 Well the better weather has finally arrived and with it a wealth of jobs to do! Mowing, shearing and edging the borders is a quick way to smarten up any garden, but no sooner have I finished than it has grown and needs doing again! Weeding is never ending at the moment too, especially the annual ones like Bitter-cress. I'm gradually getting on top of this, aided by Simon who is on a mission to eradicate dandelions from 'his' lawn! A new tool has been bought so watch out weeds!
Apart from making the garden tidier I'm also thinking about bulb 'gaps' for next year, staking this years' perennials, moving grasses, pricking out seeds, sowing vegetables and finally planting the tomatoes in a new border in the greenhouse. All in all a pretty busy couple of weeks...
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Here is the first of what we hope to be many broody hens this year! Each year I try to hatch at least three broods. With a small mixed flock who knows what will hatch, its always so exciting seeing what colours emerge. Personally I prefer the old fashioned method, letting nature take its course under a surrogate 'mum' Also I'm not sure rearing chicks in my lounge would have a very successful outcome with Dotty around! This bantam is one we hatched last year and she's sitting on eight eggs . Hopefully more news later on this in the next week...  Last year we decided to plant pockets of perennial meadow flowers in the area we leave uncut each year. At the moment it is full of different types of grasses, Clover and Meadow Vetchling and is a haven for Meadow Brown butterflies and a myriad of other insects each year. It's an area approximately 60 x 15m with small paths cut through to a bench at one end. It's one of my favourite places in the garden. Last year I ordered a whole host of seeds from Emorsgate Seeds (www.wildseed.co.uk) a fantastic company who sent superbly packaged seeds with clear planting instructions. I was a little late ordering so did a small, but successful batch of autumn sowing; Lychnis, Plantain, Meadow Vetchling, Rannunculus, Yellow Rattle and Achillia. All bar the Yellow Rattle germinated well and are now ready to plant out. Further seeds were sown this week but still got many more to do! left to right: The meadow in summer; Seedlings of Common Knapweed, Meadow Vetchling and Bird's Foot Trefoil; plugs of Sorrel Lychnis and Plantain ready to go out.
Each winter we decide on one (but sometimes more!) project to start in the garden. With over 25 blackcurrant and redcurrant bushes, an equal number of gooseberries and several blueberries there is much each year for the birds to feast upon. Every year we say 'we must get this netted' and each year miss the boat. I don't mind them scoffing the redcurrants (there are plenty for all!) But last summer they ate every blueberry and half the gooseberries....So us being us, we decided not just to net it, but completely reorganise it, change its position and make room for some raspberries too. But with Dotty the puppy and other family commitments, time hasn't been on our side and we are WAY behind. So far everything has been moved into its new position, (the priority was to move everything whilst it was dormant so nothing died, even though it would be harder to build around plants already in-situ) and the rubble from the old herb bed is almost gone. Chances are we may just get it netted for this year, but if not I can try to pick the crop before the birds do! |
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