Just looked out and saw Moon and Sun at same time in broad daylight! If you pop your head out this afternoon and the sky is clear look to the West and there he is -A lovely silvery shimmering Moon! -Van fixed in time for Brittany Fair, went through snowstorm Saturday am to get there and then rain - wind - rain -wind all w/e. Still people came and the Bulb man sold out (gather there is a shortage this year according to The World at One yesterday lunchtime) -plus all plantsmen really happy. People homed in on my Parsnip and Pumpkin Cakes, and I ran out of Lemon & Thyme Cookies really quickly. So good time had by all. Came home Monday to find Boots the Bengal had disappeared and Bipsy the kitten in 'shock' hiding indoors. Tables and chairs all smashed up around the terrace. Asked neighbour what had happened and he confirmed my worst fear at this time of year -the Chasse (Hunt) dogs had been in our back field on Sunday. I had visions of a torn up Boot as this is not uncommon, and up to last night we searched and called and searched and called to no avail. Bipsy only just coming back to normal last night -then -Joys of Joys in walks Boots sporting 5 giant ticks on his neck but none the worse for wear -Must have been holed up somewhere -So relieved. Next horror -Thought greenhouse looked a bit strange yesterday afternoon -on closer inspection found holes in polythene mesh -Leaking like a sieve and only been up 8mths (Obelixx -Leclerc bargain (not!)) -Spent all this morning lining inside with high density Bubble Wrap. Dug out Guarantee but nul and void as I had bought this one 3yrs ago and it had been unopened until we moved house so not constructed until April 2018 -Manufacturer and shop decline claim. -My last one (same make) lasted 5yrs -So I am not a happy Bunny today. -On top of all this -Bank Holiday yesterday here -Went to do Farmers Market (5am!!) to find that for the 1st year ever they had decided not to hold it on the Bank Holiday and it was cancelled -Had not told us -Came home and went back to bed!!!
Slight frost this morning. Harvested balance of pumpkins and lifted balance of beetroot yesterday plus generally tidied up. Weather supposed to be horrible this Sunday -So doing what I can today and tomorrow. -At least all my UK bulbs are in now (70 new daffodils and 120 rockery Iris) Should look good. Flower Days today and tomorrow2/3 Nov so all bulbs should be planted and potted perennials too. No gardening on 4th before 9.15am and Noeud ascending. -Leaf Day Undercover prick out Spring Cabbage sown 28-31st August.
Will write next week's Calender Sunday when I may be trapped indoors anyway!!
BF - that sounds horrendous re the hunt. Can't you stop them? Glad the cats are home and safe. We often see the moon in daylight here and even in Belgium too. The last full moon here was very bright - Hunters' Moon apparently - and we have clear starlit skies so far tonight.
Garlic and onion set planting tomorrow since I steamed my fingers and couldn't plant them on teh last roots day and we've been out all day today. Want to get them in before Sunday as we're going dancing at a local tea dance. Hope it's good.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Did not write yesterday as turned out nice after all and wanted to crack on in garden as in UK next week taking part in Peoples' March on Remembrance Sunday. O/H got tickets to participate as he had donated medals etc of his great Uncle to the Museum in The Somme last year. Not looking forward to braving London traffic etc (Not been there for 40yrs!) but it will be an experience.
November weather is set fair with very warm days to note 7-9th Nov and 12-14th. After St Martin on the 11th I'm afraid we are in for more rain and colder nights dipping particularly from the 15th with strong winds coming in 17-19th. From 23rd-30th it will warm up again so good news.
Here is the Lunar Calender 5th-17th November
5/6th November Root Days with Moon descending in Virgo. Plant out onions sown 24-25th August. Lift balance of root vegetables for storage or put thick layer of straw around plants to protect from wet and cold to come. Prick out carrots sown 1st October.
7/8th November Fruit Days with New Moon 4.02pm on 7th (UK time) Clear Borders of faded flowers, but leave grasses alone to die back naturally and to provide seed for birds, plus early nesting material next year. Plant Clematis and Wisteria. Prune shrub roses and spray with BIO anti-fungicide/Bordeaux Mixture or Garlic & Nettle Purin after leaves have dropped.
9/10th November Leaf Days. Moon descending in Scorpio. Start forcing Chicory. Plant out Spring Cabbage sown 28-31st August. Plant hedging and climbers such as Ivy & Virginia Creeper in particular.
11/12/13th November Fruit Days. Moon ascending from 2.17am on 12th in Sagittarius. In mild areas and on a waxing Moon sow Broad Beans in a sheltered position and Round (as opposed to Wrinkled) Peas. After both have sprouted earth up well to protect from Winter winds.
14/15th November Root Days. No gardening on 14th after 10.50am Moon apogee. Check over potatoes and remove sprouts from edges if they have appeared. Check out other stored Roots and throw away or eat quickly those that are 'going over' or bruised.
16/17th November Flower Days again. Moon ascending in Aquarius. Sow perennial Sweet Peas in front of new trellis or a hedge popping 5 seeds in each hole. Nothing will appear until March or April so don't think you have lost them over winter! Bring houseplants indoors and re-pot them for the Winter, remembering not too set them too close to radiators or they will dry out, and don't over water them.
Welcome Fran IOM and yes Boots and Bipsy OK now. Hope you enjoyed the Tea Dance Obelixx and I am nowhere near getting ready for Xmas GWRS -Don't need reminding! Just comes round quicker every year! have already been given presents to stash away by UK family -No idea what to buy anyone this year -Everyone seems to have everything already nowadays. Great shame. Xmas used to be special.
Bio , thanks for update Enjoy the Peoples parade on Sunday I’m sure it will be special , we will watch it on TV 📺. My nieces who is an Historian and specialised in WW1 has got an invite to Westminster Abbey on Sunday and is so excited about it Going to allotment shortly , plan to cut down Jureslum artichokes and put bark chippings on some paths , the winter tidy up continues Happy gardening all 🌺
Lovely day today -So mild! I'm still going to start fleecing salad leaves in raised beds -Only problem is that Pushkin thinks fleece is a super cushion or indeed trampoline! The joy of cats!! Have not grown Jerusalem Artichokes this year -Trying Cromes (Don't know what they are in English!!!) -Obelixx translate please! They are tiny curly artichokes and really tasty.
Cut the jeruslem artichokes down , now have a huge pile for burning , it edges one of the fences as a wind break and is at least 60 ft , will thin them out for next year , to much like hard work 😓 Cromes , tried to Goggle it , lots of option but not any veg ? I trust Puskin is enjoying the trampoline 🐈
I think you mean CROSNES BF. Chinese artichokes. tried them once in Belgium in a pot out the front because they need heat and plenty of water. Not impressed so haven't bothered since.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Posts
Garlic and onion set planting tomorrow since I steamed my fingers and couldn't plant them on teh last roots day and we've been out all day today. Want to get them in before Sunday as we're going dancing at a local tea dance. Hope it's good.
Soon be Christmas 🎄
Enjoy the Peoples parade on Sunday I’m sure it will be special , we will watch it on TV 📺. My nieces who is an Historian and specialised in WW1 has got an invite to Westminster Abbey on Sunday and is so excited about it
Going to allotment shortly , plan to cut down Jureslum artichokes and put bark chippings on some paths , the winter tidy up continues
Happy gardening all 🌺
Cromes , tried to Goggle it , lots of option but not any veg ?
I trust Puskin is enjoying the trampoline 🐈