Welcome to the official opening of Granddads' shed

Picked some sloes when I was in Cornwall and am making sloe gin for the first time. I don't even like gin, but can't resist free hedgerow produce. In the same vein; although I've already made enough jam to keep us fed for years, I couldn't resist the plums hanging over my daughter's garden from her neighbour's tree, so I have a washing up bowl full of the things to turn into jam this evening. I've never tried making wine - is it very faffy?

Following Notsogrand - thought she was off to the camping van but no! Have a nice Pinot Grigio here.....

Following pompa's advice and breaking out the deckchairs to catch the last rays outside the shed. I've brought a still-warm jar of blackberry and apple jam and a crusty loaf - plenty to share. After an unexpectedly busy day, I'm celebrating having stopped with a modest spritzer.

We'll be fine in here in the winter months — don't forget we've got a great big multi-fuel stove in the corner!

Beautiful morning in W Scotland. Sea mist being burned off by a bright, warm sun. Definitely mellow, tho' DD was being decidedly "pre-teen" and insisted it was frosty. 2km walk to school, getting hotter by the minute, cheered her up, as it usually does.

Its ages since Ive been in the shed, will have to make the most of the summer before its too late

A frog in the house...the ultimate nightmare! They terrify me in the garden too. I'm glad the shed is frog-free.

Good idea to make the most of the last summer evenings pompa, let's light some anti-midge candles this evening outside the shed.

Hello everyone, things have been a bit quiet in the shed lately. Time to break out the deck chairs whilst we have some late summer sun.
Had a laugh last night, just heading to bed, sudden yell from Mrs. P !!!!!!!!, we had a frog hopping along the hallway heading for the stairs . it must have been in for a while, the back door had been shut for several hours.

Rose Petal wine, now that is the perfect way to spend an evening, I can almost forget what a lousy gardener I am . We do have a nice line in dandelions though so perhaps I could make some dandelion wine.

Double value, a lovely scented garden and delicious wine!

Have to confess it's my favourite Zeph. I plant scented, blowsy roses just for the wine it produces.

Mmm.. I had some rose petal years ago and it was delicious.

It'll be at least 9 months before the peach wine is ready.
In the meantime, I'll send over a selection of last year's wine to the shed. Um....a Blackberry, a Rose Petal and a Cranberry & Echinacea.
All fairly robust - 13/14% - so I'll send a packet of Hovis crackers, some Boursin cheese and a pot of black olives stuffed with garlic so you have nibbles to wash down. Cheers!

The wine sounds brilliant, how long before we get to have a taste?

Oh how delicious, could you have some delivered to the shed.

GoldenGran...you'll be just the job!

I have dead strawberries too. Well, not dead, but excavated by slugs. They dangle from their custom made strawberry container looking red and luscious - and voluptuous - but when picked, you discover it's a mirage. The slugs, which always enter from the side of the strawberry that you cannot see, have munched most of the berry and left just a manky hole surrounded by half a 'wall' of berry. Hate them, I really do hate slugs.

On a lighter but still garden-related note, my local greengrocer was selling bags of 7 peaches for 60p this morning. Some had a couple of soft patches, they clearly weren't Grade A, but they were mostly good and juicy (voluptuous?) and just fine. I bought 6 bags, and now have 4 gallons of peach wine on the way.

Notsogrand, I am random and voluptuous, will I do?

Does anyone know why my courgettes start growing well and then the blossom end goes mouldy?

Quickly popped in to get some potting compost under my finger nails....it always calms me down.
Your veggie area sounds amazing Joan, all very Darling Buds. Do you have wind-chimes and spinning cd's and scarecrows and bunting?
I have a few small and well behaved raised beds for veg growing, I'd love to have the room for something more rambling and random and voluptuous.

And more space for growing veg.

I have two little tealights in a flower shaped candle holder in my garden, along with some dead strawberries and a couple of nice geraniums. Can I come and pretend to be a real gardener, I am sure I can talk the talk. Mmm big courgettes!

Don't worry ElseG, you only have to sound like a proper gardener . BYT is a false pretence anything like a false acacia ?

Oh deary me, I didn't realise you have to be a proper gardener to come into the shed. Here's me enjoying the odd and toast under false pretenses. How clever you all are.

Oh, and I'll try to get some photos organised.

Size matters of course - it has to be long and thin enough to go right in, but with enough bristles to pick up the pollen....

Joan, I love the idea of old furniture as garden containers, painted bright colours they would look great. When it comes to sex in the garden, does size matter ???, or will any size paint brush do ?

I'd love to see your allotment, joan! It sounds like my kind of place. Could you post some photos, perhaps?