I may have mentioned an upcoming family wedding that will be held, hell, high water and covid notwithstanding, in August. The happy couple plans to hold their reception in the garden – yes, it’s that big – but I feel the pressure to make sure everything is tickety-boo.
Now, I’ve shared the lawn worries with you but that is but a small part of the planning. What we really need is colour and in abundance. The garage is full of dahlia cornes, the cold frames have enough geraniums to cover Wembley and we have packets of seeds.
Some of those will be liberally sprinkled later in the year but some need to be potted up and nurtured. With that in mind the Textiliste, she who is in charge of colour, has this gizmo to create the ultimate in upcycled, biodegradable pots from old newspaper.
You take a sheet
tear it into strips
find your gizmo
wrap the paper around said thingumibob
seal off the bottom
fills with soil and seed and water.
Repeat.
Yes we have some plastic mini cold frames but these paper cups are the biz.
Meanwhile we are having piping fitted as a preliminary to the long term water capture of rainwater off the roof. The plan is to lay the pipe under the bed, cap it off and after the wedding have the adjustments made and tanking installed to capture as much rain as we can. Oh to be green – and not just the lawn.
And for all Dog lovers out there, some yoga for our sponsors…
TanGental 
I just love Dog and his joy of the garden.
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He does enjoy a good squirm
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Great advice for what to do with the remains of a kitchen or toilet roll. So good to see how ‘green’ you’re going, Geoff. Not good that you didn’t join in with the yoga, though. Or did you?
Lovely to see the garden again, having walked around it a few times myself. How many guests will be allowed at the Wedding? Or don’t we know yet (depending on Covid restrictions)?
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I feel exhausted just reading that!
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Good luck with your wedding host and gardening plans, Geoff and I love the canine yoga. X
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The conservationist in you is on full display! I do like the downward-facing dog, the upward-facing dog, and just Dog!
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I am loving this garden. The transformation (s) of would make a lovely book. I hear tell there are others out there who engage in such activities on their properties… And of course, a dance video of Dog would rack up the views on YouTube which could monetize and rack in the cash to PAY for the garden work!
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By viewing the photos in rapid succession I was able to see the full acrobatic canine roll!
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Fun stuff Geoff but methinks that the yard has long since brought you to heal and you would have done all this anyway perhaps with a tad less color, but still. . .
This is a fine eco-effort with magnificent results but as long as you are left with time to write, I say carry on. . .
With kind regards and a polite scratch being an ear to Dog — attaboy!
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… behind an ear…
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Best wishes on all the plans, Geoff. For some reason, your photos are not loading. Must be a Brexit thing.
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Good luck with the plans……… erm, that last picture of Mylo? The stance looks awfully familiar before a certain deed!
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Is this eco-atonement for cutting the lawn?
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It’s going to look wonderful in time for the wedding.
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I expect to see you selling these little pots on Etsy soon. A useful project down the road. Repeat, repeat, repeat. Or was that all a lead up to a pun on peat?
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The wedding venue of the century
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I love yours and the Textiliste’s enthusiasm for sustainability, Geoff! Excellent step on capturing the rainwater. I’m so impressed! Did you know that in Colorado — which is not where I live — you are not allowed by law to capture rainwater from your roof. The water is considered part of the state’s resources. Anyway, carry on and as you were. ;0)
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How bloody ridiculous! Oh well stupidity knows no bounds. I’m working on a plan for a geothermal heat exchanger to reduce our power usage though with a 1930s house we need to upgrade our insulation to maximise the benefits and with the controls on external changes – no modern double glazing fr’instance – that’s another challenge, still onwards!
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Go, Geoff, go!👏🙌
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The newspaper pots are brilliant a great little gismo! Dog looks good 🙂 so does the lawn 💜
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We continue to hope it will all work out…
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I am sure it will 💜
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It’s going to be the Wedding Of The Century, it is! 😀
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Oh the wedding of August 2021 would do me…
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Hi Geoff,
Ive been away from the blogging world for a bit focusing on my wwi research and starting to write. We’re currently in the car driving from Geoff’s younger older sister on the Gold Coast to his older older sister near Byron Bay and we drive home Monday. I popped by your blog after watching the prelude tobthe Duke of Edinburghs funeral on tv and thought you might have something to say.
Its fitting in a way to be reading about your son’s wedding plans and needing to get the garden ready as the Queen farewells her husband of over 70 years standing.
Our holiday has been quite like that. We come up here at least once a year and know the local shops. On this visit the cake shop ive been going to for 23 years has gone and another has taken its place, but its not the same. I was talking with Geoff’s sister about what has become a procession of pets who have since passed away. Each one was uniquely special and yet now water under the rainbow bridge. I guess its all a reminder that life is precious and to make the most of our relationships while we can. That i guess brings me to dear Sue. I never met her but wish there had been more time. That id have made it over to a Bloggers Bash and met her and yourself in person. One of the things covid has taught me is to fight for the people and connections who are. Important and to make the effort.
Anyway, i hope you are well.
Best wishes,
Ro
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Lovely to hear Ro. I’ve wondered if I should comment on the Duke but really it’s just sad, esp seeing the Queen on her lonesome. V poignant. We’re all well thank you. Vaccy no. 2 tomorrow – L had hers on Tuesday so we’ll soon be out partying. I hope you guys get yours soon. It’s grand you’ve kept it out but no one is free until we’re all pretty protected. The scientists are convinced we’ll have another wave later this year though the hopes are that the vaccines should keep hospitalisation sand deaths at flu levels which we’ve all learned to live with. Let’s hope so cos we can’t go on living in shells.
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The wedding has been top of your list for a year. And, you have planned and prepared well. Wouldn’t it have been easier to put in an irrigation system instead of the copper piping to capture the rainwater? Maybe your town water costs a bundle? That would be a good reason. Rain water is free. The paper thingys take small motor skills. Sigh!
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I begrudge using water that has been treated to be potable – the chemicals and power needed makes it very non green – so rainwater it is!
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I understand. You are doing the right, Geoff!
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I’m so jealous – it looks like we’re going to have a drought year so won’t have enough water for starting a garden – so I will have to enjoy yours vicariously. Luckily we have no garden weddings in our future!
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It’s gone very dry in the last week, so I’m getting nervous
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