Sunday 10 May 2015

A new shed (and the last views of the tulips)

My rather wonderful (and kind and lovely and thoughtful!) husband, Chris, has made me (well, us) a new shed, using mainly recycled materials.  It is the poshest shed I have owned!  The old shed needed to be replaced as it had rotted and was leaning at a rather drunk angle.  This new version is built to last and will be a practical working space, right at the end of the garden, opposite the lilac tree. Thanks, Chris, I love it!
 It has metal shelves on one side, opposite the window and lino on the floor...
 and a stainless steel potting bench on the other side, under the window.
 I have the exciting job of deciding what is going where now. All the things stored in the old shed have been on the patio under a plastic sheet while construction was going on, and I am going to enjoy sorting it all out (I think!).  I thought I had better take some photos of it before I fill it up again, as it will never be quite this tidy again...
Here are the last photos of this year's tulips.  I have been looking to see what I may like to have next year.  Ballerina will definitely feature again!
 These are the tulips in tubs at the front - a single early and single late mix.  Orange and white have featured here.
This is one which appeared in my last post but the colour has moved into the petals more now.
 The lilac in the back garden is looking and smelling lovely.
 Blueberry Blue Pearl is also flowering and I have seen lots of bees around it.  I hope this means a good harvest in the autumn.
I couldn't resist a last look at Ballerina and Red Shine, enjoying the sun this morning.  Beautiful!

18 comments:

  1. Love your shed, so practical with the bench under the window, your tulips are stunning.

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    1. Thanks, Marlene. I love the shed too and have already started to fill up the shelves. It will be lovely to have the patio back too - more room for pots! The tulips have been beautiful this year and I am thinking of lots more for next year (budget allowing!)
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. What a fabulous shed!!! You will be able to get up to all kinds of great gardening things in there. Lovely to see your tulips and other flowers, I love catching up with what everyone has growing! xx

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    1. Thanks, Ame. I am very lucky with the new shed and will gradually be sorting things out ready for their new home. It has been a good year for tulips, hasn't it?
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. I would LOVE a shed like that. At the moment things are stored higgledy piggledy in the garage, on the veranda, anywhere there is room. And of course I can never find what I want...
    Love your tulips and your lilac too.
    Planting tulips (and other bulbs) here will start again soon. Such an exciting time.

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    1. Thanks, EC. I had to wait a year for the lovely new shed, but it was definitely worth it. The lilac was here when we moved in, but has regenerated itself in the last few years because one of its main trunks broke and I though that was it. However, it has grown back beautifully and it is wonderful for a few weeks at this time of the year.
      I envy you with your bulb planting - I am just starting to think about tulips for next year...
      Enjoy your gardening
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. What a lovely shed - and with lino - tres chic! Our lilac is just about to burst and I can't wait to start bringing that lovely scent into the house x Jane

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    1. Thanks, Jane. I know - I will have to take my shoes off to go into the shed! I don't think it will stay looking quite so smart for all that long though as I am a very messy gardener.
      Lilac trees do make up for being not very exciting for most of the year when they flower, don't they?
      Enjoy your lilac
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. What a nice garden shed it is, and a good carpenter your husband is!

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    1. Thanks, Poirot. That is high praise indeed from such a good carpenter as you! I am very pleased with the lovely new shed.
      Best wishes and happy gardening
      Ellie

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  6. Wow! Looks amazing! Would love to see some pics of it with all your gubbins in :-)

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    1. Thanks, Cordelia. It was worth waiting for! My gubbns have started going in but I hadn't realised quite how much I have got! Some editing is required, I think.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  7. What a great shed! I love a blank canvas, where everything is new and you decided what goes where.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thanks, Amalia. It is a lovely blank canvas, but I think it will fill up very quickly!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  8. What a fab shed, and a lovely husband. I can't wait to see it filled with your gardening bits x

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    1. Thanks, Tracy. It is a fab shed and I am very lucky. It has started to be filled but I need to do some severe editing of gardening stuff before much longer!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  9. It looks like such a cosy little house... Well done husband :-)! Love from Mirjam.

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    1. Thanks, Mirjam. Chris has done brilliantly and I am using the shed pretty much every time I am out in the garden. I love it!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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