Our small Pennine garden has woken up – well, started to at least! We’ve been out at the weekend sweeping, potting up seeds, planting strawberries and some colourful annuals.

We have lots of shady corners, so hostas and astilbes do really well.

Ferns like it here too – we’re really fond of these little ones which self-seed and sprout from the old stone walls.

This is another self-seeder. It can take over a bit if left unchecked, but if it’s restricted within pots and cracks between paving it looks wonderful – the bright green leaves and pretty white flowers really lift the shaded areas… and it’s always good to get plants for free!

We have a little project for the summer, renovating this little, old greenhouse which was about to be thrown on the tip. It’s a house in the loosest sense of the word – being only about 4 feet wide. We’ll try not to lose any of its shabby charm, but if it doesn’t get some TLC soon it will fall to pieces.

We love these bits of metalware in the garden – old dolly tubs, buckets and watering cans.

Also the drainpipe hoppers which look lovely when the flowers start to spill over.

We’ve got our seating arrangements sorted out, picking up a Victorian cast iron bench over the winter.

Also a more portable 1960s metal & plastic weave chair… and this fab 70s floral lounger.

The birds are well catered for…

Although its about time they started to find their own food now.

We’ve made a good start, but there’s plenty left to do… and Fudge is always happy to supervise proceedings.

It’s nice to be able to sit back and survey work done so far though… and plan the next move from our strategic headquarters.