Last Post 666 days 1 hour ago
27 July 2011 15:17:18
Hello everyone!
My, doesn't the time fly.... haven't been here in 84days! Been busy... busy mainly watching the weather to pick up and now I have realised the Summer has almost passed me by.
Managed to buy a white and a lime green hydrangea for the infamous 'white garden' (pictures to go up tomorrow)....
The veg garden has been pretty good this year, although the sweetcorn is suffering from the lack of warmth over the past months..... the male flower heads have appeared and the plants are only 2'6 tall, very disappointing.
J
04 May 2011 14:38:54
Happy Birthday Setanta*
Just wanted to wish my baby a Happy 4th Birthday tomorrow!
Looking around at the garden & countryside, I couldn't have had him in a more beautiful month of the year! *
28 March 2011 13:59:25
Spring Time
Hello fellow Gardeners! can't believe i haven't posted anything since last September!
It doesn't mean that I wasn't doing anything, just nothing worth noting...
Saturday last the lawns got a good scarifying and trimming... the Moss seems to be worse this year than any other, we took bag loads off the lawn and could still do with taking more too...
Freshened up the veg. beds and managed to sow the Potatoes. Decided to go "low-labour" gardening this year (other things in the pipeline)... so I planted a bed of ORLA, first earlies and two Maincrops, GOLDEN WONDERS & KERR PINKS... so there goes 3 out of 5 beds........
Planning to add manure to the greenhouse beds this evenings, with some help..
So hope you are all enjoying the dry,bright spell while it lasts & I look forward to posting this year....... J
29 September 2010 09:34:36
Drying Herbs
Here are some bunches of herbs from the garden..... I just hung them up in the glasshouse to dry out..... has anyone any experience of drying herbs and what worked best??? J
27 September 2010 14:14:11
Cordyline
Here is a piece of Cordyline that a co-worker gave me. His father had given up hope on his Cordyline ever recovering from the Winters frost and chopped it down... the poor old man thought he might burn it, if he cut it into rings.... however he said it would "quinch Hell".... so a few months later, some of the pieces of "timber" began to sprout..... low and behold....
There are about 6 new shoots appearing with some roots visible just under the bark. Have to find a place to plant it now...... thanks John!!
27 September 2010 14:09:21
American Pillar rose
Periwinkle, here is that close up of the American Pillar rose you enquired about on my previous journal entry.......
31 August 2010 11:00:28
For Myrtle & Cloncaw....
Seen these beautiful Eucomis in the Zoo last Saturday.... had to take a snap.... they looked realy well planted en-mass and basking in the sun the was shining on the African Plains............J
25 August 2010 14:09:29
Hoheria
Was on my way home yesterday from work & popped into Woodies, just to get something small, just before another thundery shower..... my eye was caught by a shrub, HOHERIA SEXSTYLOSA, if I was out specifically to find it, I would never have found it............. so I duly snatched it up.
Here's a pic from the web, hope my own thrives as well!
Mental Note: STAY OUT OF THE SHOPS, they are seriously bad for my bank balance!
24 August 2010 10:14:36
Rough Morning
All I can do is look out at the garden as I eat the breakfast and rush out to work.... no strolling around in the sunshine this morning here! Can't believe its over a month since I wrote up my journal.... the time is flying..... will definitely get out to take photos this evening and post them up.
Hope everyone is getting on well with their gardens, or should I say works of art? I have a question for you out there............
Main Crop Potatoes?? I had sown Golden Wonders way back and now they're ready for digging, its just that some of the potatoes in the ground are sprouting........... is this unusual? or what would have caused this???
Look forward to your comments................... thanks! J
20 July 2010 09:53:32
American Pillar
Just said I'd post this picture, its the Hen's pen. I've got 4 rambling roses planted on one side, transplanted them last Autum and they are doing well. I looked for ages for the name of the rose and discovered that its called American Pillar....
Was checking out pictures of it on the web and seen it growing thro' a Hops plant... lime green and cerise pink, what a contrast! Might try it some day....
07 July 2010 12:49:57
Trifolium Ochroleucon (pic from the web)
I feel I am spending longer in the kitchen these days than out rooting in the garden, standing over saucepans of boiling jam, checking for set..... no matter, it will be all worth the while when I'm tucking into some turkey or pheasant with the Redcurrant Jelly on the side....
From just one redcurrant bush I have made 2lb of jelly, kinda happy with that. Made ove 4lb over blackcurrant jam and more to do.... Strawberry Jam, well pounds of that too..... Just picked some slightly under ripe Worchesterberry/Gooseberries for jam..... the other bushes, well, I think I'll make some Gooseberry and Peppercorn Chutney with those.
Got out for awhile to a Garden Centre on Sunday last, picked up an unusual looking Trifolium Ochroleucon (Sulphur Clover), Cryptomeria Japonica "Sekkan" and Deutzia Pulchra shrub...... that's it now, have to restrain myself from purchasing anymore things for the garden....
Digging the new potatoes now Sharps Express, yummy! Broccoli spears are kinda of slow to come on again, maybe they need al little more water.... Onions are taking a bashing with the wind these days and have fallen over, never a dull moment in the garden, hope everyone is enjoying theirs these days!!
J
28 June 2010 12:29:52
Reap What U Sow
Yes, busy picking strawberries these days, the weather is really suiting them... lots of sunshine (or do I speak too soon)....
Hulling strawberries and making jam here.... a taste of Summer saved for a cold Winters day...
25 May 2010 12:51:22
Tea on the bog!
Hmm, I haven't been idle even though I haven't updated the journal............
Hopping and trotting between projects, from putting in an arena to vegetable gardening, to bringing home the last of last years turf...... busy, busy.
Will put up some pictures tomorrow for you all to view......
J
21 April 2010 14:26:57
Moss killer on the loose
Not a whole lot to add this week to the Journal.... managed to spread the Sulphate of Iron on the front lawn, very, very mossy at the moment....3 days on and I can see it turning black... the back lawn and white border got a tidying too.
Dug up some Raspberry suckers from the fruit bed.... couldn't beleive how much they spread, a valuable lesson to learn, give them their own designated bed/border!
Still harvesting the P/S broccoli, can't believe how nice it tastes, nothing like the shop-bought product..... the curly kale has finally went to seed, so it'll be yanked out this week....
14 April 2010 11:17:34
Winner Alright!
Looking outside today, and yes, the fine weather was only a 'tease'... chilly air out there now. It 'was' lovely, the sun on your back,hmmmm.......
Hubby was Clay Pigeon Shooting Sunday and done very well, I stayed @ home and pottered in the garden....I managed to plant the potatoes, Sharps Express & Golden Wonders, the set onions and some shallots.
I see the Broccoli seedlings are doing well in the GH.... I noticed this morning that the Nicotiana seeds and Poached Egg 'Meringue' seeds have started to germinate also.....
Sowed some tomato and pepper seeds too, well they were in the packet since last year, so what have I to loose?