Lilac.

When I was a child we lived in a city with a small garden so typical of housing estate homes. In our tiny garden we had 2 huge lilac bushes. I’ve no idea where my dad picked them up but by the time I remember them they were as tall as the upstairs windows. My mother complained about them constantly, ‘bugs came into the bedroom when the windows were open’ , ‘they blocked the light’ , ‘you have to hang out of the window to see the blossom’. It was a yearly battle but dad was the one expected to do the work of cutting them back and he never did.

Years later I left a number of pots under those same trees while I was between house moves. They sat there for some years before mum, on one of my visits to the house, gave them all back. She opened my car boot and loaded it with pots of soil, many with only a few weeds, a few with things worth having.

A few seeds had obviously fallen from the lilac and grown into saplings in one of the pots. I planted them in the wildlife garden at my house and they have been there ever since.

We lost dad, unexpected last year and it seems fitting that this is the year the lilac is at its best. The smell permeates the whole bottom end of the garden and the flowers are thick and beautiful. There are three plants, two are around 5ft tall, perfect for seeing the flowers, but one is romping ahead and stands head and shoulders over the others.

Dad must be smiling down to see that one!

New additions.

As you may remember we have had chickens here before and loved them. When we lost the last ones to old age we agreed to have a year off and take a couple of holidays. The bigger abroad sort of holiday when leaving your pets is always a worry at the back of your mind, especially if you are relying on friends to keep them safe, with all the responsibility that involves. How awful if a fox should get into the run and other people had to deal with it and let you know, or if one should fall ill and decisions had to be made.

Anyway, holidays were planned, walls and ceilings fell down and a year was spent putting a part of the house back together. Then hubB hurt his leg and couldn’t walk, let alone explore. And then the bug to end all bugs hit and holidays are now a distant dream.Last weekend, after a bit of cajoling hubB built me a chicken coop with some left over pallet toppers. He also agreed that I could get a few hens, but mainly I think because he knew they were all sold out and the site was closed. Undeterred I put my name on the waiting list and prepared to wait until summer.It was therefor somewhat of a shock to receive a text yesterday morning to say that some rescued birds had just become available in my area and was I interested.I initially thought no, I’m in social isolation and it’s an unnecessary journey. The site had some measures for this though and after a huge tidy of the chicken run, when a big pile of drying winter wood, the patio furniture and various abandoned but possibly useful ‘tat’ found other homes, I was able to send some fairly decent photos of the run and free range area and agree to have a few.The hens were collected from the farm. I met the van driver in a large garage forecourt on his route and he transfered the hens into the cage in my boot while I watched from a distance. He was wearing full face gear which must have been a fright to anyone driving alone the main road beside us. The garage was open but the only other cars there was a member of staffs and a policeman buying a pasty. In a matter of minutes we were both on our way and I had a smelly cargo on the back seat.We stopped for chicken food on the way home, visited a small local shop to stock on some emergency milk and bread and are now home for another week.The chickens are in a great condition for rescues although a bit dirty. They are clearly free range but didn’t recognise greens when given them, although have now discovered they like them! They have an obsession with legs and run over to gently peck you whenever you appear, strange creatures!

Sunflowers.

My whole post today is about sunflowers. A couple of years ago I would hardly have given them garden space, I didn’t really rate them as anything more than seeds for school children’s height competitions.

Last year I grew a few just for the birds. I’m trying to reduce my winter bird food costs and have packets free on my gardening magazine every year which it seems silly to waste.

This garden was the result and this is its second year with no further work from me. In fact I’ve actually pulled hundreds of seedlings out. These are just the ones I missed.

This is a more deliberate growing. Since the hedge next door was removed my polytunnel was getting to hot. I grew this ‘kong’ variety, because it said they would be tall, for the shade.

It seems to be working and the silhouettes inside are lovely.

In other parts of the garden, sunflowers just appear wherever I’m to weak to weed them out. I’ve not supported any of them and yet they are all doing fine so far.

It’s highly likely I will never need to sow a seed again and yet somehow I think they are now here to stay!

What a difference a day makes.

The first sunset this part of the garden has ever seen.

In my last post https://acquest13.wordpress.com/2019/02/26/dont-cast-a-clout/

I was moaning about the leylandii hedge that has blighted my garden ever since we have lived here. Initially it was around 6ft but over the years it’s growth has been amazing and my patience even more so!

Yesterday the family and various workmen arrived and in one day cut most of it down. It helped that health and safety was lacking and youthful exuberance was high. The, almost gale force at times, wind added to the excitement.

Miss C kept an almost constant watch and rushed in with regular updates. She was at her most excitable when tales of bad language or imminent danger could be relayed.

The workmen are reduced to one today and he has spent the day clearing the fallen branches from next doors garden. The hardest part of the tree, the one part that could demolish my summerhouse or worse part of our other neighbours house is still there. I don’t know how they plan on doing that bit but I just hope they do. Only time will tell.

Laugh of the day goes to Miss C. She came back full of admiration to tell me. ‘the man on the cherry picker couldn’t hear them shouting at him over the noise of his chainsaw. He had a really good idea, he shouted at them to text him if they wanted anything.’

When I pointed out that he would have to turn off the chainsaw to read the text and then would be able to hear them anyway so perhaps just waving would get his attention, she looked at me scathingly and said’ why would they want to talk to each other when they could text? ‘

I think I’m better in the garden than the modern world 😉

November update.

The weather is still good here with daytime temperatures in the middle teens. However it’s cold at night and this week the trees have finally started giving up their leaves. The whole garden has started to take on the look of autumn at last.

This osteospermum is still looking good and the cyclamen in the summerhouse has finally come into its own after I brought it reduced at the end of last season.

In the polytunnel after removing the summer crops I moved in a lot of pots that needed winter protection.The warmer days have caused an outbreak of mildew and mouldy leaves so I have been cleaning the plants regularly. I have also had to remember to water which is a job I don’t expect at this time of year. With hindsight I perhaps should have left everything outside for another month but at least it’s a job ticked off the list.

The cauliflower seedlings that were eaten by caterpillars are recovering.

Outside the sprouts are a different story

What with the caterpillars still appearing, the wooly aphids and sooty mould and the lack of leaves the poor things are looking decidedly feeble. I’ve not given up on them yet though!

The parsnips look hopeful although the leaves are flopping a bit.

The beds are all still full. Leeks, celery and calabrese in this one.

Raspberries still cropping although they are few and far between now.

The bed of peas still give a few pods but again there’s an attack of mildew which make alot of them unattractive.

Unlike this marigold that has self seeded itself and looks a treat and this strawberry that just might ripen fully.

I’ve harvested two pots of sweet potatoes as well.

Neither did brilliantly in the heat of the summer but I’m pretty amazed by this one which weighs a whopping 2lb.

If only all my veggies were this successful.

July update.

England is known for its seasons and the weather is a constant source of conversation. This year it is hot. Very hot. We haven’t had rain in this area of the country in weeks. My three 1000l waterbutts are empty and hubB has diverted the shower into a smaller butt which we use every evening for the polytunnel and pots.

For all that, the garden grows. It’s a bit hit and miss. Everything is struggling in the heat, it all seems behind to previous years but it carries on. One good shower of rain will probably see an explosion of growth, mostly in the weed departments!

The polytunnel is doing ok. Cucumbers have started cropping, the tomatoes are there but not ripe.

Gherkins, a new one for me this year, grow anywhere and everywhere it seems.

Peppers are starting to appear although the bushes are still tiny.

Fruit is a success so far. The whitecurrants are over and the red are prolific. I don’t like either but am saving some red to add to jam making for their pectin. Blueberries have done well in their new bed and blackcurrants are ripening fast.

The early sown sweetcorn is just starting to flower, the later one is a long way behind. I staggered them so that I didn’t get cross pollination and hope it will work.

Pumpkins look better than last year at this point but that’s because I’ve paid them a lot of attention and the hot weather has kept slugs away. Last year the slimy darlings ate every pumpkin as soon as they appeared.

Cougettes turn into marrows over night if you don’t eat them at every meal. I saw a recipe for a sort of courgette pattie to eat with poached eggs for breakfast but I’m not sure Miss C wouldn’t leave home at the thought. Courgette is not her favourite vegetable!

Onions are odd. Some of the autumn planted setts are huge while others look no different. The spring planted ones are similar with the red doing better than the white but only just.

Garlic did well and is lifted and drying. I’m down to my last bulb from last year so I can honestly say I’m self sufficient in garlic.

The bees from my solitary garden hive love borage but contrary to what I’d read, pay no attention to phycelia. They are everywhere and I realise how much I’ve missed having ‘ the girls’ in the garden. They will be with me for a while as I have some doubts as to their health and have no intention of taking them to the apiary until I’m sure they are not going to spread disease to my own bees.

June update.

It’s been all work here but finally the garden is planted and the summerhouse is almost emptied of seedlings.

The weather is very dry and watering is taking up a lot of time. I have a policy of watering less often but making sure everything then gets a good soaking but obviously young plants just don’t have enough root to take advantage of this so have to be done more often. The 1000l tanks have been a back saver but all three are nearly empty so I may yet have to carry the cans the length of the garden. How I envy people with water pressure and hose pipes then!

I think some things like this celery are a bit late being planted but, as I am running out of space, they have just had to wait for room.

It’s finally warm enough for the tomato to come out of the polytunnel. But if I’d known about the tail end of Storm Hector yesterday I might have left it until today. It’s definitely looking a bit battered.

The blueberries also took a battering and lost a lot of berries. It’s a pity as thanks to HubB’s new raised ericaceous bed they were looking like being the best we’ve ever had.

The oca is looking very healthy and has grown every time I look. We loved them roasted last year so I’m pleased to have 3 good sized plants this year. I have also given a friend a couple of plants, so hopefully she will discover the delights of them as well.

The onions are just starting to fall over. Some are huge and some tiny, even next to each other in the beds, so it can’t be anything I’ve done differently. I’ll be pleased to lift them and have learned my lesson. I brought so many extras in the winter sale I actually left myself no room for other things. Kale and calabrese are waiting in pots for at least one of the onion beds.

The strawberries are going to have a bumper harvest, after previously being so poor I had decided to dig them all out this autumn. I’m just a bit torn on what to do now.

Purple mange tout are pretty but the pods are still green at the minute which wasn’t meant to be.

Polytunnel Pak choi has cropped once and is now regrowing from the middles. Lucky really as the outside ones just keep going straight to seed.

The sweet potato is growing rampantly. It’s only been in a week after I gave up on my own slips and just brought one. Obviously this week my slips have now started to shoot but that’s gardening for you!

All in all the veggie beds, polytunnel and garden are all looking good. We only used the caravan last month but even that has a good covering of greenery to blend it in.

I’m giving myself this weekend off. We have three father’s to pamper, a BBQ to plan and cakes to bake. I plan to start a new book and paint my nails just to remind myself there is life away from the garden but it won’t last, I’m only really happy in workboots and earth. Anything else is just killing time until I can get back to my garden!!

Bring back spring!

It’s miserable here today and although, as yet, we have not had the torrential rain that was forecast it is very cold. The thermometer might indicate that it is 7 degrees but the wind chill makes it feel much colder.

In the garden a few hardy souls are giving it their all. The bluebells as usual are looking lovely. Every year more and more seem to be flowering white and this year lots are a very lovely mauve shade.

They really are a picture as is the Deutzia and the various other beauties. Lots however is coming into flower and going over very quickly. I totally missed my dog-toothed violets which are full of stems and surrounded by the fallen petals. I always forget they are around the side of the house but don’t usually miss them completely!

There is lots of blossom on the fruit trees this year so, if it survives the wind presently blowing through the garden, we should have a good crop of fruit even though the trees are still young.

In the polytunnel the cucumbers are planted but I took the precaution of covering them with extra cloches. I also started planting the tomatoes but again decided to cover them up. The brassica seedlings are doing great and find the slightly colder temperatures must more to their liking.

Outside garlic, onions, peas and Pak choi are all doing well. With or without homemade covers.

The summerhouse is full to capacity. I have gone a bit crazy on seed sowing this year.

Oca, salad leaves and watermelon are all doing well.

I am determined to use up all my old seeds so am sowing, pricking out and moving to the polytunnel before starting all over again. It is quite a relief when some things don’t take so well as I really am running out of space. I think I have even been so enthusiastic I’ve started double sowing.

This pot seems to be both dahlias and possibly Zinnia’s. I’m guessing on the conveyer belt of pots I had lined up on the bench I inadvertently sowed two packets in the same one. I’m keen if not clever!

I do love a bargain.

Last autumn I had the idea of picking up a bag of bulbs each week with my shopping. After 2 weeks I abandoned the idea, as I hadn’t planted the first ones, and the bags got left on the side in the utility where there were promptly forgotten. It’s now January and to late for them to go in the soil so I persuaded hubB that a trip to the garden centre to buy compost was needed.

As the compost is stacked up outside the store, I just pay for what I want at the end of my visit and take the car over to put it straight in. As we walked into the store for a coffee I happily told B we didn’t need a trolley. I could carry anything we brought. Famous last words!! 

The store had all autumn bulbs at 50p a bag. 50p! They also had all Christmas stock at 70 percent off. B took one look, turned around and went for a trolley, he knows me well. 

By the time we reached the coffee shop I had this little load.

While we ate our breakfast rolls and drank slightly dodgy coffee B rang his dad to tell him about the sale ( he’s a keen gardener) and took another order. Luckily Miss C was at horse riding as she would not have been impressed to have to go back and shop again. I on the other hand rose to the occasion and picked even more stock. 

Today has been spent happily potting up the 444 bulbs. I feel pretty smug that I was able to lay my hands on washed and sorted pots and labels. Standing in my new summerhouse out of the wind and placing the pots straight into my recently tidied polytunnel. Sometimes I’m so organised I amaze myself and it feels good! 

If I’m honest the 75 litres of compost wasn’t enough and I ended up lasagne planting lots of the bulbs in one big pot. I also didn’t need the extra 160 onion sets I now have in plug trays. 

But look at the savings. I’m one happy gardener today. 

Autumn harvest.

It’s been frosty here a couple of mornings this week and suddenly everything I have been putting off needs doing with more urgency.

It is easy to forget that winter is on its way when the garden looks so good still. There is more colour than expected for the time of year and growth is still good.

In the polytunnel although I cleared out the tomatoes I instantly started filling the space with pots of plants. These are things I either want to over winter or, as in the case of these flowers, I just want to enjoy for a bit longer. Really I should be washing the walls and digging the ground over but that has to wait for now. 

This fuchsia has edible berries. All fuchsia are edible, but I’m told these ones actually have some flavour. The plant only just survived last winter and was slow to take off in the spring so now it is slow to ripen. I must remember it’s there and water it occasionally. It apparently make a tasty jam but whether I have enough to try is debatable.

My sweet peppers are still flowering and being pollinated although by what I have no idea. The only insects around seem to be whitefly and mosquito style flies.

I have no intention of harvesting any more of this Cayenne pepper as it is just to strong especially for one so small. The sweet peppers and other chillies are definitely worth having though. 

As is the sweet potato. Grown this year for the first time. I think the pot was maybe a bit small, even though it was the largest I had at the time. The roots seem to have grown around each other which will make peeling difficult! 

I only got a few but I’m definitely going to try again next year.

As I also am with the oca or New Zealand yam. It’s been such an easy plant to grow although it has taken up a lot of room. I just hope it’s all worth it when I harvest. It doesn’t start to crop properly until after the first frost so, as the leaves have been knocked back this week, I guess that’s about now. The little red blob is the very first one, found when I gently moved some soil after my impatience got the better of me. I’ve waited so long I hope I actually like the taste of it!