Therapeutic – Dawn. The Sparkle Diaries.

As they say in Ireland, the weather has been cat. From the snow in February to a very cold and windy March and April with the odd warm sunny day. The wettest May for decades and then, at last in June some sunny warm days which meant I was able to get out in the garden. Long time readers of my blog will know that during lockdown last year I got outside and tackled a very overgrown and neglected garden and I fell in love with gardening. Whatever you do out there you get instant results to sit back and look at and be proud of. From lawn mowing to weeding, planting seeds or plants, it is just lovely to get out there and work and let your mind roam wherever it pleases. I find it very therapeutic and healing.

It was like a jungle out there. The grass was so long, the Willow tree was not blooming at it should (the Willow saga continues) and as for weeds…OMG absolutely everywhere and growing fast. I got stuck in and over a three days period which made my body feel as if I had been doing continuous squats, and crawling up the stairs to bed, I did make some headway. I’m learning that no matter how much you do in the garden you are never on top of the work. It really is a work in progress and I really do love it.

I love this Camelia, unfortunately almost as soon as it blooms the rain comes and knocks the blooms to the floor. I also love Viola’s and my hanging basket has looked lovely so far this year.

Obsessed with the Snowball tree this year. I don’t think I have ever seen it bloom as beautifully before. I have had to get the Willow Tree partially cut back, in the hope that it will grow back stronger. By cutting the tree back it let a lot more light and space into the area below it and the Snowball Tree has thrived.

Finally, after over twelve months, I managed to get a garden storage box, WHOOP! There was a huge shortage because lots of people took up gardening last year. I had a busy afternoon planting plus my neighbour gave me two tomato plants. I am growing potatoes, garlic, spinach, dwarf green beans, beetroot and radish. Out of view is a gooseberry bush which my neighbour gave me last year. I didn’t think it would survive the Winter but it did and is actually blooming, fingers crossed.

The Shamrock has gone crazy with the sun, heat and rain, looks beautiful though. Me, tired out after a day gardening.

I planted two halves of a spud in February and yielded fifty small potatoes in early June. They tasted amazing. I have planted some more now for harvesting in September. I honestly can’t believe I’m gardening and growing, or having a go, at growing my own vegetables. It’s very satisfying and I do find that ideas for my music flow whilst I’m out there and my mind is uncluttered and free.

With love and sparkles xxx

I’ve never really been a gardener. My parents loved their garden, if they weren’t out there gardening they were sitting back with a cup of tea reading a large, old, gardening book held together at the seams by masking tape. Looking for various plants, bushes or trees to plant. During the last four years of their lives, they didn’t really bother with the garden at all. Sadly they weren’t able to and neither was I as I was looking after them.

This year of course we have had lockdown due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the UK, from the 23rd March when our Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced lockdown, the weather was incredible. Warm and sunny, day after day after day. After a very dark, wet Winter this sudden early Summer was amazing. At the time, we were allowed out once a day for exercise. The weather was just too good for me to stay indoors and I am so lucky to have the garden. So I located Mom and Dad’s gardening tools and I got myself out there.

I didn’t know where to start or really what to do, so I just went for it. The plant borders once full of colourful plants were now covered in thick grass and weeds. Trees and bushes had taken over corners of the garden. I wasn’t sure what I was doing but I decided that hopefully I wouldn’t kill anything. It was much harder work than I imagined. Clearing the smallest area of thick grass took almost nine hours (not nine hours all at once you understand). I ached so much yet I was so happy with my achievements. I cut roses back, trees back, pulled up weeds and what I thought were weeds. I’m sure Mom and Dad must have been looking down in total shock that their daughter was not only in the garden, but gardening. I hope they are happy with progress so far.

From a grassy and weed filled border to weed free with roses and Dahlia’s blooming.

This bush blooms white twice a year and had totally overgrown. It has taken months and I’m still making my way through to clearing up the area near to the Willow tree. It was so good to locate the small garden ornaments again.

I cleared away the old garden shed and luckily there was slabbing underneath it for a patio area. I grew some sunflowers from seed and I love the Pinks and Purples of the Bizzy Lizzies and Violas.

I’ve even had a go at growing Tomatoes, Green Beans and Potatoes.

I tidied up a patch in the front garden and bought three solar lights which sparkle, of course, at night. So happy to see that Dad’s Shamrock has started blooming again and Mom’s Fuchsia is stunning in the sunlight.

I look forward to clear, bright days so I can get out into the garden. Weeds just keep coming and there are still a couple of small areas that I have to tackle. I’m loving it. I’m planning which plants to buy for some Autumn and Winter colour and I so enjoy looking out of the window at my handywork. Having the good weather and the garden to escape to not only helped me through lockdown, it brought me peace, healing and acceptance. Everyone needs nature, it really is so good for you.

With love and sparkles xx