What a week ! Last weekend was spent digging a hole in the freezing cold and wet, and Christmas shopping when the sun was shining bright ! Go figure !
My good friend has said that I've been uncharacteristically quiet on the boards this week. 10 hour working days has pretty much seen to that. Out of a team of 7, I've had one yet to start, two on annual leave, one (the boss) off sick and one seconded to another department. This has left me and my gem of a colleague carrying the whole department. Things have just been manic, and all I've done when I've got home at night is crashed in front of the tv too knackered to even think.
Good news about my recent promotion application though when I got an invite for an interview for next Thursday. Within 24 hrs that got changed to Wednesday (showing how flexible and accommodating I can be!). Tomorrow we fly to London about 4pm for our dear friend's birthday party on Saturday, returning on Monday evening. So that means, I had tonight to prepare my spare set of examples to be used at the interview, with some of Tuesday if I'm lucky.
So with lashing rain and gale force winds, I get home about 6 tonight, straight out to the greenhouses, only to find that one of the plastic sheets has blown out of the front of the small one. GERRRRRRATE ! Half hour spent getting soaking wet, before we both decide to call it a day (or night), prop the sheet up against the gap with a couple of rather large pots and to try again in the morning keeping fingers crossed that no other damage occurs overnight.
I had planned to pop to the post office in the morning to post some ebay stuff I had sold, fill the car up with petrol and buy some more paraffin for the g/h heaters. Guess what I'll be doing now ?
I think I passed hysteria about 4 hours ago, so now I've calmly cobbled together 5 out of the 6 work examples, packed, sent my apologies to the ebay guys for the delay in posting and finally got round to writing some blog.
Now the good stuff.
My calendula seedlings have exploded. They're pretty damn huge and doing well in the heated g/h. Same with the alstroemeria seedlings. Just hope I can keep the g/h warm enough when the big freeze hits. I think I've even got a pea poking it's wee head through. The solent wight garlic is doing well, but the runty elephant has yet to show. The onions and purple garlic are poking through the straw mulch nicely.
Everything has got well watered today and after the week of strong winds, we probably needed it.
So supreme being, what I need tonight is for the wind and rain to stop and the sun to be shining brightly about 8am so that I can get out and fix the g/h before running around like a lunatic getting everything else done before take off.
I'm looking forward to some enjoyable mayhem over the weekend meeting up with some very good friends, rush over to see the family on Sunday/Monday before flying back Monday pm. So, if I'm still alive, I'll see you all next week ... even stronger !
Thursday, November 30, 2006
Sunday, November 19, 2006
You know I said I hit my finger with a hammer ?
Bloody great bruise running from the tip of my middle right finger to the second knuckle !
It's skipped the slightly pink stage and gone straight for the dark brown !
Fuzzem fuzzem.
It's skipped the slightly pink stage and gone straight for the dark brown !
Fuzzem fuzzem.
Today I have ...............
Smacked my finger with a hammer ! It's stinging. :-(
Remember the ex-patio wall that the workies so kindly dumped in the side flower bed belonging to her upstairs ? Well I thought I'd move it. So I've been bashing around with a hammer and chisel trying to prize the mortar from the bricks. I misjudged it a couple of times and took a direct hit once. Still, the upside is that the wall is now in moveable pieces and is laid up the side of the house waiting for somesome to come and steal it. Any volunteers ?
So I took advantage of the situation and dug over the bed ready for whatever I feel the need to sow in it next season. As it technically doesn't belong to me, I don't feel inclined to improve it very much, so I've just given it a good old turnover and will leave good old mother nature to do the rest for me.
Have no idea what the bush is in the middle of it, but neighbour has two of them, so I gave them both a good haircut, as I did last year, and it didn't seem to hurt them then, just kept them under control. This has pretty much filled up the 4th compost bin. This is also the bed that was overrun with orange alstroemeria and quite a few roots got raised to the surface, so I've taken two and planted them up in pots, stuck a poly bag over them and will wait to see if anything happens.
This is the result of the digging. For solid clay, I was surprised to find that it was quite diggable, apart from close to the bush which was solid with roots. So a good workout by Mr Frost and another turnover and rake next year should be good for some annuals.
While I was out there, I put an overcoat over two of the more waterlogged fruit trees to stop them getting too sodden and also got rid of the early psb so now the far bed is empty and ready for the peas and beans.
The aquadulce broad beans are doing well in the cold frame. One has been nibbled already so I've surrounded them with the contents of my hairbrush !
Then the rain started so I've finished for the day now. I've had quite a profitable morning, and now have to do this damn application form for work (unless I can find something else to amuse me). :-)
Oh......... just remembered yesterday ......... spent most of the day digging out two seriously dead looking shrubs from the communual border (well another bit of her garden). They might have looked dead on top but once again the root system took a fair bit of hacking at before they came out. That bit of the border (just this side of the bath), is heavily waterlogged so I've covered it all in polythene in an attempt to dry it out a bit before excavating the whole lot and putting in a drainage layer. I found a pipe (gasp, thank goodness I didn't put the spade through it) and quickly covered it up again. When I've got a bit more energy, I'll remove as much sodden soil as I can, investigate the pipe a bit further and if it looks "live" will use some of the broken guttering to try and protect it from enthusiastic gardeners i.e. me ! I'm thinking "broad beans" for that particular bit of the plot.
Right, back to the form!
Remember the ex-patio wall that the workies so kindly dumped in the side flower bed belonging to her upstairs ? Well I thought I'd move it. So I've been bashing around with a hammer and chisel trying to prize the mortar from the bricks. I misjudged it a couple of times and took a direct hit once. Still, the upside is that the wall is now in moveable pieces and is laid up the side of the house waiting for somesome to come and steal it. Any volunteers ?
So I took advantage of the situation and dug over the bed ready for whatever I feel the need to sow in it next season. As it technically doesn't belong to me, I don't feel inclined to improve it very much, so I've just given it a good old turnover and will leave good old mother nature to do the rest for me.
Have no idea what the bush is in the middle of it, but neighbour has two of them, so I gave them both a good haircut, as I did last year, and it didn't seem to hurt them then, just kept them under control. This has pretty much filled up the 4th compost bin. This is also the bed that was overrun with orange alstroemeria and quite a few roots got raised to the surface, so I've taken two and planted them up in pots, stuck a poly bag over them and will wait to see if anything happens.
This is the result of the digging. For solid clay, I was surprised to find that it was quite diggable, apart from close to the bush which was solid with roots. So a good workout by Mr Frost and another turnover and rake next year should be good for some annuals.
While I was out there, I put an overcoat over two of the more waterlogged fruit trees to stop them getting too sodden and also got rid of the early psb so now the far bed is empty and ready for the peas and beans.
The aquadulce broad beans are doing well in the cold frame. One has been nibbled already so I've surrounded them with the contents of my hairbrush !
Then the rain started so I've finished for the day now. I've had quite a profitable morning, and now have to do this damn application form for work (unless I can find something else to amuse me). :-)
Oh......... just remembered yesterday ......... spent most of the day digging out two seriously dead looking shrubs from the communual border (well another bit of her garden). They might have looked dead on top but once again the root system took a fair bit of hacking at before they came out. That bit of the border (just this side of the bath), is heavily waterlogged so I've covered it all in polythene in an attempt to dry it out a bit before excavating the whole lot and putting in a drainage layer. I found a pipe (gasp, thank goodness I didn't put the spade through it) and quickly covered it up again. When I've got a bit more energy, I'll remove as much sodden soil as I can, investigate the pipe a bit further and if it looks "live" will use some of the broken guttering to try and protect it from enthusiastic gardeners i.e. me ! I'm thinking "broad beans" for that particular bit of the plot.
Right, back to the form!
Thursday, November 16, 2006
Poo!
I know I should have let it rot, but I didn't. I will go back and get more to fill No. 4 bin and let that do it's work for next year.
Lovely boy up at the stables let me have 7 big bags for 50p a bag, and straw bales at £2.50. I haven't quite worked out the logistics of cramming a bale into the back of a fiesta, but if you can fit four elephants in a mini, i'm sure i can manage.
There was something strangely sensuous about donning a pair of wellies and waterproof jacket, and shovelling shit.
In an inspired moment I removed the rosemary bush out of harms way to a pot and am disposing of the EPSB at the weekend. It really has come to nought, very disappointing. Won't bother again.
And the Solent Wight is peeping through.
Still figuring out how non-members can post comments. Everything seems to be set up OK. So I'll have a search through the FAQs a little later. I also seem to spend more time sorting out the pics layout than actually typing the post. Ah well, no doubt I'll get the hang of it, a bit like the gardening !
Just watching Mr Robin chasing Mr Dunnock. Like there's not enough food for everyone !
Laters peeps.
Lovely boy up at the stables let me have 7 big bags for 50p a bag, and straw bales at £2.50. I haven't quite worked out the logistics of cramming a bale into the back of a fiesta, but if you can fit four elephants in a mini, i'm sure i can manage.
There was something strangely sensuous about donning a pair of wellies and waterproof jacket, and shovelling shit.
In an inspired moment I removed the rosemary bush out of harms way to a pot and am disposing of the EPSB at the weekend. It really has come to nought, very disappointing. Won't bother again.
And the Solent Wight is peeping through.
Still figuring out how non-members can post comments. Everything seems to be set up OK. So I'll have a search through the FAQs a little later. I also seem to spend more time sorting out the pics layout than actually typing the post. Ah well, no doubt I'll get the hang of it, a bit like the gardening !
Just watching Mr Robin chasing Mr Dunnock. Like there's not enough food for everyone !
Laters peeps.
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
Best laid plans go awry
Day off today, to get the fresh poo and lay it on the border. Have you seen the weather ??? Nasty and awful, so I guess I'll be spending some quality time in the shed sowing some things and having yet another tidy up. Someone has just suggested a day of daytime tele. God forbid !Still we had a lovely rainbow long enough for me to get the camera out, closely followed by the next pic !
Waterproofs and wellies for me today !
Monday, November 13, 2006
Look who I found hiding amongst the Little Gems !
I pulled everything out of g/h No. 2 to put up the bubble wrap, and I found our little friend here snuggled up at the back of one of the Little Gem trays. She looked very dozy and not very wide awake, so I think I've woken her from her winter slumbers. I hope that she managed to get back to sleep after I replaced everything, although I really don't think it was the best place for her to be! I hope she survives the fumes. :-OApologies to those having trouble posting comments on the blog. Blogger have recently invited me to change over to their new version and I think some of the settings have got lost somewhere, so I shall have a wee play and see if I can't get your names back. Anonymous or not, I really enjoy reading your comments, so please feel free to post them and stick your name at the end ! It's got something to do with having a Gmail address. I shall investigate !
The weather was much better yesterday and even the OH came out to play and put a protective stain coating on the shed. There's me lugging bricks about and he reckoned he was doing the hard work. lol. I have now learned to ignore all the huffing, sighing, puffing and swearing that happens whenever he's asked to do anything ! I figure it's his little way !
Harvested a load of cayenne peppers yesterday which are now strung up like red and green fairy lights over the fire. Couldn't put them in the kitchen as it gets too damp in there, so will see how successful they are in the lounge. As I've got a brand new packet of Cayenne (thanks Lish) for next year, I've not bothered saving any seed and have consigned a couple of the plants to the compost bin. I've still got a few Numex Twilight bushes to harvest (literally hunnerds of fruit) and already have the freezer full of Cayennes, so there won't be a hungry gap next year and then I can start from scratch rather than trying to keep any alive over the winter.
I remembered at last to get the camera out, so now you can see the famous retaining wall. Everything to the left of the wall is the neighbour's but you can see that the carrot bath has jumped across and that's a spare black darlek of mine tucked away up the end. Actually all the rubbish you can see is mine but I'm gradually tidying it up for her upstairs and plan on having a border full of pretty delights next year. I replaced the washing pole that was dug up during lleylandi No. 1 excavation, in the hope that she won't mind me using it next summer!The lawn is in need of serious tlc, but then it always was !! I will have to try and read up on how to make it green and lush for little'un to play on. I was hoping that I could find truck loads of free poo just to dump on the border. The far end still needs considerable weeding and digging over though.
Here are the rasps and goosgogs in the infamous black buckets and if you look carefully you can see more BB in the cold frame which are housing the broad beans. These things are worth their weight in erm ........ black plastic !!!
And finally (for this morning), the inside of g/h No. 2! Remember right at the beginning Lish, when you told me to put an ickle one inside the big one ? Jolly good idea !!! It means I can leave the back vent open for fumes but the mini one provides enough shelter for things not to freeze. You can see the Little Gems and on the left is an unnamed chilli/pepper that is still growing it's fruit madly ! All the pots tucked away on the bottom shelf are the lilies and on the top shelf is a tray of calendula and other things that I hope will survive. The hanging basket is the mother Prince of Denmark fuschia. The babies are in the other g/h.So my luvvies, work calls and the garden is put to bed for another week. I had intended on doing so much more this weekend, sowing some peas for one thing, but I appear to have lost the packet roflmao. No doubt they will turn up eventually. The newly tidied shed, has returned to looking more like a bombsite but I have reclaimed the rear and side of the shed.
Not a bad weekend all in all.
Sunday, November 12, 2006
A woman's work is never done
Especially in the garden !
Yesterday was the foulest of foul days, which really made me crabbit. I sit there all week planning on what I'm going to dig, plant, move, tidy etd and when Saturday comes, it just pours !
Despite strong winds and the arrival of the promised hail, I managed to:
Now the front guttering has been repaired, I can sort out the front border a bit as well without fear of everything swimming in a lake of rain. The garlic seems to be coming up, but some of the bulbs seem to be coming to the top of the bed ! Perhaps they're bidding for an escape. I think I'll throw some more compost over them. The garlic and strawberry beds seem to be sinking ! I guess the layer of leaves is rotting down nicely.
Unless the fumes have got to them, the honeysuckle cuttings seem to have taken, as I can see new growth from some of the buds, the Little Gems are coming along but some seem leaves seems to be suffering at the edges from something or other. I'll have a closer inspection today. A couple of hollihocks have germinated but nothing from the Bear's Breeches yet which could be a bit problematic as they both share the same tray in the propogator.
I could see one broad bean poking it's head through a bucket and have stuck all 5 buckets in the cold frame for no other reason than to get them out of the way.
I'm using the bean/pea bed for mixing atm. Throw on a bag of multi-purpose, some bagged manure, sand, and grit and mix it all up with some clay and hey presto, I get some nice workable freeflowing, water and nutrient retaining soil for the pots. That's the theory at least !
And I'm going to pay a visit to bessie mate round the corner's place with a couple of black bags to nick his leaves. All this will take me until dark, so I'd better get a move on............... hopefully be back later with some pics.
Yesterday was the foulest of foul days, which really made me crabbit. I sit there all week planning on what I'm going to dig, plant, move, tidy etd and when Saturday comes, it just pours !
Despite strong winds and the arrival of the promised hail, I managed to:
- start a compost bin for her upstairs and tidied up her path (she'll thank me forever I'm sure)
- found some paraffin (never believe a B&Q sales person that says they don't stock it - they do !)
- bought a new mini paraffin heater for No. 2 g/h and from those instructions worked out how to use No. 1 as well (where DID those instructions go ?)
- planted the three Lidl raspberry canes
- found a source of horse poo at a local stables but at £2.50-£3 a bag they can swing for it
- couldn't find the local mounted police branch stables .... I'll ask at work on Monday
- pruned my standard fuschia in a pot as it kept falling over in the wind
- repaired the cold frame as one of the lids had come apart in the wind (same wind, bloody nuisance)
Now the front guttering has been repaired, I can sort out the front border a bit as well without fear of everything swimming in a lake of rain. The garlic seems to be coming up, but some of the bulbs seem to be coming to the top of the bed ! Perhaps they're bidding for an escape. I think I'll throw some more compost over them. The garlic and strawberry beds seem to be sinking ! I guess the layer of leaves is rotting down nicely.
Unless the fumes have got to them, the honeysuckle cuttings seem to have taken, as I can see new growth from some of the buds, the Little Gems are coming along but some seem leaves seems to be suffering at the edges from something or other. I'll have a closer inspection today. A couple of hollihocks have germinated but nothing from the Bear's Breeches yet which could be a bit problematic as they both share the same tray in the propogator.
I could see one broad bean poking it's head through a bucket and have stuck all 5 buckets in the cold frame for no other reason than to get them out of the way.
I'm using the bean/pea bed for mixing atm. Throw on a bag of multi-purpose, some bagged manure, sand, and grit and mix it all up with some clay and hey presto, I get some nice workable freeflowing, water and nutrient retaining soil for the pots. That's the theory at least !
And I'm going to pay a visit to bessie mate round the corner's place with a couple of black bags to nick his leaves. All this will take me until dark, so I'd better get a move on............... hopefully be back later with some pics.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Black buckets and fruit bushes
Do you think they would work ?
I've been sitting here humming and hawing about where to put the 3 raspberry canes and 2 gooseberry bushes and have figured out that I just don't have enough space "in the ground". Rather than waste my delicious bushes, I think I'll just black bucket them for now and move them to the lottie when the time comes (no response to my email to the lottie secretary - not a good sign).
Gave the neighbours border a bit of a dig last weekend, but it really needs improving 100%. I've put a couple of ads up on the various recycle sites that we now have in Glasgow in the hope that some kind soul can point me in the direction of a WRM supplier. I'll get the OH with his big digging feet out there at the weekend (weather permitting) to give everything another turn over. I think we're more or less hardcore free up at the deck end of the border now, but I'm hesitant to put the fruit bushes in there just incase the wean falls into them. I can hardly steal their garden and then plant kiddie traps can I now ? :-P
I hadn't been to the dump in a while, so three trips on Sunday morning, got rid of all the home made pallet retaining walls (too wet for a bonfire), the root of the second lleylandi which lovely Mr Deck man had considerately chainsawed into four pieces. I wish he'd had a go at root No. 1 as it's a heavy old thing and will need the two of us to carry it to the car. Cleared out behind the shed of various bits of MDF wardrobe no longer required, and started making a brick path around the compost bins so I don't sink into the mud !
So neighbours lawn looks less like a building site and more like a square patch of green now.
Mr Robin is still the first person to arrive every morning. I'm sure he gets up earlier than I do and often seeing him hoppng about in the dark, bless him. Infact I can hear him now, but he hasn't come to say hi yet.
Opened the two "full" compost heaps at the weekend to give them a bit of a stir and found they'd sunk to about 3/4 full. I take it that's a good sign. :-) Once again, dependant on the weather, I might give them all a bit of a turnout at the weekend and load them all back up again to get the heat going again. Trouble is, it's a bit squeezed behind the shed and it's a bit of a battle to get the bins off and out of the way. I could seriously do with some compost though, and I'm far too impatient to let it all rot down, so I might just shovel it into the bean/pea bed and let it finish it's work there.
Kindly girl in the office is bringing me the leaves from her garden. I like to think I'm doing her a favour by takening them lol. I have plenty out in the street, but don't know if I can be bothered sorting leaves from rubbish.
Another grey and wet day, but I suppose it's time to put on the cheery face and head off to the office.
Ciao for now.
I've been sitting here humming and hawing about where to put the 3 raspberry canes and 2 gooseberry bushes and have figured out that I just don't have enough space "in the ground". Rather than waste my delicious bushes, I think I'll just black bucket them for now and move them to the lottie when the time comes (no response to my email to the lottie secretary - not a good sign).
Gave the neighbours border a bit of a dig last weekend, but it really needs improving 100%. I've put a couple of ads up on the various recycle sites that we now have in Glasgow in the hope that some kind soul can point me in the direction of a WRM supplier. I'll get the OH with his big digging feet out there at the weekend (weather permitting) to give everything another turn over. I think we're more or less hardcore free up at the deck end of the border now, but I'm hesitant to put the fruit bushes in there just incase the wean falls into them. I can hardly steal their garden and then plant kiddie traps can I now ? :-P
I hadn't been to the dump in a while, so three trips on Sunday morning, got rid of all the home made pallet retaining walls (too wet for a bonfire), the root of the second lleylandi which lovely Mr Deck man had considerately chainsawed into four pieces. I wish he'd had a go at root No. 1 as it's a heavy old thing and will need the two of us to carry it to the car. Cleared out behind the shed of various bits of MDF wardrobe no longer required, and started making a brick path around the compost bins so I don't sink into the mud !
So neighbours lawn looks less like a building site and more like a square patch of green now.
Mr Robin is still the first person to arrive every morning. I'm sure he gets up earlier than I do and often seeing him hoppng about in the dark, bless him. Infact I can hear him now, but he hasn't come to say hi yet.
Opened the two "full" compost heaps at the weekend to give them a bit of a stir and found they'd sunk to about 3/4 full. I take it that's a good sign. :-) Once again, dependant on the weather, I might give them all a bit of a turnout at the weekend and load them all back up again to get the heat going again. Trouble is, it's a bit squeezed behind the shed and it's a bit of a battle to get the bins off and out of the way. I could seriously do with some compost though, and I'm far too impatient to let it all rot down, so I might just shovel it into the bean/pea bed and let it finish it's work there.
Kindly girl in the office is bringing me the leaves from her garden. I like to think I'm doing her a favour by takening them lol. I have plenty out in the street, but don't know if I can be bothered sorting leaves from rubbish.
Another grey and wet day, but I suppose it's time to put on the cheery face and head off to the office.
Ciao for now.
Friday, November 03, 2006
Another piece in the jigsaw
That's the retaining wall built a la stylee of the deck. Mud everywhere of course and no chance to tidy thing up until the weekend. But it's exactly what I wanted. My deck man is one of great vision as it was definitely the back of a fag packet design.
He also replaced the piece of broken guttering having tipped half a tonne of sludge all over him, his mate did the rendering round the patio doors, and he fixed the toilet seat.
What more could you ask from a deck man ! If anyone wants any windows replaced or deck type things built in the Glasgow area, let me know. I'd have no hesitation recommending my bunch.
I had a day out to Stranraer yesterday with the work. Someone was smiling on me as the weather was absolutely perfect. Bright sunshine all the way there and back. Such gorgeous scenery and I'll definitely drag the OH there for a day trip one day next summer and I'll take my camera as there's precious few decent pics on the net.
Back to the office today, so I'd better get a move on.
Cheery bye.
He also replaced the piece of broken guttering having tipped half a tonne of sludge all over him, his mate did the rendering round the patio doors, and he fixed the toilet seat.
What more could you ask from a deck man ! If anyone wants any windows replaced or deck type things built in the Glasgow area, let me know. I'd have no hesitation recommending my bunch.
I had a day out to Stranraer yesterday with the work. Someone was smiling on me as the weather was absolutely perfect. Bright sunshine all the way there and back. Such gorgeous scenery and I'll definitely drag the OH there for a day trip one day next summer and I'll take my camera as there's precious few decent pics on the net.
Back to the office today, so I'd better get a move on.
Cheery bye.
Tuesday, October 31, 2006
Too scared to look outside !
It was raining cats and dogs last night, with really strong winds and I think they're promising frost sometime this week as well. I'd better look at the weather sites and get out an extra layer of fleece, for me as well as the babies.
As I'm peering out of the window, both g/h are still there, and the new fruit trees look vertical. I'm most worried about the gaping holes that are still around the patio doors, you just can't get a renderer these days .... all promises and no show ! I'm thinking of blocking up the holes with scrunched carrier bags.
No doubt the front bed will be a small lake and my shrublets (as yet of no name) will be floating off down the road as the gutter has yet to be fixed.
They're saying the hosepipe ban will stay in place over the winter darn sarf ?? Well if someone wants to make the short journey north, we've got plenty to go around. Doesn't it make you wonder who the master planner is ? Got to be a bloke. :-P
As I'm peering out of the window, both g/h are still there, and the new fruit trees look vertical. I'm most worried about the gaping holes that are still around the patio doors, you just can't get a renderer these days .... all promises and no show ! I'm thinking of blocking up the holes with scrunched carrier bags.
No doubt the front bed will be a small lake and my shrublets (as yet of no name) will be floating off down the road as the gutter has yet to be fixed.
They're saying the hosepipe ban will stay in place over the winter darn sarf ?? Well if someone wants to make the short journey north, we've got plenty to go around. Doesn't it make you wonder who the master planner is ? Got to be a bloke. :-P
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Can't resist a bargain !
There I was, minding my own business, when someone mentioned that Lidl had fruit trees in at £3.99. One tree I was going to get, just the one. So I unded up with 1 Granny Smith's, 1 Cox's Orange Pippin, 1 Bramley and 1 Cherry Stella, oh and 3 raspberry canes, and 2 gooseberry bushes. :-O
So all weekend, I've been digging and mixing thick clay with all sorts of improvers to plant up the trees and create a bed for my honeysuckle.
Coerced the OH to lay the slab pathway in g/h No. 1 and while I had all the staging out, I draped a layer of scrunched fleece over a length of washing line all down the north side to try and offer a bit of protection against the frst as I just know I'm not going to get any electric heating in there, and I've still to go and find any parrafin for the heater. I was waiting until another two for one bargain came up on an ebay greenhouse site for some bubblewrap, but if I can get away with just having one roll, all the better.
No change in the chillis and pepper, albeit there are more chillies ripening and the peppers are getting fractionally bigger. The radishes have come up, so keeping an eye on them.
Some of the fuschia cuttings seem to have taken, and most of the senecio greyii. The alstroemerias are coming along nicely, and one of the lavender cuttings is growing too big for it's propogator, I'll leave it in there until the rest catch up a bit.
A tray full of calendula officinalis has germinated nicely. Now to see if they can keep going. Out of a tray of Potentilla 'Monarchs Velvet'(Cinquefoil), I've only got two left, but they are struggling along steadily and am looking forward to seeing if they last the winter too.
The solent wight and purple wight garlic went in at last. The solent in it's own bed, the purple had to share with the onions. Still got the elephant to think about.
Man was supposed to come and do wall yesterday, but due to a pretty nasty day and him having a bit of a hard Friday night, we postponed it. Hope it's this week, cos i need to get to the long bed that runs down the centre of the two gardens, and no point doing that til he's built his wall.
The deck is just fabby, but I'm having to watch bird poo off constantly, but it's so easy with the hose. We laid another two paving slabs at the bottom of the steps to the vegetable plot, in the hope that they might stop some of the mud being trodden all across the deck.
I came over all pooped though this afternoon. No-one told my body clock that it should have given me an extra hour in bed this morning. OOh, I can feel a relapse coming on, back to the sofa I go.
So all weekend, I've been digging and mixing thick clay with all sorts of improvers to plant up the trees and create a bed for my honeysuckle.
Coerced the OH to lay the slab pathway in g/h No. 1 and while I had all the staging out, I draped a layer of scrunched fleece over a length of washing line all down the north side to try and offer a bit of protection against the frst as I just know I'm not going to get any electric heating in there, and I've still to go and find any parrafin for the heater. I was waiting until another two for one bargain came up on an ebay greenhouse site for some bubblewrap, but if I can get away with just having one roll, all the better.
No change in the chillis and pepper, albeit there are more chillies ripening and the peppers are getting fractionally bigger. The radishes have come up, so keeping an eye on them.
Some of the fuschia cuttings seem to have taken, and most of the senecio greyii. The alstroemerias are coming along nicely, and one of the lavender cuttings is growing too big for it's propogator, I'll leave it in there until the rest catch up a bit.
A tray full of calendula officinalis has germinated nicely. Now to see if they can keep going. Out of a tray of Potentilla 'Monarchs Velvet'(Cinquefoil), I've only got two left, but they are struggling along steadily and am looking forward to seeing if they last the winter too.
The solent wight and purple wight garlic went in at last. The solent in it's own bed, the purple had to share with the onions. Still got the elephant to think about.
Man was supposed to come and do wall yesterday, but due to a pretty nasty day and him having a bit of a hard Friday night, we postponed it. Hope it's this week, cos i need to get to the long bed that runs down the centre of the two gardens, and no point doing that til he's built his wall.
The deck is just fabby, but I'm having to watch bird poo off constantly, but it's so easy with the hose. We laid another two paving slabs at the bottom of the steps to the vegetable plot, in the hope that they might stop some of the mud being trodden all across the deck.
I came over all pooped though this afternoon. No-one told my body clock that it should have given me an extra hour in bed this morning. OOh, I can feel a relapse coming on, back to the sofa I go.
Saturday, October 21, 2006
42 days is all it took
Hi there people, sorry for the break in transmission. I blame the onset of autumn.
8 September was when I had my deck brainwave. Yesterday it was built ! The money arrived on Tuesday, big congrats to the Nationwide, lovely people. So I rang Mr Window man who duly rang his decking mate and they came to measure/discuss on Thursday night. Yesterday morning I got an early call saying because the weather was likely to be rubbish over the weekend could I leave the keys out for them to start yesterday. By the time I got back from work last night, this is what I walked out onto.
I was totally overawed. It's just as wonderful as I wanted, even more impressive than I could ever have thought. No apologies to the pureists, I'm in love. 
As I walked out onto it, I actually laughed out loud. It was HUGE! I'm thrilled with the ballustrade, all I said to the chap was "keep it simple", and he's achieved that but with strength, and robustness (?). They didn't start until gone 9am yesterday and phoned me at 3.20pm to say they were knocking off for the day, but would be back to finish up today. I can almost forgive them trampling on some of the onions, which I'm sure will recover.
We sat out there till well after dark, just giggling. I don't want to over cram it, so will have to carefully consider how many pots I'm going to have dotted around and how I'm going to stop the chimnea throwing sparks all over it. But it does make me feel as if I'm on holiday.
Now back to the growing thingies ....... I found a ladybird in g/h No. 2 ! Obviously feeding up for winter on the Little Gem greenflies. I moved the ladybird house into the g/h and left her sitting under the fleece to munch away before she retired. She was the first one I'd seen all season, obviously the thought of a big gorge was too much for her to ignore.
The calendula officianalis for overwintering have germinated and I've slung in another trough of radishes. As a result of the deck, next door has acquired a nice size bed (which I will maintain obviously), and that will become home to the honeysuckle and some other nice smelly things so that when I walk up the steps I'll get a lovely fragrant waft.
Here are the peppers and chillis .....
Cayenne
Numex Twilight
Unknown
Yellow Pepper !
(Still getting to grips with pic layout and labelling, sorry)
Despite it being very damp, I've got the doors wide open and am listening to the birdies waking up. I shall now go and stand on my balcony with my cuppa and soak them up before the day really starts.
More pics to follow ..... obviously. :-)
8 September was when I had my deck brainwave. Yesterday it was built ! The money arrived on Tuesday, big congrats to the Nationwide, lovely people. So I rang Mr Window man who duly rang his decking mate and they came to measure/discuss on Thursday night. Yesterday morning I got an early call saying because the weather was likely to be rubbish over the weekend could I leave the keys out for them to start yesterday. By the time I got back from work last night, this is what I walked out onto.
I was totally overawed. It's just as wonderful as I wanted, even more impressive than I could ever have thought. No apologies to the pureists, I'm in love. 
As I walked out onto it, I actually laughed out loud. It was HUGE! I'm thrilled with the ballustrade, all I said to the chap was "keep it simple", and he's achieved that but with strength, and robustness (?). They didn't start until gone 9am yesterday and phoned me at 3.20pm to say they were knocking off for the day, but would be back to finish up today. I can almost forgive them trampling on some of the onions, which I'm sure will recover. We sat out there till well after dark, just giggling. I don't want to over cram it, so will have to carefully consider how many pots I'm going to have dotted around and how I'm going to stop the chimnea throwing sparks all over it. But it does make me feel as if I'm on holiday.
Now back to the growing thingies ....... I found a ladybird in g/h No. 2 ! Obviously feeding up for winter on the Little Gem greenflies. I moved the ladybird house into the g/h and left her sitting under the fleece to munch away before she retired. She was the first one I'd seen all season, obviously the thought of a big gorge was too much for her to ignore.
The calendula officianalis for overwintering have germinated and I've slung in another trough of radishes. As a result of the deck, next door has acquired a nice size bed (which I will maintain obviously), and that will become home to the honeysuckle and some other nice smelly things so that when I walk up the steps I'll get a lovely fragrant waft.
Here are the peppers and chillis .....
Cayenne
Numex Twilight
Unknown
Yellow Pepper !
(Still getting to grips with pic layout and labelling, sorry)
Despite it being very damp, I've got the doors wide open and am listening to the birdies waking up. I shall now go and stand on my balcony with my cuppa and soak them up before the day really starts.
More pics to follow ..... obviously. :-)
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
I hate winter
There's still so much to do outside, but too dark in the mornings to do anything useful before work apart from open the greenhouses. Evenings aren't much better, as we seem to have had "things on" after work most of this week which meant allotmenteering has taken a back seat.
Things to report:
Onion sets are poking through. Need to raise the fleece a tad, or to create two separate fleece tunnels to give both varieties their own space.
Planting the garlic and elephant garlic. That can wait a bit though. The bed is ready just got to get out the ruler and see how much space I have/n't got !
Leeks still in pots. The big ones look a bit damp on the outside, but once you peel off a couple of layers, they look just fine. The small ones really don't seem to be getting any bigger. I guess they could double as spring onions !
Chillis still going mad in the g/h. Cayennes are ripening nicely now, so every couple of days, I pick a few more and sling them in the freezer. I had thought about doing some in oil as well. Chilli oil - yum. Numex Twilight are struggling on. Plenty of fruit struggling to ripen and still plenty of flowers, but must admit to being a bit handy with the scissors and chopping most of them off in an effort to get the fruit to a usable state.
Peppers still seem to be growing although there's no way they're going to get huge. I'll have to take a pic one of these fine days before they all drop off.
Got two trays of fuchsia cuttings on the go, one tray of my Prince of Denmark and
the others lifted from grandad's garden last week to keep undercover over the winter for him (and obviously to nick a few for myself). A chappy in work is going to be showing fuschias next year so he can have a few of both as well. Any idea of the name of grandad's one ??
My home saved sweetpeas have done buggar all, but a pot of Floral Tribute Mixed are reaching for the sky in g/h No. 2. I guess I should pinch them out before they get too much taller !
Senecio greyii cuttings (ooooh get you with your botanical names) are still alive ! Some are in the g/h, some are inside. I'll see which do better. If everything goes to plan and I get to keep some of upstairs flower beds to play with next year, I was thinking of doing the whole of their front border with this stuff. I nicked the original cutting from work and it has grown pretty well over the summer. It looks pretty impressive and requires no maintenance, so even upstairs can manage that !
Little Gem lettuces beginning to actually look like lettuces now. Had to pick off loads of greenfly the other night though. I've still got them in the plastic water cups that they were sown in. If I put them in the ground the slugs will get them.
Transplanted my rosemary bush from a pot to a border last week. It looks as though it's enjoying the freedom.
Still working out where to put some early peas and broadies ! Have I mentioned that I only have a two year crop rotation atm ? Legumes and onions.
Roll on that lottie !
Things to report:
Onion sets are poking through. Need to raise the fleece a tad, or to create two separate fleece tunnels to give both varieties their own space.
Planting the garlic and elephant garlic. That can wait a bit though. The bed is ready just got to get out the ruler and see how much space I have/n't got !
Leeks still in pots. The big ones look a bit damp on the outside, but once you peel off a couple of layers, they look just fine. The small ones really don't seem to be getting any bigger. I guess they could double as spring onions !
Chillis still going mad in the g/h. Cayennes are ripening nicely now, so every couple of days, I pick a few more and sling them in the freezer. I had thought about doing some in oil as well. Chilli oil - yum. Numex Twilight are struggling on. Plenty of fruit struggling to ripen and still plenty of flowers, but must admit to being a bit handy with the scissors and chopping most of them off in an effort to get the fruit to a usable state.
Peppers still seem to be growing although there's no way they're going to get huge. I'll have to take a pic one of these fine days before they all drop off.
Got two trays of fuchsia cuttings on the go, one tray of my Prince of Denmark and
the others lifted from grandad's garden last week to keep undercover over the winter for him (and obviously to nick a few for myself). A chappy in work is going to be showing fuschias next year so he can have a few of both as well. Any idea of the name of grandad's one ??My home saved sweetpeas have done buggar all, but a pot of Floral Tribute Mixed are reaching for the sky in g/h No. 2. I guess I should pinch them out before they get too much taller !
Senecio greyii cuttings (ooooh get you with your botanical names) are still alive ! Some are in the g/h, some are inside. I'll see which do better. If everything goes to plan and I get to keep some of upstairs flower beds to play with next year, I was thinking of doing the whole of their front border with this stuff. I nicked the original cutting from work and it has grown pretty well over the summer. It looks pretty impressive and requires no maintenance, so even upstairs can manage that !
Little Gem lettuces beginning to actually look like lettuces now. Had to pick off loads of greenfly the other night though. I've still got them in the plastic water cups that they were sown in. If I put them in the ground the slugs will get them.
Transplanted my rosemary bush from a pot to a border last week. It looks as though it's enjoying the freedom.
Still working out where to put some early peas and broadies ! Have I mentioned that I only have a two year crop rotation atm ? Legumes and onions.
Roll on that lottie !
Monday, October 02, 2006
Back to work
The evil day finally came and back to the office I went . HI HO!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not too bad a day all in all, but I'd rather have been in the garden, pouring rain n aw !
Since putting the gravel down in the g/h the wee sparras have been hopping in and out playing with the stones. Turns out they may well be searching for the salts ! Wonder if they like it on their chips with vinegar ! So I've put another tray of water down for them nearer the door just incase they get thirsty.
The front border/bank is gradually filling up with spring bulbs - daffs, narcissi, chionodoxa, snowdrops, bluebells and I've put in some evening primrose that weren't getting anywhere in their pot. Maybe with the chance to spread their roots a bit, I'll actually get some blooms next year. I've covered each area with bark to mark out what's still vacant. Mum's given me some "almost" Canterbury Bells "but not quite". Mum's technical terms are just so funny. It will be a matter of sow them, see what comes up, and THEN put a name to them. She also gave me some holihocks and I think once the guttering is fixed, I'll put them in the bed underneath the main bedroom window. They will get only get early morning sun there (sun ? what's that?) so I'll check before I plant whether they will need it a bit hotter.
Lish is giving me her elephant garlic "runt" so see if i can coax a trunk out of it!
That's what I love about this gardening malarky, it's all swap, pass on and share. Just the way the world should go round.
Not too bad a day all in all, but I'd rather have been in the garden, pouring rain n aw !
Since putting the gravel down in the g/h the wee sparras have been hopping in and out playing with the stones. Turns out they may well be searching for the salts ! Wonder if they like it on their chips with vinegar ! So I've put another tray of water down for them nearer the door just incase they get thirsty.
The front border/bank is gradually filling up with spring bulbs - daffs, narcissi, chionodoxa, snowdrops, bluebells and I've put in some evening primrose that weren't getting anywhere in their pot. Maybe with the chance to spread their roots a bit, I'll actually get some blooms next year. I've covered each area with bark to mark out what's still vacant. Mum's given me some "almost" Canterbury Bells "but not quite". Mum's technical terms are just so funny. It will be a matter of sow them, see what comes up, and THEN put a name to them. She also gave me some holihocks and I think once the guttering is fixed, I'll put them in the bed underneath the main bedroom window. They will get only get early morning sun there (sun ? what's that?) so I'll check before I plant whether they will need it a bit hotter.
Lish is giving me her elephant garlic "runt" so see if i can coax a trunk out of it!
That's what I love about this gardening malarky, it's all swap, pass on and share. Just the way the world should go round.
Saturday, September 30, 2006
Rurry cold out there this morning
The candle in the pot is working nicely in g/h No. 1. Forgot to write down the temp but think it was about 11o.
Lots of composting to be done today, the aubs are just taking up space and are not "happening".
Got to dig in the mustard to release the garlic bed and have loads more bulbs to plant.
Think I'll just have another cuppa and fag and wait for the mist to clear first.
Lots of composting to be done today, the aubs are just taking up space and are not "happening".
Got to dig in the mustard to release the garlic bed and have loads more bulbs to plant.
Think I'll just have another cuppa and fag and wait for the mist to clear first.
Friday, September 29, 2006
Losing the plot
Well not so much "losing" it as things are beginning to wind up now .... in some cases anyway.
I've still got the odd Gartenperle hanging from the basket, and am down to about half a dozen Totems. I've managed to collect at least 10 different varieties of toms for next year ... many thanks to all my benefactors. You know who you are, Lish, Superprout, Mum, MrsNesbitt.
The onion sets arrived from Dobies yesterday (Swift - early, Radar - late), so had a
very pleasurable few hours measuring and marking out the plot, and then just arranging them into a neat grid before throwing a fleece on top of them. The sparrows obviously thought it was Christmas and spent a good hour trying to get them back out again, so now I have a (not so) intricate framework of sticks, string and cds to keep the little blighters off. It has worked so far.
The chillis just keep producing and ripening and the Musselburgh leeks, which we had
for tea, are doing well. The mini leeks, in the same pot, not doing very well at all, but those in their own pot look good - just smaller.
The strawberry bed is finished but need to ask SS about mulching it. Should I or shouldn't I ? SS is queen of mulch, so she's the person to ask.
My one and only aubergine dropped off this morning. Guess it's just too damn cold for them now and when I get back from town today, they will be going in the bin. My
yellow pepper is doing great though. Not huge but definitely looks like a pepper. I wonder if it will ever get to be a Yellow Pepper like it says on the label. The other plants are definitely producing fruit, but whether or not the sun will be around to do it's job for much longer is anyone's guess.
My honeysuckle has finally produced another two blooms ! Hoorah !! Trouble is the plant is bald until you get to the top of the arch, so the effect is lost lmao. I really have got to brush up on my pests and diseases because I'd really like it to do a bit better next year.
Through a couple of very nice people on A4A, I have finally identified which is which out of the blackcurrant and redcurrant bushes and I think I'm getting to grips with how to prune them next year. Being first year plants, I'm leaving well alone at the moment.
My second blueberry bush has just been delivered, so after going into town today, it will be a trip to B&Q to get soil for it.
What I am really pleased about atm is my
Alstroemeria ligtu have actually germinated finally ! The instructions seemed quite complicated, in the warm/in the fridge etc etc. I sowed them on 18 July and now they look like this. I just hope they're big enough to withstand the winter. I may have to give them an extra fleece overcoat to keep them warm. I have another Alstroemeria in a pot in the garden which I think is pretty dainty, but the ones I really love are the bright scarlets and oranges. Next door has a lovely orange one which crept over our side of the fence. I may just dig a few up and move them to my front border. Enmasse they look wonderful. Am off in search for some scarlet ones.
Last but not least, for now, I gave my Prince of Denmark fuschias in the hanging
basket a good haircut last week and took some cuttings which are happily rooting away in the g/h, but then I spotted all this happening today. Don't they know it's WINTER !
I suppose it does get pretty cold in Denmark.
I've still got the odd Gartenperle hanging from the basket, and am down to about half a dozen Totems. I've managed to collect at least 10 different varieties of toms for next year ... many thanks to all my benefactors. You know who you are, Lish, Superprout, Mum, MrsNesbitt.
The onion sets arrived from Dobies yesterday (Swift - early, Radar - late), so had a
very pleasurable few hours measuring and marking out the plot, and then just arranging them into a neat grid before throwing a fleece on top of them. The sparrows obviously thought it was Christmas and spent a good hour trying to get them back out again, so now I have a (not so) intricate framework of sticks, string and cds to keep the little blighters off. It has worked so far.The chillis just keep producing and ripening and the Musselburgh leeks, which we had
for tea, are doing well. The mini leeks, in the same pot, not doing very well at all, but those in their own pot look good - just smaller. The strawberry bed is finished but need to ask SS about mulching it. Should I or shouldn't I ? SS is queen of mulch, so she's the person to ask.
My one and only aubergine dropped off this morning. Guess it's just too damn cold for them now and when I get back from town today, they will be going in the bin. My
yellow pepper is doing great though. Not huge but definitely looks like a pepper. I wonder if it will ever get to be a Yellow Pepper like it says on the label. The other plants are definitely producing fruit, but whether or not the sun will be around to do it's job for much longer is anyone's guess.My honeysuckle has finally produced another two blooms ! Hoorah !! Trouble is the plant is bald until you get to the top of the arch, so the effect is lost lmao. I really have got to brush up on my pests and diseases because I'd really like it to do a bit better next year.
Through a couple of very nice people on A4A, I have finally identified which is which out of the blackcurrant and redcurrant bushes and I think I'm getting to grips with how to prune them next year. Being first year plants, I'm leaving well alone at the moment.
My second blueberry bush has just been delivered, so after going into town today, it will be a trip to B&Q to get soil for it.
What I am really pleased about atm is my
Alstroemeria ligtu have actually germinated finally ! The instructions seemed quite complicated, in the warm/in the fridge etc etc. I sowed them on 18 July and now they look like this. I just hope they're big enough to withstand the winter. I may have to give them an extra fleece overcoat to keep them warm. I have another Alstroemeria in a pot in the garden which I think is pretty dainty, but the ones I really love are the bright scarlets and oranges. Next door has a lovely orange one which crept over our side of the fence. I may just dig a few up and move them to my front border. Enmasse they look wonderful. Am off in search for some scarlet ones. Last but not least, for now, I gave my Prince of Denmark fuschias in the hanging
basket a good haircut last week and took some cuttings which are happily rooting away in the g/h, but then I spotted all this happening today. Don't they know it's WINTER ! I suppose it does get pretty cold in Denmark.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Darn Sarf
Well MY pilot had the right idea, the silly sod that overrun the runway that closed Luton on Wednesday obviously didn't !
RW was great, he looked a bit tired though.
I wouldn't say Milton Keynes Bowl is my favourite venue, and is a nightmare to navigate in and out of. Lost mobile/found mobile. Missed train/got taxi. The weather was really kind to us and it was a lovely day. Word of warning though, if you're short, sit up on the banks even if they do look a million miles away.
Spent a lovely couple of hours with Mum, Dad and Nan on Wednesday having missed the M25 turn off and ending up at Wembley ! We must have blinked and shot passed it.
Essential must haves when travelling. A good book ! Because of the "crash" I ended up staying another night with my daughter and spent all day at the airport on Thursday sitting in the carpark in glorious sun reading. Finally got home Thursday evening totally shattered and quite emotional. I shall write to easyJet about my stress.
RW was great, he looked a bit tired though.
I wouldn't say Milton Keynes Bowl is my favourite venue, and is a nightmare to navigate in and out of. Lost mobile/found mobile. Missed train/got taxi. The weather was really kind to us and it was a lovely day. Word of warning though, if you're short, sit up on the banks even if they do look a million miles away.Spent a lovely couple of hours with Mum, Dad and Nan on Wednesday having missed the M25 turn off and ending up at Wembley ! We must have blinked and shot passed it.
Essential must haves when travelling. A good book ! Because of the "crash" I ended up staying another night with my daughter and spent all day at the airport on Thursday sitting in the carpark in glorious sun reading. Finally got home Thursday evening totally shattered and quite emotional. I shall write to easyJet about my stress.
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
A bit blowy out there
and I'm flying south in a couple of hours. Don't like the look of it at all !
Let's hope the rain doesn't follow us, much as I want to see Mr Williams, I don't fancy standing out in the middle of MK Bowl in lashing rain.
On the upside, everything looks as if it's held in place and everything outside is getting a good watering. No obvious storm damage that I can see (but then it is still dark lol).
Will just keep my fingers crossed that the pilot knows what he's doing. :-)
Let's hope the rain doesn't follow us, much as I want to see Mr Williams, I don't fancy standing out in the middle of MK Bowl in lashing rain.
On the upside, everything looks as if it's held in place and everything outside is getting a good watering. No obvious storm damage that I can see (but then it is still dark lol).
Will just keep my fingers crossed that the pilot knows what he's doing. :-)
Monday, September 18, 2006
Work is for horses
but playing in the garden all day is great fun!
Up at the crack of dawn and an early visit to B&Q to get improving stuff for the onion bed. Couple of hours digging that in and raked over a couple of bags of manure to form a perfect square of virgin soil. Didn't help of course when I cut the hedge and the leaves went everywhere lol.
Washed down the two mini g/h with a dose of Jeyes, moved ickle mini into ickle grand g/h to provide extra insulation for the overwintering babies. Staging arrived for No. 1 g/h so erected that and repositioned all the peppers and smaller chillis. Looks fab and there's so much extra space now that things are off the floor.
Moved the bird table and now the little darlings are chucking seed all over the patio, but they're so close you could touch them, and they don't seem to mind me pointing a camera at them. Not that I got one pic today worth printing, but not to worry.
I think I have a visitor in the cupboard under the stairs where the birdseed is kept though as I found lots of shredded black plassie bag mixed in with the seed. Something tells me Mr Mouse is up to his old tricks again. Ah well as long as I don't see him (or grab him when I put the jar in to get the seed out) I don't much mind ........... today anyway. I'll save that clearing out adventure for when the OH is otherwise unoccupied and he can tackle the beast lol.
Spoke to a lovely woman for funding for the deck. Which floor are you on ? Ah yes, the ground floor, would be a bit silly wanting a deck if you were higher up eh ? Cooked tea (that's a first) for when the OH walked through the door.
Now off to pack and get seeds ready for mum and photos printed for nan who I'll be seeing on my lightning visit down south to see Robbie W with my kid. Not seen any of them since March ! That's a whole half year ago :-O. Doesn't time fly when you've got a shovel in your hand.
Cheerie bye.
Up at the crack of dawn and an early visit to B&Q to get improving stuff for the onion bed. Couple of hours digging that in and raked over a couple of bags of manure to form a perfect square of virgin soil. Didn't help of course when I cut the hedge and the leaves went everywhere lol.
Washed down the two mini g/h with a dose of Jeyes, moved ickle mini into ickle grand g/h to provide extra insulation for the overwintering babies. Staging arrived for No. 1 g/h so erected that and repositioned all the peppers and smaller chillis. Looks fab and there's so much extra space now that things are off the floor.
Moved the bird table and now the little darlings are chucking seed all over the patio, but they're so close you could touch them, and they don't seem to mind me pointing a camera at them. Not that I got one pic today worth printing, but not to worry.
I think I have a visitor in the cupboard under the stairs where the birdseed is kept though as I found lots of shredded black plassie bag mixed in with the seed. Something tells me Mr Mouse is up to his old tricks again. Ah well as long as I don't see him (or grab him when I put the jar in to get the seed out) I don't much mind ........... today anyway. I'll save that clearing out adventure for when the OH is otherwise unoccupied and he can tackle the beast lol.
Spoke to a lovely woman for funding for the deck. Which floor are you on ? Ah yes, the ground floor, would be a bit silly wanting a deck if you were higher up eh ? Cooked tea (that's a first) for when the OH walked through the door.
Now off to pack and get seeds ready for mum and photos printed for nan who I'll be seeing on my lightning visit down south to see Robbie W with my kid. Not seen any of them since March ! That's a whole half year ago :-O. Doesn't time fly when you've got a shovel in your hand.
Cheerie bye.
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Right, now where are the onions ?
Yesterday was another day of digging, moving, composting, tidying, and washing.
The two lavender bushes, and honeysuckle, the final remaining residents of the ex wildlife flower garden were rehoused. The lavenders have gone in the front border which I can now dig down to a reasonable depth, and the honeysuckle to a pot until I can work out where I want it. I took a few cuttings of one of the lavenders and put them in the cold frame so see how they get on.
So with the aid of my big strong man, we created the edges of the onion bed from left over patio door accessories kindly donated by Mr Window man. OK, white is hardly attractive in a garden, but free is free and it won't rot !
The new corner was squared off and dug up, but that has made the bed really heavy soil again so I can see another trip to B&Q today to get some improver/manure and then it will just be a matter of waiting for the onion sets and garlic to drop through the letterbox. My garlic came to not a lot this year (planted late on a whim), so this year they're going to get a good long time sitting in the cold.
Mr Robin has disappeared for the last couple of mornings, but I've been invaded by tits on the feeders today. As much as I love my sparras, I do enjoy it when the tits return (blue and coal this morning) and yesterday a pigeon got a rare treat when I dropped one of the seed feeders ! I never put loose seed out anymore because we get flocks of pigeons pooping everywhere, so this was his one chance in a million to scrabble amongst the bark for his breakfast. Something weird is happening with the sparras today tough, whereas they usually sit in the hedge before flying onto the feeders, this morning they're sitting on the overhead cables, taking a leaf out of the tit's book maybe ? I've not seen the mog yet today, but they're obviously wary about something.
Some of the strawberry plants went into their new bed but there are still some
fruiting in the other pot, so I'm going to leave it until they've finished before completing the job. The the two beds of mustard are coming along nicely and really do create a solid ground cover keeping out the weeds. The early PSB is still struggling along but not really producing very much. It's been nibbled to shred by some varmint, but I'm just going to leave it be atm, it's bed is already earmarked for the broadies next season so it won't hurt to leave it and see how far it progresses.
My slight sniffle is turning into a full blown cold now (grrrrrrrrr), am almost totally deaf in one ear which keeps ringing and popping alternatively. And I'm due to fly on Tuesday morning, so I'm less than chuffed with that.
I made a start on the small g/h. I had half the base as bark,
and half gravel (as I'd run out of gravel when I was laying it) so removed all the bark in preparation for my big bag of gravel coming on Thursday. I'll give the whole innerds a good old splash about with Jeyes fluid before putting up the bubble wrap and that will be one cosy room done for the chillis which are still ripening, slowly but surely. I'll definitely over winter at least a couple to get an early start next year to tide me through until all my new ones are ready .......... and I've got loads of new ones to try thanks to my very kinds mates on A4A. I have still to complete the Gardeners World survey for the Numex Twilight as I still haven't harvested any yet, but I've got until mid-October I think so just hope my babies hurry up and ripen before the closing date.
Totems are still producing nicely. Going to have to eat some today though as the fridge is getting full to bursting. Aubs are producing flowers like mad now, but sadly I still think it's too late to get a crop. I'll not give up on them just yet as I really can't face washing out any more pots! I have spied one wee green pepper forming in the big g/h though and am looking forward to seeing how big that gets. I wasn't religious enough in recording the sowing and labelling of the peppers but I'll start everything off in March next year and do the job properly next time.
Now I've got to attack a mountain of paperwork before allowing myself to go and play. I don't know where it all comes from, I think it must self propogate !!!
Oh yes, and the mighty Lions lost again yesterday. Now there's a shock !
The two lavender bushes, and honeysuckle, the final remaining residents of the ex wildlife flower garden were rehoused. The lavenders have gone in the front border which I can now dig down to a reasonable depth, and the honeysuckle to a pot until I can work out where I want it. I took a few cuttings of one of the lavenders and put them in the cold frame so see how they get on.
So with the aid of my big strong man, we created the edges of the onion bed from left over patio door accessories kindly donated by Mr Window man. OK, white is hardly attractive in a garden, but free is free and it won't rot !
The new corner was squared off and dug up, but that has made the bed really heavy soil again so I can see another trip to B&Q today to get some improver/manure and then it will just be a matter of waiting for the onion sets and garlic to drop through the letterbox. My garlic came to not a lot this year (planted late on a whim), so this year they're going to get a good long time sitting in the cold.
Mr Robin has disappeared for the last couple of mornings, but I've been invaded by tits on the feeders today. As much as I love my sparras, I do enjoy it when the tits return (blue and coal this morning) and yesterday a pigeon got a rare treat when I dropped one of the seed feeders ! I never put loose seed out anymore because we get flocks of pigeons pooping everywhere, so this was his one chance in a million to scrabble amongst the bark for his breakfast. Something weird is happening with the sparras today tough, whereas they usually sit in the hedge before flying onto the feeders, this morning they're sitting on the overhead cables, taking a leaf out of the tit's book maybe ? I've not seen the mog yet today, but they're obviously wary about something.
Some of the strawberry plants went into their new bed but there are still some
fruiting in the other pot, so I'm going to leave it until they've finished before completing the job. The the two beds of mustard are coming along nicely and really do create a solid ground cover keeping out the weeds. The early PSB is still struggling along but not really producing very much. It's been nibbled to shred by some varmint, but I'm just going to leave it be atm, it's bed is already earmarked for the broadies next season so it won't hurt to leave it and see how far it progresses.My slight sniffle is turning into a full blown cold now (grrrrrrrrr), am almost totally deaf in one ear which keeps ringing and popping alternatively. And I'm due to fly on Tuesday morning, so I'm less than chuffed with that.
I made a start on the small g/h. I had half the base as bark,
and half gravel (as I'd run out of gravel when I was laying it) so removed all the bark in preparation for my big bag of gravel coming on Thursday. I'll give the whole innerds a good old splash about with Jeyes fluid before putting up the bubble wrap and that will be one cosy room done for the chillis which are still ripening, slowly but surely. I'll definitely over winter at least a couple to get an early start next year to tide me through until all my new ones are ready .......... and I've got loads of new ones to try thanks to my very kinds mates on A4A. I have still to complete the Gardeners World survey for the Numex Twilight as I still haven't harvested any yet, but I've got until mid-October I think so just hope my babies hurry up and ripen before the closing date.Totems are still producing nicely. Going to have to eat some today though as the fridge is getting full to bursting. Aubs are producing flowers like mad now, but sadly I still think it's too late to get a crop. I'll not give up on them just yet as I really can't face washing out any more pots! I have spied one wee green pepper forming in the big g/h though and am looking forward to seeing how big that gets. I wasn't religious enough in recording the sowing and labelling of the peppers but I'll start everything off in March next year and do the job properly next time.
Now I've got to attack a mountain of paperwork before allowing myself to go and play. I don't know where it all comes from, I think it must self propogate !!!
Oh yes, and the mighty Lions lost again yesterday. Now there's a shock !
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