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Right, so I am most definitely in need of a resolution or ten!

Having moved a couple of years ago from a first floor Edwardian flat in North London (where we couldn't afford a garden) into a Victorian house with the outside space we have always wanted. The slight problem here is that you have to be careful what you wish for.

In the two years I have been living 'with garden' I have developed a terrible habit of not actually going outside to do any gardening. Now I realise I am commenting this on a gardening website and I am truly sorry for my crimes against horticulture, but be re-assured I am writing this in order to turn a page! To add insult to injury I live in a beautiful village where my neighbours all take part in 'open gardens' where the rest of the village come around for a nosy peek at the state of your plot. My garden has never been 'open' it is firmly closed!

In summary I make the following resolutions...

To venture out into my garden and cut the grass on a regular basis to avoid the bi-monthly wrestling match with the lawn mower

To weed out things that look like weeds (which may actually be flowers)

To seek out the time to dedicate to the garden I have always wanted

To boldly declare my garden open to the public in the next decade (let's not be too adventurous)

Great blog, inspired me to confess!

Between now and next autumn I must give my pond a clear out and come to a decision about some bamboo, keep or remove? Otherwise it is just the usual clutter problem, with too many odd pots of rescued plants that I do not need. On saying that I am very pleased with a pot of a runner-less alpine strawberry that I bartered for with some tomatoes. So there is another job remove any runner-type alpine strawberries to keep the plant true.

Hi Kevin, lovely first blog!

I will definitely NOT be growing teasels in pots again. They looked ridiculous, and grew so tall the flowers flopped over the wall to the neighbours. I'm sure they looked lovely over there, but all we got was stalk.

This is what I like to see. A few resolutions coming out of the woodwork!

James, from experience, opening your garden to the public is one of the best things you can do so definitely try to join in with the rest of the village next year if you can. My advice would be make LOADS of really stonking cakes to sell and then they probably won't even look at the garden.

Hereisabee, is the alpine strawberry a specific variety? It sounds interesting!

Kate, the teasels might look ridiculous, but I bet the birds are starting to love their seedheads now. Am I right?

Hi Kevin, it doesn't take long to stroll round my tiny plot, but I think my biggest disaster this year was the famous non-flowering cosmos. Good strong plants but not even a glimmer of a flower bud... I even gave seedlings to my neighbours and guerilla'd a few in the neighbourhood - not a single bloom. The only saving grace was that I learned to appreciate the feathery foliage for its texture. I blame a rather elderly seed packet that was lurking in the back of a draw. And I really must move the oversized choisya...

Having visited the RHS show at Tatton this summer I vowed to do something creative in the rather bare spots in the garden. It's not technically my garden as I'm living back with Mum at the moment but I've got a few lovely colourful pots which have been empty since I've moved back (with the intention of only staying a couple of weeks). Given the recession it looks like I'll be staying a while longer so have been thinking about making my mark in the garden.
Feeling inspired by your blog I've finally done it. The wheelbarrow with the broken handle is now planted up and I WILL look after the plants! It looks great just by the shed.
I also had the misfortune of getting a hole in my lovely spotty wellies last winter so have had to buy a new pair. However, the 'holy' pair are now nestled in the grasses by the water feature with some trailling plants in them which shoud look great when they get a bit bigger. They're a bit of fun and make me smile when I look at them.
So it seems that my gardening talents don't yet amount to much but don't leave anything around for too long that I could pop a plant into because the likelihood is that I now will!
Love your Blog Kevin. Hoping to read more very soon!

Rachel! It sounds like your creative gardening talents are endless. What a shame we can't post pictures and then everyone could see you wheelbarrow and wellies. Who knows what you'll transform with plants next year!

There was a seed packet flashed in front of me, Baron something, so with some googling it must Alpine Strawberry Baron Solemacher (Fragaria Vesca). Makes quite a bushy plant and with tasty strawberries.