Actually make that in the middle of the rain as there is more on the way, but this morning the sun came out for long enough for me to venture out.
1. Our new pirate ship
We had this awkward raised shady bed at the back of the garden under a bay tree where nothing grew. Last year I tried to make it into a den for the children but it didn’t seem to appeal, so this year I had the brainwave of turning it into a pirate ship. I have to confess this is not my own work but that of my neighbour’s gardener who has done an amazing job. He has even added a steering wheel and telescope and we are just waiting for the slide/ gangplank to arrive. Lucky Little Weeds!
2. First Comfrey flower
I love Comfrey and was chuffed to see the first white flower this morning. A few more weeks and I will be making a nice Comfrey tea fertiliser for the garden with the leaves.
3. Bare root roses
I have planted four new bare root roses this year: Lady of Shallot, Charles de Mill and Vanessa Bell from David Austin and a Lady Hillingdon climber from Peter Beale. They are starting to put out little shoots and I can’t wait until they start flowering.
4. Sweet pea seedlings
These are currently hardening off in our unheated lean-to. I am growing silver on plum Lisa Marie, bought from the Eagle Sweet Peas stand at Chelsea a couple of years ago and Old Spencer Mixed.
5. The Charleston lilacs
I volunteer one day a week at Charleston farmhouse near to us in East Sussex. This week Head Gardener Fiona and I were planting two lilacs: a white Syringa ‘Madame Lemoine’ and a purple ‘Michel Bucher’. An old home video by Charleston’s former housekeeper Grace Higgins shows that there were two lilacs in this spot between the gate and the pond at least until the early 1970s.
6. Happy Easter
We bought these painted Easter eggs in the Black Forest in Germany last year where they hang decorated eggs from every available branch. They are a reminder of a wonderful holiday. Next week we are off to Lanzarote so I may take a week off from The Propagator’s fantastic Six on Saturday meme. Do pop over to his blog to see what others have been up to in their garden this week.
Carrots and Calendula 
What a wonderful pirate ship! Happy little weeds, indeed. I look forward to seeing those roses in flower in a forthcoming SoS.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful ship and beautiful place for your children to play … What have you planted that is now on the roof of the pergola? A grape vine? a virginia creeper? Is there next another climbing rose or clematis?
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a grape vine – by midsummer it looks like a jungle!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Fantastic! and a wonderful shadow …
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your pirate ship looks amazing! My girls used to love the pirate ship in the Princess Diana Memorial Playground in Hyde Park – so much more exciting than just a playhouse!
You’ve made lovely choices of roses. And ‘Madame Lemoine’ is a wonderful lilac!
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a fantastic pirate ship! I’m envious of your sweet pea seedlings – they look a lot better (and upright) than mine so far…. mine tend to just tangle and knot together before they get planted outside!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Love the pirate ship. Would have loved to have done this for ours when they were a bit younger – might have got them off the Xbox! Well beyond my carpentry ability though, most I managed was a boardwalk, which amazingly is still there! – https://greenfingeredblog.blogspot.com/2017/03/childrens-boardwalk-garden-project.html
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a brilliant idea – might try making one with any leftover planks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A pirate ship? What more could a child ask for? Great mum! Watch out for Charles, although beautiful, he is a little bit of a bully once he gets going. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ok will keep an eye on him!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am hugely excited by the roses this year. Last year i had just one. This year i have…actually I’m not sure, lost count. About 15? Plus some cuttings which are doing well. Mine are all climbers or large shrubs that can be trained against a fence or wall. Have a lovely holiday. I’m sure they have a botanic garden in Lanzarote. Just saying…
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes the botanic garden has crossed my mind – just need to convince the rest of my family!
LikeLike
A solo trip perhaps? I snuck off to a garden at Lake Garda last year.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those rose buds are so wonderful to see. Love the eggs & the pirate ship as well. Those kids’ll remember that for the rest of their lives. Great memories & maybe even familiy tradition
LikeLiked by 1 person
As always a nice blog. Comfrey tea fertiliser sounds interesting
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks – it’s a bit smelly but good stuff!
LikeLike
I used to grow Madame LeMoine lilac in the 1990s. I actually did not like it as much as the classic lavender lilacs. White is not always better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I thought you were a fan of white!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am. That is what was so funny about it. White is my favorite. However, there are some flowers that are best in other colors, like lilac, wisteria, bougainvillea, crape myrtle and daffodils.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The pirate ship is a winner, lovely to know such a creative gardener. I am also envious of your volunteering job. I hope you will post more from there. Enjoy your holiday.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you – very kind words. I am lucky to volunteer at Charleston and looking forward to getting back there after the Easter break and hopefully posting more updates from there.
LikeLiked by 1 person