Johnplotman's Journal

The last of the roses at the top arch.

Hanging on.

Time is short for the last survivor of the roses.The main rose bed is clear,but a little life is at the main arch with a little yellow rose still showing.Stay there my little yellow friend,as long as possible.

Birds need to be kept happy in the snow.

Keep them happy.

Earlier this morning i topped up on the food supply,for our feathered friends.Especially in this serious weather.

A sick Dracaena house plant if i wanted it..

On the poor side is the Dracaena.

Earlier this evening i was asked by a friend,was plant was any good to me.If not,it was heading for the happy hunting ground.Without a doubt it was coming with me,to see can i nurse it back to life

Thinking ahead to brighter days.

Thinking ahead to brighter days.

Earlier in the week parts off the garden looked just like summer weather.Though the shaded areas were almost grey with frost,the green colour covered it a little a a time..Still though more off the frosted weather was moving off a little at a time,thanks to the sun.Similar today only a white blanket of snow needs removing.

Berries showing well.

Berries showing well.

Now the sun has appeared and despite the temperature down at close to -5,the berries on the Cotoneaster appear well.They give another sign of the good side of weather.Though coolness is in the air,and plenty more to come,we will survive.

A white Sunday.

The blanket of snow.

The ground looks so clean,now that snow has fallen.After it though is the mess.Just walked through the garden,and if i could keep the place so clean,as it is now,that would be another help.

A morning for the woolies once more.

Skimmia.japonica 'Rubella' on a cold frosty morning.

Took the usual very early morning walk throught the garden,and the sight looks wonderful,but not the soil on top.Parts are getting on the frozen side,and the little birds need the food dish for them given a visi,to keep them happy.No plans for later this evening,though with a visit from some snow mentioned later,the lamp will be out to give a double check to certain areas.To look out this morning,it seems like a good day ahead.We wont know that for sure though,how long it will last for.Picked up a few more fresh pkts of seeds yesterday,to join the gang,and some of the holders for them need sorting out,so to have ready when the time comes.

Going around the front of the house earlier i noticed a lovely shine on the Skimmia from the frost.

Plans for later this evening

Forcing on Rhubarb.[Rheum rhaponticum]

If all goes well i hope to get to spend some time this evening in the tunnel or greenhouse.If not then maybe in the seed room on return at some stage.

Tonight the usual card games take place,and top of the list will be three twenty fives for a prize of a turkey.The day is nice and bright after the frost,and if luck is with me then maybe the cards will be bright also,and the first prize come to my plate.Time will tell.

On Sunday last i done some checking on the Rhubarb [Rheum] beds,to make sure those needed are still well wrapped up,with some straw etc,to bring them on.May be small when the time comes,but will taste sweet,and a great start to the year.

Picture taken on Sunday evening.

Taken on Sunday evening.

Having a late evening stroll through the garden after a cool frosty day,the sky looked fine in one area,and in the other a weather attack was getting ready.

A picture i found in an old vegetable book.

Sorry about the poor quality.Only about 12 cm long and 6cm wide.

If anyone would like to hazard a guess on the time it was printed,i would promise the winner,365 days of sunshine,with no need to have to water plants,no frost,no pests or diseases in the garden,and watch them grow and grow with no replanting.

My Diploma from The Institute Or Gardening arrives

At long last.

I was a happy man to finally get my hands on the [RHS] Diploma from the Gardening Institute,in Somerset.My main study is with vegetable growing,though some pests,diseases,etc have also been given time,especially with those that effect vegetable growing.I also studied a little on flowers,trees,etc,but still a long way down the ladder there.My main interest was in vegetable growing,and a happy man i was to gain it.

A bit of a rush,but i hope to play cards later.

Sorbus,on the bare side now,but only for a few months.

Took the usual evening check on all in the garden area.A light watering was needed in the tunnel on the raised beds,despite heavy rainfall during the night.Had i mentioned to anyone close by,that i needed to do some watering,i can imagine the strange looks,they would give me.Remained dry here throughout the day so far,but plenty of last nights rainfall noticed in a few places around town.Heading off for a short while,but the card games will have me at some stage,later.

A quick check around the garden.

Finally the Pampas Grass brings out colour.

This moring i rushed around to take a quick note of some badly needed jobs,that need doing.The tubs that had some of the Tomatoes in them have been in the garden shed for the last while and will be cleaned out,and used for compost heap feed.This will be done later in the week.With the ground in quite a mess,thanks to damp weather a short time back,it is now having a visit from frosty the ice man.Some more pruning is also due.The greenhouse had all removed on Saturday into the garden shed,just temporary while a good cleaning out will be done there,also later in the week.That will be the final cleaning of the greenhouse,and after moving back in the tubs with winter Lettuce etc,notes will be taken on the starting off of early vegetable seeds [some Brassica] in a few weeks,and  some other seeds,those will stand cold weather.Others will get a start off in the seed room.Provided all goes to plans then that may get done sooner than expected.

I noticed the first bit of colour here with the Pampas Grass.Hopefully it wont be to long before some more appear.

On a lovely Saturday morning.

Still smiling.

Now that the morning has started to suit the gardeners with plenty of sunshine,some jobs will get done.Plans have been made first off,to clean up the leaves from the front of the house.That will take up to lunchtime or a little longer.The outer garden area is quite mucky,and the vegetable area is on the poor side also,but inside the tunnel is due a good clean out,with the floor there having not been washed,for at least the last 2-3 weeks.Plenty of weeds are popping up but but my friend the hoe will soon see to them.

Some of the empty tubs in the outer veg area around the main garden are also due a visit and some of the old branches that were pruned earlier need burning.Not suitable for composting.They will take to long there in the compost heap to be of any use.Both Trees in the centre of the garden are bare now.This year the one on the left has not had no varigated leaves at all on it this.Looking through some of the branches on that Tree,they dont seem the best.If all fails with it in the coming year,then off it will go to the happy hunting ground.

Around the herb house has been in need of a clean out long before now,and if all goes well today then that will get a visit to spend time there.

The picture was taken earlier in the week,when the frost was in the air.

Getting a visit from wind and rain.

On the damp side this morning.

Not the most friendly of mornings,Though just a little on the bright side,it has dampness in the air,and worse again heavy wind.Had a look around just after 8 am and secured some areas.A check was done on the greenhouse roof to make sure it is well tied down.Weather is not sounding the best,but we will survive.Just as i type this journal,the rain is falling.

No plans for this evening with any tunnel or greenhouse jobs,except for a quick check around to make sure all will have survived the weather visit.

A quick clean up,and then off to play cards.

Time to take in my little garden globe before getting damaged.

Not a lot was done this evening as planned,but another time.Apart from a few pictures from the garden very early this morning,it is time now for a fast wash,and then to head off see will i be any way lucky at the card game..

Daffodils begin to show,in the outer beds.

A fine sight,despite the weather.

On the way out this morning i noticed the first sign of this years bulbs,here.A nice sight it is.Long may they be there.

Some late work in the front shrub beds.

Late evening pruning.

With the help off some light i spent time in the shrub beds alongside the house.Bed 1,had a little touch of pruning done and any old leaves removed from the chippings.So far so good in that area with the next bed to be finished either later on,or early in the morning.No other plans for this evening.

Time to tie some parts down,wind and rain to call.

I might stop the rain,but not the wind.

Between wind and rain given out on the local weather reading,it looks like a weekend of trouble.Wind loves to leave its reminder,especially on the roof of the greenhouse etc.The tunnel escaped before,and all going well will do so again.[We hope].

This morning though,is lovely and bright,despite been a little on the cool side.Work will be done today,spending time having as much as possible secure in the garden,on what seems to be a wet and windy visit,later this weekend.

Off to play cards earlier than usual this evening.

Winter strikes fast.

Just time for a fast clean up,a quick bit to eat,then off to play cards.A little earlier than usual.Has been dampish in this area today with an odd shower.

Outdoor,evening work is on hold except for the help of some lighting.No further plans for this evening,apart from maybe a quick check through some notes on return tonight.

Will the kitten help me in the garden as quick.

My kitten helper.

This little four legged friend has decided to have a little look around.If he would empty pots,tubs,etc in the garden for me as quick at cleaning time,he is welcome.

Another section of the vegetable garden worked on.

Working on the Rhubarb [Rheum rhaponticum] beds.

A few days ago i spent time working on one of the Rhubarb beds to prepare the stools [roots] for another area.Part of the new side bed will now be taken up and some other vegetables will be added early in the coming year.Winter is setting in,fast and the weather has every sign of it with rain,wind,etc at times.