Red and Green.

Last year I wanted a greenhouse so that I could plant tomatoes and cucumbers, Paul brought a huge one, it was far too big and took up lots of space in the garden. Tomatoes were planted, but because we were not used to having them, they perished!

This year I got my regular gardener who I pay, once each year to do a day’s work, after he has been and given me his quote. He is a perfectionist! He is very good. He is expensive, but worth every penny. Stephen, is his name. He cost me around £200 to £300 hence that is why I only use him once a year. He usually works on his own, but he has a garden mate who is just as hardworking as he is.

For our lawn he wanted me to be on his lawn rota with his other Customers, for me to pay him every two weeks, for most of the year, I told him, “No I can’t afford that.” Paul and myself, we don’t do anything in the garden, so it just goes wild.

I have jobs that I think of, that I would like Stephen to do and I keep them in mind. Stephen, he too is full of excellent ideas, some I take on board and others I don’t.

My garden and me look forward to Stephen’s input to our garden. He’s like a miracle worker. When he has finished, I can’t take enough pictures of his handiwork. He has green fingers and more.

This year, I sold the expensive greenhouse to his buddy Jamie, for a fraction of the £180 that Paul chose and paid for it. Jamie had a bargain of £30, it was just a relief to get it out of my garden. In its place I bought a £50 one from Wilko, and Stephen also found one on-line for me £30, that one was a lot smaller.

From Wilko and Morrisons Paul and I bought cucumber and tomato seeds, I bought cute pots to put them in, I didn’t realize, until later, that cute is not good enough.

Jamie had tall well established tomato plants that I was able to buy some from him, that was much better than last year, than watching the tiny seeds grow was very good but they didn’t make it, that was what Paul and I did.

This year Stephen and Jamie planted cucumbers and tomatoes in the greenhouses, there was excitement in the air for me Watching the babies grow, watering them, feeding them, it was exciting. I took lots of pictures of them.

When I bought the bigger greenhouse from Wilko, I had it put up by Stephen in a sunnier part of the garden and moved the smaller one next to it.

I soon realized what Paul meant, when he saw my cute plant pots. They were too tiny. The cucumber and tomatoes, still grew well.

There were lessons learnt, I have got huge pots from Wilko, for all been well, next year. Also, for next year, I will do what Paul has suggested, “Plant you tomato directly into the soil.” That makes SO much sense, roots without limits.

I also learnt, I don’t like garden spiders and their webs, they were in the garden. The worst thing I found about growing my precious vegetables was the slugs, boy they had NO mercy! They munched their way, through everything. I would get a sheet of kitchen paper and pick each one up and threw them secretly into Paul’s abandoned garden section. When we were kids, we would kill them with salt. I would never do that now; it is too cruel.

Four months ago, when Stephen and Jamie came, the garden was perfect, my section, now the grass is over grown, I did buy grass seeds from Asda, as the grass was patchy in parts and I wanted proper grass with a nice thick healthy, lush lawn. Now however, without no attention, lots of rain and heatwaves, it is overrun, and horrible.

Stinging nettles have sprung up, I had forgotten all about them, and hadn’t seen any for years. I stepped over them as I hung out the clothes and picked them up, I had to make sure that Darius didn’t sting himself, he is our grandson. I got carless and got stung!!! It Really hurt. I know that doc leaf? Is to be rubbed on the skin, but I don’t know what that looks like, so the sting hurt for five minutes. Some things in nature never changes.

My lovely vegetables, suffered because we would forget to water them, and to be honest, I did think, that the condensation was enough inside the greenhouse, I thought it would make it self-watering, I don’t know where I got that from, but there was a lot of condensation on the inside of both greenhouses. I love the smell of tomatoes inside a green house. Paul has said, “Next year we will plant cherry tomatoes outside, that don’t need to be in a greenhouse.” I can’t wait.

My biggest enemy was as mentioned, the slugs, well recently in the Wilko sales I saw and bought Slugs be Gone Copper Tape. It deters slugs and snails from pots and planters. Paul said, “Use them next year.” I bought three packs.

I didn’t like the cucumber, it was the right size like in the shops but it looked spikey on the outside, not like in the shops. Paul said, “There are lots of different varieties.” But the white little spikes put me off, they looked like little grubs. I washed it and peeled the skin off, but it didn’t taste like it does in the shops. I also picked two lovely tomatoes, they too do not look like they do in the shops, smooth. I will eat one tonight with my chicken drum stick.

As most of you will know, who live here in the UK, the fabulous store Wilko, closed down, last week Thursday. I loved that store and used it often for large and medium wipes, kitchen cleaning sprays, dyes they were like £2 cheaper than the other craft store in the Town. Pet supplies, of which we have many, was much cheaper.

So, Wilko last week Thursday it was the last day. I talked to some of the Staff and I gave them my, “Best wishes.” I bought a Springy Snake cat toy, they love it, I also bought for the garden next year, four plants: Mina Lobata Eye-catching vigorous climber, I chose that because my friend from school called Mina, died of breast cancer forty years ago. Cress, fine curled, I also bought Thyme, and finally, Parsley plain leaved.

It will be strange tomorrow to have no more Wilko on the high street.