This post is all about unexpected joys in difficult times; looking for treasure in the dirt. Here are a couple of stand out moments of lockdown life that I’ll remember with fondness.

1. Digging for victory

Very early on in the lockdown, my youngest girl decided she’d like to go digging for treasure. There was a huge plastic plant tub left by the previous owners of our house, so I pulled out the weeds growing on top and gave the kids their spades. What none of us expected was what my little girl never doubted – that she would find some treasure!

Between them they found around 20 smooth decorative glass pebbles (I know them as dragons’ droppings used to buy them from Gone Potty in Yeovil as a kid!). It was really unexpected and like finding the treasure at the end of the rainbow.

2. Pumpkin patch!

I honestly thought it would be years and years before I had the time to create a pumpkin patch.

I cleared two old shrubs, dug them out by their roots and cleared a big patch of weeds while the kids dug for worms! I have grown little pumpkin plants with the kids along with courgette, cucumber (so much nicer homegrown) and some butternut squash.

I’ve decided to keep the pumpkin patch an entirely edible area with herbs around the outside. There is a small rosemary which I’m hoping will grow huge with purple flowers and intoxicating smell, chives with pretty purple flowers and nasturtium which are easy to grow with bright flowers.

I’d like to also plant strawberries and rhubarb, both easy to grow too.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this post, I’m so grateful for the garden and the sunshine. Stay safe and take care x