Its half past one in the morning.Thought i'd add a mini post to the earlier pics.I moved some busy lizzies today to the square border, including my pot grown kitchen lizzie.It adds some colour to the negative space.I like the effect, i just need to water daily to keep it lush as the soil drys out so deep!!
Maybe garden borders are like empires, growing, building up untill they are spectacular.But from there they fall into rack and ruin.
My case in point is the front window border.Six weeks ago it was a beautiful collage of colours, foliages, and flowers.Today the cottage pink has flowered, all the Aubretia is dead, and the snapdragons look skinny compared to the back garden ones.I guess thats the soil being more dry at the front.The morning sun cooked those plants several times over.
The Oxalis Deppei look dull, like an army camoflage jacket.Dull brown and khaki green, and worse the flowers hang downwards!
I think they may be better in a pot, whereas in the ground they blend into the dirt.The summer bulbs are a few months from flowering which leaves the japenese maples.I'm considering clearing the debris and just putting bark chippings around the maples.Just have those two and the summer bulbs.
The square border looks okay with mixes of red, yellow, orange, and greens.The arched border is developing with three rose bushes, three sunflowers, and three little leo sunflowers.The morning glory slowly climbs up the arch with garden twine help.The pansys add colour whilst we wait for the main flower shows to start.
The long border looks good as there are over twenty varieties of plants and shrubs, with lots of flower interest.The grass is green and lush, but needs a cut.
I guess as long as one area looks super, you can ignore the others untill new plants or new arrangements lifts them up.
Am i a perfectionist?Maybe yes but thats what drives us to garden daily, and to peruse magasines and blogs for inspiration.Its never fully done, its always a work in progress.
Back to work today for eight day stretch so expect slimmer posts.Keep on growing world.
Friday, June 30, 2006
Thursday, June 29, 2006
Long border through lavender spikes (they remind me of pikemen from the English Civil war for those of you who know english history.)
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Day off from work (one)
I was off today from work, it was payday, and there was actually money in the bank.I went out to get some plants but felt too poorly to buy any.I got drenched in a heavy rain shower too on the way back.
I just did not feel motivated to buy any, and my fav plant section was closed for fork lift truck movement or something.
I had been debating how to add to the borders that are incomplete, due to cat damage, drought, plants dying down, and errors in my gardening.
The only parts i like today are the long border (except for a small section), and the arched border.
The other two have negative space, where there should be something.I thought maybe i could buy some fillers.My cold symptoms dampened my enthusiasm.
I moved a geranium from the front window border to the long border near the corner.The mon lam, and that will hopefully fill up the space.The violas are lower than the log roll, so the effect of the flowers is not apparent yet.
I put two viola magnifico seedlings in a pot for Sallyanne.They are purple with yellow/white eyes at the centre.
It was a rain effected day, so i cooked for Sallyanne.Chicken and vegetable korma, with small home made chapati's, a chicken stock, and for the first time in years some homemade scones.
I last made them for Mrs England (from Wales of all places) in Home Ec, which bar english was my straight A subject.
I dont cook often as Sallyanne loves doing the family meals.The exception being Xmas which i love to do...
What i need is more homegrown ingredients.I have four surviving tomato plant seedlings from the fourteen!!
I read about homegrown carrots todayhttp://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2006/06/my-first-carrot.html)
Go Claire.I love the joy of seeing homegrown veg, esp if it is cooked then displayed.
Honourable mention to Steven who astounds me with his variety of crops and the ingenuity in using them as ingredients in predominantly italian style food.
http://dirtsunrain.blogspot.com/2006/06/by-popular-demand-roasted-beets-with.html
Its interesting how garden blogs can cross over to other subjects, and get comments too.I love reading about peoples lives, and interests different from mine.
Stuart is a garden writer from Australia with a knack for riling people up.He has started several heated debates.The last one i commented on was about the lack of debate amongst garden blogs.I felt the replies i read actually villified him slightly.
I like his posts, and weekly polls. We disagreed about garden gnomes, but he acknowledges that each to their own.
Here is his latest post: http://www.gardening4dummies.com/2006/06/building_an_outdoor_bird_aviary.html
Keep it up Stuart, even Amy Stewart replied to you so you know you sent waves from your original post.Not many posts stir debate like yours.Long may you do so, the blogosphere is richer for your posts.
Brit Arnhild posted a lovely rose pic, above her married for 26 years post.I wish her another 26 years of happiness: http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/2006/06/married_for_26_.html
Hanna made me laugh with her attempts to photograph a raindrop splashing during a rain storm.As someone who crawls along the garden, and has a camera with me daily i appreciate her madness for a perfect shot
http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/06/another-failed-attempt-to-freeze.html
A beautiful pic of the Royal wedding poppy with white petals, and black insides.Its good to see Daisy posting after her recent sadness: http://catsinthekitchenflorainthegarden.blogspot.com/2006/06/where-spirit-doesnot-work-with-hand.html
Thats a few posts i looked at.I have fourty odd blogs which i peruse daily.Like a compact garden magasine made by normal gardeners of their own patches of Eden.
May all your gardens grow, and help relax you through good times and bad times.
I just did not feel motivated to buy any, and my fav plant section was closed for fork lift truck movement or something.
I had been debating how to add to the borders that are incomplete, due to cat damage, drought, plants dying down, and errors in my gardening.
The only parts i like today are the long border (except for a small section), and the arched border.
The other two have negative space, where there should be something.I thought maybe i could buy some fillers.My cold symptoms dampened my enthusiasm.
I moved a geranium from the front window border to the long border near the corner.The mon lam, and that will hopefully fill up the space.The violas are lower than the log roll, so the effect of the flowers is not apparent yet.
I put two viola magnifico seedlings in a pot for Sallyanne.They are purple with yellow/white eyes at the centre.
It was a rain effected day, so i cooked for Sallyanne.Chicken and vegetable korma, with small home made chapati's, a chicken stock, and for the first time in years some homemade scones.
I last made them for Mrs England (from Wales of all places) in Home Ec, which bar english was my straight A subject.
I dont cook often as Sallyanne loves doing the family meals.The exception being Xmas which i love to do...
What i need is more homegrown ingredients.I have four surviving tomato plant seedlings from the fourteen!!
I read about homegrown carrots todayhttp://alamedagarden.blogspot.com/2006/06/my-first-carrot.html)
Go Claire.I love the joy of seeing homegrown veg, esp if it is cooked then displayed.
Honourable mention to Steven who astounds me with his variety of crops and the ingenuity in using them as ingredients in predominantly italian style food.
http://dirtsunrain.blogspot.com/2006/06/by-popular-demand-roasted-beets-with.html
Its interesting how garden blogs can cross over to other subjects, and get comments too.I love reading about peoples lives, and interests different from mine.
Stuart is a garden writer from Australia with a knack for riling people up.He has started several heated debates.The last one i commented on was about the lack of debate amongst garden blogs.I felt the replies i read actually villified him slightly.
I like his posts, and weekly polls. We disagreed about garden gnomes, but he acknowledges that each to their own.
Here is his latest post: http://www.gardening4dummies.com/2006/06/building_an_outdoor_bird_aviary.html
Keep it up Stuart, even Amy Stewart replied to you so you know you sent waves from your original post.Not many posts stir debate like yours.Long may you do so, the blogosphere is richer for your posts.
Brit Arnhild posted a lovely rose pic, above her married for 26 years post.I wish her another 26 years of happiness: http://brittarnhildshouseinthewoods.typepad.com/brittarnhilds_house_in_th/2006/06/married_for_26_.html
Hanna made me laugh with her attempts to photograph a raindrop splashing during a rain storm.As someone who crawls along the garden, and has a camera with me daily i appreciate her madness for a perfect shot
http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/06/another-failed-attempt-to-freeze.html
A beautiful pic of the Royal wedding poppy with white petals, and black insides.Its good to see Daisy posting after her recent sadness: http://catsinthekitchenflorainthegarden.blogspot.com/2006/06/where-spirit-doesnot-work-with-hand.html
Thats a few posts i looked at.I have fourty odd blogs which i peruse daily.Like a compact garden magasine made by normal gardeners of their own patches of Eden.
May all your gardens grow, and help relax you through good times and bad times.
Sea of petunias around the fuschias.Hope the fuschias will rise volcano like from the drooping white flowers
Midnight post
Its half past twelve at night. I stood outside earlier in the dark looking at the plants silhouettes and ghostly solar lights casting their faint lights. The wind was gently blowing across the garden, my white beech tree was making its relaxing noise. Totally calm, and still. My eyes only seeing darks and the glow of the petunia's white flowers.
All the work stress (It was horrendous for three out of four days) melted away. Its payday and i hope i can buy some plants. Retail therapy with flowers, plants, pots, trellis, etc. Frugal spending but i need to tidy up some loose borders.
Two days off. One violin lesson booked. A lot of grass to cut and trim. The garden is full of growth, and joy. I know why religeous orginisations use gardens as aids to meditation, healing etc.
I read some counter arguments about Why Bloggers post about their gardens without feeling the need for big issues and debates
(http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/06/me-myself-and-my-little-garden-hands.html)
Hannah was annoyed at the presumption, and reading through seventeen comments I think she was a voice of reason.
The internet is full of political soapboxes and websites. Most people garden and blog as a hobby and enjoy the community sharing it.
You have hundreds of gardens to marvel at. The successes, and the failures. Which you reflect to your own garden situation.
I have enough conflict at work, enough life and death, enough politics, and self serving people in upper positions. The garden is my escape route to a simpler, more rewarding time.
I love working, but i love the gardening too. Life is too short, let the political minded debate big issues. Let the gardeners blog what they want to.
So many photos, words, and ways of expressing yourself. Its the joy of the specialist blog that you reach kindred spirits through the internet.
Expect many photo's and posts over the next two days.Good night world.
All the work stress (It was horrendous for three out of four days) melted away. Its payday and i hope i can buy some plants. Retail therapy with flowers, plants, pots, trellis, etc. Frugal spending but i need to tidy up some loose borders.
Two days off. One violin lesson booked. A lot of grass to cut and trim. The garden is full of growth, and joy. I know why religeous orginisations use gardens as aids to meditation, healing etc.
I read some counter arguments about Why Bloggers post about their gardens without feeling the need for big issues and debates
(http://www.thisgardenisillegal.com/2006/06/me-myself-and-my-little-garden-hands.html)
Hannah was annoyed at the presumption, and reading through seventeen comments I think she was a voice of reason.
The internet is full of political soapboxes and websites. Most people garden and blog as a hobby and enjoy the community sharing it.
You have hundreds of gardens to marvel at. The successes, and the failures. Which you reflect to your own garden situation.
I have enough conflict at work, enough life and death, enough politics, and self serving people in upper positions. The garden is my escape route to a simpler, more rewarding time.
I love working, but i love the gardening too. Life is too short, let the political minded debate big issues. Let the gardeners blog what they want to.
So many photos, words, and ways of expressing yourself. Its the joy of the specialist blog that you reach kindred spirits through the internet.
Expect many photo's and posts over the next two days.Good night world.
Tuesday, June 27, 2006
rocket post..
As in the speed i am writing it.Im between shifts, late (finished at 9pm) and early (start at 7am, up at 5am).This is a brief post.
I got five comments today on my email so thanks to you all.Steven I think my planter cost £5 but it had geraniums in it (see last years posts.Think they all died over winter).
I am going to try nasturtium in salad soon, someone else suggested a sandwich!
The pic is of a plant i acquired from the grass verge where i walk up a hill.It is happily growing along the larger shrubs.The pink flowers with white star are gorgeous.I want someone to identify what it might be!
Its a ground cover, with tendril like stems that have heart shaped veiny leafs and buds.My cutting has been put into water where the two flowers opened up.Im guessing it usually puts roots down where the stems lay.
It might grow vertically.I will try to pot it up when roots have developed.My tomato plants are reduced to eight now.They are wilting plant by plant.Must be my unsterile soil killing them off.
Days off soon to redesign my square border and hopefully buy a few plants, and some bark chippings for weed suppression and moisture retention.
More posts tomorrow.Will comment then on any new comments, and share my fav blogs with you that have inspired me!
I got five comments today on my email so thanks to you all.Steven I think my planter cost £5 but it had geraniums in it (see last years posts.Think they all died over winter).
I am going to try nasturtium in salad soon, someone else suggested a sandwich!
The pic is of a plant i acquired from the grass verge where i walk up a hill.It is happily growing along the larger shrubs.The pink flowers with white star are gorgeous.I want someone to identify what it might be!
Its a ground cover, with tendril like stems that have heart shaped veiny leafs and buds.My cutting has been put into water where the two flowers opened up.Im guessing it usually puts roots down where the stems lay.
It might grow vertically.I will try to pot it up when roots have developed.My tomato plants are reduced to eight now.They are wilting plant by plant.Must be my unsterile soil killing them off.
Days off soon to redesign my square border and hopefully buy a few plants, and some bark chippings for weed suppression and moisture retention.
More posts tomorrow.Will comment then on any new comments, and share my fav blogs with you that have inspired me!
what am i? pink flowers with white star on a green stems that grow along the floor, heart shaped leafs
Monday, June 26, 2006
The tin bath planter with scary flower growth (I brought it inside to show Sallyanne.) My petunia and fuschia mixture
Violas the purple are viola magnifico from last year.They will be potted up because i loved the colouration.makes me think of ice creams!!
Saturday, June 24, 2006
returning to work
I am working today so i had a flying trip outside.I sprayed water and washing up liquid over the infested nasturtiums.Black aphids and their eggs maybe?Beneath the leafs and on the flower buds.I dead headed a few viola's (quite a lot really) in square border.Checked the roses for green aphid attack, removed a few black rotted leafs.I hope i have it on the run now because the rose bushes in the square border look healthy again.Phew!!
There was more cat damage to my newly planted viola line.I need a lot of rocks to put around the plants.I read black pepper keeps cats away from using soil as a litter tray.
Its never been a problem but the cats stayed in to start with, but go out regularly now.Even Tia with her three legs!!
Can you overwinter tomato plants?I have six seedlings growing on windowsill.When they are bigger i will move them outside to against the fence.If they are kept indoors will they survive ready for next year??
Back t0 work but the garden memories of my days off will keep me smiling.
There was more cat damage to my newly planted viola line.I need a lot of rocks to put around the plants.I read black pepper keeps cats away from using soil as a litter tray.
Its never been a problem but the cats stayed in to start with, but go out regularly now.Even Tia with her three legs!!
Can you overwinter tomato plants?I have six seedlings growing on windowsill.When they are bigger i will move them outside to against the fence.If they are kept indoors will they survive ready for next year??
Back t0 work but the garden memories of my days off will keep me smiling.
Friday, June 23, 2006
New Catalogues
I spent part of the day in the garden.The photo's are taken over two days but i was too tired to post them before.There is so much growing now, so im camera crazy.Snappy with a camera!!
I have enjoyed the days off.Gardened, played violin, and read books about gardening and garden design.To add to my delight i got two catalogues today from Dobies (http://www.dobies.co.uk) and one from Burncoose nursery's near Redruth in Cornwall (http://www.burncoose.co.uk)
Now i can pore over them, the seeds, fruits, and veg in Dobies, and the tree's, shrubs, and herbaceous plants in Burncoose.
Plan for new additions for next year.Start designing the 2007 borders.It never stops does it?planning dreaming plotting.
There are always plant casualties and gaps between the borders.My new viola lines had been attacked by a cat?? they were dug up and moved in places.
I took out the leggy forget me nots so my summer bulbs step into centre space.I photographed bee's today buzzing into my snapdragons and foxgloves.
Back to work tomorrow for four days.Alas, but then two garden days on wednesday/thursday.Hope all your gardens are growing sweetly.
I have enjoyed the days off.Gardened, played violin, and read books about gardening and garden design.To add to my delight i got two catalogues today from Dobies (http://www.dobies.co.uk) and one from Burncoose nursery's near Redruth in Cornwall (http://www.burncoose.co.uk)
Now i can pore over them, the seeds, fruits, and veg in Dobies, and the tree's, shrubs, and herbaceous plants in Burncoose.
Plan for new additions for next year.Start designing the 2007 borders.It never stops does it?planning dreaming plotting.
There are always plant casualties and gaps between the borders.My new viola lines had been attacked by a cat?? they were dug up and moved in places.
I took out the leggy forget me nots so my summer bulbs step into centre space.I photographed bee's today buzzing into my snapdragons and foxgloves.
Back to work tomorrow for four days.Alas, but then two garden days on wednesday/thursday.Hope all your gardens are growing sweetly.
Long border Nasturtium with flower, what is the black stuff along the stems?any body know i love your answers!!
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Grey Day off
I got up at half ten and looked outside.It had been blustery all night with a wind and showers in between.I looked for plant damage.My anemone/sunflower pot has been squashed and is now behind a 3 legged table as an impromptu windbreak.
I removed the purple violas as they looked leggy and have mildew?A white powdery stuff over the leafs probably because their soil was too wet.
I removed three forget me nots from the long border and a dead rosemary plant.Ooops they did not like being split at the root!!
I redug it and planted a double row of self seeded violas.I could see odd buds of white, yellow, and purple.Bordering them is a rosemary that has survived and the Abysinnian gladiolus are rising from the soil.
A section of the long border nasturtium had been snapped off presumably by the wind.The border plants rocked and rolled to the wind.The forsythia rolled to about sixty degree's with a cross wind!The smoke bush also lolled around like a ship on stormy sea's.
I brought in the yellow viola for Sallyanne, on the kitchen windowsill.I dropped some aqualegia seeds on the long border.
I put some stones from the alpine garden around the evening primrose to try and stop cats from digging up the border again.They have dug up two borders so far and damaged a lot of plants.
I have seven orange roses today which is a good number.I photographed them.They are some of my Fav flowers in the garden.
Anemone's are a close second.I love the Foxgloves and am waiting for the seedheads to dry as they are just green at the moment.
All the morning glories are climbing.The trellis ones have nearly reached the top, I need a second trellis really to make them go even higher.The Arch ones are climbing up the string i put between the horizontal bars.
I hope that the sun comes back soon.The garden looks magical in dappled sunshine compared to grey dreary skys.Its cold as well today, so not good for lingering outside in shorts and top!
I removed the purple violas as they looked leggy and have mildew?A white powdery stuff over the leafs probably because their soil was too wet.
I removed three forget me nots from the long border and a dead rosemary plant.Ooops they did not like being split at the root!!
I redug it and planted a double row of self seeded violas.I could see odd buds of white, yellow, and purple.Bordering them is a rosemary that has survived and the Abysinnian gladiolus are rising from the soil.
A section of the long border nasturtium had been snapped off presumably by the wind.The border plants rocked and rolled to the wind.The forsythia rolled to about sixty degree's with a cross wind!The smoke bush also lolled around like a ship on stormy sea's.
I brought in the yellow viola for Sallyanne, on the kitchen windowsill.I dropped some aqualegia seeds on the long border.
I put some stones from the alpine garden around the evening primrose to try and stop cats from digging up the border again.They have dug up two borders so far and damaged a lot of plants.
I have seven orange roses today which is a good number.I photographed them.They are some of my Fav flowers in the garden.
Anemone's are a close second.I love the Foxgloves and am waiting for the seedheads to dry as they are just green at the moment.
All the morning glories are climbing.The trellis ones have nearly reached the top, I need a second trellis really to make them go even higher.The Arch ones are climbing up the string i put between the horizontal bars.
I hope that the sun comes back soon.The garden looks magical in dappled sunshine compared to grey dreary skys.Its cold as well today, so not good for lingering outside in shorts and top!
Four roses (Weh Hay Seven flowering at once which is good for those bushes.They normally flower a few at a time)
Chamomile and My course
A quic post.I bought some new chamomile teabags after the last ones had gone off in the cupboard.I had read it was good for making you sleepy.In the interest of science i tried a cup after a days gardening.Ooops in about thirty minutes i was asleep..I tried at night and again it made me doze.
I find it very relaxing after the hospital stresses.It has a sedative effect so that you cant keep your eyes open.I read about a study of 12 cardiology patients who took it with no cardiac effects, but ten fell asleep within 45 minutes!!
Does anybody else drink teas with strange effects?I was inspired by uncle toms garden where Jeanne uses a lot of her plants for oils, cooking, hair shampoo etc.Stuff i would never dream of untill she inspired me (http://uncletomsgarden.blogspot.com/ ).
When i was looking for frogs to photograph for previous post I found my ICS horticulture course after days of looking for it.The RHS is a UK garden charity promoting gardening and education, including many garden shows like Chelsea.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/
I paid for the course before, level two RHS certificate in Horticulture.I thought i would start at basic level, move to the higher level, and eventually i hope take the Master of Horticulture exam then i will be skilled.
Eventually i want to split my working time between nursing and Gardening in some way.I dont know how but thats the plan.
I figure i need the knowledge to compliment my hands on gardening now for bettering my plants and making other peoples gardens beautiful.Bringing nature and beauty to them so they can feel the natural healing of a planted garden.
Good night world, keep on growing!
I find it very relaxing after the hospital stresses.It has a sedative effect so that you cant keep your eyes open.I read about a study of 12 cardiology patients who took it with no cardiac effects, but ten fell asleep within 45 minutes!!
Does anybody else drink teas with strange effects?I was inspired by uncle toms garden where Jeanne uses a lot of her plants for oils, cooking, hair shampoo etc.Stuff i would never dream of untill she inspired me (http://uncletomsgarden.blogspot.com/ ).
When i was looking for frogs to photograph for previous post I found my ICS horticulture course after days of looking for it.The RHS is a UK garden charity promoting gardening and education, including many garden shows like Chelsea.
http://www.rhs.org.uk/
I paid for the course before, level two RHS certificate in Horticulture.I thought i would start at basic level, move to the higher level, and eventually i hope take the Master of Horticulture exam then i will be skilled.
Eventually i want to split my working time between nursing and Gardening in some way.I dont know how but thats the plan.
I figure i need the knowledge to compliment my hands on gardening now for bettering my plants and making other peoples gardens beautiful.Bringing nature and beauty to them so they can feel the natural healing of a planted garden.
Good night world, keep on growing!
Sallyanne bought these from Pontefract hospital from a WRVS table.I need some thin stick for fishing rods.See the big fish they have landed!
My first frog that Mum bought me on holiday at pontins in Devon, when i was 8.A mere 25 years ago.Its been repaired for damage to his right eye.It is a money box but its the original one that spawned a few hundred extra frogs in gifts!!
Frosch Konig!!
some of my frogs.I was reading about peoples garden frogs.The german frogs have crowns on them.Fairytales they remind me of, frogs turning into princes.Its funny how they made it into the garden.Gnome like creatures i guess.From our european pagan past which still is part of our cultures, deeply engrained like weeds roots.Very hard to get rid off.
The links are: http://redlupin.blogspot.com/2006/06/my-frogs.html
And http://sigrunsgarden.blogspot.com/2006/06/king-of-frogs.html
I have seen people on blogs collect tea cups and saucers from various european potteries, hostas, etc.My collection of frogs started when i was younger.I bought a few then everybody thought i collected them and it escalated.There are hundreds around the house.Too many to display so the photos are of the ones that i could find.
This blogging also expands my language skills.I guessed on Sigruns blog it meant frog king in German.I wish i could have the gardening skill of Carol, or Sigrun who must be master gardeners because their gardens are so Idyllic.
I post my pictures and musings and hope they are as entertaining as theirs.I have smaller garden with less plants.Its a work in progress which fills me with joy.
I have been working hard so the gardens been free to grow without me interfering.I have two days off now so expect more photos and words.
Sunday, June 18, 2006
Rainy Sunday
I just sat outside on the back step looking at the plants and flowers in the long border, then walked around in the dark with rain falling on me. It was so peaceful, and calming. Is it my garden calming me, or the psychology effect?
I trimmed off all the forget me not seed heads, saving a big envelope of them ready for winter sowing. I need to construct a cold frame for growing seedlings ready for spring.
With Finances looking dodgy still I am thinking of the original cottage garden. Getting new plants from friends and relatives, and propogating existing plants.
Luckily for me forget me nots, violas, busy lizzies, and pansys give up seed freely. I have a baby milk container with my seeds collected so far.
I took out the arched border forget me nots and amazingly guess what had been growing happily nestled between leafs and blue flowers? Another full size sunflower. I have three full sized ones growing, and three little leo's.
Now the Rose's can take centre stage in the middle between the supporting pansys, one last Erysimum, and the ascending morning glories.
I will take photo tomorrow of the bindweed growing in the corner. I have left it because i love the white flowers even though its a pain for choking other plants.
The morning glories growing up the trellis looks similar.Maybe same genus?
Thanks to Sigrun for identifying the mystery plant as a Euphorbia,I will tell Sonia when i see her. As i read the comment I realised my splurge has the same triple leaf.
Its been a nightmare day for Telewest. The TV has not been working all day, the internet is getting cut off. Sallyanne has been going mad with them on the telephone.
It was nice to sit and be absorbed by the garden. Its healing vibes surrounding me. I saw birds today, bee's flying into the Foxglove in the search for pollen. Another bee flew onto my purple viola's.
It has been like that for thousands of years.The ebbs and flows of changing seasons, flowers propogated by natures busy vectors (The busy bee's).
I saw slugs tonight, snails, spiders, beetles.Im glad my borders are alive with life and not sterile environments.
My mind wandered into the next stage of garden development. The blackberry bushes has reappeared in the hedge. I want to propogate them for growing in some free space. A herb garden, a raised step container garden for small amounts of veggies. I must roast some potatoes tomorrow with some of my rosemary.
Some mystery summer bulbs are nearly flowering now.I will identify them once they flower.By my Gladiolus i have some mystery pansys.I have never grown them there so how they got there is mysterious.
One French marigold has appeared.I guess I thought it was an Anemone.The Grass mulch below the soil has worked.They all look perky now.Except for the Erysimums which just died after being transplanted (Note to self: plant them and leave them!!!)
I need some AA batteries for the Solar lights as a few of them have stopped working.I would love a solar fountain too.The frog one is gorgeous its £70 so i am dreaming.
I need to start a garden wish list.I need to look at plant swaps with fellow gardeners at work, and bargain section at Wilko's and Focus.You can get bargains which need some TLC to bring them back to health.
I have the majority of a garden already, but i still want different plants, new features like gnomes, statues, floating balls, solar lights.I want it to be full of magic and light, life and colour, vibrant through the spring and summer...
I trimmed off all the forget me not seed heads, saving a big envelope of them ready for winter sowing. I need to construct a cold frame for growing seedlings ready for spring.
With Finances looking dodgy still I am thinking of the original cottage garden. Getting new plants from friends and relatives, and propogating existing plants.
Luckily for me forget me nots, violas, busy lizzies, and pansys give up seed freely. I have a baby milk container with my seeds collected so far.
I took out the arched border forget me nots and amazingly guess what had been growing happily nestled between leafs and blue flowers? Another full size sunflower. I have three full sized ones growing, and three little leo's.
Now the Rose's can take centre stage in the middle between the supporting pansys, one last Erysimum, and the ascending morning glories.
I will take photo tomorrow of the bindweed growing in the corner. I have left it because i love the white flowers even though its a pain for choking other plants.
The morning glories growing up the trellis looks similar.Maybe same genus?
Thanks to Sigrun for identifying the mystery plant as a Euphorbia,I will tell Sonia when i see her. As i read the comment I realised my splurge has the same triple leaf.
Its been a nightmare day for Telewest. The TV has not been working all day, the internet is getting cut off. Sallyanne has been going mad with them on the telephone.
It was nice to sit and be absorbed by the garden. Its healing vibes surrounding me. I saw birds today, bee's flying into the Foxglove in the search for pollen. Another bee flew onto my purple viola's.
It has been like that for thousands of years.The ebbs and flows of changing seasons, flowers propogated by natures busy vectors (The busy bee's).
I saw slugs tonight, snails, spiders, beetles.Im glad my borders are alive with life and not sterile environments.
My mind wandered into the next stage of garden development. The blackberry bushes has reappeared in the hedge. I want to propogate them for growing in some free space. A herb garden, a raised step container garden for small amounts of veggies. I must roast some potatoes tomorrow with some of my rosemary.
Some mystery summer bulbs are nearly flowering now.I will identify them once they flower.By my Gladiolus i have some mystery pansys.I have never grown them there so how they got there is mysterious.
One French marigold has appeared.I guess I thought it was an Anemone.The Grass mulch below the soil has worked.They all look perky now.Except for the Erysimums which just died after being transplanted (Note to self: plant them and leave them!!!)
I need some AA batteries for the Solar lights as a few of them have stopped working.I would love a solar fountain too.The frog one is gorgeous its £70 so i am dreaming.
I need to start a garden wish list.I need to look at plant swaps with fellow gardeners at work, and bargain section at Wilko's and Focus.You can get bargains which need some TLC to bring them back to health.
I have the majority of a garden already, but i still want different plants, new features like gnomes, statues, floating balls, solar lights.I want it to be full of magic and light, life and colour, vibrant through the spring and summer...
The one Self seeded....French Marigold!I have been dreaming about buying some and here is one fresh in my square border
Sunday Rest
Its Sunday, its grey and overcast with Showers.I took more photo's to blog.Some flower pics, and overall garden shape.I got a catalogue yesterday from Greenfingers.com ( Http://www.greenfingers.com)
I love looking at the stuff in there, garden furniture, solar lights, solar fountains (i love the froggy one.Its powered by the sun and recycles its own water), sheds, Arbors etc.
The sad thing is we dont have the money to buy any of it.So the pleasure is in looking at stuff, and imagining where it will go.
The Borders are full of colour, and vibrancy.June days.The smell of roast chicken is filling the house.Tasha, and Salal have come for Sunday dinner.She says the garden is looking okay and things are growing with my watering instruction.
I tried taking floral pics that are in the house.A sunflower field from Cornwall, two pastel watercolours (one reminds me of Carols rose's furniture, and cushions http://carolsgarden.blogspot.com/ ), and my Nan's woodland picture of a cottage in the background with bluebells growing in the dappled shade.Their is a path and a stream leading to the stone cottage.
I think that Nan's family were brought up in a Stone Cottage in Pickering.I found a clipping from a newspaper with a farmhouse cottage for sale.
Pics to follow.I hope all your gardens are growing today this Sunday.
I love looking at the stuff in there, garden furniture, solar lights, solar fountains (i love the froggy one.Its powered by the sun and recycles its own water), sheds, Arbors etc.
The sad thing is we dont have the money to buy any of it.So the pleasure is in looking at stuff, and imagining where it will go.
The Borders are full of colour, and vibrancy.June days.The smell of roast chicken is filling the house.Tasha, and Salal have come for Sunday dinner.She says the garden is looking okay and things are growing with my watering instruction.
I tried taking floral pics that are in the house.A sunflower field from Cornwall, two pastel watercolours (one reminds me of Carols rose's furniture, and cushions http://carolsgarden.blogspot.com/ ), and my Nan's woodland picture of a cottage in the background with bluebells growing in the dappled shade.Their is a path and a stream leading to the stone cottage.
I think that Nan's family were brought up in a Stone Cottage in Pickering.I found a clipping from a newspaper with a farmhouse cottage for sale.
Pics to follow.I hope all your gardens are growing today this Sunday.
What plant am i?Have been asked to identify this plant by a friend.Its her mother in laws.Is it a plant or a weed??
Saturday, June 17, 2006
A gardeners day in the sun
Thats what i did today. After nine days away at w
ork I had my homecoming, sort of!! Like being on the road for ages then coming home.It was sunny in between clouds...
I cut the grass, trimmed the edges, reordered the border lay outs, more below about that.I tidied the corner behind the coalshed. Watered the new borders, and the long border.Cut the dusty millers back to half the size, and moved their edges away from other plants.So each one can shine in its own right without being overshadowed.
I took lots of photo's.In the summer so much is growing so excuse all the photo's!!
I am cooking Sallyanne tea now.Chicken and Asparagus pie, potatoes, and carrots with gravy.
The new Borders (i thought its like substitutes in a football match, bringing some off, introducing others)
Square Border: I dug up the hosta's to try and move a plant away from that one side.I got four off shoots, two went into ground on opposite sides, and two went into a large pot for my sister.The Erysimums from the arched border were transplanted in the centre of the square between the two hostas and orange rose bushes.I tried mulching with cut grass as the soil was dry to a depth of five inches!!Like sahara desert.I hope the mulch keeps the ground moist and that my plants prosper like the long border.
Arched Border: I moved two Erysimum away from here to the square border.They were growing close to the roses.I want some free space around them so that i can see their splendour!! The pansys were moved from the left side to the middle and right.I planted my sunflower plants on either side with stick support.I tied string to the arch for support for the morning glories.They are looking healthy and just waiting for the ascent to the arch roof!!
Front window Border: The summer pansys were brought off after two collapsed and died in the heat.The rmaining three were put into a red pot and moved to the backdoor.I brought in six potted evening primrose plants whos roots were gorgeously filling the pots.I also removed a spindly Aubretia that had died from the roots up.The evening primrose now sit in the alpine garden and border it on the left.
Long Border: The only thing i did was trim the dusty millers.The giant grey fern leafed monsters dwarfed everything.They are about half the size.They are in proportion now.I will post some overall garden pics.
I cleaned the rain gutter so the white stones are visible around the back garden grass.Weeded it, swept, then dust panned the dusty soil.Its very english building a garden around solid structures such as fences, brickwork, and of course my raingutter.
The borders are filling out with colour, and different leaf shapes and colours.June is magic for explosions of colours and scents.The bee's were buzzing, a few birds were singing.The borders rhythmically rocked to the wind.
I hope you get the sense of the garden by the photos.Using Hello the posted pics display along the bottom line.It was a kaledeiscope of colour i thought.....
ork I had my homecoming, sort of!! Like being on the road for ages then coming home.It was sunny in between clouds...
I cut the grass, trimmed the edges, reordered the border lay outs, more below about that.I tidied the corner behind the coalshed. Watered the new borders, and the long border.Cut the dusty millers back to half the size, and moved their edges away from other plants.So each one can shine in its own right without being overshadowed.
I took lots of photo's.In the summer so much is growing so excuse all the photo's!!
I am cooking Sallyanne tea now.Chicken and Asparagus pie, potatoes, and carrots with gravy.
The new Borders (i thought its like substitutes in a football match, bringing some off, introducing others)
Square Border: I dug up the hosta's to try and move a plant away from that one side.I got four off shoots, two went into ground on opposite sides, and two went into a large pot for my sister.The Erysimums from the arched border were transplanted in the centre of the square between the two hostas and orange rose bushes.I tried mulching with cut grass as the soil was dry to a depth of five inches!!Like sahara desert.I hope the mulch keeps the ground moist and that my plants prosper like the long border.
Arched Border: I moved two Erysimum away from here to the square border.They were growing close to the roses.I want some free space around them so that i can see their splendour!! The pansys were moved from the left side to the middle and right.I planted my sunflower plants on either side with stick support.I tied string to the arch for support for the morning glories.They are looking healthy and just waiting for the ascent to the arch roof!!
Front window Border: The summer pansys were brought off after two collapsed and died in the heat.The rmaining three were put into a red pot and moved to the backdoor.I brought in six potted evening primrose plants whos roots were gorgeously filling the pots.I also removed a spindly Aubretia that had died from the roots up.The evening primrose now sit in the alpine garden and border it on the left.
Long Border: The only thing i did was trim the dusty millers.The giant grey fern leafed monsters dwarfed everything.They are about half the size.They are in proportion now.I will post some overall garden pics.
I cleaned the rain gutter so the white stones are visible around the back garden grass.Weeded it, swept, then dust panned the dusty soil.Its very english building a garden around solid structures such as fences, brickwork, and of course my raingutter.
The borders are filling out with colour, and different leaf shapes and colours.June is magic for explosions of colours and scents.The bee's were buzzing, a few birds were singing.The borders rhythmically rocked to the wind.
I hope you get the sense of the garden by the photos.Using Hello the posted pics display along the bottom line.It was a kaledeiscope of colour i thought.....
Friday, June 16, 2006
Anemone (again)
Anemone De Caen with jewelled centre, totally amazing flower.No wander the french loved it!!
World cup and work
I was working again when England played Trinidad and Tobago.After looking nervy we scored on 83 and 87 minutes!Come on England!!
Am working early tomorrow then i can spend some time in the garden.It so needs cutting the grass and some trimming of edges.The warm wet weather has encouraged lots of green grass growth (Alliteration there!!)
I hope things have been growing without my looking at them.Work regularly exhausts me from my love of the garden and all things growing.
I need to plant my self seeded sunflowers outside now they are as tall as the sticks.The mon lam will be planted outside too.My windowsill greenhouse is too small!I hope that the seeds i have planted will have secretly germinated when i have been busy.More post tomorrow..
Am working early tomorrow then i can spend some time in the garden.It so needs cutting the grass and some trimming of edges.The warm wet weather has encouraged lots of green grass growth (Alliteration there!!)
I hope things have been growing without my looking at them.Work regularly exhausts me from my love of the garden and all things growing.
I need to plant my self seeded sunflowers outside now they are as tall as the sticks.The mon lam will be planted outside too.My windowsill greenhouse is too small!I hope that the seeds i have planted will have secretly germinated when i have been busy.More post tomorrow..
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Red pansy with yellow centre and edging (is it a Darwin/mendel example of variation or reverting to original phenotype??)
Wednesday night
I took a few pics today of what was flowering.I repotted the tomato seedlings.I dont know how well if they will grow or whether they will overwinter.It was an experement, and someone pointed out they normally sow seeds in March!!
My fav flower is the Anemone de Caen,its red petals are like a bowl around the jewelled insides.Purple/blue sparkles.Absolutely gorgeous!Cant wait for the Mr Fokker blue anemones to flower.They are little gems!!
Mat left hospital today with a broadarm sling, antibiotics, and a plaster of paris around his hand.The surgery was a success.He had his thumb repaired, time will tell about the nerves within his hand.His girlfriend has driven back with him to Burnley, in Lancashire to recuperate.
The follies of youth, mellow with time i hope.
It was raining heavily today at times, but temperatures have cooled.The garden looks lush, reinvigorated by the june showers.
Two days of work left then time to cut the long grass!It grows so quick!!
My fav flower is the Anemone de Caen,its red petals are like a bowl around the jewelled insides.Purple/blue sparkles.Absolutely gorgeous!Cant wait for the Mr Fokker blue anemones to flower.They are little gems!!
Mat left hospital today with a broadarm sling, antibiotics, and a plaster of paris around his hand.The surgery was a success.He had his thumb repaired, time will tell about the nerves within his hand.His girlfriend has driven back with him to Burnley, in Lancashire to recuperate.
The follies of youth, mellow with time i hope.
It was raining heavily today at times, but temperatures have cooled.The garden looks lush, reinvigorated by the june showers.
Two days of work left then time to cut the long grass!It grows so quick!!
Tuesday, June 13, 2006
work and family
Worked again today so i never got to go out into Garden properly.I saw the foxglove flowers had dropped after the deluge of rain.Its humid still but rain in forecast.I took the seed pods for drying and to hopefully regrow some plants for next year.
My tomato plant experement with Uncle toms method has worked, all fourteen seeds have germinated.I need to individually pot them up now.Thanks Jeanne (http://uncletomsgarden.blogspot.com/ )
My self seeded sunflowers have nearly reached the top of the green sticks.I need to find a suitable place for them outside (maybe by kitchen window) to start their Ascent upwards.The smaller little leos have masses of leaf but not much stem.I have only grown normal sized sunflowers before so i dont know when they get 18" high.The stems are thickening though.
All the Snapdragons are white flowered.I could have made a moon garden with the petunias and snapdragons had i known.With some dusty miller it would have been perfect!!
My morning glories are finally starting some vertical growth near the arched border.I might tie string to the arch and make them climb the archway between metal posts.The trellis morning glory looks good, three quarters covered!
The grass is looking wild again and the border edges have sprouted up.I have three shifts left before two days off.Gardening days!!
A thought for Mat (stepson) who fell yesterday and sliced his thumb off from his hand.He is spending the second night in hospital following Surgery.I pray its a success because the option of failure is amputation.He had a skilled plastic surgeon and maybe they will let him home tomorrow.Spent a sleepless night last night worrying.Get better soon Mat!
My tomato plant experement with Uncle toms method has worked, all fourteen seeds have germinated.I need to individually pot them up now.Thanks Jeanne (http://uncletomsgarden.blogspot.com/ )
My self seeded sunflowers have nearly reached the top of the green sticks.I need to find a suitable place for them outside (maybe by kitchen window) to start their Ascent upwards.The smaller little leos have masses of leaf but not much stem.I have only grown normal sized sunflowers before so i dont know when they get 18" high.The stems are thickening though.
All the Snapdragons are white flowered.I could have made a moon garden with the petunias and snapdragons had i known.With some dusty miller it would have been perfect!!
My morning glories are finally starting some vertical growth near the arched border.I might tie string to the arch and make them climb the archway between metal posts.The trellis morning glory looks good, three quarters covered!
The grass is looking wild again and the border edges have sprouted up.I have three shifts left before two days off.Gardening days!!
A thought for Mat (stepson) who fell yesterday and sliced his thumb off from his hand.He is spending the second night in hospital following Surgery.I pray its a success because the option of failure is amputation.He had a skilled plastic surgeon and maybe they will let him home tomorrow.Spent a sleepless night last night worrying.Get better soon Mat!
Monday, June 12, 2006
Anemone de Caen Hollandia
My first flowering Anemone De Caen Hollandia.The bud must have unfurled itself overnight in the darkness.It looks like a little mosaic in the centre of the bowl.
The blue ones are not quite ready yet.the plants have recovered from the heat of yesterday and it rained briefly this morning.It's still forecast to be hot untill Tuesday.
Sunday, June 11, 2006
still of the night
its late and i thought i'd write a post.I watered the long border, and chaenomeles before coming upstairs.Everything looked green and lush, most of the plants had revivied after some water.In hot summers its the life blood of most of my plants.Even my rosemary is looking a bit dodgy after cutting it in four!!
I will learn by my mistakes and adjust my garden accordingly.I have had some very helpful comments in relation to redoing Tasha's front garden.Someone suggested lasagna gardening which is an organic method with no digging involved making raised beds of alternate composting layers, newspaper, cardboard,straw, tree clippings etc.
But its a bit too much work for Tasha and Salal.I need to go back to explain how they can keep the garden neat.I maybe talked too much for him to understand!
I am going with the newspaper layers on top to block out the light, then some bark chippings.I still need to buy the bark chippings and a willow tree as a gift.A memorial tree for Tasha's memory.
In my own garden there is so much growing, new buds on the Anemones both red (Hollandia) and blue (Mr Fokker), new buds on the rosebushes, three wise men!
The nasturtiums in the long border look like big green radars.They are outsizing the pot grown seeds.
I counted twenty pots and containers around the backdoor.Im having problems now displaying them, especially the trailing ones.They need height to hang down.
The lavender has flower spikes, the cottage pinks fat buds with odd pink bits visible, the carnations fat buds too.The summer bulbs are still developing.My ersatz cage of sticks and string is containing the gladiolus.
I planted some Dahlia's in pots, and Abysinnian gladiolus in the long border.The snapdragons have opened a few flowers.All white so far.
I planted some tomato seeds from one of our shop bought tomatoes, cut it in half, and took about twenty seeds.I dried them, soaked them and planted them.To my suprise four seeds have germinated in the windowsill.
Mum did that before and grew one large beautiful tomato plant which beared fruit!I will take pics when its a bit bigger.
Today was magic even with plant casualties from the 29C temperature.The birds singing, the insects buzzing.The masses of buds developing on many flowers.
The bright colours of reds, yellows, pinks, whites, blues, and shaking of the birch tree in the wind.Who doesnt love hot june days?
I will learn by my mistakes and adjust my garden accordingly.I have had some very helpful comments in relation to redoing Tasha's front garden.Someone suggested lasagna gardening which is an organic method with no digging involved making raised beds of alternate composting layers, newspaper, cardboard,straw, tree clippings etc.
But its a bit too much work for Tasha and Salal.I need to go back to explain how they can keep the garden neat.I maybe talked too much for him to understand!
I am going with the newspaper layers on top to block out the light, then some bark chippings.I still need to buy the bark chippings and a willow tree as a gift.A memorial tree for Tasha's memory.
In my own garden there is so much growing, new buds on the Anemones both red (Hollandia) and blue (Mr Fokker), new buds on the rosebushes, three wise men!
The nasturtiums in the long border look like big green radars.They are outsizing the pot grown seeds.
I counted twenty pots and containers around the backdoor.Im having problems now displaying them, especially the trailing ones.They need height to hang down.
The lavender has flower spikes, the cottage pinks fat buds with odd pink bits visible, the carnations fat buds too.The summer bulbs are still developing.My ersatz cage of sticks and string is containing the gladiolus.
I planted some Dahlia's in pots, and Abysinnian gladiolus in the long border.The snapdragons have opened a few flowers.All white so far.
I planted some tomato seeds from one of our shop bought tomatoes, cut it in half, and took about twenty seeds.I dried them, soaked them and planted them.To my suprise four seeds have germinated in the windowsill.
Mum did that before and grew one large beautiful tomato plant which beared fruit!I will take pics when its a bit bigger.
Today was magic even with plant casualties from the 29C temperature.The birds singing, the insects buzzing.The masses of buds developing on many flowers.
The bright colours of reds, yellows, pinks, whites, blues, and shaking of the birch tree in the wind.Who doesnt love hot june days?
My fav Gnome rescued from beneath a mossy container in North London.I cleaned him up and rehomed him
In the heat of June
I finished my early shift, the third hot day i have worked.As i stepped out of the hospital i thought i walked into an oven.The heat was radiating up from the road!
As i sweltered i thought i better check the garden.Lucky i did.The worst hit things were the square border where all the violas and anemones had collapsed.Some of my pots were bone dry.I found a few dead plants from the heat.
I watered, took some cool flowering pics which im uploading now onto computer.I nuked the aphids with soapy water.
I may to have redesign what plants go in the square border as it is so dry, the top two inches of soil.Im thinking mass planting of bedding plants will keep soil cooler with leaf shadow and maybe retain moisture.
I dont want the orange rose bushes to get black leaf fungus again.I read an organic method was to spray sulphur? and water to prevent the fungus from growing.The aphids have been reduced by washing up liquid, not totally but not like the mass infestation of the other day.
My foxgloves look lovely.They were bought plants my one has not developed any flower spike so maybe it will flower in year three?Or did the slugs eat the growing tip?
I want the long border to be full of traditional cottage garden plants like foxgloves, delphiniums,lupines, etc.
The snapdragons are teasingly opening a few flowers, all white so far.I have my first fuschia flower in the tin bath container.
The hanging basket can barely be seen beneath a mass of white petunias.Im waiting for the trailing fuschia's to catch up.
The orange roses are flourishing, they are short lived flowers but look beautiful after freshly blooming, and smell like sweet honey.
Chelsea helped me today perform a which flower smells best test.They were all divine.
As i sweltered i thought i better check the garden.Lucky i did.The worst hit things were the square border where all the violas and anemones had collapsed.Some of my pots were bone dry.I found a few dead plants from the heat.
I watered, took some cool flowering pics which im uploading now onto computer.I nuked the aphids with soapy water.
I may to have redesign what plants go in the square border as it is so dry, the top two inches of soil.Im thinking mass planting of bedding plants will keep soil cooler with leaf shadow and maybe retain moisture.
I dont want the orange rose bushes to get black leaf fungus again.I read an organic method was to spray sulphur? and water to prevent the fungus from growing.The aphids have been reduced by washing up liquid, not totally but not like the mass infestation of the other day.
My foxgloves look lovely.They were bought plants my one has not developed any flower spike so maybe it will flower in year three?Or did the slugs eat the growing tip?
I want the long border to be full of traditional cottage garden plants like foxgloves, delphiniums,lupines, etc.
The snapdragons are teasingly opening a few flowers, all white so far.I have my first fuschia flower in the tin bath container.
The hanging basket can barely be seen beneath a mass of white petunias.Im waiting for the trailing fuschia's to catch up.
The orange roses are flourishing, they are short lived flowers but look beautiful after freshly blooming, and smell like sweet honey.
Chelsea helped me today perform a which flower smells best test.They were all divine.
Saturday, June 10, 2006
New rose bush with bud (Also aphids who met with a washing up liquid spray.I am testing it out as an organic pest control.It worked this morning.They will regroup when im working)
The front Garden
The picture to the left is the front garden.It has a wooden fence to the left, and a hedge to the front.It had the ivy like ground cover with purple/blue flowers, and five foot weeds.Very little grass has survived.The hedge cutter was used to level the nettles, weeds, and roughly shape the hedge.The strimmer was unable to make much of an impact.We had reached an impasse.
I have been thinking how to redo the front.My first thought was that we would have to dig it up and remove as much weed root as we could dig.As i discovered in places the soil is clay like concrete.Pretty hard to dig more than six inches.Sometimes less.
I thought of weedkiller, digging them up, laying down a weed suppressing layer and then hard layering except for a weeping willow tree.It needs to be small though, and i need to order it and the supplies because they do not have much money.
Does anyone know what i could layer on top that is cheap?Stone slabs would have to be laid on the surface.The front door is passable now because the nettles have gone.
Only temporarily because they will be growing strongly soon.Need idea's how to proceed.
Ghostly goings on
Today when i was at work Sallyanne told me she heard a bang upstairs when she was alone.She went upstairs thinking one of the cats was in Mat's room.At the top of the stairs there is a window where there are bottles of deoderant and an air freshener.When Sallyanne got to the top of the stairs they were scattered over the floor.She felt warm, but replaced them.
When she told me i said was wind maybe.Not fiveminutes later there was another bang.I went upstairs thinking it was next door.
On the carpet was a bottle of voodoo lynx deoderant.I shouted babe its fallen off.When i turned to Mats door there was an air freshener, five feet from the windowsill.I got a cold shiver.
Mats girlfriend went to pick him up yesterday when we did the garden.Her little girl said she had seen a ghost at the bottom of the stairs.Her grandmother was a medium so maybe the gift has passed generations.
Maybe Tina was paying a visit to see us as she never visited this house because of her illness.She was only 46 years old.
I am planning the revamp on tasha's front garden.This was vaguely connected to the gardening because it was a memorial garden with the forget me nots (Tina loved those), and Rosemary.The idea of a garden was for relaxation and meditation, allowing the healing from bereavement.I dont feel threatened by the new presence in our house, but it has freaked me a bit so im sharing it, in case you have any ghostly experiences...
When she told me i said was wind maybe.Not fiveminutes later there was another bang.I went upstairs thinking it was next door.
On the carpet was a bottle of voodoo lynx deoderant.I shouted babe its fallen off.When i turned to Mats door there was an air freshener, five feet from the windowsill.I got a cold shiver.
Mats girlfriend went to pick him up yesterday when we did the garden.Her little girl said she had seen a ghost at the bottom of the stairs.Her grandmother was a medium so maybe the gift has passed generations.
Maybe Tina was paying a visit to see us as she never visited this house because of her illness.She was only 46 years old.
I am planning the revamp on tasha's front garden.This was vaguely connected to the gardening because it was a memorial garden with the forget me nots (Tina loved those), and Rosemary.The idea of a garden was for relaxation and meditation, allowing the healing from bereavement.I dont feel threatened by the new presence in our house, but it has freaked me a bit so im sharing it, in case you have any ghostly experiences...
Friday, June 09, 2006
The single long border left by a ghostly gardener who would have been smiling as we toiled in the sun (it was fun, but exhausting by the end)
The tree roots/woody stems looked beautiful too so i tried to trim so they were visible with ivy growing below
Front garden: nettle terror plus numerous weeds and a ground cover with purple/blue flowers.The grass was long vanquished in the weed hole
Tasha's garden
I could not get on blogger last night because it was down.It was the hottest day of the year yesterday i think.I got sunburnt face, and shoulders helping renovate the neglected garden.Me and Salam got started at half ten.
The biggest plot is the back garden maybe thirty feet long by twenty across.The tangle was unbelievable due to bordering tree's blocking out a lot of light.The tree roots and woody stems looked very enchanted forest, with ivy growing happily in the deep shade along the floor.I trimmed
all the lateral branches and leafs, and cut up so the horizontal plane became more outlined.The cutting stopped about my head because the tree's were beautiful waving in the wind.
We started to prepare a weed infested patch for grass seed.The soil was like concrete, the progress was slow.Salam needs to dig out the worst weed roots yet, and plant some grass seed.The half of the garden next to the backdoor is on a slope but it had grass.
Yesterday as we moved along clearing each section I saw the outline of a previous garden.The old guy had a long border in the middle (which I kept as the only border as they are not gardeners), a concrete strip with sunken hole for car mechanics, and loads of snowdrop bulbs.I have some, Tasha has loads more to add to her four hundred bulbs.
There is a raspberry bush from next doors garden which grows in between a wooden fence, but as it had pretty buds, and the thought that they could pick fresh raspberries I trimmed it slightly.
Around the edge of the garden I left paths to cross around.Cleared fat weeds with enormous roots, moved the wheely bins to a concrete slabbed section away from the backdoor.
We stopped every so often to drink coffee/pepsi max/water/lager.It did not matter what because we sweated it out again.Salam cut the hedge trimmer wire THREE times and repaired it three times.Its funny we gardened for a while in silence, started talking, before lapsing back into silence.
We trimmed the maddest overgrown hedges, took out lots of weeds that were standing large.Then we discovered stone paving beneath the overgrowth.Once it had been cleared we swept it up, using a gap behind the trees for a natural compost heap.Some went in a black bin but they need a compost bin if they want to do it properly.
My multi tool with saw blade snapped, the rake snapped.The garden was transformed.We started the front garden but thats so overgrown we stopped at half past six.After eight hours gardening we could barely move.
I fell asleep last night after all the effort.I started the transformation bac into a usable garden.It was not touched for 3+ years and all the natural weeds had taken over the garden, and it was messy with brambles, nettles, sticky weeds, the only nice wild flower was buttercups and i kept them edging one side of their border.
I put my plants in, gave watering instructions, and hope they try to maintain it.The front garden will be a seperate days work in a week or so..
The biggest plot is the back garden maybe thirty feet long by twenty across.The tangle was unbelievable due to bordering tree's blocking out a lot of light.The tree roots and woody stems looked very enchanted forest, with ivy growing happily in the deep shade along the floor.I trimmed
all the lateral branches and leafs, and cut up so the horizontal plane became more outlined.The cutting stopped about my head because the tree's were beautiful waving in the wind.
We started to prepare a weed infested patch for grass seed.The soil was like concrete, the progress was slow.Salam needs to dig out the worst weed roots yet, and plant some grass seed.The half of the garden next to the backdoor is on a slope but it had grass.
Yesterday as we moved along clearing each section I saw the outline of a previous garden.The old guy had a long border in the middle (which I kept as the only border as they are not gardeners), a concrete strip with sunken hole for car mechanics, and loads of snowdrop bulbs.I have some, Tasha has loads more to add to her four hundred bulbs.
There is a raspberry bush from next doors garden which grows in between a wooden fence, but as it had pretty buds, and the thought that they could pick fresh raspberries I trimmed it slightly.
Around the edge of the garden I left paths to cross around.Cleared fat weeds with enormous roots, moved the wheely bins to a concrete slabbed section away from the backdoor.
We stopped every so often to drink coffee/pepsi max/water/lager.It did not matter what because we sweated it out again.Salam cut the hedge trimmer wire THREE times and repaired it three times.Its funny we gardened for a while in silence, started talking, before lapsing back into silence.
We trimmed the maddest overgrown hedges, took out lots of weeds that were standing large.Then we discovered stone paving beneath the overgrowth.Once it had been cleared we swept it up, using a gap behind the trees for a natural compost heap.Some went in a black bin but they need a compost bin if they want to do it properly.
My multi tool with saw blade snapped, the rake snapped.The garden was transformed.We started the front garden but thats so overgrown we stopped at half past six.After eight hours gardening we could barely move.
I fell asleep last night after all the effort.I started the transformation bac into a usable garden.It was not touched for 3+ years and all the natural weeds had taken over the garden, and it was messy with brambles, nettles, sticky weeds, the only nice wild flower was buttercups and i kept them edging one side of their border.
I put my plants in, gave watering instructions, and hope they try to maintain it.The front garden will be a seperate days work in a week or so..
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Day off
Apart from selecting some "heirloom" plants for tashas garden i did not do much today. The sun was shining brightly, the family actually sat outside together for a rare group pictures. In much better circumstances than last week.
Cara slept all day in the hedge and by the tree, getting up only to eat biscuits or to follow the shade.She was cooking, with her long haired black coat.
I read a terrible article about gnomes being banned from the Chelsea flowers show.
http://www.gardening4dummies.com/2006/06/garden_gnomes_are_out.html
I love them for their presence, as a bit of fun. A remnant of pagan times with spirits roaming the earth with us..
Stuart has taken the opposite stance and says they should be run over by a mower. My grandad had a small collection, and after my grandparents passed away i took most of them .My sister took the biggest one but is afraid to leave it outside.
For us they have sentimental/memorial value. I am going to post a pic of one of my gnomes in a spirit of defiance!
You have what you want in your garden,From solar lights to pergolas to rocks to statues to benches to fountains.
I think the whimsy of spying one nestled in a beautiful display is fun, and symbolic of nature spirits. Chelsea flower show is world famous, and known for its strict views on gardening. Are Gnomes anti establishment?Hooded anarchists?
Tomorrow we have a lift to Tasha's in the morning. I will take my cloth bag, extention cable, and garden tools ready to retake paradise from the nettles!!
keep on growing in the sunshine!
Cara slept all day in the hedge and by the tree, getting up only to eat biscuits or to follow the shade.She was cooking, with her long haired black coat.
I read a terrible article about gnomes being banned from the Chelsea flowers show.
http://www.gardening4dummies.com/2006/06/garden_gnomes_are_out.html
I love them for their presence, as a bit of fun. A remnant of pagan times with spirits roaming the earth with us..
Stuart has taken the opposite stance and says they should be run over by a mower. My grandad had a small collection, and after my grandparents passed away i took most of them .My sister took the biggest one but is afraid to leave it outside.
For us they have sentimental/memorial value. I am going to post a pic of one of my gnomes in a spirit of defiance!
You have what you want in your garden,From solar lights to pergolas to rocks to statues to benches to fountains.
I think the whimsy of spying one nestled in a beautiful display is fun, and symbolic of nature spirits. Chelsea flower show is world famous, and known for its strict views on gardening. Are Gnomes anti establishment?Hooded anarchists?
Tomorrow we have a lift to Tasha's in the morning. I will take my cloth bag, extention cable, and garden tools ready to retake paradise from the nettles!!
keep on growing in the sunshine!
The spirit of Heirloom gardening
400 bulbs is what Tasha has got stored somewhere at her house. I did my research for pictures and planting information about her Gladiolus, White Abysinnian gladiolus, Border Dahlias, Dutch Iris, Queen Fabiola, Allium neopolitanium, Anemones mixed, and Double begonia's.
Two thirds of those needed to have been planted in the Autumn. I will risk planting the Glads, both normal and Abysinnian, containers for the begonias and dahlias. Our weather is two weeks behind so they might catch up. Im tempted to try a few Anemones as mine sprouted quite quickly.
Sallyanne never mentioned a ten foot crazy hedge that is out of control. I have seen the five foot nettles totally covering the front garden. The Side and back look workable. We are trying to arrange transport over on thursday morning so i can begin the Herculean task of rescueing a severely neglected plot. Its hard to know without actually seeing the site.
Looking at the sun, the position of walls, fences, slopes, soil type and condition,and so on.
In short i am very excited and have passed on some of my enthusiasm to them.Two days off work with not a nurse in sight!I can concentrate on my violin, and the gardening.
I will post pictures of course, and i hope that my skill can be realised on a neglected area, and inspire Tasha to keep up the work, and to build her own garden.
Once the weeds are vanquished (temporarily i know, it may take years to drive them back) and the borders are defined its a simple job to fill it with plants, tree's and flowers.
It takes years for it to be near perfection, but thats the fun of it.Its never complete, always one more thing to do.
One hundred bulbs need to be planted, and i am bringing some of my own garden to start Tasha's. The spirit of the cottage garden/heirloom garden lives on. Violas, pansys, forget me nots, evening primroses, morning glories, sunflowers, and whatever i think i will need. One area will be planted properly; the memorial garden.
Does anybody know how to get Dicentra? Does it give viable seeds for growing? I want to plant that as a centre piece for her Mum Tina. The bleeding heart is so apt for the pain of bereavement and loss.
This morning I will pick the plants for transfer, try to split my herbs, and other shrubs to take some solid planting. ( bulbs look spectacular but as you know they are under the soil for ages...)
I read in that heirloom gardening book that flowers/plants/climbers were propogated, then given to family and friends. Some of the Varieties Jo Ann gardener saw were unbroken for 120 years which is mad.
Donating my plants for a family member will start healing i hope. That is the spirit of heirloom gardening. Sharing our garden treasures, and keeping the flame alive of the love of nature. The beauty and grace inherant in every leaf, stem, flower, and seed make us feel alive.
Two thirds of those needed to have been planted in the Autumn. I will risk planting the Glads, both normal and Abysinnian, containers for the begonias and dahlias. Our weather is two weeks behind so they might catch up. Im tempted to try a few Anemones as mine sprouted quite quickly.
Sallyanne never mentioned a ten foot crazy hedge that is out of control. I have seen the five foot nettles totally covering the front garden. The Side and back look workable. We are trying to arrange transport over on thursday morning so i can begin the Herculean task of rescueing a severely neglected plot. Its hard to know without actually seeing the site.
Looking at the sun, the position of walls, fences, slopes, soil type and condition,and so on.
In short i am very excited and have passed on some of my enthusiasm to them.Two days off work with not a nurse in sight!I can concentrate on my violin, and the gardening.
I will post pictures of course, and i hope that my skill can be realised on a neglected area, and inspire Tasha to keep up the work, and to build her own garden.
Once the weeds are vanquished (temporarily i know, it may take years to drive them back) and the borders are defined its a simple job to fill it with plants, tree's and flowers.
It takes years for it to be near perfection, but thats the fun of it.Its never complete, always one more thing to do.
One hundred bulbs need to be planted, and i am bringing some of my own garden to start Tasha's. The spirit of the cottage garden/heirloom garden lives on. Violas, pansys, forget me nots, evening primroses, morning glories, sunflowers, and whatever i think i will need. One area will be planted properly; the memorial garden.
Does anybody know how to get Dicentra? Does it give viable seeds for growing? I want to plant that as a centre piece for her Mum Tina. The bleeding heart is so apt for the pain of bereavement and loss.
This morning I will pick the plants for transfer, try to split my herbs, and other shrubs to take some solid planting. ( bulbs look spectacular but as you know they are under the soil for ages...)
I read in that heirloom gardening book that flowers/plants/climbers were propogated, then given to family and friends. Some of the Varieties Jo Ann gardener saw were unbroken for 120 years which is mad.
Donating my plants for a family member will start healing i hope. That is the spirit of heirloom gardening. Sharing our garden treasures, and keeping the flame alive of the love of nature. The beauty and grace inherant in every leaf, stem, flower, and seed make us feel alive.
