Are you making your garden winter lockdown ready?

Definitely not pulling up the drawbridge...if we are in lockdown in Winter...then I will be outside in the garden as much as possible...or I would go absolutely crazy....

I often feel that we should spend more time outdoors, especially in the summer. It would be nice to do so in the winter, too.

However, no matter how much heating etc we might install, we're still highly likely to be blown away by the wind that whistles down the valley here! And that's at all seasons.

Our consevatory has doors all along the side that leads onto the patio so I’m thinking if we close the door into the house the conservatory and patio will make a good space for winter garden visits??

We got rid of our patio heater (environmentally unfriendly).

I hadn't thought of it but this has prompted me.
The rate I'm going I'll be able to offer everyone a very Hygge crochet blanket to wrap round themselves.

Has anyone got recipes for a barbecued Christmas dinner?
Barbecued sprouts?

Last year my sister's husband spatchcocked the turkey and cooked it on their barbecue - but then they do live in Australia!

Chiminea in situ, six snuggly blankets poised, bbq cleaned.

We've had new fences and repainted everything. Will put up the gazebo and light the chiminea.... Bbq for 2 planned for tomorrow.

www.primrose.co.uk/35m-35m-multipurpose-work-shelter-carport-party-gazebo-p-126649.html

We're thinking of ordering one of these. It will fit easily over the top of our stable door and bolt down on to the patio. It's really big so will cover two tables and chairs.

No doubt we'll go into another lockdown as soon as it's all up and running!!

Gazebo up and ready here. Ours has sides to it which can be rolled up or zipped down so we have positioned it to lead out from the double doors at back of the garage.

DD will bring their patio heater with them when they visit then we can see if it's worth our while getting one. Hopefully the firepit will throw out plenty of heat.

The sun is shining outside, but indoors I’m getting rugs ready to take tomorrow to the last cricket match of the season!

However we have had a big sort out in the shed this week, but sadly this has resulted in a pile of stuff in the garage waiting to go to the tip - this will probably require a picnic for whilst we sit in the queue! We are preparing lists for the garden centre, so we won’t get caught out like we did last March, when looking for toilet rolls took precedence over garden supplies. I have several garden makeover ideas, just waiting for an appropriate moment to share them with DH!

I have several garden makeover ideas, just waiting for an appropriate moment to share them with DH!

I know that feeling.

My garden's never 'ready'. There are always about three hundred things that need doing. Fortunately we like wild.

I'm afraid that come the winter, I won't be doing any outside eating as I can't abide being frozen. Chimineas and heaters are fine for a while if it's not blowing a gale, but our back garden gets very windy so not ideal for fire pits, etc, when it's breezy. (Don't think our neighbours would appreciate the smoke drifting across, either). I'm hoping, though, that during the autumn we will get into the garden on warmer, sunshiny days. ?

Getting it ready to view from behind the window?

So today planted a big pot with hyacinth Woodstock, tulip pink, pansies and cyclamen rose, pink and white for colour over autumn and winter if it isn’t too cold.

I think I was rather over-enthusiastic at the Garden Centre the other day - I bought plants and bushes for spring colour but don't seem to have any room left to plant them!
Another one arrived by post about half an hour ago too.

We were trying to make life easier by doing away with some borders; looks like I'll DH will have to dig some more.

I’ve put a gazebo over my outside table and weighed it down with sandbags filled with pebbles. Also bought a chiminea and waiting for some recycled smokeless fuel logs. Then I’ll make a cake and invite a friend or two around....

I live in Central Scotland so fat chance being able to sit out in winter! I'm slowly buying bulbs etc and adding to my garden. I have a summer house but it's unlikely to be warm enough in winter. However, I will try to get into the garden in winter as I think it will help

Many years ago, one November day in Spain, when the sun was out but the people weren’t, XH & I decided to go for a walk followed by a picnic. We drove to a nearby cove (Granadella, if anyone knows it) and walked up a hill to a ruined fort. Came back and unpacked the picnic things to have lunch on the beach, giggling about our frozen bodies being discovered, etc. However, the clever man had packed hot water bottles and made hot pasta for our lunch! The water bottles kept our legs and our lunch warm and it was one of the nicest picnics I’ve ever had!

I mentioned this on another thread yesterday. We have been having deliveries throughout the pandemic. DH has started popping to the shops occasionally. He came back yesterday and said 'I swear some people don't realise there's a pandemic going on'.

We had the same thoughts of continuing to offer coffee and cakes to friends during the better winter days. We have decided to keep up our gazebo which is waterproof and has sides ( 2 with windows). We have bought an outdoor electric heater and 4 wool blankets so hope to continue to welcome visitors. We haven’t had anyone in the house for 6 months so this is our compromise.

Sorry wrong thread. I've just got up!

Actually been invited to a couple of friends’ garden tomorrow for coffee and cake?

I’m an outdoors person anyway so any excuse to be outside.