Birthday weekend

Birthday weekend

I am super blessed to have my birthday at the best possible time for a gardener.  This weekend was Labour Weekend which is also the last frost date and it is safe for planting out the summer garden in my area.  It is a moveable holiday and can vary by up to a week, so extra caution and common sense needs to be taken when planting out the garden to ensure those tender seedlings survive their early days.   As a moveable holiday sometimes my birthday falls on the Saturday and some days I miss it completely and my birthday is on a Wednesday.  But this year it fell on the Monday which happened to be a public holiday which made it all the more special.

Some years the weather at Labour Weekend is horrible with cold driving rain – but I’m still out there planting because it is what you do.  This year the weather couldn’t have been more perfect.  Not too hot and not to cold with a light cloud cover at times so the young plants and the crazy gardener weren’t stressed or overheated.  It was the best birthday ever!

Here is the fabulous weekend in pictures:

The garden before beginning to plant – it wasn’t completely empty

The garden before beginning to plant – it wasn’t completely empty

Irrigation system checked and working well.

Tomatoes going in – in alphabetical order!

Butternut and Lady Godiva seed pumpkins have gone in.

Sunflower seedlings to line the fence – it will be fab.

Early sunflowers

Silk Thai California Poppies looking lovely

Early Gladioli

Birthday breakfast overlooking the sea.

The room is set for a wonderful dinner party

First course – asparagus picked in front of our guests with cream cheese, wrapped in salmon and garnished with caviar, capers and cream cheese.

Glass gem corn planted and sweet corn seeds sown to keep them separated in time to avoid cross pollination.

Sunflower seedlings to line the fence – it will be fab.

The signature birthday cocktail – a Chelsea Sidecar – so delish!

Another birthday dinner – a BBQ of fresh vegetables

You can’t beet a plate full with smokey semi charred vegetables.

You can’t cook over flames and not have marshmallows!

There is still more to be done to get the garden sorted, but we’re getting there.  It was the best weekend ever!

Come again soon for more garden busyness!

Sarah the Gardener  : o)

NB:  Clicking on the images will give you a description.