our backyard

Whilst I love our allotment, I've been missing having a nice relaxing outside space at home, where I can potter about with the watering can in the evening after the girls had gone to bed. When we moved here in the winter, I had grand ideas for our rather shabby little backyard, but zero budget meant that these did not come to fruition. So this weekend I headed down to the garden centre to see if I could pick up some bits to cheer up our sad little space. 

I switched my thrifty radar to high alert and was able to pick up eighteen flowery bedding plants for £7 and found some slightly droopy packs of Jamie Oliver herbs on the reduction trolley, reduced to £1.50 from £7.99 for six little pots (I bought two packs).

 

Once the plants were potted up in terracotta pots alongside the olive trees my mum bought me for my birthday and the herbs planted in the lovely wooden planter my dad built for me last year, the yard was looking a far chirpier place to sit.

A few jam jars with tea lights inside made do as the garden lighting and the bunting I won in the Me Old China giveaway a few weeks ago looked just right along the outhouse (which still houses a toilet!).

I saved a few of the marigolds I'd been growing from seed for the allotment and popped them in tin cans, for a bit of colour while we wait for the potted flowers to bloom.

All I have left to do now is sew up some little cream blinds for the windows in the shed, to hide all the junk inside. I'm also on the look-out for an old metal watering can, to stand by the garden tap, but unfortunately I was not in luck at the carboot sale on Sunday. 

I'm really pleased with the transformation and can't wait for some warm evenings to make the most of it.

Happy days!