The Constant Gardener

I've created urban oases in past homes but despite all good intentions this garden remains a wilderness, choked to death by bindweed, decimated by slugs or, more usually, by the pair of us buggering off to India just when the growing season kicks in.

The glorious weather (and Miss Magpie pointing out the weeds behind me on a previous post) have spurred me into action yet again. There's tomato and cucumber plants already flowering in the window boxes, a thinned-out herb plot and a stash of second-hand pots scrubbed and ready to be planted out with whatever I can find going cheap on the market in the morning.

My 1970s high-waisted denim "Huggers"shorts, tooled leather belt, flowery gardening gloves,1960s Polaroids & broderie Anglaise blouse are all second-hand, the leather sandals were bought NEW from a roadside stand in Tamil Nadu, 2011

I've had great planting advice & ideas from Miss Magpie, Tania, Clare, Emma Kate and Nikki so watch this space. I wouldn't hold out that much hope though, our Glasto tickets arrived on Saturday so there's 6 days of neglect on the cards already.

Here's my favourite find from Chesterfield flea market - a set of snazzy 1960s red nylon pyjamas with deliciously naughty built-in frilly knickers. I loved them on sight and got a generous discount when the gorgeous stall holder, Darcey, and her cool daughter, Hannah, recognised me from my blog. Curtise's fabulous yellow frock came from the same stall.

It's perfect for slipping on after a bath and chilling with a rum and coke in front of Poirot after a hard day on my knees, trowel in hand, laughing along to the millionth passer-by to suggest I come and sort out their garden next.

All this manual labour may do wonders for the sun tan but it doesn't half play havoc with the Barry M.

Have you seen the latest edition of VOGOFF magazine? Forget airbrushed celebrities, style Nazis and pre-pubescent stick insects, this is the real deal. Check out Madame Vix's article right HERE.

I'm off to water my tomatoes.

See you soon!