A Good Start

Tuesday 10th May 2011

Well the volunteer army really got stuck in at Tate House, the weather was perfect and everyone was keen. We started on the veg patch first, dug it over, removed any stones and fed in some mushroom compost, cleared away the weeds around the edges and then the planting could begin. In the shady end of the bed went my home-grown spinach and pak choi seedlings, then a row of little gem lettuces, then I sowed a row of radish and a row of mixed leaves. Finally a row of nasturtiums went in because I like them, and you can eat them honest! Meanwhile at the sunny end Jack and Judy were busy with onions, carrots , celery and parsley. I also sowed into modules a collection of brassicas and some marigolds, which make great companion plants to ward off the nasties. The next couple of hours (after a very good lunch), were spent giving the pots and borders a good weeding. There is still much to do, but at least the surface has been well and truly scratched, many thanks to Lynne and John for making us all feel so welcome. All in all not bad for the first day.

"light is the task where many share the toil"

Homer

The Big Shop

Monday 9th May 2011

Busy day yesterday, took Chummy up to Studley Royal for a very pleasant amble along the river. Chum really enjoys splashing in the water, more otter than dog,we noticed that the edges of the water were swarming with tadpoles enjoying the warm sunshine.

The reason for being up that way was the annual visit to Larkhill nurseries, in my opinion the best and only place to buy summer bedding. If the usual garish tat is your bag you can indeed buy it there, but they also sell more unusual plants, great foliage, and excellent herb and vegetable seedlings all at fantastically low prices. I bought eight mixed bedding punnets, nine pots of herbs, two planters, three foliage plants and two tumbling tomatoes for well under eighty pounds, well worth the trip, I highly recommend them. Now I just have to find the time to get them all planted, it won't be today as it's the first session at Tate House.

"The greatest gift of the garden is the restoration of the five senses"

Hanna Rion

Rain!

Friday 6th May 2011

We had some much needed rain late yesterday and overnight, I think the first for at least six weeks, consequently the garden is looking lovely and verdant, and we have sunshine again this morning, if only the weather would behave itself like this all summer.

I had a very peaceful time at Southlands yesterday, quietly attending to those small jobs that build up unnoticed, pruning the mock orange, dead-heading the daffodils and tackling some rather large bramble shoots. I mentioned to Val that the pond could do with some help, it is dark and murky, way beyond the aid of barley straw. It needs clearing out completely and starting again, probably with some plants to introduce air and a hedgehog ramp. I don't mind doing the latter but I'm not so keen on doing the messy bit! Not many of the residents were around , which I put down to too many bank holidays and celebrations lately, although Ruth was outside of course. Feeling a little jaded myself after another busy week, so more on Monday...........

"A good garden may have some weeds"

proverb

A Surfeit Of Cucurbits

Thursday 5th May 2011

I've finally been given the go ahead to put spade to soil at Tate House, who need their garden re-designing for the residents who are blind or partially sighted, (despite the fact that ASDA couldn't be bothered to send them a reference for me, after over nine years of honest toil, it's a good job I wasn't applying for a paid position, cheers guys ). The first task will be to get the vegetable patch up and running, to which end I've started sowing seeds again, more cucumber and courgettes, also squash Sweet Dumpling and pumpkins. I will share the plants out between myself and family, and Southlands too. By the time they are ready to plant out it should be early June, if they get a whiff of frost they just collapse into mush, so I think it will be safe by then. There's no room left for them inside so the cold frame is back in action-it will be interesting to see if they germinate as quickly as they did on the windowsill.

Just got time to give the Aubretia a hair cut, doing this after flowering helps it to keep a compact bushy shape, before I go to vote on my way to Southlands, then it's the dentist with the kids and straight home to cook tea. However did I find the time to go to work!

Very appropriate quote for me today!

"Do not hire a man who does your work for money, but him who does it for the love of it"

Henry David Thoreau 1817-1862

Sneaky Frost

Wednesday 4th May 2011

The chilly breeze that has plagued us the last few days, quietly died away during the night, it took the clouds with it and we awake this morning to a reminder that winter wasn't that long ago. The garden centres will be rubbing their hands with glee at the thought of all the gullible people who they tempted into purchasing tender plants too early.

Settled on what to plant in the second basket, I used scented pelargoniums in the middle, poached eggs at the front, two bunny tail grasses at the back and morning glory at the sides to trail and climb. A bit of a hotch-potch I know, but at least I've grown it myself.

Spent some time potting on again, gave my baby horse chestnuts some more room and pricked out the only two successful pepper seedlings and brought them back inside. I don't think I'll get any fruit otherwise, so they can live with the chillies. Both the sweetcorn and the cucumbers have germinated so what with the baby courgettes the window sills are getting a little cramped again.

Finally I gave the lawn a greening treatment, it is slowly getting better, but only with a lot of tender care, it's not surprising that non-gardeners hate them. Took a few photos as a record, May is certainly one of the prettiest months.

"sweet May hath come to love us, flowers, trees, their blossoms don, and through the blue heavens above us, the very clouds move on"

Heinrich Heine

Basket Case #1

Tuesday 3rd May 2011

I have a confession to make, and that is that I loathe bedding plants, especially that evil triumvirate of Petunias, Begonias and Busy Lizzies, all semblance of nature bred out of them by the Victorians. I especially hate their garish colours and the way they go sticky in the rain. Some bedders I suppose I will tolerate, maybe Lobelia and Viola, but not Pansies which are too blousey. This of course leaves me with a quandary, what do I fill my baskets with? I have completed one with Ivy and Strawberry plants, which I think is both attractive and useful, the slugs will not get the fruit up here, but the others will require more thought- I will keep you posted.

"Never does Nature say one thing and wisdom another"

Juvenal

Bank Holiday Weekend

Monday 2nd May 2011

The weather for the holiday has remained stunningly dry and settled, although we have had rather a cool breeze, and the for-casters are warning of a sharp drop in temperature for the next few nights, so gardeners beware!

We went to Saltburn on Friday and were successful in finding the only miserable weather in the whole of the kingdom, but it was quiet and we had a cracking pub lunch at The Ship. The dog ate lots of sand and was sick in the car, so all in all we had a great time.

On Sunday I visited the plant fair at Harlow Carr and bought two Asters, Little Carlow which has an AGM (I've been wanting that one for some time) and Vasterival, they should bring some much needed colour to my late summer border.

The kids are back to school tomorrow for at least a month,. thank goodness, it has been such a long break we are all craving the return to normality. Bilton gala to be endured yet though, I wonder if they will have a plant stall?.........

"Stoop where thou wilt, thy careless hand some random bud will meet, thou canst not tread, but thou wilt find the daisy at thy feet"

Thomas Hood