardensofinstagram #gardendesign #gardeninspo
ad. How was your weekend? I managed some time in t ad. How was your weekend? I managed some time in the garden after a busy couple of weeks in the studio, and finally got a chance to set up my new EasyMix Composter from @hozelock it was very easy to put together and now lives in the kitchen garden. The best bits so far… 

1. It’s super handy having a spot REALLY close by for all my kitchen garden waste. 
2. It comes with an easy reference guide you attach to the front so you know exactly what you can and can’t pop in it. 
3. It’s fun to roll the drum to mix it altogether, which I can’t help but do now every time I walk past 😂 
4. I should have ready to use compost in around 6-8 weeks. I’ll keep you posted on that one in stories. 🌿

The other little guy is a Bokashi composter that now lives in my utility room. I’d never heard of this until @hozelock kindly sent one out to me. It takes all food waste including vegetables, table scraps, fish and meat! 🤯 It’s sealed so there are no unpleasant odours and delivers fertiliser liquid in 5 days and compost in as little as 15 days! This one is a game changer, especially as we don’t get a separate food waste bin collection in my area. 

I’ll keep you posted on my composting journey in stories. 🪴

I’m thrilled to be a @hozelock ambassador this year and look forward to sharing more of their products soon, once I’ve tried them first. In order for that to happen it must STOP raining! 🤞😊🙏🌿 

Happy Monday Folks 💛

#hozelock #hozelockambassador #composting #bokashicomposting #compost #homemadecompost #gardenfood #soilhealth
Technically they are past their best, but to me th Technically they are past their best, but to me they are beautiful 😍🌿

#tulipseason #bloomsoftheday #instabloom #tulip #vasearrangement #fromthegarden #potager #bouquet
The best bits of an absolutely glorious tulip seas The best bits of an absolutely glorious tulip season 🥰🌷💛 swipe left 

#tulipsofinstagram #tulipseason #scottishgardens #planttheatre #containergarden #gardensofig #gardeninspiration #mygarden #countrygarden #mygardenthismonth 
#embracingtheseasons #greenfingers
The Bluebell is the sweetest flower That waves in The Bluebell is the sweetest flower
That waves in summer air:
Its blossoms have the mightiest power
To soothe my spirit’s care… Emily Brontë

#bluebellseason #countrygarden #countrygardensmagazine #scottishgarden #gardensofig #gardenlandscapes #gardenerworld #scotland #gardenbeauty #spring #springgarden #mycountryliving
The spent tulips from the trough were headed for t The spent tulips from the trough were headed for the compost heap, and a few made a detour to the living room. I cannot get over how tall and thick the stems are. They’re flouncy and fabulous and I love them. I meant to spread them round the house but can’t bring myself to separate this little group. Is it just me or is that bare patch of wall crying out for some little paintings? 😍🤔🌷 Have a lovely evening all! 

#livingroomdecor #ovalroomblue #mycountryhome #tulipsofinstagram #gardenjoy #scottishgarden #countryhomes #flowersfrommygarden #fireplacedecor #fabulousflowers #slowdecoration
Tulips in Belfast sinks, another to repeat next ye Tulips in Belfast sinks, another to repeat next year, especially as this is the view from my work studio. 🙌 Once they’re over I’ll replace them with African daisies which do really well in this area, need zero dead heading, and last until the first frost. Do you have a favourite annual or many favourites? 🥰 

#inspiremyinstagram #embracingtheseasons
#courtyardgarden #gardenviews #greenfingers #countrygarden #beechgrovegarden #gardendesign 
#gardeninspiration #gardensofig #scottishgarden #belfastsinks #welcometomygarden #mygardenthismonth #gardenersworld #gardeninguk #flowersfromthegarden #underthefloralspell #gardenjoy
Hello, I hope you are well? I realised on Saturday Hello, I hope you are well? I realised on Saturday morning after sleeping for a solid 8 hours (unheard of) that I’ve been holding my breath for what feels like months leading up to the two year mark. Now the day has past I feel like I can breathe again, the clouds have rolled away and hope is returning. It’s a better place to be. If you’re stuck in the dark, hold on, this too shall pass. 💛

(A throwback photo from the Oxford days) 

#hopeful #griefjourney #healingjourney #mentalhealthawareness #countrylife
Perfect pelargonium petals. This is ‘Regalia Cho Perfect pelargonium petals. This is ‘Regalia Chocolate’ loving life on a sunny windowsill. Have a lovely afternoon. 🌿

#pelargonium #indoorgarden #scentedpelargonium #freshblooms
Good morning, the kitchen garden has put on lots o Good morning, the kitchen garden has put on lots of growth in the past couple of weeks and beds are filling up. Peas, broad beans, carrots, kohlrabi, celeriac and potatoes have joined shallots, onions, garlic, and strawberries. I’m aiming for lots of colour in this spot throughout the year. First up tulips, followed by ranunculus and anemones then sweet peas, and dahlias. Here’s hoping for a summer of sunshine. 🌷💛 Happy Monday to you. 🌿

#kitchengarden #raisedbeds #raisedgardenbeds #tulipseason #potagergardening #scottishborders #gardeninspiration #growyourownfood #organicgrower #flowersandfood #gardening
The view from the sewing room, across the courtyar The view from the sewing room, across the courtyard, and up the hill to the kitchen garden… It’s amazing to think that in just a couple of weeks the shrubs in the foreground, the beech hedge, all the way up to the trees on the ridge will be gloriously green. I may even have some more tulips blooming by then, who knows. I hope today is being good to you! ☀️🧵🌳🌲🌷🌿💛

#gardenviews #countrygarden #hillsidegarden #countryliving #kitchengarden #gardeninspiration #gardenlandscapes #inmygarden #gardenjoy #cottagegardens 
#cottagegardenstyle #gardenviews #greenfingers #countrygarden #beechgrovegarden #gardendesign 
#gardeninspiration #gardensofig #scottishgarden #welcometomygarden #mygardenthismonth #gardenersworld
The sky seems extra big today, full of white tippe The sky seems extra big today, full of white tipped fluffy clouds moving a mile a minute. …I’ll be keeping the pots huddled  together a little longer until the cold snap passes. They are a mixture of tulips, daffodils, violas, pansies, euphorbia purpurea, forget-me-nots, hostas, and a few pots of alliums destined to be transplanted to the potager. I’m hoping to create a @clausdalby worthy display or two this year. My idea of garden joy! 🪴💛

#planttheatre #containergarden #containergardening #countrygarden #gardeninspiration #plants #gardenjoy #springdays #springgarden #bigskies
The foxglove border started last year will self se The foxglove border started last year will self seed and continue for many years to come. 🙌 My job for the week is to transplant any rogue foxglove seedlings I find dotted about paths and other random spots to this border to fill it up again. 🌿💛 (pic from last summer)

#foxgloves #freeplants #gardenstyle #gardeninspiration #garden #gardendesign #foxglove #countrygardens #selfseeded #natureatitsbest
Ready for April, the sunshine and the showers. 💛🌿

#springstyle #scottishstyle #countrystyle #countryliving #ladygardener #gardeners #styleinspo #countrywear #kilt #inthegarden #gardenjoy #garden
The daffodils are beginning to join the spring par The daffodils are beginning to join the spring parade and how welcome they are. 🌼💛🌿

#springgarden #inmygardentoday #gardenstagram #countrygarden #scottishborders #gardenjoy #springbulbs #gardenlandscapes #garden #momentsofmine
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