Carrots and Kids

Shed Heaven

The problem with this blog (ok, there may be more than one problem but for now let's confine us to this problem) is that it's a real time blog. By that I mean I write about what is happening this week. Now. If I get some good news, or something happens and I don't have time to blog, well....it never gets written.

So I haven't told you about my shed news which, at the time, made me very happy. It still makes me happy. I may have mentioned a few times before that I don't have a shed at the allotment. There's a couple of communal ones and one largeish, home-made one.

I was told years ago that we're not allowed sheds. So my tools take their chance in a shared shed that doesn't have proper closing doors let alone a padlock. And they go missing. So I have to take them home each time which can mean I arrive and exit the site laden down like a pack horse. There is another shed I could use which does have a padlock but there's not much room and I can't ever remember the combination.

A few months ago I'd had enough and decided to approach the boss/administrator of the plots. We don't have a committee. It is very low key but run, nevertheless, by the parish council.

He had built himself a shed. It's quite sizable. I wanted one (she says petulantly). I had visions of sitting in there while it rained. Of nipping up on cold days and pottering. Rearranging my shelves. And, last but not least, storing plant labels, canes, pots, seeds and string. A shed heaven. My shed heaven.

I wasn't hopeful but I was determined. I would point out how he had one. How useful it would be. How an allotment without a shed was like coffee without cake. Still lovely but with room for improvement.

But I didn't need to. He agreed! I could have my shed! I was, as you might have guessed, ecstatic. And worried. I mean, was it normal to feel so happy about a shed?

Undeterred I found, of course, the perfect shed book. It has inside the most divine potting shed. I nearly drooled when I looked at it (are we getting worried yet?). There is still no sign of the shed. I am not entirely sure when there will be. But if Santa's kind this year there will be heavenly shed pictures. And that will have to do. For now.

Do you have a potting shed? I'd love to hear all about it!

A Funky Book and a Treat

Every so often a book comes along and you think "yes, love it. Inspirational" and Growing Stuff, An Alternative Guide to Gardening is one of those.

It might seem that every book I buy or review gets a thumbs up. Maybe I am not hugely fussy (although I think, actually, that I am) or maybe I'm just good at picking wonderful books!

For a start, they have to be a visual feast and Growing Stuff ticks this box. It's a bit like a recipe book full of fun, funky gardening ideas complete with pictures of the finished project.

Some of my favourite ideas include a recipe for courgette fudge cake, a winter window box (where do people find these wonderful old boxes, where?) and flowering teacups.

I loved that there were lots of contributors to the book, it made it more interesting somehow (and has highlighted some new-to-me blogs so a bit of a buy-one-get-one-free benefit there).

I do think it is aimed more at people who are just dipping their fingers into soil for the first time, but even if you have been digging for years there will be, I reckon something you'll love in this book.

As for me, very very far from being expert in just about all areas of my life, but not a complete beginner either, it's inspired me to become a bit more creative and fun in the garden.

Which means I shall have to buy my own copy of Growing Stuff because my review copy is up for grabs! This is my first ever giveaway (I am very excited, can you tell). Just leave a comment and we'll pick a winner (by that I mean get one of the little ones to put a finger on a comment) next Monday. So you have until August 24.

And if you don't get picked you can get a whopping 40% discount by sending an email to jess at blackdogonline dot com quoting "Carrots and Kids Offer". I'm spreading the birthday love (yes, now on the other side of the hill).

Family Garden

I love gardening and I love books so my "horticultural library" is growing apace. Mostly I buy on impulse. Or rather, I spend ages flicking through in the bookshop and then I buy a fortnight later.

The books are initially chosen on impulse and, of course, it's usually the pictures that do it. I totally judge a book by it's cover (and what's inside). I have, however, haunted the gardening shelves in my local Waterstones and am now totally bored by their selection. There are loads of books they could stock but don't.

So on a recent visit to RHS Wisley I was overjoyed to find their shop, heaving with books (naturally) and people (unfortunately). It was there I picked up RHS Family Garden.

Oh dear. I think I am quite unfussy, with low expectations about almost everything. So, I guess, it must be bad if I don't rate it.

A lot of the pictures I'd seen elsewhere and most were not aimed at the majority of people who do not have half an acre for a daffodil spiral (if I see that one more time I shall scream).

One picture that did grab me was the one above, full of great ideas. The accompanying caption told you nothing about it though, no details just a general "use bedding plants to etch out nursery-scale numbers" type of text.

Of course you could probably come up with how to do it yourself but then, what's the point of buying the book? I wanted to know about the wicker snake with succulents growing along it's back; where did it come from, would it rot in the rain, price?

I'm not sure who this book is aimed at; if you're an experienced gardener the information is too basic and if you're a beginner it's not detailed enough.

I will not be deterred, I still have a (long-ish) list of books I would like to own. I think this one might be just the ticket. I realise it's in Japanese but look! Real people in their real gardens! I'm hoping it will be inspirational. Have you got it and do you rate it?

:: Goldfinch Watch Update (read more about my challenge here): Sightings = nil (although I think I did see one sitting in a neighbour's garden the other day. Teasing me). Hope = virtually non-existent. I have no idea what I am doing wrong and rather think if goldfinches are going to be this fussy perhaps I don't want them in my garden anyway (she says huffily, with her fingers crossed behind her back). ::