Friday, August 24, 2007

Ok - Guess who let son loose in the garden!! Yep me - I asked if he could help trim a hedge - never again - 6 black bin bags later!!!! I now have a hole along my fence that is about 6 ft long!
He said "it looked messy so I kept going until it looked right!" Yes....
Well now, I've decided to fill the gap with some roses (especially for my Mum) - one in particular is called " My Mum" isnt that lovely? Its a deep red patio rose and then behind it is a taller t-rose called "Benjamin Britten" from David Austins collection again deep red chosen by my younger son - and in between I've planted loads of Lillies - again Mum's favourites (she couldnt have them in the house because of her Asthma so would have loads out in the garden) - can you see a pattern developing - so now its "Nan's place".
Also, I'm after a little bit of advice - Mum was cremated and her ashes interned in a cememtary which we have ordered a stone for. You are not allowed really big plants so I'm after a little patio rose which will happily grow in a pot - any ideas? If anyone knows of a mail-order or local nursery to me (Portsmouth) I would be most grateful. Thanks

Wednesday, August 22, 2007

Queen Elizabeth Forest

We took 16 children from our estate up to Queen Elizabeth Forest yesterday - got a few looks and some thought us utterly mad but I tell you what I loved it. My boys are too old now to want to go and do mad things (especially if Mum decides to embarress them!!) anyway, it was great they loved it. Right up at the top they have lots of climbing, balance equipment all made from wood in the shape of animals, then we had a picnic and took the long walk back down the hill - some of the kids were rolling down it was great to see the smiles and laughter (until they found the rabbit poo!!) and at the bottom we came to a big pond. The Park Ranger organised some nets and trays (to put your finds in) - we found dragonfly larvae, mayfly, newts, fish, snails and some really odd bits that no one could identify. The kids didnt go in which I was glad!! and the animals were put back in safely! then we were given some card with a line of double sided sticky tape and walked along a path to the far field - the kids made their own bookmarks with all the different petals and leaves - considering we all walked the same path not one bookmark was the same!! Then on to the field for more games (being blindfolded and lead by a 9 year old was quite an experience!! - we had to feel the trees not just looking but there was some big patches of nettles!!) and then back to the shop and home. They got off the mini-bus with lots of smiles and tired faces so I think they enjoyed themselves!! Just got to think off the next trip now and try to persuade some more Mums to come along. Ohh and the pictures guess who forgot to take her camera!!!!

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Gardening by the Moon

You may have noticed I've added a moon to the blog this is because I am fascinated by the fact that some people garden by the different moon phases - the findings that I've been reading about seem to work so I thought ok lets try it and see if it works (cant be that difficult can it?) - you just download a years moon chart (google moon chart and download it free) and it gives you ideas on when to plant what e.g on August 19 - 21 you can plant leaf crops. I think it lies in the water table in relation to the moon - if you have tried this please let me know how you got on? Thanks

Saturday, August 18, 2007

These are the baby sweetcorn (the sort you stir-fry) I'm really pleased because the tassles are beginning to show - wont be long now - you grow them in a block because they are wind pollinated.
No comments about how rude and prickily the cue is please!!! but it is the second one from the same plant!! So well pleased with it.
Good old nastursiums - they have been coming back every year with no help whatsoever from me! They are so full of sunshine and joy, they just make me smile and you can eat the flowers!! (bit peppery but nice in a salad).
Its been a funny week - sunshine and then rain. I'm sitting here looking out at the garden the wind is blowing like mad, the trees are dropping bits all over the lawn(hum...) but there is not a thing I can do - its chucking it down!! Still hopefully next week it will brighten up a bit the weather forecasters say - we shall wait and see! I'm taking a group of kids from our estate to the Queen Elizabeth forest on Tuesday for a bit of bug hunting and pond dipping and generally get them off the estate and use a bit of energy up running up and down the forest trails - should be a good laugh as we are taking a picnic too - some of them hardly know a thing about plants so its a good way of teaching them without them realising! Last time we found some lovely little alpine strawberries - the first time they had seen real strawberries not from a supermarket!! (You'd be surprised what some of them come out with!)

Monday, August 06, 2007

Summer has finally arrived!











The Sun has got his hat on..... (ok I wont really sing!) finally its 31 degrees here and I've been out cutting the grass and deadheading the roses. Ok I can't really moan at the rain, everything has been growing at such a pace this year.
The cue has been growing - just when do you pick it though? Too soon and its not sweet, too late and its bitter - still I think its nearly ready!!The garden has been coming on a pace - on the left you can see the baby sweetcorn (its the sort that you stir-fry in chinese meals rather than the big cob sort). Also I've has several meals from the runner beans and the little french beans are growing too (thought they would be taller but they fit into my square foot garden a treat)


Just for Margaret, the Mummy Datura is growing - I can see little flower spikes forming so won't be long. You can see the new patio that no. 1 son has built (say no more!!!) his girlfriend is on holiday and he was bored!! - lets just say I don't think he will make a builder!

Finally, you can see the Square Foot Garden in full - it has certainly grown well this year (with thanks to all that rain and now sunshine!)