Better Day

Tuesday 31st May 2011

Monday was altogether a better sort of day. Despite it being grey with pretty steady rain until mid-afternoon, I managed to get a few things done. Finished the hated bio-fuels chapter at last, I've found it tough, full of strange chemicals and processes that will not stick in my head, never mind I can always go back to it later. Sequestered myself in the kitchen with the radio on and re-potted all the chillies, peppers, amaranthus and borage seedlings. Just when I think my plant stocks are running low, within an hour I'm back looking like a nursery again!

Later I took a very satisfying amble round the garden to see what was looking good. The sea holly is doing well this year, it's stems and flowers turn a stunning electric blue when mature. There are rumours of a return to warmer weather at the end of the week-HOORAY!

"God sleeps in the minerals, awakens in the plants, walks in the animals, and thinks in man"

Arthur Young

Frustration

Monday 30th May 2011

The weather this weekend has in turns been, cool, rainy, and windy, or a combination of all three. This has meant that the grass and hedge remain uncut, the seedlings will have to be patient a while longer and the weeds have a stay of execution again.

Just managed to squeeze a walk in on Sunday morning, before the tell-tale zig-zag signs of a migraine made their presence felt, and it turned into a humdinger. Three hours back in bed later, and I still felt like a wrung out rag. No chance of finishing the bio-fuels chapter of my studies feeling like that. Some weekends you just have to write off, still it is a bank holiday today so I might get chance to catch up, if only this rain would stop!

"laughter and tears are both responses to frustration and exhaustion...... I myself prefer to laugh, since there is less clearing up to do afterward"

Kurt Vonnegut Jr

Where Have All The Bees Gone?

Friday 27th May 2011

Set off for Southlands at a brisk trot in glorious hot sunshine, by the time I arrived the sky was looking ominously black. No sooner had I planted the Brussels sprouts generously donated by Jim from across the road than the heavens opened. Val's attempt to get me involved in carpet bowls or dominoes fell on deaf ears, as I'm an outdoor sort of a girl. Instead I donned my waterproof and went out to garden in the rain, much to the amusement of the residents. I weeded out this weeks crop of nettle seedlings and dead-headed the hanging baskets. Then I picked up all the twigs and branches blown down by the shocking weather on Monday and Tuesday. By this time I was rather wet so called it a day.

The bad weather this week has done more than upset us humans, the poor old bees have been having a hard time. I've noticed many stunned and dying, just not able to cope with the wind, poor things. People have been bemoaning the lack of bees in their gardens and I will tell you why, they are all at my house visiting the campanula! I counted four different species in one glance today. So if you want more bees, plant the right flowers, avoid any double or over fussy varieties as they cannot retrieve nectar from those, and plant good old fashioned cottage garden stuff like foxgloves and sweetpeas. The bees will thank you for it and they may just pollinate your veg at the same time!

"The pedigree of honey, does not concern the bee; a clover, anytime, to him is aristocracy"

Emily Dickinson

A Morning Full Of Nature

Thursday 26th May 2011

A lovely start to Wednesday morning found Dave, Chum and I taking what has become our usual route, on our way to me being dropped off in Spofforth. It ticks many boxes, being traffic free,( it is an old by-pass ), lined with fields of crops for Dave to keep an eye on for his work, and absolutely stuffed with nature. Oh and Chum likes the country smells too! Today's pictures show what we found, a poppy in the rape-seed field and a caterpillar nursery.

At Diana's we first took the customary tour of just what has changed since last week, then we got down to tidying up a neglected flower bed. I rescued plants and Diana potted them up. It was a perfect chance for her to explain nodal and inter-nodal cutting techniques to me. Then the clearing began in earnest, digging over and removing tough old roots. The hard work was more than compensated for by a blackbird, who worked alongside me, collecting grubs to feed his brood. I started throwing tasty morsels in his direction, which he took with great relish, it was a good symbiotic relationship!

"And let them pass, as they will too soon, with the bean flowers boon, and the blackbirds tune, and May and June!"

Robert Browning

Relaxation

Wednesday 25th May 2011

Sometimes the most enjoyable time spent in the garden is when you don't really have anything specific to do. Increasingly as I spend more time in other peoples gardens, I realise just how much I like my own. The urge to learn all I can about horticulture, means I'm under scrutiny most of the week, and therefore when I'm pottering about on my own, it is more relaxing than it ever was before. Yesterday was a good case in point, I put a couple of hours study in after breakfast, and then the rest of the day was my own. A little gentle potting on and some light watering (hasn't this wind dried everything out?) was all it amounted to, and a feeling of peace and contentment descended upon me, at least until the children got home!

I spotted this cow parsley as I walked Chum and thought how beautiful it was, it's an umbellifer , I love the plant and the name (very popular at Chelsea this year too ), must grow some of the decorative types next spring.

"Beside the noble art of getting things done, there is a nobler art of leaving things undone. The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials"

Lin Yutang

Un-may Like Weather

Tuesday 24th May 2011

Yesterday was just like autumn! Rainy gales stopped play at Tate House about 1pm, but we had a good mornings work behind us. Phil drew the short straw and tackled the long neglected compost heap and Nick and Jack tidied the shed. Neither job was to my liking, the first being jolly hard work, and the latter too spidery. I busied myself with pricking out and potting on the brassica seedlings that I'd sown on the first day of the project. They have really come on well, we even chanced putting some straight out into the veg garden, if they come to nothing we will have more mature plug plants to replace them with.

Due to the early finish, when I got home I attempted to create my first proper garden plan of the sensory courtyard. It's a bit busy perhaps, but not bad for a first attempt.

"Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men's blood..... Make big plans, aim high in hope and work"

Daniel H Burnham

Birthday Bonanza

Monday 23rd May 2011

Hardly any time to spend in the garden this weekend on account of it being my birthday. I had to do all sorts of un-Alison like things such as going clothes shopping and going to the hairdressers. Still I did manage to squeeze an hour in on Saturday morning, instead of doing the housework, one has to get one's priorities right! I planted out the ornamental millet, put half a dozen geraniums in pots, trimmed the allium leaves and found places in the border for some spare parsley plugs. Finally I planted a wild rose in the nature corner, I've grown it from a hip I picked up on a gleaning mission last autumn, I've put it in a large pot so hopefully it won't get too rampant. The hips are what I'm after for late colour, and it should be good for lots of creepy crawlies to hide in.

Well I've been thoroughly spoilt this year, I received a beautiful Hawes watering can, gardening vouchers and a luxury kneeler amongst lots of other lovely treats, but top marks to the kids for a hand made card with a poem and a little book entitled "50 ways to kill a slug"!

Messing around with the new camera, I came across the first cornflower in the garden.

"It takes a long time to grow young"

Pablo Picasso

Dig For Victory 2011

Friday 20th May 2011

They had a singer at Southlands yesterday, she sang all the old war songs, and as The White Cliffs Of Dover wafted out of the window and into the garden, it got me thinking about things.

Firstly I imagined what the garden would have looked like during war time, the Dig for Victory campaign would have been in full swing and all of the good ground would have been given over to food production. That made me wonder why we don't have a similar campaign running at the moment. My studies tell me that the world is currently fighting a war with famine. The present population of the world currently stands at six billion people, this is set to rise to nine billion by 2050. In the years 1998 to 2007, world grain production failed to match consumption six times!

I think it is our duty to start to understand our planet, and not put so much pressure on it's resources. Growing our own is one way of contributing that is of benefit to humans and dear old Mother Earth.

Well I have gone off on one this week haven't I? They say that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing- promise to be a bit less eco-warrior next week!

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world"

Mahatma Gandhi

Hand And Knees

Thursday 19th May 2011

My first working shift with Diana in Spofforth yesterday, the weather mild if somewhat overcast. The first task was to plant two dozen onion sets, it is only Diana's inability to kneel for long that stops her from doing all the tasks in her lovely garden, so I'm happy to assist.

The greenhouse is stuffed with brassica seedlings at the moment, Diana explained that they have clubroot present in the soil, which means that she doesn't plant them out until August when the virus spores become less active.

Next we tackled the weeds in the other vegetable bed, a mass of chickweed, it pulled easily but still took a long time to remove completely. we then watered everything in and I admired Diana's watering can, it comes with two sizes of rose and it's called a Hawes can- must lay my paws on one of those!

Before we knew it lunch time was upon us(actually 2pm), very nice home made mushroom soup with tomato and parmesan bread. That only left enough time for some general tidying up and I had to make my way home. I'm looking forward to next week already.

"Coming together is a beginning,

Keeping together is progress,

Working together is success"

Henry Ford

A Dinner Of Herbs

Wednesday 18th May 2011

Finally got back into the garden after going boggle eyed learning about plant oils, fatty acids and bonds between carbon atoms this morning! Hopefully it will all sink in eventually. It was therefore very soothing to tackle planting up the herb containers, here is a list of what went in them.

Two types of lavender-smells lovely and the flowers can be used in baking.

Rosemary-also smells nice, flavours meat dishes, cheese, jellies, and fruit cups.

Bergamot-add the flowers to salads and the leaves to china tea for an earl grey flavour.

Lemon balm-for stuffings, salads and fruit drinks.

Hyssop-a peppery sharp flavour, add leaves to soups and casseroles.

Sage-well known in stuffing but also great for a sore throat.

Chervil-liquorice flavour used widely in french cuisine.

Tarragon-one of the main components of bearnaise sauce.

Thyme-good with lamb, tomatoes and eggs.

Caraway-seeds used in breads and biscuits.

Parsley- needs no introduction

Alpine strawberry-add the tiny fruit to summer drinks and desserts.

Pineapple mint-for fruit punches or add to ricotta and cream cheese.

Curry plant-which smells of curry but has no culinary uses whatsoever!

I'm not sure if I really planted them for use or ornament, but they will look lovely when grown on a bit. Mum, delivery will be Saturday, along with your grand-daughter!

The second picture is of a well loved children's tv programme called The Herbs, it was one of my favourites as a youngster, so I'm just indulging myself!

"Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a fatted ox and hatred within"

Proverbs 15:17

Rogue Rhubarb

Tuesday 17th May 2011

The Monday shift showed no signs of flagging on day three of the Tate House project. The vegetables continued to be planted with enthusiasm if not aplomb, more onions, cabbage, brussel sprouts and lettuce went in, two courgette plants( fingers crossed no more frost ) and two rows of runner beans. Then Nick constructed a stunning cage to keep the pigeons off, he should have been an engineer that lad! Meanwhile Jack continued his battle with the Gunnera, which had run amok after escaping the confines of the pond.Nasty stuff with long roots that make new plants at the drop of a hat, three days he has devoted to the task so I went to help him. Madhu has really made a differance to the remembrance garden by tidying, weeding and trimming the grass edges. When the gunnera had finally been conquered we all hoed, raked, forked and dug the bed over until the soil was looking viable, then the boys sowed three trenches of seed potatoes. They should help to improve the soil and might even be a match for the rogue rhubarb.

"Sweet flowers are slow and weeds make haste"

William Shakespeare, Richard III

Tree Hugging Is Good

Monday 16th May 2011

Nothing much practical to write about today, as I've had my head down studying most of the weekend. My short open university course started on Saturday, it's called plants and people and so far I'm finding it fascinating. It is astonishing just how important plants are to each and every one of us, this is a list of just HOW important.

They provide the air that we breathe.

They are the food that we and our livestock eat.

They are the foundation of the global economy.

They provide us with fibres, fuels and medicines.

Growing and harvesting them provides work for millions of people.

And finally we derive much pleasure from their form, colour and aroma.

The tree huggers certainly know what is worth fighting for.

Today's quote comes from one of the OU's course videos

"That is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilisation.

I believe this is a moral issue.

It is your time to seize this issue"

Al Gore 2006

Ghastly Goosegrass

Friday 13th May 2001

Sorry for the delay folks, but the Friday the 13th gremlins have caused problems with the mother ship, I have no idea what has happened to yesterdays post, maybe it will turn up soon or go down in history as the the one that got away!

Planting strawberries was my first task at Southlands, the gardener(paid!) had left a tray of them and asked if I would see to them. He has told Val that I'm doing a grand job, so I'm pleased I haven't trodden on his toes and messed up any of his planting schemes. He is going to bring the bedding plants soon and let me do the hanging baskets, that will be a full afternoons work.

I am starting to realise that every garden has it's crosses to bear, and that I am very lucky that mine are only lilac suckers and herb Robert, Southlands has goosegrass and nettles, and they are amassing a giant army as the season progresses. I don't think I managed to remove a hundreth of it but my back felt like I had by the time I went home. Next week I shall bring my hoe!

The picture is of a beautiful arrangement that caught my eye whilst tackling the weeds.

"Tender-handed stroke a nettle and it stings you for your pains, grasp it like a man of mettle, and it soft as silk remains"

Aaron Hill

A Learning Opportunity

Thursday 12th May 2011

I went to visit a lovely couple in Spofforth yesterday, Diana and Brian Davis. They gave me an extensive tour of their garden, which consists of much home grown produce. Diana has for many years been a member of the Northern Fruit Group, and her garden is the product of that knowledge. There are many beautiful fruit trees there and root stocks of all types, there are two fig trees in the greenhouse, one of which is suffering from an infestation of scale insects-very interesting for me to observe.

They also grow an abundance of soft fruit and of course all the usual herbs and vegetables.

I am to go and help them with the garden every Wednesday this summer, in return for this they will share their vast knowledge and teach me how to graft and bud fruit trees, and also share the produce, I feel I'm getting the best of the bargain!

"Education is only a ladder to gather fruit from the tree of knowledge, not the fruit itself"

Albert Einstein

Luscious Lawn

Wednesday 11th May 2011

Made the most of a free day yesterday by ensuring that all the new summer bedding was well settled in, it was surprising just how dry the pots were considering the heavy rain showers we have been having this week. I mixed some blood, fish and bone in with each arrangement, which should mean that everything gets off to a good start. In general I don't feed my plants, if the soil is good and gets mulched with organic matter once a year, they shouldn't really need it. The veg pots will be another matter though, I expect I will have to feed the tomatoes and cucumbers at least.

The grass has taken advantage of the extra moisture on offer this week and taken me by surprise with the vigour of its growth. I had to empty the cuttings basket three times, for my little lawn! However, dare I say it, I think I have achieved stripes!

"Breathless, we flung us on a windy hill, laughed in the sun, and kissed the lovely grass"

Rupert Brooke

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