Rain!

Cold rain..but still, rain.
The garden will really benefit from rainwater.
 I have been filling the waterbutts from the tap, making sure that the water flow hits the inside as they fill, then leaving the lids open for a day or more, to try and evaporate the treatment chemicals. It is not ideal, but saves the plants even though growth is inhibited until they get rainwater.

The lawn, however is already sodden! Ground level earth changes quickly from brick to sponge, which is why we are making more and more deep beds of differing heights.  Plants can grow roots down to the water without being waterlogged.

The soil that is here is impoverished and will take many years of adding compost and manure. But seeing how Daughter's and The Carpenter's gardening is progressing means I must have shown them a good example at home and in my allotments to teach them by doing.  Now they have respectively a garden and allotment and are growing well.
Incentive for us to carry on here!