Ups and Downs

I'm thrilled to discover that I have three little newts in my pond. Heaven only knows where they came from - staggered up the hill from the River Alde in Bruisyard? Hopped along the lane from Ben and Dorothy's pond? Or nipped over from Sarah's very big pond, the most likely scenario. It's a mystery but they are here. It's wonderful to have creatures living in there. If it was a choice between frogs and newts I'd go for the latter, though I welcome all amphibians. I'm surprised they've come so early because there is very little cover for them to hide beneath. The lilies might not have survived the transplantation from old to new pots as they are putting out precious little growth. They may have to be replaced. The area at the back of the pond is packed tight with plants fighting for space, but on the other three edges it's a bit sparse. A lot of things have not come up again, but I do have a load of platycoden to go in there, and they are delightful. I also have 50 freesia bulbs, but they may do better in pots.

I decided to pursue my issue with the Walled Garden despite their insistence that they bear no responsibility for my rusting table and chairs. I bought them two years ago, and within a year rust started to appear but I was too busy to do anything about it then. Two days short of two years I went down to see the Mountains, armed with photos of the decay. Marion was fine, polite and friendly but insistent that I should have taken better care of them. Her husband was downright rude. Apparently I was meant to paint them with Hammerite to protect them, even though I brought them into the shed in the winter. I didn't realise this, I told him, so perhaps you should have put a label on them to that effect. "Should I also put labels on all the plants warning that one day they will die?" he asked sarcastically. I was dismayed by this response. The Walled Garden is my favourite nursery and I have spent countless hundreds of £££s there over the years. I love the place. But I am not going to accept this attitude and have written a formal letter to them as advised by CAB. I will take it as far as I need to. Their customer services appear to be non-existent. People can be disappointing.