What A Beautiful and Productive Monday in the Garden.

Well what a fabulous day Monday has been.  Lovely and warm with a beautiful clear blue sky. 

I braved the shops first thing this morning hopefully for the last time for a while.  It was heaving, normally early on a Monday morning hardly anyone is about, but today it was absolutely awful.  I've got a new recipe for some gluten free bread I wanted to try and needed some bicarbonate of soda and even that was sold out - ridiculous!    I also called in to the garden centre on the way home to see if they had a wheelbarrow which is going to be one of my birthday presents, and also to get some seeds and potatoes to plant.    I finally arrived home late morning.  As I was walking up the driveway to open the gate I saw a huge beetle on the driveway.  

I took a quick couple of photos so I could look it up when I got inside.

It is an Oil Beetle (Meloe proscarabaeus)

I've never seen one of these before.  It looked like it was busy trying to dig into the loose metal of the driveway.

Once I had unloaded the groceries I made myself some lunch and sat out on the deck soaking up the sunshine and taking in the view while having a read of my book.

I spent the rest of the afternoon in the garden.

I did manage to get a wheelbarrow and put it to good use this afternoon.

The seeds I bought.  I thought I had also picked up some red onion seeds, but I either left it behind or I didn't!

I planted some of the two different varieties of squash in the round pots.

In the two green trays I planted two different types of beetroot.

I decided to dig this area over.

I spied a little ladybird whilst digging.

Getting there.

Once I had finished I replanted all the strawberry plants from one of the vegetable beds along this pathway bed.

Now I have a free vegetable bed, which will be ready when some of the seeds become seedlings.

I mowed the lawns.

This is a big lawn, a bit messy from where the badgers keep digging it up...and no I still have seen one yet!  They could at least let me see them destroying my lawn!

I sat up the garden with a cup of tea and had a short break and read a bit more of my book.

Also taking in the view and thinking how very lucky I am.  I feel so much more at peace and happier than I have been in years.  It is so lovely and quiet and makes a huge difference from when all I could hear in our previous garden was the roar of the M25.

Such a fabulous blue sky.

I decided to dig over this area.

Not sure what it has been used for, but I was thinking I might be able to plant a few potatoes in it...not sure yet.

I haven't finished it yet and will continue working on it tomorrow if the weather is as good.

I walked down to the house and discovered that another birthday gift (from my son and daughter in law) had arrived, so after five trips I think it was carrying it up the garden I had to assemble it.

The second wooden compost bin.  I love seeing these two bins side by side, ready for action!

In amongst a small shrub I spied some pink...

Back at the house I could see a ferry in the distance.

The garden is bathed in gorgeous late afternoon light.

So pretty.  What a beautiful late afternoon (gone 4pm).