OTRA Gardens February Tidying

We met up this morning at the OTRA bed by the Pipers roundabout near the Marriott Hotel on a  fabulously sunny morning at 10.30am. Altogether there were 12 of us gathered together, not only work on the flower bed, but also do some litter picking. So although there were quite a few regulars who couldn't come today, there were some new people, and we were able to achieve a lot.
I'll start with two photos of some of those who worked on the bed posing for a photo, there's this one

where we're all laughing hysterically, and this one where we've posed more sensibly taken at a different time.

It was when Kareen Boyd came with biscuits to fortify us, but didn't want to join in, that I realised we  need a bench so people can sit and chat while we're gardening, or simply to sit down when there's no one working there. I think we should apply for a parish grant to install at least one bench.
Two people who aren't in the photo are Louise and Suzie who came for the first time, and went off  to do some litter picking, here they are before they went sorting out gloves and bags

I'll now add a photo of the appearance of the bed before we started, it was covered in leaves and needed tall, dead stems cutting back

Here are the team working on collecting leaves, trimming back dead material and digging out weeds

We also planted some Polyanthus and Bellis kindly donated by Swindon Borough Council which made the bed look very colourful, but I haven't got a good photo of what the bed looked like, I'll have to take another photo.

We also planted around the Marlborough Lane sign

meanwhile another group picked litter in the section of Marlborough Lane leading to the Sports Centre, and planted primroses

When we had finished the beds and litter picking, three of us moved onto the Coop bed. It's the one behind the bus stop which often looks a bit drab, although the red hollyhocks last summer briefly elevated it to almost good. After we had planted the Polyanthus and Bellis today, it looked superb.

 Above we're working on it, and below, it's not clear how good it looks. I need to go out photographing the beds.

And finally Jane Milner-Barry and I went off to the bed opposite Rose Earle's, under the billboard in Station Approach where we cut the large fuchsia back, weeded and cut back dead stems, here's Jane filling a bag with weeds

 and here's the tidy looking bed, without added plants, after 5 hours gardening, we needed something to eat and decided against planting.

On the way to dropping the bags off at Pipers roundabout for collection tomorrow morning, we thought we'd check the daffs planted at Mr Cod, and were very pleased with what we saw.
The Euphorbia is looking fabulous

 and so are the nearby Violas

and also the daffs are looking good, although the concrete slabs do not work as a path, we must find something subtler

I will also include the photo of the sky this morning at 9am

And remind everyone that the next tidying will be on Sunday 28 March, 10.30am onwards. We may meet at Swindon Museum and Art Gallery's bed. To be decided nearer the time.