Back to Nature
I would never claim to be an expert gardener, but I do enjoy my time outdoors, cultivating my little garden.
My olive tree
On leaving a school in Putney that I had worked at and called home for 9 years, the staff arranged a little leaving present in the shape of an olive tree.
It is truly beautiful, despite the difficulties I had trying to get in into my car for the journey home!
I've been reading up about caring for olive trees, and I am following the suggestions about placement, feeding and watering, and pruning. Websites suggest it fruits during the winter months, so that will be interesting in our UK climate.
My terracotta soldier
I saw this a good few years ago in a garden centre, just after I had visited the Terracotta Army on display at the British Museum. At the time I thought it might be too large for my little garden, but I couldn't resist buying it, especially as the representation of a kneeling soldier is near identical to the model I bought from the museum gift shop.
Whilst not life-size like the real Terracotta Warriors from China, it certainly serves as a reminder of my visit as well as my passion for history.
Cleaning my pond
It seems every year I go through the hassle of having to clean my pond, the water of which gravitates to a mucky green colour. I've tried a number of different products over the years, including buying a pump, but nothing seems to last once Spring returns.
Trying a new product this year, which follows a two-step process. This involves adding a powder to the water first, and then after 3 days adding a packet filled with another powder. After the first application, the surface of the pond seemed to turn to sludge, suggesting that something was definitely happening; the second is still dissolving, but it's looking good so far. Time will tell - but I might purchase another water pump too this year, as the previous one got so clogged up (suggesting I needed a bigger pump!).
My sunflowers
Mum loves the colour yellow, particularly when it comes to flowers, so I had to include one of these in my garden. I've placed it around the pond - where mum can see it from her window - and left it in a pot in the hope that it doesn't grow too tall (which they have a tendency to do).
