Bugs, brooms and the turning of the year.

I've really been taking up all of the upper patio at dads with my plants. 

 These are hesperis matronalis 'Alba' which will be ready by early autumn for planting ready for them flowering in the spring.

 This is the Hesperis a little over a week later.

 These are plants for early spring next year. We have Pansys, viola, aquilegia, and primulas. I have more than the five but these were conveniently close to this months potting on area. I seem to change the potting on area regularly, possibly so that I don't get bored of the view.  

 I cut down a lot of the grasses that had gone to seed so that the polytunnel looked a little neater. Don't they look nice? even in an old green trug.

 A butterfly having a drink from a rudbeckia.

 A bee from my one and only purple sunflower for this year.

 A clean potting bench. I cleared about a quarter of the polytunnel, moved things around to make more space and cut things back that were getting too lanky. I really need to get a sweeping brush for inside as the floor is covered in seed heads, soil, snail poop and all sorts of other things I don't really want in there. Next thing on my list is to get a polytunnel broom.

What I've been doing

I've been working on my latest garden project for 15 hours of straight work over about two weeks. I've been digging, clearing, weeding, raking, adding compost to soil to help feed it and improve the soil structure. The project is a very big one and I keep chipping away at it when I can as I have the luxury of time. It needs to be done by September so I have a month to get it finished.
We haven't been at our pitch at Awesworth carboot for the last two weeks due in the first week because my partner in crime was feeling ill and the second time because his car was off having MOT work done to it. We will be back as normal as long as nothing happens before the event to see everyone and sell them some plants this Sunday.  

They want to build 176 houses where I walk my dog!

They intend to build 176 houses on the fields that I and many, many other dog walkers use as recreational space. Please write to them saying you do not approve of the build http://www.ambervalley.gov.uk/environment-and-planning/planning/development-management/planning-applications/view-a-planning-application.aspx You will need the planning application reference AVA/2013/0467. Please help!

More

I found a couple more when I was watering the poly tunnel. They're a little family :D

Dahlia 'fireworks'.

This guy was just smiling at me this morning as I went past him. Thought I'd share him with you. He's up for sale at £2.00 and should be at Awesworth car boot on Sunday. That is unless someone snaps him up first. I can't offer a delivery service really so it can only be local people that can buy him. I've got many more of the same types of Dahlia (although I can't be certain of the colour that they'll be) also going to the market so all would not be lost if this one was sold before Sunday.

This is my best seller.

I can't believe how well these sold. People came running back for more before they sold out. I was struck dumb... And its a rare thing if something manages to shut me up. :p I mean I know that they're lovely, I really love them but to have people drag their friends over to take a look, well. It was a very pleasant surprise.

Update.

I've been working pretty hard at Jo-Plants lately, I've been trying to give everything that last push before I start in earnest on my next stage of plants, the biennials and the Christmas houseplants, which will if everything goes to plan fill up the spaces left behind by the plants that get sold.
I've been potting on my summer plants into 9 cm or 11 cm pots depending on the growth rate of the plant and hopefully they won't need to be potted on again until they have new homes and can go in their forever soil.
I've been potting up some of my late plants ready for selling, and I can tell you I'm pretty excited about them, they are stunning little devils and that's before they have flowers on them. I have some evening primroses that I think are particularly special. I've had to throw away some of my early stock unsold due to being unable to sell them until my business was approved to start trading. Its been a bit of a blow to be honest but its left lots of lovely space in the poly tunnel for the new plants.

I've had about 20% of my stock taken to the bottom of the garden near the house onto a big wooded table so that the stock that's ready for selling is always conveniently placed so that its easy to tell apart from the rest of the stock, its given me even more space in the poly tunnel and its close to the car. As an extra bonus its also easier to label the plants as they are so high up on their new table and its also very close to the kettle. :D

I've been looking for a market to sell my plants at recently but its quite difficult to get a space as they have so many plant stalls already, although I have to say that non of them seem to sell the sorts of plants that I do. I'll just have to keep going with car boot sales for a bit longer and keep an eye out for a market. I know as the autumn comes along the plant stalls will thin out so I might be more likely to get a pitch then, which will mean I'll be able to sell my biennials in time for them to be planted and established ready for the spring.

If you would like to take a look at my stock I will be at Awesworth (Near Ilkeston, Derbyshire) car boot most Sundays, and I will get back to you all once I've found a car boot on Saturdays.