Lavender

I was heading towards the word “Garden” this week, but it seems I’ve used that before, more than twice, so I’ll opt for lavender as my word of the week, instead. It has been a lavender focussed week, which is just as I like it. I’ve happily buried my head in lavender.

Lavender

Our garden is split into different areas. Like a series of rooms or gardens. We have one smaller garden which is petite and, on the whole, pet free. The local rabbits and deer are unlikely to stumble into it, although frustratingly, there has been a mole recently, which is unusual. I use this hidden garden as my salad and strawberry garden, with two raised beds in the middle, but the outside edges have lost focus. Years ago, I planted them up and the plants that survived flourished, mainly out of their own perseverance, rather than any care from me.

This year, this changes. I decided one side should be planted up as a lavender hedge. To encourage the pollinators and also give a clean source of lavender to cook and preserve, without Hero the Hound watering it. It was also a good excuse to visit my favourite and local lavender farm. We bought six plants; three Hidcotes and three Folgates, which should give a subtle, alternating colour. Afterwards we sat on the shop’s veranda and drank tea and ate lavender cake, looking over the soon to be blooming lavender fields. It was incredibly civilised.

The lavender plants are now planted, among the self-seeded poppy seedlings. It should look pretty in a few weeks.

Fence

I started to tackle another edge of the garden. It was a fence between us and one of our neighbours, which was more ivy than fence. As I say, was a fence. I started trimming it, partly as therapy before heading off to my dental appointment. Just enough to remove the bulk of the foliage but not enough to undermine the fence. When I came home, I discovered Mr T had finished the job, and a little bit more. The fence can now only be described as a token of a fence. In all fairness, the wooden panels had rotted away years ago, so I think he brought it to a head. Did I mention, it’s not our fence?

Hmm.

I’ve made an executive decision and delegated negotiations to Mr T. I’ll be sewing lavender bags.

Other non lavender events

First lettuce from the greenhouse, this week.

First A level exam happened this week. He seemed OK with it. We have one more week left before half term and, after that,  Youngest will only go in for exams. After 19 years (including his sisters’ school years), we have only one week of school runs left. I am going to miss it, which surprises me.

I improved on my raspberry cheesecake from last week. Only took three attempts, but I perfected it. Might give it a miss for a few weeks though, as I struggled through my last cardio class. I put it down to the heat of the day, but I suspect the cheesecake tastings have not helped.

With all the dry weather, Hero has remembered how much he likes to dig. It’s funny how he goes through stages. Anyway, there are a number of holes around the garden now, which would be perfect for planting trees in. Or lavender plants. He is still the best of boys, so I’m not cross, but between him and the mole it makes for interesting landscaping.

We had the first rain in months. Proper thunder and lightening. Drenching rain and yet my water butts are still empty, even the ones I checked were connected and clear of debris. Ah well. Maybe next time.

Joining in Anne’s Word of the Week Linky. Hope you’ve all had a good week.