Winter is over . . .

In front of 31 and 32, looking good

The tree pit in front of 31 and 32 is already up and running. They've used mini bamboo edging, and put in already-flowering bedding plants. It looks wonderful and is already brightening up the middle of the road.

The six photos following show how we turned the concrete-covered surround to the birch tree in front of 1A and Pizzadelique into a bed ready for flowers. 

Taking away two large bags of hard concrete the Council put around the tree, in front of 1A

Sawing wood for tree pit edging

Ready to put the frame around the concrete-free tree pit

Drawing of alternative edging to tree pit in front of 1A

Frame laid in place (it was along day yesterday)

Tree pit with soil, waiting for flowers to arrive

The Council has said they're not always in favour of the edging strips people often use to keep the soil in, but I think the soil will disappear without a proper edge. We have compromised with a half-round piece of pole; it is very low so is hopefully it's less of a trip hazard and car doors won't be so likely to hit it, and we have a lot of cars that park at this end of the road.

We hope to go to Columbia Road Street Market this morning to find a few plants and flowers to put in our new tree pit
http://www.columbiaroad.info
this bed is about 2.4 meters by a half a metre, and that's potentially quite a few plants.

Euporbia
https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/search-results?nm=euphorbia
is NOT a plant we'll be looking to put in as we're told it has a sticky sap that some people find irritant.

Types of plants we'll be looking out for will include ones at this listing
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=436

and this one
https://www.sarahraven.com/articles/how_to_create_a_mini_wild_flower_meadow.htm

Last week I put out two planters about 35 cm by 35 cm, and they've got a bee-friendly mix of wildflower bulbs and seeds that will flower in a couple of months,  as well as tulips for instant colour and begonias which will flower in  June.

No bees yet, but by the time these bee-friendly flowers are out they will be here . . . 

I know that I'll have to water everything every day until it's all established, but it doesn't seem to be a big problem.

The palm tree on the right lasted well through the last two winters, as has our cyclamen to the left, which have all done well because they get the sun when it shines . . .


We had our second Street Greening meeting yesterday, and more in the next post . . . .