How does your garden grow?

Remember George's bench?

The roses at the sides are flourishing though not yet in bloom. The new rose I planted last year behind the bench is growing well and has its first flower - the little pink bud you may be able to see at the back.

I've currently got three long bamboos stuck in there but need a better frame for it to climb up. But I'm so excited this year, watching and waiting for things to grow. I am becoming a proper gardener!

Foxgloves must love our soil as they grow very tall.

And the Aquilegia (Granny's bonnets) just do their own thing.

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I've been trying to read bedtime stories to the grandchildren in Italy when we can time it properly. We've done The Twits and Billy and the Minpins, both Dahl, and I picked a book about pirates from the library for the latest story. First episode was okay but last night's got very scary with some horrible sea hags (witches) so we stopped that one. I think it will be Fantastic Mr Fox tonight, or possibly The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark. They're both from my library upstairs of books, in this case, books my own children read. That's the trouble with being a granny: I turn to my old favourites. And fashions change. Books these days tend to be more cartoon-like without such long sentences. Fortunately GrandSon4 adores stories and will listen attentively. GrandDaughter3 is younger and her attention can wander a little, but we have lovely chats as well.

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Yesterday I reconnected with an old school friend via Facebook. We haven't seen each other since we left grammar school in 1971. Back then she was Carol Carr and I was Elizabeth Williams, and we were in the same form. It turns out we know quite a few of the same people, through church connections. 

And Vivien - another school friend - her husband has just been around to look at the garden wall we want rendering before I start my rambling roses. And we plan to meet next week for our usual ice cream breakfast.