Niger Seed Disaster

Thursday 31st March

Squally blustery showers interspersed with warm sunshine, this will get the plants growing.

First job this morning was to fill the Niger seed feeder for the goldfinches, no sooner had I done so than it had been blown down, spilling all of the contents. Damn! Anybody who feeds these birds will know, that despite claims that the seed is sterile, the rotten stuff springs up everywhere, I shall be weeding them out all summer. I hope the birds appreciate it.

Turned my attention to dead-heading, these spring flowers have to last for another two months yet, so I need to keep them looking their best. That done I then planted some basil seed and potted on some Thyme cuttings, also took cuttings of curry plant and Rosemary. The front of the house is starting to look like a small market garden.

Some of the seedlings in the garden have made their identity known, not what I was hoping for as it's Speedwell, however I've left them where they are because nothing much else grows there and I'm rather fond of it's dainty blue flowers. I don't mind a few weeds in the garden, it's all for the greater good, as long as they're not niger seedlings!

"God gave all men all earth to love, but since our hearts are small,

ordained for each one spot should prove, beloved over all"

Rudyard Kipling

First Rain For Ages

Wednesday 30th March 2011

Gentle rain on our walk this morning, the temperature has risen somewhat so it's been nicely refreshing, however I could do with windscreen wipers for my glasses.

Down by the river a new flower has appeared, the nodding heads of Wood Sorrel may be the shy cousins of the anemone, but their Shamrock shaped foliage is as bright and fresh a green colour as you will ever see, I think I prefer them.

Today has been a spa day, an excellent opportunity to catch up on all those gardening magazines I've been meaning to read, and lets face it, every good gardener is always in need of a manicure!

Todays piece of whimsey

The rain it raineth every day,

upon the just and unjust fella,

but it raineth more upon the just,

because the unjust has the just's umbrella!

Free Seed Frenzy

Tuesday 29th March

It's only 3 degrees today, quite a change from last week, I think it has taken nature by surprise as much as us, because even the wild creatures seemed a little muted this morning. Ever the optimist I've hung the washing out anyway.

Thanks to my serial magazine habit, I've acquired numerous packets of seeds which I wouldn't normally buy, so I decided to sow them today. Spinach which I don't really like much but I know a guinea pig that does, Russian Giant sunflowers-heaven knows where I'm going to put those! Cosmos Candy Stripe(a little bit twee for my taste, so I've sown them in pots) and lastly Sweet Peas. Following Monty's advice, I didn't faff about and soak them etc, just bunged them in-because I don't want any of the above I bet they will do better than anything else!

Todays thought

Every blade of grass has it's angel that bends over it and whispers, "Grow, grow"

The Talmud

Pottering About

Monday 28th March 2011

After a weekend off it's good to be back in the garden. Another fine day, although the forcasters say it will be the last one for a while. Made the most of it by potting up stray seedlings - mostly yellow flag- I don't really want any more, but perhaps I can give them away or donate them to the next school fair. Also some runners from Canterbury Bells which I love, I can always find room for a few more.

Finally got around to planting some summer bulbs - a pot of little yellow Allium Moly and some others I haven't tried before. Lillies - Monte Negro a nice bright red, Dahlia Playa Blanca (one of the cactus type) and Gypsophlia which I put in with the grasses and alliums -It should make an interesting combination.

Quote of the day

When you only have two pennies left in the world, buy a loaf of bread with one and buy a lily with the other.

Chinese Proverb.

Seeds - promises from nature

Friday March 24th 2011

It's Friday so that means WWAFAP (walkies with aunty Fran and Paddy). It was lovely down by the river. The dogs can tell it's spring and have been full of energy, which has been used up by barking, fighting, swimming, rolling and eating unmentionables.

The weather is supposed to break tomorrow, which is a shame, but we have had a whole week of the most glorious sunshine, more like May than March.

All around the garden small seedlings are appearing, some of which I can identify as weeds immediately, others I may have to leave a bit longer before I decide if they are worth keeping. The worst culprit for me is Herb Robert which takes a hold everywhere (although at least it is pretty), and ground elder under the hedge, not a lot I can do about the latter I'll just smother it out with something more rampant like nasturtium.

My own planted seedlings are making an appearance too, the most vigorous being the Morning Glory, which not following the packet instructions I failed to soak before sowing, they germinated in 4 days! This bodes well for their purpose which is to grow over the shed.

No blogging over the weekend as it is Dave's big birthday, so I'll be back on Monday.

A Morning Glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.

Walt Whitman

Musings on mowing

Thursday 24th March 2011

Does anyone actually like cutting the grass? Until today it's always been a chore, noisy cumbersome old flymo lugged around the garden, squashing any worm-casts flat and generally making more mess than if you had just left it alone.

Now it's all different , I have just used the hand-push for the first time, and the first cut this year- what a brilliant result!

It is a craftmans cut, not that of a reluctant Sunday mower. It has also been a pleasure to use, quiet and satisfying, no chance of a breakdown or accidentally electrifying yourself and it only cost £30 from Homebase. I call that a result.

Speaking of mowing things down, a special mention must be made today about the antics of certain four legged creatures. The chore of autumn planting long forgotten the garden is now ablaze with nodding daffodil heads, or at least it was until this morning. Chummy dog and Smokey the cat had one of their do's - spitting and hissing the cat was soundly chased from the garden by an enthusiastic dog, daffodils were trampled and felled like skittles. Six months of anticipation gone in under a minute -thanks guys.

Cogitation for the day

Flowers seem intended for the solace of ordinary humanity

John Ruskin

A family plum tree

Wednesday 23rd March 2011

It's been one of those days today, despite my best intentions it is now 3.25pm, the children are due back from school and I haven't actually managed to do anything. Maybe I'm being hard on myself, I have put together the new hand-push lawn mower, but I don't think I've done it quite right and the next bit involves blades. Never mind Dave finishes work in another two hours........

My dad has always wanted a plum tree, so three autumns ago when mum brought a stone back from the golf course( having picked and eaten the fruit as she played) I popped it into a pot of earth and promptly forgot about it. I was thrilled when it germinated the following spring and tended it carefully, somehow when it became time to plant the tiny sapling it ended up in my garden!

I can now report that for the first time the branches are covered in blossom buds, I can't wait to see how it looks. So imagine my surprise when I read the following passage, I feel it was written especially for me

Gardening is one of the late joys, for youth is too impatient, too self absorbed, and usually not rooted deeply enough to create a garden. Gardening is one of the rewards of middle age, when one is ready for an impersonal passion, a passion that demands patience, acute awareness of the world outside oneself, and the power to keep on growing through all times of drought, through the cold snows, toward those moments of pure joy when all failures are forgotten and the plum tree flowers.

May Sarton, Plant Dreaming Deep, 1968

Sunny march morning

Tuesday 22nd March 2011

Went to Ripley for our morning constitutional, the daffodils on the banks below the castle are almost open, they will be breathtaking when they are. Everywhere we went the promise of natures bounty was tantalisingly close. I spotted the first primroses, celandines and wood anemones- soon the hedgerows will be carpeted with them.

Gave the shed it's spring coat of preservative, it dried almost as fast as I could apply it. Repaired a hole in the roof with strong plastic and carpet tacks, it's begining to look it's age like me!

The insect life in the garden is much more noticeable now, there are more sleepy bumblebees by the day, they are quite large so I guess they are queens looking for new homes. My eye is often caught by the shiny red backs of ladybirds basking in the gentle sunshine.

The astrantia leaves are pushing through today- they didn't come to much last year due to slugs I think, however they will have to survive on their own as I have given up on pellets. The joy of having a family of hedgehogs living here far outweighs a few munched plants.

Musing of the day (an old one but a goody)

"If you would be happy for a week take a wife,

if you would be happy for a month, kill your pig

but if you would be happy all your life,

plant a garden"

Chinese proverb.

A new venture

Monday March 21st

Officially the days are now getting longer, so this seems like a great time to start a new venture.This blog will be a little record of my gardening days as I attempt to re-train in horticulture. Wish me luck!

It is another gorgeous morning, I took chummy dog down Nidd Gorge for his walk & saw loads of birds, including a jay, mistle thrush & a nut hatch, not a bad haul.

Back in the garden I planted some forget-me-nots around the base of the acer & the false spikenard I bought yesterday I just popped into the border( I hope it will be damp enough there)

The ribes that I rescued from Focus last year has beautiful lime green leaves now & it only cost me 50p!

Spring is definitely in the air.

Today I will finish with a little quotation from Gertrude Jekyll which rings a bell with a novice like me

You will find out there are all sorts of ways of learning, not only from people and books, but from sheer trying.