Fell in love with growing things when my infant teacher showed us how to grow cress on a windowsill in the classroom when I was five, Orchid Lady. I read a lot of gardening books, go to lectures a lot as I belong to Friends of Bristol Univ. Botanic Garden and the Alpine Garden Society so the dark nights are catered for. I also go on many coach trips to National Trust and other famous gardens and buy plants and soak up information from the gardeners and volunteers. For six years i was a volunteer gardener one day a week at our Botanic Garden and learned something new every time i went. I am a participant in Mr. Fothergills' Seeds "Nation of Gardeners" so get lots of new cultivars to try out and lots f information from the firm every month. It is more than a hobby now I am 86, rather my life. Every thing I do seems to have a horticultural interest. But then it is all to do with nourishment for the body and soul so why would it not?
Got caught in a heavy shower while having a heavy weeding session this morning but the scent from the buds which are many and now opening on my "Golden Celebration" rose was delightful.
I think I got caught four times in a heavy shower today trying to get the butterfly garden weeded. I probably did a personal best for teh over 80's one hundred yards The green wheelie bin is nearly full up despite this. It made a change from pruning and harvesting. no workmen till the glaziers come Saturday morning so I will persevere tomorrow even if this showery weather continues. I did pick a half pound of runner beans for supper and they were delicious.
Good morning and good to catch up, so much going on. Your plants are looking extremley colourful and healthy Marion a credit to your watchful care.
I was interested to read about the judging you have done and how you organised the system for point giving, it must make it easier to get round when you have so much to look at. Our small garden group are organising a competition about gardens visited this year with a vote out of ten for each. Definative rules are being discussed as each garden has so much variety. Looking forward to it.
Visited Picton Gardens on Sunday, beautifully laid out. Cropping photos ready to post but this is one favourite
gravelled paths and at every turn something to catch the eye, to look closer, to sit and just look around. I could live there!
That is a lovely picture, Bizzie B. It feels quite autumnal this morning and my Michaelmas daisies have buds on but my garden is still very colourful with the summer flowers. There are already hordes of red berries on the cotoneaster, pyracantha and hips on the wild roses so it looks like another year of plentiful food for the birds. My hands are still tingling from a mammoth session of pruning blackberries and weeding yesterday. Nettles get everywhere in the spinney and gloves are no defence against brambles. The glaziers are coming to fix the conservatory on Saturday morning so scaffolding should arrive next week and the roof be fixed before the really autumnal weather arrives.
Oh it is so not a gardening day today - cold and very wet. So dealing with the harvest it is. A big pot of minestrone soup has been made with some of my onions, garlic, beans, tomatoes, potatoes and basil. I reserved some some for supper tonight and froze the rest. I picked a great bowlful of ripe plums yesterday so they will get frozen this afternoon. If it is still cold after that I will make a great batch of fruit scones and freeze some too. Forecast is for better day tomorrow and I will have the stuffed green wheeliebin emptied tomorrow morning so will be eager to fill it up again. The solidago is showing bright yellow up the garden and I always think of that as an autumn flower.
Very wet garden greeted me again this morning and it does feel chilly but the forecast is for mostly bright spells so i shall don my old raincoat and get busy. Perhaps some photography as well. As the forecast is for the temperature to drop to 10 tonight and even lower tomorrow night I will close the roof light in the conservatory this evening. There are still quite a few tomatoes and cucamelons growing in there. I hope it is dry enough today to pick some blackberries to make more squash.
This Acer griseum caught the eye at Picton, not sure of the name of the white flowered shrub but they grew well together.
A very chilly two days the wind is the culprit here, wore fleece and hat one at the allotment even though the sun was shining. Sheltered in the garden, general pottering and checking on the tree branches. Several on the cherry are really stretching out, noting branches to prune back.
Same for the Prunus (ornamental plum) the branches need thinning, noticed water shoots. May take those off before they brcome too long. Can only prune this once all leaves have fallen, usually late December - early January as the sap rises again in February and the blossom is the first to see in the Spring.
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Fell in love with growing things when my infant teacher showed us how to grow cress on a windowsill in the classroom when I was five, Orchid Lady. I read a lot of gardening books, go to lectures a lot as I belong to Friends of Bristol Univ. Botanic Garden and the Alpine Garden Society so the dark nights are catered for. I also go on many coach trips to National Trust and other famous gardens and buy plants and soak up information from the gardeners and volunteers. For six years i was a volunteer gardener one day a week at our Botanic Garden and learned something new every time i went. I am a participant in Mr. Fothergills' Seeds "Nation of Gardeners" so get lots of new cultivars to try out and lots f information from the firm every month. It is more than a hobby now I am 86, rather my life. Every thing I do seems to have a horticultural interest. But then it is all to do with nourishment for the body and soul so why would it not?
The pelargoniums, begonias and gaz
anias are all still flowering but the hydrangia leaves say autumn is coming.
Marion, your life sounds fantastic, I hope I have such a fulfilling retirement one day
Got caught in a heavy shower while having a heavy weeding session this morning but the scent from the buds which are many and now opening on my "Golden Celebration" rose was delightful.
I think I got caught four times in a heavy shower today trying to get the butterfly garden weeded. I probably did a personal best for teh over 80's one hundred yards The green wheelie bin is nearly full up despite this. It made a change from pruning and harvesting. no workmen till the glaziers come Saturday morning so I will persevere tomorrow even if this showery weather continues. I did pick a half pound of runner beans for supper and they were delicious.
Good morning
and good to catch up, so much going on. Your plants are looking extremley colourful and healthy Marion a credit to your watchful care.
I was interested to read about the judging you have done and how you organised the system for point giving, it must make it easier to get round when you have so much to look at. Our small garden group are organising a competition about gardens visited this year with a vote out of ten for each. Definative rules are being discussed as each garden has so much variety. Looking forward to it.
Visited Picton Gardens on Sunday, beautifully laid out. Cropping photos ready to post but this is one favourite
gravelled paths and at every turn something to catch the eye, to look closer, to sit and just look around. I could live there!
That is a lovely picture, Bizzie B. It feels quite autumnal this morning and my Michaelmas daisies have buds on but my garden is still very colourful with the summer flowers. There are already hordes of red berries on the cotoneaster, pyracantha and hips on the wild roses so it looks like another year of plentiful food for the birds. My hands are still tingling from a mammoth session of pruning blackberries and weeding yesterday. Nettles get everywhere in the spinney and gloves are no defence against brambles. The glaziers are coming to fix the conservatory on Saturday morning so scaffolding should arrive next week and the roof be fixed before the really autumnal weather arrives.
Oh it is so not a gardening day today - cold and very wet. So dealing with the harvest it is. A big pot of minestrone soup has been made with some of my onions, garlic, beans, tomatoes, potatoes and basil. I reserved some some for supper tonight and froze the rest. I picked a great bowlful of ripe plums yesterday so they will get frozen this afternoon. If it is still cold after that I will make a great batch of fruit scones and freeze some too. Forecast is for better day tomorrow and I will have the stuffed green wheeliebin emptied tomorrow morning so will be eager to fill it up again. The solidago is showing bright yellow up the garden and I always think of that as an autumn flower.
Very wet garden greeted me again this morning and it does feel chilly but the forecast is for mostly bright spells so i shall don my old raincoat and get busy. Perhaps some photography as well. As the forecast is for the temperature to drop to 10 tonight and even lower tomorrow night I will close the roof light in the conservatory this evening. There are still quite a few tomatoes and cucamelons growing in there. I hope it is dry enough today to pick some blackberries to make more squash.
This Acer griseum caught the eye at Picton, not sure of the name of the white flowered shrub but they grew well together.
A very chilly two days the wind is the culprit here, wore fleece and hat one at the allotment even though the sun was shining. Sheltered in the garden, general pottering and checking on the tree branches. Several on the cherry are really stretching out, noting branches to prune back.
Same for the Prunus (ornamental plum) the branches need thinning, noticed water shoots. May take those off before they brcome too long. Can only prune this once all leaves have fallen, usually late December - early January as the sap rises again in February and the blossom is the first to see in the Spring.