New Rhodie Recruits

I was too tired today to go to the allotment.My back and legs were aching from all the digging I have done recently.I wanted to go to Hampsons for a coffee and sausage sandwich,and a quick look around the plants they sell.The sun was out in patches but it was cool most of the day.I bought three new Rhododendrons for the front and back garden.There is wooding decking along the side of the front garden that holds the grass back from the driveway.I cannot believe how many Ladybirds have been nesting in the grooves within the wood.The soil is quite dry as well so they do not drown.The sunshine has caused them to leave their wooden hotel en mass and to run along the wood and all over the front grass.Every time you step you have to look out for a Ladybird.I love their bright coloured coats and how they feast on aphids on my Roses.They are fearsome predators but lovely looking. The original Rhododendron (we call them Rhodie's) we had died after we transplanted it.I bought three new ones today for about £12 each.They each have a different coloured flower.The one in the front garden is called Rhododendron Purple Splendour.This has been around since 1900 as a plant type.I bought some Ericaceous compost to dig into the ground so it would grow away happily.
The other two Rhodie's were planted in larger pots for growing on the concrete path.They give some vertical structure with their shiny green leaves and conical shaped flower buds.There is a white flowered one with a central red wine splash called Sappho,and a scarlet red flowered one called Wilgens Ruby.
I also bought some Iris Germanica Bearded White and Blue.I bought a lovely yellow dwarf Iris called Yellow Brown which has beautiful throat markings.
I planted the Rhodie Purple Splendour in the corner by the neighbours Japanese Maple.We have done more to the front garden in the past two days then we have in 18 months.I think the warm sunshine helped inspire us.
I planted my new Oriental Stargazer around the Sambuca nigra.The Freesias have also gone into the new planter box,and in the sunken border.They will make nice cut flowers for the house.
The Rhodie's should keep us with flowers in May and June for years to come flowering between the Spring Bulbs,and the Summer flowering plants.I will try to have something of interest growing all year round in the garden.
Its back to work for me tomorrow but it has been a productive few days split between the allotment and the garden.My new compost bins arrived today.Big,black,and sleek.220 litres each.They will have to go up to the plot next week after these night shifts.All I'm waiting for now is the raised beds to arrive from Derby..

Kissing Lips And Black Gold

I spent the day trying to relax at home.we went shopping to Asda before we started planting in the front garden.There were five David Austin Moliniux Rose bushes to plant,and a Himalayan Birch Tree to plant.The Betula will be vase shaped with beautiful white bark and nice dangling leaves.After all the work we did the photos do not do it justice!
We had to dig down beyond a foot of grass roots.We dug out five squares of grass to make the holes for the Rose bushes.Their year growing on meant they were full of healthy roots.They should take well in their new permanent home.The Himalayan Birch is now planted.The top leaf bud was just beginning to open so its not a moment too soon to plant it.I had to hack the grass away in a circular shape.I dug in plenty of organic compost to try and give the Tree a healthy start.I had one lot of bamboo fencing spare,so I stole a second panel from the pond to make a surrounding barrier to mark where the Trees bare soil should be.It was not perfectly circular and looks like a pair of kissing lips from the front room.The odd shape has a rustic charm.According to Bluebell Nursery's where I bought the Tree online I need to be patient.They think it will be two to three years before it shows its white bark.I had them cut off the main stem so it will grown vase shaped and not as tall as a single stemmed tree.
Cat and me worked well planting out the front garden.It looks really nice now.There are also pots by the front door with Asiatic Lily's growing again.I wander about some purple flowers trailing down where the grass drops down onto the driveway.The Moliniux Roses will flower with their brilliant Yellow Roses.
Now I have to be patient and remember to water our Tree every three days until it is well established.I cannot wait to see it grow into a mature specimen.
After we had done that I blended our Parsnip Soup and decanted it into containers for freezing.It will join the Tomato Soup,and the Carrot Soup already in the freezer.
I emptied the gardens first compost bin today.I managed to fill ten plastic bags with the black gold.These will be used to enrich the allotments raised beds once they arrive.The second compost bin is full to the top.I can now start again in the first bin.In about eight months the second bin will be ready to deposit its black gold (compost) for me.
Feeling it all soft and crumbly in my hand with no odour made me feel good.Its like gardening alchemy turning green waste into a useful garden enriching product!

Plot Revival

This was the plot at the end of my fourth day of clearing the weeds.I have started at the far end and worked my way backwards towards the shed end.The purple Broccoli is still growing and needs clearing once it is fully harvested.Amazingly over the Winter this Garlic has grown through the Soil to form these lovely glowing green leaves.The white rot stopped the Garlic growing last year.It stunted the root growth and caused the leaves to wilt before any cloves were formed.It was sunny when I took the photo.It makes weeding more pleasurable when the sun is on your face.

This Rhubarb is growing slowly on the corner of the plot beneath the gigantic Gooseberry Bush.I like its off coloured leaves growing from the crown.I have about five crowns growing on.

The weeding and digging is like riding a bike.Painful at first,but it gets easier as time goes on.I am trying to clear as much as I can before my raised beds are delivered.I have also ordered two new Compost bins for the plot.I have nearly filled a 330 litre on already!I have three large green garden waste bags filled up too.The plot generates a huge amount of green waste.I will compost it all and then dig it back into the soil.

I dug up a row of Parsnips today and have tried to make some Parsnip Soup.I harvested the rest of the Swede too.The question is what to do with all the Leeks that remain?

I could make some Soup but the freezer is already full of Carrot soup,and Tomato Soup.I need to limit what I grow to what we can use.There always seem to be gluts of certain Veg at certain times.

I have spent the past two days at the plot.Tomorrow I will be spending time shopping at Asda,and planting our Silver Birch Tree.My legs and back ache from all the digging over.

Flowers And Buds

The sun was shining yesterday and today.The Daffodils have bloomed in the spring weather.I love how they announce the changing of the season.The golden petals and orange trumpet are a welcome sight after winter.The centre of the trumpet glows like a medieval church daring insects to collect the nectar within.They are such perfect shaped flowers.There is a purity in their simple structure.I have maybe ten Daffodils growing around the garden.I want to plant more in the autumn so the border will be full of nodding Daffodils.Green and Yellow is the colour of a hopeful Spring.For the first time today I noticed that the over large leaf buds on my Lilac Tree were actually the flower buds.Like little Lilac Hyacinths the covering is teased off exposing the neat packets of Lilac flowers.There look to be about six flowering buds on the tree.It is probably two months away from flowering but I'm excited already.

The heady scent of the Lilac for a few weeks is worth the waiting the rest of the year.Its amazing what you can see if you take time to examine the small things that you are normally oblivious to.

Daffs And Digging

Some of the gardens Daffodils are teasingly close to flowering.The unfurling of the lovely yellow flower is a sign that Spring has sprung.It comes late to Kettlethorpe whereas other places have them in flower already.I saw some Lesser Celandine in flower today,and a few Dandelions,when I walked to and from the allotment.I must plant more of these golden trumpet Daffs for next year.I have about a dozen plants only.Today's tea will be pan fried pork steaks,with potatoes,and a selection of these harvested today allotment vegetables.The Leeks smelt divine in the carrier bag i brought them back in.I harvested a Swede and some of the late growing Purple Broccoli as well.Its great that the plot can still provide Vegetables in March.After a winter break I returned to the allotment last Monday for the first time in ages.The purple florets on the Broccoli plants made me smile.I had given up hope of them producing anything edible.Patience is obviously a virtue I don't have much of.I am learning how to wait now for plants to crop.The warm winter has caused the weeds and grasses to vigorously grow.The paths between the beds are especially covered in nuisance growth.I have spent two days down there now clearing sone of the beds of excess weeds and couch grass.I measured today for the raised beds that I want to buy online.

I think having raised beds will make it easier to keep weed free.I will use black tarpaulin between the beds and maybe bark chippings on the pathways.

I will grow Potatoes between the raised beds where there will be bare soil.Maybe a quarter of the plot will still be open soil.

It is hard work clearing soggy clay soil but it turned beautifully.The previous two growing seasons have helped turn it from clay to chocolate brownie mix.

The garden looks quite nice and does not need much doing to it.The attention turned to preparing the plot for planting at the end of March.The soil was still cold to touch today.

In a weeks time there is one of the earliest garden shows.The Edible Garden show showcases all that's modern in growing your own fruit and veg,and small holdings.There are celebrity chefs,gardeners,a livestock marquee,talks and events on all three days,and lots of exhibitors to help you take some goodies home.

http://www.theediblegardenshow.co.uk/

Alas I'm working nights otherwise I would have liked to go to it.I would have liked to see James Wong speaking.He is one of the new young presenters of Grow Your Own Drugs.He likes people to try growing exotic fruits and Vegetables.The show is at Stoneleigh Park in Warwickshire,and runs from March 16Th to 18Th 2012.

The Daffodil flower bud shows me that the days are getting lighter earlier and that Spring sunshine will be here soon.

Garden Art

I spied this little blue flower growing in the sunken border behind the Rose pot.Its yellow centre glinted in the sunlight.I wandered if it was a little Viola.The close up photo shows it is the remnants of a Primula from last year.The warm sunshine has revived a lot of the plants that were looking raggedy over the winter.I want to get some Drumstick Primulas like I saw at Harlow Carr along the stream side garden.

The Winter Pansy's have revived with the Spring sunshine in the hanging baskets and pots.I put this Blue Glass ball into the basket.I think shiny spheres can look good in a garden reflecting the sun,sky,and surrounding plants.I think I found this blue glass at Fishponds Drive and took it with me when we moved here.I would like large shiny spheres in the sunken border.The Crocodile and Cat are still with us four years after I bought them from Hampsons.They sit on the path between the Hostas and the Buxus plants.I love how the Stone work has discoloured as it has aged.I love the fantasy of having figurines,and statues within the garden between plants.They help reflect the eclectic tastes of the gardener!The newest addition to the garden is the French Cockerel I bought from Hampsons the other day.He is sat proudly on the greenhouse base alongside the Peacock.The Pear Tree Bonne Chretian sits in front of the two metal sculptures.The Peacock is slowly losing all his gem stones that are stuck to his tail feathers.

I am off for a few days and will try to get to the allotment tomorrow.I am planning on buying some raised beds and constructing them on site.I want to make the allotment easier to keep weed free.There will be some kind of path covering between the raised beds.I can rotate crops between them.

The Spring weather warms the gardeners blood and makes you think about sowing seeds in pots in the greenhouse.

Snappys Birthday

Its my Birthday today.I am 39 years old.Cat thinks I'm like Peter Pan, the everlasting child.I got some cards today and a food processor from Cat.I love baking cakes and now they should be extra light and tasty.The machine also has a slicer,a blender,and juicer attachment.Once I have grown lots of veg I can make soups and blend them..
The last few days have been quite warm with some sunshine.The consequence of this is the hibernating Ladybirds have woken up.They were all over the front garden near where the decking is and all over my Lupins.They must overwinter under the dry wood.
The Lupins have started to regrow from the base.They were spectacular purple spires last year,and should be more vigerous this year.The ladybird was sleeping in the centre of the Lupin leaves like a red tear drop.
I think the contrast between the leaves and the ladybird made some good spring photos.The low Sun illuminates the garden and highlights the colours.Green for me is the colour of grass,gardens,and regrowth.Fresh new leaves herald the start of the growing season again,and that natures cycle is revving up.
I will be going out soon to Nandos for a spicy Chicken Dinner with Piri Piri sauce,followed by watching Whitechapel on TV.Then an early night before two long days at the hospital..