Sometimes, you have to stop day dreaming and realise there are things which simply aren't going to happen. I will never be five foot seven, I am not going to live in a Georgian rectory and, unfortunately, I'm pretty sure I'm never going to get a greenhouse.
Rather pathetically, I've been unable to let go of this final dream. When I planned the garden, I made sure there was a perfect spot for my beautiful hand-crafted greenhouse and have kept this space bare for nearly three years in anticipation of its arrival. To be frank, it's becoming a little embarrassing - it looks like I've been stood up by a garden building.
So last week I decided, enough is enough. I put away the brochures, scraped off the bark chippings covering the area and began to dig.
The plan is to create a mini-wildflower garden with a bean-covered wigwam at the centre. This choice was partly decided by the fact this is relatively poor soil compared to the rest of the garden and so more suitable for the range of cornfield weeds and wild flowers we have selected.
The main job was to create a nice fine tilth to the soil which involved some raking but mostly lots of breaking clods with with the back of a fork. Then I let the children sow the seeds - two small packets - one a gift from Grandpa Roger, the other hastily purchased at the garden centre when I thought I had lost Grandpa Roger's offering.
The child-based sowing could have been an error - only time will tell - but if the seed was, shall we say, sown a little erratically, it's a small enough area that I can redistribute the plants when, or if, they've grown a little.
The wigwam was made from six bamboo canes, seven foot long. We marked out the area using some short bamboo canes, pushed in the larger uprights about a foot deep and then tied the top using gardener's twine. The twine was then used by the children to weave around each of the poles at foot intervals to create 'sides' to the wigwam and give the beans a better climbing structure as they grow.
The kids added bark chippings to form the base and we found a couple of logs for seats which somehow escaped the wood burner this winter.
The beans are due to be sown inside this week. We've chosen two different types - the Runner Bean Phaseolus coccineus 'Celebration' which is an early variety, has lovely pink flowers and is particularly recommended for wigwams plus climbing bean Phaseolus coccineus 'Firetongue' which has reddish streaks on the green pods and is a multi-purpose Italian speciality bean used for its pods, flageolets and haricots.
Fingers crossed, it should be a picture of loveliness in a couple of months. Plus, at a total cost of £11.80, this garden is marginally cheaper than a greenhouse. Or a Georgian rectory for that matter.
Victoria - If Cath Kidston says it's wigwams, then it's wigwams for me. CK is a woman in the know. Also, you make a good point on the size issue. I should just choose very small companions and I will instantly become Amazonian.
Avis W - I am just hoping the rather pathetic smattering of seedlings do indeed transform into something more wild and indeed flowery over the next few weeks or otherwise this whole thing could be a bit of a let down...
Posted by: Dawn/LittleGreenFingers | April 12, 2010 at 10:00 AM
I'm with Esther and the Victorian Hothouse complete with hot tub and butterflies and a hot naked man.....
sorry, got carried away!
Posted by: Troutie | April 12, 2010 at 07:24 PM
Troutie - only you could drag this down to the level of naked men and hot tubs. And I love it!
Posted by: Dawn/LittleGreenFingers | April 12, 2010 at 08:46 PM
You really do need a greenhouse! I have just got one. Took a little work to take it down and rebuild it but I love it. Easy to make kid safe with polycarbonate. - Cost next to nothing too! Doug
Posted by: Doug | April 14, 2010 at 11:20 AM