Oranges Are Not The Only Fruit

Royal Wedding Day Friday 29th April 2011

Whilst I was Visiting Southlands the other week, my friend Sue suggested that it would be fun to grow the plants required to make a Pimms, so I located each element and made some plant labels etc. I bought a nice big bag of oranges and thought I was all set, however once I started to search for the pips I found that not one of them contained any!(Mum then informed me that Navel oranges don't have them), so I bought some more of a different type from Knaresborough market, no pips. Finally I tried the little shop in Ripley(I can recommend it), and managed to retrieve a grand total of five. Three bags of oranges for five pips which probably won't grow, that's the Gemini pig-headedness in me, still it was fun, see above. The clematis has now flowered so you get two pics today.(By the way, if you want more detail you should be able to click on the images to enlarge them)

We are off to the coast this morning, no offence to the happy couple , wishing them all the best of course, but Chummy needs a change of air and we can catch up with the highlights later. Back on Monday.

"One mustn't ask apple trees for oranges, France for sun, women for love, life for happiness"

Gustave Flaubert

Hedgerows

Thursday 28th April 2011

Walking in Ripley this morning, I am again taken with the simple beauty of the hedgerow, for all our connivance in the garden we will never be able to match natures composition and colour. It is cool today but still dry, I ventured out in my shorts and soon regretted it, I felt as cold as newly planted summer bedding!

Have just spent a good ten minutes waging war with the Lilac suckers(a constant battle all summer), because next door have put up a new six foot fence, so I've lost some light, but I won't miss the view into their "garden".

Yesterday I ate the first produce of my labours, some spicy salad leaves, fresh and delicious straight from the pot, it makes me feel quite proud. Carrots, Chard and Lettuce all doing well so looking forward to something a bit more substantial.

"What is this life if, full of care, we have no time to stand and stare"

William Henry Davies

All Change

Wednesday 27th April 2011

A very happy morning spent planting out some of my home grown annuals. Unlike summer bedding plants, these are more hardy and will withstand a little cold weather if we get it. Potted up two containers of Sweetpeas complete with spiral climbing frames, then decided I'd had enough of most of the winter bedding and binned at least half of it. Moved the pots about a bit and filled in some space with two new plants, Euphorbia amygdaloides purpurea and Heuchera midnight rose(pictured). They will be fillers whilst I choose my summer scheme and can be replanted in the garden at a later date.

"Here are sweetpeas, on tip-toe for a flight, with wings of gentle flush o'er delicate white, and taper fingers catching at all things, to bind them all about with tiny rings"

John Keats

Tall Orders

Tuesday 26th April 2011

It is with much trepidation that I have planted out the Russian Giant Sunflower seedlings this morning, I do hope they don't grow too big, or I really don't know how I'm going to support them. I'm almost hoping that they get eaten by slugs(wash my mouth out!)then I won't have the problem, but I have given them some protection, so it's in the hands of fate now.

Other seeds sowed today are, Mint, Chervil, Borage and Sweetcorn. Dave being interested in crops, wanted me to sow the latter as an experiment, but again I have no room to plant them in the borders, maybe some grow bags stood on end will do the job.

Elsewhere in the garden the Pansies and Violas are not really going to last much longer, even with constant dead-heading they are looking straggley, I may have to get rid of them soon. However I refuse to buy my bedding plants yet, despite the recent weather, it is just too soon, and those that have, may get a nasty surprise yet! Meanwhile to fill in the gap the Alliums have started to flower already, almost a month early I feel.

How fair is a garden amid the trials and passions of existence

Benjamin Disraeli

Same Family?

Monday 25th April 2011

It is now hard to keep up with the growth in the garden, the weather continues fine and with a little help from me and the hose pipe the plants are romping away. All the herbs have now germinated and the summer bulbs are quickly pushing fat buds towards towards the unseasonally blue sky.

Amongst the most vigorous of new-borns are the courgettes, they seem to be hungry as soon as the first leaves appear and they look it too!

Rescued yet another of Chummy's "prunings" this morning, three or four stems of Agastache that he had thoughtfully thinned out, I've stuck them in some water in the hope that they might grow some roots. Optimism is the best quality in a gardener!

"Viewed narrowly, all life is universal hunger and the expression of energy associated with it"

Mary Ritter Beard

Clematis For Southlands

Good Friday April 22nd 2011

Yesterday afternoon I set off for Southlands to repair some rather ruthless pruning I had performed on their clematis the week before. To be fair, the residents and I had taken a vote on whether or not the specimen was worth saving, and the majority had voted for the chop. Therefore whilst visiting the show the previous Friday I purchased a replacement, called Dr Ruppel, it flowers twice a year with big pink and white striped blooms, very cheerful. So, I loaded up the trolley with said plant, compost and a few pots of home-grown fillers, it was pretty hard going up the hill on Ripon road, especially as the afternoon was somewhat warm, but I soon forgot about it when I got there and started planting. Everything that we have planted so far seems to be thriving, probably due to the wonderful weather and the garden's perfect aspect, it is somewhat annoying to find that their plants are doing better than mine! I did take a picture of the new clematis but want to let it come into flower first before I share it with you, instead here is one of a beautiful Iris, just reaching it's best in their garden at the moment.

Easter spells out beauty, the rare beauty of new life

S.D.Gordon

Hedgehogs!

Thursday 21st April 2011

It is with great delight that I can report that the hedgehogs are back. Last night as I was letting Chummy out for his 10 o'clock wee, I heard strange snuffling and grunting noises coming from over the fence. Peering into the gloom I could see two large adults, presumably a mating pair. I do hope they raise another brood like last year. It is so important that everyone leaves some small gaps in their garden fencing, so that these wonderful beasts can move from garden to garden. They need to travel quite long distances each night to find food. I thought the garden had been strangely slug free this spring!

Today I have planted a new Acer palmatum "sai ho" that I bought at the show, it is a dwarf type and I think it looks just lovely. So to make up for the lack of pictures recently, you can have two today.

Plans to protect air and water, wilderness and wildlife are in fact plans to protect man.

Stewart Udall

The First Cut

Wednesday 20th April

Started the day's work off by cutting the hedge( no nesting birds ), the first cut of the season is always the worst. It is amazing just how much growth has occurred in such a short space of time. I always let the clippings that fall underneath rot down because they smother the Ground Elder, although I do have Foxgloves growing there this year so of course I made sure that they could still breathe.

The big excitement today is the fitting of an outside tap, it may not sound like much to you, but I've been using my neighbour's for the last five years. I will celebrate by using the sprinkler on the lawn this evening.

At last I have some herbs, the Chives and Dill have sprouted, surely that means the rest will soon follow.

"A little water is a sea to an ant"
Afghan proverb

Climbing Things

Tuesday 19th April 2011

The weather continues glorious, so I'm back in the garden planting seeds again. Runner beans Scarlet Emperor and something called Clary tricolour mix, I've no idea what it is because it was a freebie, so I've given it a go. Also filling in the gaps with cheap and cheerful purchases, Knautia Melton Pastles, lambs ears and Liatris. All of my Nastutiums have been put out too, the idea being that they will climb up the netting and cover over the unsightly areas of the garden like the compost bin. If they all do well the garden will be positively smothered in flowers this summer.

Apologies today for the lack of a picture, I did try, but Dave is away and he's taken my laptop, so I feel that a certain mr R Stafford has yet again got something to answer for!

"I have a garden of my own, shining with flowers of every hue, I loved it dearly while alone, but I shall love it more with you"
Thomas More 1835

Potting On

Monday 18th April 2011

Chummy dog and I came face to face with a deer this morning, we were walking down the Old Barber railway line towards the ponds when I noticed it. I thought it would run away, but it calmly went on having a drink, I don't think the dog noticed it because it was so quiet. I was almost close enough to touch it, when oh when will I remember to put the camera in my pocket along with the pooh bags!

This weekend was spent potting on my seedlings, it's good to get rid of the modules for another year. Next year I don't think I'll bother with then at all, instead I will plant less seed in larger modules and then plant them out when they are large enough.

The garden is looking beautiful, the plants are burgeoning forth, all we really need is some rain for them to reach their full potential. In the meantime I must help them along with the watering can and the hosepipe.

Germinations are happening thick and fast now, Courgette, Pak Choi and lettuce but still no signs of the herbs, I never will learn to be patient!

Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.

Albert Einstein.

The Trolley

Friday 15th Aprin 2011

Today I've been to Harrogate Flower show, It is the centenary year and to mark the occasion they have included show gardens for the first time. Very beautiful they are too, I hope this will continue in future shows.

However the big news today is, I am now the proud owner of a flower show trolley, this means that I am officially an old git! It also means that I can go to various garden centres and not have to rely on Dave giving me a lift home,and I can cart all sorts of bits and pieces to and from Southlands and Tate House. So if you spot a slightly eccentric looking middle aged woman pulling a tree or something green behind her, it will probably be me. Oh the joy of being able to embarrass the children at long last!

Obviously I've not had time for much more than a quick look round the garden today, but so far I notice that the Tarragon seeds have started to germinate and also those really expensive chillies(hooray). So far none of the other herbs have appeared, but they are outside, which means they will probably take twice as long. Here's hoping for a warm weekend to wake them up.

One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.

William Shakespeare

Thugs In My Garden

Thursday 14th April 2011

Got to grips with the Bluebells this morning, not that I have anything against our native ones, which are currently looking beautiful casting their haze of colour down in the woods. No, my bugbear is with the Spanish ones, did you know you can chop a bulb into a million pieces and it will grow into a million new bluebells? At least it does in my garden! I have left some in down under the Lilac, because I rather like the colour contrast, although the Lilac has bloomed at least two weeks early this year and they have some catching up to do. The Lilac is the other thug as mentioned above, I'm sure it didn't have any leaves out last week, now it is a dense thicket, each and every sucker a potential six foot shrub, I managed to cut a fair few down however.

Some surprise germinations today, the very first seeds I put in back in Feb have been a mixed bag. The Morning Glory romped home as the winner, closely followed by the Nasturtiums, the others never showed up at all until now. Not that it's much to get excited about ,but two Pepper plants and one Cleome having survived on a diet of neglect are very welcome nonetheless.

If you've never been thrilled to the very edges of your soul by a flower in spring bloom, maybe your soul has never been in bloom.

Terri Guillemets

Small Things

Wednesday 13th April 2011

Without a doubt, the prettiest thing I've seen this morning is one of the smallest. Walking down to the river with George and Chummy dog, I caught a glimpse of true blue/purple, which on closer inspection turned out to be a Violet. It was set off to perfection by the dainty white flowers of the patch of wild strawberry in which it was growing. A small picture of perfection-shame I didn't have my camera with me. Just to keep my hand in, this is one of the chimney pot I planted at the weekend.

The weather is somewhat mixed now, but that hasn't stopped the seed sowing, more Chard, this one is called Bright Lights(it has red,yellow and orange stems in various shades, very decorative when planted in a mixed border), Night Scented Stock, and Courgette Black Beauty.

The human spirit needs places where nature has not been re-arranged by man

anon

Snake's-head Fritillary

Tuesday 12th April 2011

A very agreeable morning spent wandering around Harlow Carr, the snake's-head fritillary are looking especially delightful swaying in the breeze, under the woodland edges.( This is a new departure in blogging terms for me, so I hope to be able to offer some illustrations to complement my dialogue from now on.) It is still bright and sunny, but noticeably colder than of late, it's back to jumpers and body warmers for me today!

This afternoon I'm trying a small experiment, after reading an article in a magazine about taking transverse leaf cuttings of Streptocarpus, I have decided to try the same technique with a rather nice primula bought from Harlow Carr, they are both of the same family so common sense suggests that it will work too. Firstly select a mature leaf and cut cleanly through the stem as close to the base as possible. Then slice the leaf into sections approx 3cm long, insert vertically into compost ensuring the base edge is the one pushed into the soil. Gently water in and mist daily, hopefully plantlets will form in about 4 weeks. I'll keep you posted!

Today's quote is taken off the monument to Geoffrey Smith situated by the banks of the stream in Harlow Carr Gardens

The kiss of the sun for pardon

The song of the birds for mirth

One is nearer God's heart in a garden

Than anywhere else on earth.

A Hanging Basket And A Chimney Pot

Monday 11th April 2011

We were certainly blessed with a truly splendid weekend for the time of year. Inspired by the sunshine I tackled two projects that I've been meaning to do for a while.

Firstly I planted a hanging basket, the only spot that is suitable for one is in shade for most of the day so I've chosen ferns and silver foliage plants with varigated nasturtium seeds tucked into the sides. It looks a bit new as yet, but as soon as the nasturtiums get going and start trailing over the sides, I think it will look very pleasing.

The second project was planting up a chimney pot, when we had a wood burning stove fitted back in November, we replaced one pot with a bird catcher and the old one has been sat on the driveway ever since. After considerable thought I decided to plant it with alpines, Rosularia Chrysantha, Saxifraga Rosina Suendermann and Jovibarba Oki. I seperated any "babies" to fill the gaps at the bottom of the pot and top up the stock in the wall garden. I'm very pleased with the result and it will give interest when the spring flowers have died back, before the summer bedding goes in.

Sowings today are Amaranthus and Tarragon which both need inside germination

Bread feeds the body indeed, but flowers feed also the soul

The Koran

Good Weather Credits

Friday 8th April 2011

It is the most perfect day, we awoke to bright blue skies and no breeze, it was already warm by 9 o'clock so I donned a pair of shorts and set out for a lovely walk with Chum dog. I do hope we are not using up all our good weather credits too early this year!

Am pretty worn out after a week of full on gardening, so here's what I did yesterday PM.

Walked up to Southlands at 2.00pm to assess which plants Joe Maiden had left us. It was such a fine afternoon that many of the residents were outside enjoying the sunshine. Into the first bed I planted a dozen Sweetpeas, we didn't have any supports so I looked around the compost heap and gleaned some sticks that would serve, tied the peas in with blue wool provided by the knitting group! Next planted two Heuchura and three nice pots of Parsley, this still left a lot of space, luckily I'd stuffed my apron with plenty of packets of herb seeds, so with the help of the lovely Ruth, we filled the rest of the bed with a good assortment. The second bed we filled with Peas, onions and alternate carrots and garlic(to keep off the dreaded fly), Ruby Chard and some perennial Wallflower(Bowles Mauve) and yellow daisy for colour. Finished off by sprinkling in a few cosmos just to surprise everyone. I will pop along a couple of times a week, just to make sure all is well.

Going to put my feet up for the weekend now, back Monday.

To sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.

Jane Austin

Lawn Care

Thursday 7th April 2011

Another morning of lawn maintenance, raked out the thatch after the treatment last week, then went round with the new strimmer. As strimmers go I think we will rub along together just fine. Tomorrow I will mow again, I am determined to have a decent looking sward this year, but still have one or two healthy looking patches of Daisy(which I don't mind), and Dandelion(which I do).

Then did the rounds of dead-heading and weeding again, the more often you tend to it, the less time it takes.

Next task was watering, I now have over 100 pots of cuttings and seedlings dotted around the driveway and inside the house, and I haven't finished yet.

Today I have sown Little Gem Lettuce, Pak Choi , carrot(Royal Chantenay Red), Dill, Fennel, and Coriander-whew!

If dandelions were hard to grow, they would be most welcome on any lawn.

Andrew Mason

Weeds and Seeds

Wednesday 6th April 2011

It is warm and dry after early morning rain and all of a sudden everything in the garden has gone bonkers, It has taken me fully an hour just to pop round the place, weeding and dead-heading, and it's only the size of a postage stamp. I did decide to tackle the block paving though, a word of caution to any one thinking of laying one, don't! It's funny how you don't notice things growing in the cracks one day and the next It's covered in weeds. I do leave some self sown seedlings like Aubretia and Foxgloves however as I am trying to achieve a cottage garden look-even if we do live in a semi!

Today's sowings are Chives, Sage, parsley and an ornamental millet F1 Purple Baron, a lovely looking tall fluffy spiked grass. It's a new one for me so I hope it works, but they do say nothing ventured, nothing gained.

"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them"

A A Milne

April Showers And A Visit From Joe

Tuesday 5th April 2011

This morning it is warm, dull and damp, because I'm busy doing other things today,I thought I'd tell you about what I was doing yesterday afternoon.

I'm about to start helping to plant the raised beds at Southlands residential home, and luckily for me yesterday they had Mr Joe Maiden as their speaker. Joe has been a horticulturist all his working life and has also broadcast on radio Leeds for 43 years. He began his talk by telling us that it has never felt like work, lucky chap, oh and he also likes licorice allsorts a lot! His next topic was about an organic range of fertilizers and treatments. The fertilizer in particular interested me very much, It is made from sheep dags, which are a bi-product of the wool industry, it is totally odourless, has been listed in which magazine and certified by the soil association, it has also been proven to reduce slug and snail attacks. Apparently the wool fibres present in the pellets contain tiny little hooks, so when the molluscs pass over them, they puncture the bodies of the creatures causing them to lose moisture and ultimately perish. Sounds worth a go to me, I'm told they are available to buy from Harlow Carr garden centre.

Joe also brought a fine collection of spring plants with him and talked us through their different properties, leaving a good selection of them behind him when he went, for us to plant in our raised beds. A thoroughly enjoyable afternoon for all involved.

"Walking through puddles is my favourite metaphor for life"

Jessi Lane Adams

Expensive Chillies

Monday 4th April 2011

Hardly any rain again over the weekend, so yesterday I ended up watering the lawn treatment in, it must be working because there are black patches appearing this morning. I know it will soon look better.

Put together the new strimmer and placed it on charge, this is now the only electrical item that I use, a necessary evil if I want the garden to be tidy around the edges.

Looking around today, I notice the leaves on the baby Horse Chestnuts are nearly out and the Astillbe that I thought I'd killed last year has pushed through lots of new leaves, thank goodness for the tenacity of Mother Nature.

Today's sowings are Rubarb Chard and some very expensive chillies called Joe's Long. I was shocked when I opened the packet to discover I only had 7 seeds and that for £3.55!, they are F1 hybrids though, so they should do well. That will teach me to keep my mind on the job when wandering around garden centres.

A man's children and his garden both reflect the amount of weeding done during the growing season.

Anon

Cheap Tulips

Friday 1st April 2001

Busy day today,I didn't get into the garden until 2.30pm. The shopping had to be done or there would have been a mutiny at teatime, did manage to squeeze in lunch at the Boars Head though!

Anyway I got stuck in as soon as I could, mowed the lawn then treated it, I must be the only person praying for rain this weekend. Whilst shopping, I picked up some dirt cheap Tulips at £3.49 for 18 bulbs, Pinocchio variety, they haven't even started flowering yet. I used them to spruce up the pots by the front door, even if they only last a couple of weeks, it will have been worth it.

Short blog today sorry, promise to try harder on Monday.

Quote in honour of today's date

We're fools whether we dance or not,

so we might as well dance.

Japanese proverb