Foxgloves, hollyhocks and wallflowers don't require a greenhouse. Seeds could be sown straight in the ground, but it gives you a more control to sow the seeds in small trays. Used plastic cartons with holes punched in will do. By growing in trays you can keep an eye on the germinating seeds and give them some TLC. It's best to use compost to sow them in, rather than garden soil, which will be full of weed seeds. If you have trays outside, it might be a good idea to put some kind of cover over them, to protect them from heavy rain. Also make sure they're safe from slugs.
These are some foxgloves, for next year, that I sowed a couple of weeks ago...
The tray at the lower right was only sown last week, but there are already tiny seedlings showing...
If you ever need to move any of the large slabs at some future time, then the main thing to beware of is trapping your fingers, or toes, which can be nasty.
I guessed that the Playhouse might have been grown out of, but your little girl should still have her place in the garden. You might think about growing some plants that appeal to children, like sunflowers, which would also be good against the fence (probably too late to sow those for this year).
There are several other forum members who have gardens of an approximately similar size, and some of them are only a few years old. Some of their owners have done a quite remarkable job. Rain often posts photos of her (newish) garden. Rain has several roses, including an impressive climbing rose trained against a support.
The key is definitely pale, calming colours, Insomnia. I see what you mean about your green fences. I've used B & Q's 'Oregano' green, and blues with names like 'Forget-me-not'. Other brands are available! Perhaps as an alternative you could paint some openwork trellis panels and fix them to the fence (not continuous, but just to break up the appearance of your existing fence). You would need to decide whether to fix them in landscape or portrait format.
Lots of good idea's given, I'd be inclined to get rid of the post, growing plants up it is a good adea but if you dig the soil up from around the post you'll eventually come to a ball of concrete, push it over and bury it in a rasied bed to the side, only you who will ever know it's there.
Lift the flags and extend the patio area to allow for table and chairs. After land scaping the garden you'll want to sit back with Jess and enjoy it, what better way than having tea in the garden on a warm sunny evening and surveying all the hard work with Jess playing on the lawn. Any spare flags can be used to create a path. Children love drawing on them with chalks and rain washes it all away.
The brick wall would look good with trellis and climbing plants. If putting up a trellis, baton it to the wall to allow plants to weave themselves behind the trellis. Aldi do a bag of 3 climbers for £5, not sure when but me thinks it's about September/October time.
Next I'd paint the fence it's a personnal choice, colour but I'd go for the darker browns, it doesn't date and once the plants start to grow colour won't matter.
Guys, you have all been brilliant with your ieas and suggestions, and I have a list of suitable plants that will do well in the shade now, so thankyou.
Zoomer44, you make it sound so easy getting rid of that post! LOL I will have a dig and see what I come accross. If I can push it I will. I would rather it be gone, but never thought of disguising it, if that fails, thanks to figrat. And I do like the idea of extending the patio. Would use up some of that space on the left which I'm trying to use.
Hollie-Hock, you've educated me to what a coldframe is with your picture! I've heard talk of them hundreds of times, but didn't quite know what they were. I have loads of spare bits of wood! I could build one myself.
Gary, thanks for the link to rains pictures. It looks great! And thanks for your pics, and sowing advice. All been noted down.
Joe, I'm still pondering on the paint colour for the fences, as I'd have to do the whole garden, would I not? Otherwise it would look odd.
Dovefromabove - The garden is all Jessies! It was her that got me into the gardening in the first place, by questioning me about a seed stand she had seen in tesco's. She has chosen EVERYTHING that we have planted, apart from the onions, which she doesn't like, and she even has her own little website which I update for her with pictures, so friends and family can see how she's doing. She supervises me out there!
pash, thanks for the roses link. I have the front garden to do as well, but that will wait until the back is decent, but that will be mostly roses, as I love them so much, so will keep that website link for the future.
I'm after you great advice again. I've had a tidy round, and lifted all the slabs and layed them a bit better, so now have two little bits at each side as I ran out of slabs, so I can make them into small raised beds.
What do people use to make them? I'm obviously after the more cheaper options, but what sort of things can I use?
Those side beds look as though they could almost have things planted in them as they are, maybe with a bit of compost added, if the native soil is not too good.
If you should want to do any fence painting, then might be an idea to do that before planting anything that needs to be supported against the fence. Though not necessary if you just want to plants some annuals.
The post is crying out to have something climb up it. Something that climbs quickly and is colourful. Maybe sweet peas, with a bit of netting tied around the post for them to cling to. Or maybe even a decorative grape vine, which could then trail along a beam supported between the post and the fence.
And the slabs provide a good area on which to stand lots of pots, if you wish, containing whatever you like.
You could also plant something low and colourful along the picket fence, maybe something like nasturtians.
Posts
Foxgloves, hollyhocks and wallflowers don't require a greenhouse. Seeds could be sown straight in the ground, but it gives you a more control to sow the seeds in small trays. Used plastic cartons with holes punched in will do. By growing in trays you can keep an eye on the germinating seeds and give them some TLC. It's best to use compost to sow them in, rather than garden soil, which will be full of weed seeds. If you have trays outside, it might be a good idea to put some kind of cover over them, to protect them from heavy rain. Also make sure they're safe from slugs.
These are some foxgloves, for next year, that I sowed a couple of weeks ago...
The tray at the lower right was only sown last week, but there are already tiny seedlings showing...
If you ever need to move any of the large slabs at some future time, then the main thing to beware of is trapping your fingers, or toes, which can be nasty.
I guessed that the Playhouse might have been grown out of, but your little girl should still have her place in the garden. You might think about growing some plants that appeal to children, like sunflowers, which would also be good against the fence (probably too late to sow those for this year).
There are several other forum members who have gardens of an approximately similar size, and some of them are only a few years old. Some of their owners have done a quite remarkable job. Rain often posts photos of her (newish) garden. Rain has several roses, including an impressive climbing rose trained against a support.
HI, have a look at "peter beales roses ltd", their web site has a conditions facility, "roses for shade" a plenty,
The key is definitely pale, calming colours, Insomnia. I see what you mean about your green fences. I've used B & Q's 'Oregano' green, and blues with names like 'Forget-me-not'. Other brands are available! Perhaps as an alternative you could paint some openwork trellis panels and fix them to the fence (not continuous, but just to break up the appearance of your existing fence). You would need to decide whether to fix them in landscape or portrait format.
Lots of good idea's given, I'd be inclined to get rid of the post, growing plants up it is a good adea but if you dig the soil up from around the post you'll eventually come to a ball of concrete, push it over and bury it in a rasied bed to the side, only you who will ever know it's there.
Lift the flags and extend the patio area to allow for table and chairs. After land scaping the garden you'll want to sit back with Jess and enjoy it, what better way than having tea in the garden on a warm sunny evening and surveying all the hard work with Jess playing on the lawn. Any spare flags can be used to create a path. Children love drawing on them with chalks and rain washes it all away.
The brick wall would look good with trellis and climbing plants. If putting up a trellis, baton it to the wall to allow plants to weave themselves behind the trellis. Aldi do a bag of 3 climbers for £5, not sure when but me thinks it's about September/October time.
Next I'd paint the fence it's a personnal choice, colour but I'd go for the darker browns, it doesn't date and once the plants start to grow colour won't matter.
Happy gardening.
Guys, you have all been brilliant with your ieas and suggestions, and I have a list of suitable plants that will do well in the shade now, so thankyou.
Zoomer44, you make it sound so easy getting rid of that post! LOL I will have a dig and see what I come accross. If I can push it I will. I would rather it be gone, but never thought of disguising it, if that fails, thanks to figrat. And I do like the idea of extending the patio. Would use up some of that space on the left which I'm trying to use.
Hollie-Hock, you've educated me to what a coldframe is with your picture!
I've heard talk of them hundreds of times, but didn't quite know what they were. I have loads of spare bits of wood! I could build one myself. 
Gary, thanks for the link to rains pictures. It looks great! And thanks for your pics, and sowing advice. All been noted down.
Joe, I'm still pondering on the paint colour for the fences, as I'd have to do the whole garden, would I not? Otherwise it would look odd.
Dovefromabove - The garden is all Jessies! It was her that got me into the gardening in the first place, by questioning me about a seed stand she had seen in tesco's. She has chosen EVERYTHING that we have planted, apart from the onions, which she doesn't like, and she even has her own little website which I update for her with pictures, so friends and family can see how she's doing. She supervises me out there!
pash, thanks for the roses link. I have the front garden to do as well, but that will wait until the back is decent, but that will be mostly roses, as I love them so much, so will keep that website link for the future.
Again, a huge thankyou for all the input.
Beck. xx
Hi guys, again.
I'm after you great advice again. I've had a tidy round, and lifted all the slabs and layed them a bit better, so now have two little bits at each side as I ran out of slabs, so I can make them into small raised beds.
What do people use to make them? I'm obviously after the more cheaper options, but what sort of things can I use?
Here's a pic of where I'm upto to date:
You have been working hard.
Those side beds look as though they could almost have things planted in them as they are, maybe with a bit of compost added, if the native soil is not too good.
If you should want to do any fence painting, then might be an idea to do that before planting anything that needs to be supported against the fence. Though not necessary if you just want to plants some annuals.
The post is crying out to have something climb up it. Something that climbs quickly and is colourful. Maybe sweet peas, with a bit of netting tied around the post for them to cling to. Or maybe even a decorative grape vine, which could then trail along a beam supported between the post and the fence.
And the slabs provide a good area on which to stand lots of pots, if you wish, containing whatever you like.
You could also plant something low and colourful along the picket fence, maybe something like nasturtians.
Becks -if you want to grow veg in those side beds you are going to need sunshine-and without trawling back how much sun does that area get?
Railway sleepers are the classic thing for raised beds -but not light and you may need to cut them to fit