Could you get the parents walking the route or dropping off at nursery to bring a bottle of tap water each day and empty it on the flowers - they could get those little kids watering cans and keep them in the car and get the kids to do it en route? Or is the area too big? Also nurseries usually take the kids out for a walk each day - could the older kids (presumably 3 or 4) come with water bottles and water the plants? Good luck it sounds like a lovely idea 🥰
This was exactly what I needed to read this morning. It was joyful, funny and grounded in real things that will make others feel good too. We have a patch of land near our nursery school that we are thinking about how to turn into a community garden…you’ve inspired me to get the mood board out! ❤️🌈✨
There is a technique called Hugelkultur, from Germany, which I read about recently and several gardening friends have endorsed. Quite a lot of work to initiate BUT plants supposedly need considerably less water afterwards. Might be worth investigating?
Omg just looked it up - obsessed! I want to do one in my garden too, and actually the winter compost heap was just a pile behind a holly tree - could v easily chuck over some topsoil and have a go!
This might not be useful … but we made a community garden that was a little garden and on forest garden principles so it became a bit more self sufficient water wise and also delicious things to eat …. I’ve also done late night bulb planting on a sad bit of land thus avoiding paperwork and the bulbs looked after themselves . If you have any questions about bikes to carry children to nursery I have a lot of thoughts about that ! Not as colourful or beautiful for all your moodboard dreams though .
This sounds amazing - I'm going to look up forest gardening right now, was wondering about edibles, e.g. a couple of apple trees, very young ones... Tim would LOVE to do the bike thing to nursery but I am too much of a scaredy cat with London roads, I should however start walking more often - terrible in my driving everywhere habits! And the dog would be pleased. Also the late night bulb planting - legendary!
Fed up with customers and suppliers of the convenience store on the corner parking on the footpath outside my house (there are bollards outside the store), I paid £200 for a tree to be planted outside.
This is how I know they would park on flowers. Sorry. Two dead trees later, the tree pit has been tarmaced over. Sometimes I think about all the other things I could have spent £200 on.
There is a nursery two houses along in the other direction. It has no parking. Parents seem to manage.
Good luck with the dahlias (Waltzing Matilda is the best)! I have insatiable slugs and snails in my garden. Just this evening, I have been out in the pitch dark this evening with a clip-on torch, smearing garlic purée on the lone martagon lily that has dared to start growing. (I had six last year, but the others got so mollusc-shredded last year I doubt they’re coming back.) They really do seem to hate garlic, my sweet peas are defended by a slathering of garlic and Vaseline around the edge of the module trays since I noticed the sprouts getting nibbled the other day - and so far, they remain unmunched.
I love the observation that the bit of planting with bulbs wasn't parked on by people and of course the plants sound lovely, but the unimproved bit of wild land - which looks unloved - is also actually a really useful bit of 'rough grassland' (yes technical name) which is very good for little beasties.
Happy days to be thinking about new plants and possibilities in the garden!
Salvias and a few big plastic jugs of water in the back of your car. They survive an awful lot!!!
Could you get the parents walking the route or dropping off at nursery to bring a bottle of tap water each day and empty it on the flowers - they could get those little kids watering cans and keep them in the car and get the kids to do it en route? Or is the area too big? Also nurseries usually take the kids out for a walk each day - could the older kids (presumably 3 or 4) come with water bottles and water the plants? Good luck it sounds like a lovely idea 🥰
This was exactly what I needed to read this morning. It was joyful, funny and grounded in real things that will make others feel good too. We have a patch of land near our nursery school that we are thinking about how to turn into a community garden…you’ve inspired me to get the mood board out! ❤️🌈✨
I think you need a job at David Austin Roses 😊
There is a technique called Hugelkultur, from Germany, which I read about recently and several gardening friends have endorsed. Quite a lot of work to initiate BUT plants supposedly need considerably less water afterwards. Might be worth investigating?
Omg just looked it up - obsessed! I want to do one in my garden too, and actually the winter compost heap was just a pile behind a holly tree - could v easily chuck over some topsoil and have a go!
This might not be useful … but we made a community garden that was a little garden and on forest garden principles so it became a bit more self sufficient water wise and also delicious things to eat …. I’ve also done late night bulb planting on a sad bit of land thus avoiding paperwork and the bulbs looked after themselves . If you have any questions about bikes to carry children to nursery I have a lot of thoughts about that ! Not as colourful or beautiful for all your moodboard dreams though .
This sounds amazing - I'm going to look up forest gardening right now, was wondering about edibles, e.g. a couple of apple trees, very young ones... Tim would LOVE to do the bike thing to nursery but I am too much of a scaredy cat with London roads, I should however start walking more often - terrible in my driving everywhere habits! And the dog would be pleased. Also the late night bulb planting - legendary!
Walking is great - far
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Opportunities for random discoveries or unexpected chats . The agroforestry website is good. Mind you I’m hardly an expert - I love the theory
Fed up with customers and suppliers of the convenience store on the corner parking on the footpath outside my house (there are bollards outside the store), I paid £200 for a tree to be planted outside.
This is how I know they would park on flowers. Sorry. Two dead trees later, the tree pit has been tarmaced over. Sometimes I think about all the other things I could have spent £200 on.
There is a nursery two houses along in the other direction. It has no parking. Parents seem to manage.
Oh no! What a pain - two trees down! Hmm, yes it would increase my step count if we walked!
A new cook book? Joining the panel of mentor chefs on Great British Menu? I can sense the excitement mounting 😜
The moon is full on the 3rd of this month. You might feel a bit less manic…🤣 but I hope not!
😂
Good luck with the dahlias (Waltzing Matilda is the best)! I have insatiable slugs and snails in my garden. Just this evening, I have been out in the pitch dark this evening with a clip-on torch, smearing garlic purée on the lone martagon lily that has dared to start growing. (I had six last year, but the others got so mollusc-shredded last year I doubt they’re coming back.) They really do seem to hate garlic, my sweet peas are defended by a slathering of garlic and Vaseline around the edge of the module trays since I noticed the sprouts getting nibbled the other day - and so far, they remain unmunched.
I adore this https://redthreadcollective.substack.com/p/tending-a-life-the-way-i-tend-a-garden
Oh my god, such a good Radio 4 voice! I just posted my first voiceover. Was yours the first take??!!
I love the observation that the bit of planting with bulbs wasn't parked on by people and of course the plants sound lovely, but the unimproved bit of wild land - which looks unloved - is also actually a really useful bit of 'rough grassland' (yes technical name) which is very good for little beasties.
Happy days to be thinking about new plants and possibilities in the garden!