Garden 2014 no 2

Garden 2014 no 2

My garden is changing this year, I’ve decided on my priorities, and much as I love my blue fenced garden, I need to prioritise painting time above gardening time.
So far this year I’ve done virtually nothing. I’ve pruned a couple of flowering shrubs, tied some bits back into place, had a general tidy up and cleared away the rubbish. Now I’ve run out of time to do anything else because; it’s almost time for the annual trip to France. In a couple of days I leave for a month in France and when I get back, I’ll have week or two organising my garden.


I went out there this afternoon to take a few photos and do a bit of tidying up before I leave. Some of the spring flowers are in bloom, I have periwinkle, daffodils, wild currant blossom, and rosemary all in bloom. The fruit trees are in bud and even the little yellow pond flowers are in full bloom. I can’t remember the name of those little pond plants but what ever it is, the frog seems to like it. He has returned for about the third year in a row, So far he hasn’t honoured me with any frogspawn this year but I remain hopeful. I have had frogspawn in the pond in previous years but this time I don’t think Mrs Frog accompanied Mr Frog, looks like he’s going solo this year, maybe she’s just been delayed and will turn up soon
.

The snow drops are all gone now, I had loads this year and they did last quite a while, but now the warmer weather has arrived, they’ve all died off.   I think I’m going to miss the tulips and the start of the bluebells this year, I can see loads of foliage and tulip buds, but I think by the time they flower, I’ll be away.

This year my garden is  destined to become a less time demanding, less labour intensive place and a more,  ‘sit and chill and watch the world go by in-between painting sessions’ sort of place. The veggie plot and its grass verge is all getting rotavated, raked, seeded and turned back to grass. The veggi containers will be emptied and stored, the herb pots are going to get a serious talking too and those that have become too overgrown with grasses and weeds may have to be sacrificed. I think I’ll be fence painting again as well, I painted most of my fences last autumn but we have had so much rain, they all need doing again. I think the excess rain over the winter added about three normal years worth of wear and tear to the paint work out there.

So, this is the view of my rather neglected garden that I’ll see as I drive away, but as soon as I get back, it will be gardening in earnest time.

July 16 2012, Garden no 13

Garden 2012 no 13

This is what my garden looks like from the street. I can’t imagine why my daughters tell me it’s a mess……….I quite like it looking a little wild. The only bad thing in the garden today was the ant infestation in the compost bin, but that was sorted and I think its going to be OK.

A quick update, I’m tired and heading for bed soon. I’ve been out digging and playing in the garden all day and its worn me out. I’m sure you remember me saying I was planning on digging up the wild area behind the pond once all the bluebells had finished.

(before the big dig)

Well, they finished a while ago, and today was warm, dry, sunny and an ideal gardening day, so off I went. It took me all day but I did it. I dug up a bucket full of bluebell bulbs which have all been replanted. I also dug up a whole heap of periwinkle which is trimmed, cleaned and sitting in the bag waiting for my daughter to collect. Digging up established periwinkle is no easy task, I’m so glad it was only a small area, not sure I would have managed any thing bigger. I’ll need to give it another dig over and then dig in some of the chicken pellet manure before I can plant there, but I feel it was a day well spent.

(After the big big)

More fruit was ready today. I’m getting enough strawberries to have a couple either on my cereal or with ice cream most days.
The white currant bush was heavy with fruit and I noticed some of the currents had already been eaten by the birds. I knew I had to get them  in today because, I know from experience,  once the birds start eating currents, they don’t stop until they are all gone. I think I’ve got enough to mix with some apple and make white jam.

Tags: garden 2012, plants, fruit, garden.

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edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 17 djdx said Your garden looks lovely. We put netting over the currants. We have the black ones; they will be ready soon. I think you are right, netting is the answer, I will have to make sure I have enough ready for next year. I spent the day in the garden again today and noticed some of the red currents looking bright red and ready to be picked. When I started picking I realised how many the birds had already eaten. Definitely need netting next year.

delete reply brendainmad wrote on Jul 17 I love a wild garden too. Yours has so much colour and I always enjoy seeing it.

delete reply djdx wrote on Jul 17 Your garden looks lovely. We put netting over the currants. We have the black ones; they will be ready soon.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on Jul 17 The garden looks great!! Nice crop of white currants. Love that heron sculpture.

delete reply esoterika713 wrote on Jul 16 I love a wild garden. Mine is quite wild too. :) I love currants. I have been adding more edible things. Last year I planted a Downy Service Berry. The birds love and I tried oen they were quite good. The berries are ready early which is nice. I also planted an Elder berry for the birds and us if we so wish. No berries on that. We also planted a Concord grape vine that almost had fruit but they fell off. This is the second season so I am a little disappointed. My sister bought hers this year and hers has lots of fruit. Concord grapes are ready to eat in September. I think they like her clay soil. I am happy with the blue berry bush I planted this year. We got lots of blue berries and they are still coming. I only hope it does as well next year.

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 16 hedgewitch9 said You are amazing and your garden is gorgeous. Thanks Emma. :-))

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 16 nemo4sun said love the heron sculpture by the pond lol... another of my bargain buys. I saw them for sale for £8.00 in a discount store, usually they cost more than twice that much

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on Jul 16 aaranaardvark said I got 2.5lbs of blackcurrants off my one single bush yesterday. The bush has been loving this wet weather and has produced more than double last years crop so I'm pleased about that. Jam tomorrow.....to me that is going to be a reality. My black currents are not ready yet, I think we are a couple of weeks behind you. The white currents always fruit first, then the red currents and then the black currents and I think you are right about the rain. I've never had this many white currents from one bush before.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on Jul 16, edited on Jul 16 i think it looks a proper and enchanting garden ~ always have love the heron sculpture by the pond :)

delete reply hedgewitch9 wrote on Jul 16 You are amazing and your garden is gorgeous....if your daughter thinks it's wild she should see mine!!! Love seeing your pics and our updates inspire me :))

delete reply artprevails wrote on Jul 16 Your blog today is so gorgeous! And your garden is so inviting. I love the story about your hard work, ant infestation, etc. And yea, birds probably bring all of their extended family to have a go at those delicious currants too! I adore these photos. How wonderful to have fresh fruit that YOU grew yourself...

delete reply aaranaardvark wrote on Jul 16, edited on Jul 16 The garden is looking great, I don't know what your daughters mean either. I got 2.5lbs of blackcurrants off my one single bush yesterday. The bush has been loving this wet weather and has produced more than double last years crop so I'm pleased about that. Jam tomorrow.....to me that is going to be a reality. I bet your white currant and apple jam will be delicious Loretta, I've never had white currants, they look very appetising to me.

delete reply greenwytch wrote on Jul 16 wow, you have had quite a busy day! lots of accomplishments, i know you will enjoy a well-deserved rest tonight. tasty strawberries and currants....it is much too hot to grow currants here. happy jammin'. ♥

May 20, Garden no 10

Garden 2012 no 10

Well that was fun, the sun stayed out all day and only now, at 9pm is it beginning to get cold.
My task for the afternoon was to dig out all the daffodil bulbs and periwinkle from a section behind the pond and turn it into a small vegetable patch. This is how it looked a few months ago when the daffodils were in bloom
 and this is how it looks now. It has a few peas and a few leeks planted in rows.
Before I started it was far more overgrown with periwinkle than the picture shows, and even though it’s a tiny piece of garden it took me most of the day to clear it of bulbs, periwinkle, roots and general debris, and that was before I started the actual digging. I salvaged one bucket of periwinkle which is now on its way to my daughters garden
and more bulbs than I could count to be replanted in my garden.
Replanting them is one of the next tasks on the list.
I encouraged the bit behind the pond to go wild and do its own thing, I like the wilderness and the only reason I decided to cultivate it was because I need the space. This piece had mostly daffodils and I’ve been waiting for them to stop flowering before digging them up.  The next bit to be dug over is this bit,
it has mostly bluebells and they are still flowering but as soon as they all die off I’ll clear it and  dig it over ready for more veg.
And now I’m  hungry, have achy joints and I’m exhausted, I have carrot and coriander soup that I made and froze last week and bread that I made last night………………then hot bath to relax the joints and then early to bed I think…………..

Tags: garden 2012, garden

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delete reply catherinearmant wrote on May 21 Thank you for the endearing update, dear Loretta.

delete reply mitchylr wrote on May 21 Glad you got a good gardening day, weather-wise. Looks like you had a most productive day. I like how you 'recycle' beds from flowers to veggies.

delete reply djdx wrote on May 21 Sounds like a great day complete with rewarding victuailles at the end. Oops, I guess that's a French word but the English equivalent doesn't want to show itself at the moment. We are still having rain. Some of the greens I planted out are looking good though.

delete reply nemo4sun wrote on May 20 that will all be very nice when done it is nice now fresh soup and homemade bread ~ mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! have a great night :)

delete reply brendainmad wrote on May 20 Have a good rest.

delete reply rabbitfriendhere wrote on May 20, edited on May 20 Gardening sure does take a toll. I did a little weeding yesterday and felt it last night. My wilderness area turned to be too wild for me, but I've found an easier spot for the grape vine I hope. I can understand needing the space. Good luck with your veggie patch! :-)

edit delete reply forgetmenot525 wrote on May 20 veryfrank said I no longer work the gardens, my back will not cooperate. I missed it for a year or so, but I'm getting over that. :-} It is a lot of work, especially clearing out the spreading plants such as periwinkle or ivy. Good exercise for sure and always the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of your la That's a shame, I'm sure you used to enjoy the garden. I can't do the gardening I used to do and some days I can't get out there at all, but for as long as I can, I will. I want to make the most of it while I can. I would hate not to be able to get out there at all.

delete reply veryfrank wrote on May 20 forgetmenot525 said the sun stayed out all day and only now, at 9pm is it beginning to get cold. Perfect weather for gardening and early growing. I no longer work the gardens, my back will not cooperate. I missed it for a year or so, but I'm getting over that. :-} It is a lot of work, especially clearing out the spreading plants such as periwinkle or ivy. Good exercise for sure and always the satisfaction of seeing the fruits of your labor.

delete reply greenwytch wrote on May 20 sounds like you've had yourself quite a productive day. the soup sound really awesome.....enjoy and rest well!