Travels and gardening

Lots of time spent gardening again today..........been busy potting on kale and parsley seedlings and put the sweet peas, chives and kale into the cold frame for hardening off. Mum kindly gave me one of Dad's cold frames that he used so it is nice to have something that he regularly used in his garden to remember him by. Mum also gave me lots of unused seeds so I have been busy sowing radish, French climbing beans, and Chicory. I also received my free 'Dig in' seeds from the BBC and sowed salad leaves, beans and carrots.

The photo on the left is Chervil, a herb that I have not grown before and I am really pleased with how well it has germinated.

Last weekend was spent at Chatsworth Park Caravan Club site. We arrived about 5 ish on the Friday afternoon and surprisingly found a decent pitch. Once settled in we took Sacha a stroll in the park and sat watching a cygnet, grey heron and coots on the river. There were a couple of other folk enjoying the warm evening also but it was lovely being able to switch off and chill.

On the Saturday we summoned up the energy and did a good walk from the site, past the front off Chatsworth House, along the river to the bridge by Calton Lees and then over the river taking a lane that runs up past the side of the park. At the top of the lane - it is steep so be warned - we veered off following a waymarked path up across the moorland and up into the woods above the back of the house. It levels out into a lovely walk taking you past the big lakes that feed the fountains and water cascades in the house gardens. It was a very warm day and Sacha was grateful of the opportunity to grab a paddle and drink on the way. We then came to the hunting lodge tower and started our steep descent down the many steps that take you down towards the Children's farmyard. When we got to the car park by the house it was heaving with people and we were glad to make our way back towards the river side and along to the site.

This weekend we had booked in to Carsington CC site but decided to postpone as the weather forecast was not good and we have so much to catch up on in the garden. Paul has cleared all of the old lawned area down the field side of the house where the chickens used to live and is busy preparing it for new turf, most of it was moss anyway as when we moved here there had been huge (20-30 feet) conifers as a hedge so the grass had been deprived of much needed sunlight. It will look lovely when it is laid as Paul has made an excellent job of levelling it all off and tidying up all the stone edging along the border.

Tomorrow will require a trip to Mum's to collect more plant pots for more seed sowing.