Freezing here and set to be that way tomorrow too so no gardening but we may head to the builders suppliers tomorrow and order lengths of metal grid for reinforcing concrete - but we'll use it to replace dead wooden trellis panels on teh grounds that it is indestructible, almost invisible and a great support for clematis and climbing roses which will be waking up soon.
Not enough light to sow yet soIi've been sewing instead. I've made a lovely madras check shirt for Possum and she doesn't like it cos it's fitted for curvy people. One for me then.
Now to make a less fitted gingham check one and see if that does any better.
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)."
My first real gardening of 2016 Good to have mucky hands again
Cut back all my rudbeckia and trimmed other stuff in those beds. Made a start on the weeding - chose the bit where my pulmonaria are, so that I can admire their lovely flowers without having to grind my teeth. Moved my tulip pots out of the way of marauding deer - lots of shoots showing. And started off some seeds in a windowsill propagator.
Repotted a chilli seedling which popped up yesterday. I also have some lovely tiny mushrooms growing in the propagator. Last weekend I made a total of 10m of wooden framing for my no dig beds, and then spread about 800L of compost. Not long ago I planted two plum trees, a blackcurrant and some autumn raspberry canes. This time is always the busiest, a rush to get the seeds going in time for them to enjoy the warm summer.
Nutcutlet, you're always welcome to get to grips with dirt and hardy perennials on my allotment! (By hardy perennials I mean couch grass, of course.)
I went to a GC yesterday and bought quite a lot of stuff, but I also didn't buy even more stuff, so I'm proud of myself. Granted, the way I talked myself out of that was along the lines "You've got ticket for that RHS plant fair and there's a plant fair at Wisley soon too and if you don't buy anything now, who knows what treasures you'll be able to get there?" but hey, whatever works.
I put potatoes to chit and mixed the mushroom growing kit contents as per instructions.
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Freezing here and set to be that way tomorrow too so no gardening but we may head to the builders suppliers tomorrow and order lengths of metal grid for reinforcing concrete - but we'll use it to replace dead wooden trellis panels on teh grounds that it is indestructible, almost invisible and a great support for clematis and climbing roses which will be waking up soon.
Not enough light to sow yet soIi've been sewing instead. I've made a lovely madras check shirt for Possum and she doesn't like it cos it's fitted for curvy people. One for me then.
Now to make a less fitted gingham check one and see if that does any better.
Beaten by the fading light! Lovely afternoon in the greenhouse. Love this time of year. So full of anticipation and promise of what's to come. Bliss.
My first real gardening of 2016
Good to have mucky hands again
Cut back all my rudbeckia and trimmed other stuff in those beds. Made a start on the weeding - chose the bit where my pulmonaria are, so that I can admire their lovely flowers without having to grind my teeth
. Moved my tulip pots out of the way of marauding deer - lots of shoots showing
. And started off some seeds in a windowsill propagator.
Feeling very content.....I love gardening
I've been out there all winter.
But in my opinion, chainsaws, shredders etc are not gardening. I long for a bit of dirt and a hardy perennial.
We've decided that anything not sawn and shredded by then end of the month is next year's work
That's not many more days
One to spend at Oxborough Hall
One on an NGS meeting
One on an HPS meeting
One at the local snowdrop open gardens
and it's a short month
Nearly done
In the sticks near Peterborough
Still very cold here, but put up a mini growhouse and put my peony and mint in it until the risk of frost is past.
Helped my little one sow some pansies and marigold in the propagator for presents later in the year...
...and we listened to Spurs beat City to go back to second
Chopped some Buddlias down, set 12 begonia corms, planted two dahlia tubers, the others left in the ground.
cut fuchsias in the green house down a bit, will do again in March.
chopped back over wintered pelargoniums and brought into the conservatory.
turned one of the compost bins, loaded up another one with the shredded buddlea.
Repotted a chilli seedling which popped up yesterday. I also have some lovely tiny mushrooms growing in the propagator. Last weekend I made a total of 10m of wooden framing for my no dig beds, and then spread about 800L of compost. Not long ago I planted two plum trees, a blackcurrant and some autumn raspberry canes. This time is always the busiest, a rush to get the seeds going in time for them to enjoy the warm summer.
Nutcutlet, you're always welcome to get to grips with dirt and hardy perennials on my allotment! (By hardy perennials I mean couch grass, of course.)
I went to a GC yesterday and bought quite a lot of stuff, but I also didn't buy even more stuff, so I'm proud of myself. Granted, the way I talked myself out of that was along the lines "You've got ticket for that RHS plant fair and there's a plant fair at Wisley soon too and if you don't buy anything now, who knows what treasures you'll be able to get there?" but hey, whatever works.
I put potatoes to chit and mixed the mushroom growing kit contents as per instructions.
Got my own couch grass thanks Aster
In the sticks near Peterborough
Ah well, it was worth a try!