New Year in the Garden

I always think that a good way to start the year is with New Year Resolutions and as this is my Gardening Blog it should be based on just that.

1. Keep up my blog on a weekly basis. I have attempted this every year for the past few but I am ashamed to say that I have never managed to update it regularly, which not only leaves me with big holes in my record of the gardening year but leaves my (few) regular readers a little in the lurch. From this blog onwards I will update at least once per work (Monday) and more if I can find the time!
2. This year I am going to try to build and plant our Courtyard Garden. I am pleased to say I have made a good start as not only have I finally agreed a design with my wife and bought 5000 handmade bricks from the National Trust (left over from a restoration project on one of their more lovely buildings), I have finally made a committed decision to find the time to work on the project.  I will post photos on my website as the build develops.
3. To grow some food for our household. By my own admission I am no expert on Vegetable and Fruit growing as during my apprenticeship most of my time was spent in a large formal herbaceous and topiary garden, and to the dismay of the head gardener, I showed very little interest in the kitchen garden. In fact it is a wonder that I passed my finial Horticultural examinations as there was a large section of productive growing!
4. Try to learn something new. A good place to start would be with the kitchen garden and in fact I have dug up all my old college work and journals that contain any useful information on growing fruit and veg; now I just need to try and not get distracted by my large herbaceous bed........
5. I need some tools for our garden. I have never being very good at separating my home and business life, mainly as my business is my personal passion. This lack of separation has spread into the equipment needed to cultivate and maintain a good garden; all of the tools used in our garden are also used by my team during the week and sometimes in busy periods of the year at weekends. This leaves me regularly without spade, fork or loppers; at times last year, and much to the amusement of my wife and children, I have been reduced to using a tiny fork and spade designed to be used by my 5 year old.