Hoe does your garden grow: Time Warp

Hoe does your garden grow: Time Warp: A recent trip to the Pembrokeshire coast led us to a hotel perched on the cliff with its own bay. We were meeting some friends for dinner. I...

Time Warp

A recent trip to the Pembrokeshire coast led us to a hotel perched on the cliff with its own bay. We were meeting some friends for dinner. I decided to check it out on tripadvisor. What a revelation "if you enjoy the smell of wet dog" this place is for you. The front door handle was actually a large brass tap,inside the hallway were many wet dogs and their owners,some dogs sleeping on large 1950s chairs along with owners, walking boots, surfboards, a few bicycles. Along the corridor via massive cardboard boxes full of paperbacks led us to a stairwell that steered us steeply to the bar. It was full of young people dressed in Jack Wills gilets and tee shirts with Jack Wills logo. I got chatting to the owners who have been there for many years and were delightful. The food was organic and homely, the setting incredible. This place is untouched by "lets change this place to look like everywhere else brigade" I loved its quirkiness and its smelly dogs. Nothing to do with gardening but just as lovely to ruminate over.It was too dark for photographs but if you google Druidstone you will see what I mean.

Hoe does your garden grow: Whats going on

Hoe does your garden grow: Whats going on: Today has been such a warm sunny one I ran on the coastpath first thing. The otters were out too enjoying being photographed by the keen obs...

Whats going on

Today has been such a warm sunny one I ran on the coastpath first thing. The otters were out too enjoying being photographed by the keen observers.I am becoming a bit too complacent, I see these lovely playful creatures and am mindful that they are now always there, so I don't get too excited. It was very windy on the cliffs and the waves were mountainous,a slight chill in the air, but no snow on the Preselis. I had a message from my friend Glynis on the Isle of Jura, snow on the Paps! surely not, my nasturtium are still flowering and the Hydranga still think its summer. As a precaution though I mulched the wedding bed to protect the Dahlia, I discovered a primrose in flower up on the bank and there are daffodils in flower in the village. Strange goings on.....In many ways the unpredicability of global warming has its appeal we never know what we might find, the seasons are confused. The cat has been lounging in the greenhouse thinking its summer. I am planning my garden for next year, warm fires, glass of red, oh the joys of planning. Thank goodness we bought the wedding gown last week, one less thing to worry about. Rachel is very pleased, we had an amazing experience and have been feeling very pleased with ourselves. Now to plan the next bit, rethinking the flower arrangements slightly. Now what colours do I need to be thinking about!

Hoe does your garden grow: Storming Autumn

Hoe does your garden grow: Storming Autumn: Autumn has appeared like a very angry child, stomping, wailing and throwing weight around to make its presence felt. One may refer to this ...

Storming Autumn

Autumn has appeared like a very angry child, stomping, wailing and throwing weight around to make its presence felt. One may refer to this as attention seeking, or even behavioural problems. In the garden we have to take the rough with the smooth, shrug our shoulders and hope next year we will have managed to stake the Cosmos and Delphinium to allow them to sit securely in position. The one positive thing for me is the slugs have kept at bay, the slug stations are full when I check them every three to four days. This gives me a sense that I have some control in the garden. The Wedding Bed is looking very colourful, there are even some sweetpeas managing to survive. Rachel would really like to have a few in her bouquet. I am busy every day deadheading and picking, giving me the feeling that there is a bit of Summer in my patch. The vegetables have gone mad, I can barely keep up with the courgettes. I found a marrow lurking under the huge canopy of leaves last week and quickly turned it into Marrow and Ginger Chutney. On a cheery note, I had a lovely email from Charlie Ryrie who grows flowers professionally near Hereford. I am going to meet with her to discuss the wedding flowers, its seems less daunting sharing the growing with someone else. As I write, the sun has just appeared and blue skies are showing, its time to check the aftermath.

The Nose of Autumn

This time of year has many resonances for me. There is a certain scent or smell of Autumn that always reminds me that it is the season of plenty, the garden is showing signs of fruitfulness. The vegetables are more productive, the grapes are turning from a vivid green to a luscious deep purple and beginning to sweeten. The mornings are becoming a little cooler with watery sunshine showing a filigree of spiders webs that gently rest on the plants with droplets of dew shining like diamonds.The wedding bed is looking good and I now have an idea of the task that lies ahead. I need to grow three times more of everything which is daunting. The sweetpeas are still flowering but whether they will last another three weeks I am not sure. The cosmos, delphinium, dahlia and Mollucella Laevis (Bells of Ireland) are still producing amazing colour which I am happy with, as I did them all from seed apart from the delphinium which were a gift. I embrace Autumn, as it reminds us all of subtle change and how lucky we are to have such variation at different times of year. There is a blog I have been following in Oklahoma where the blogger has described temperatures of over 40c. Give me misty, moisty Wales, at least I can now keep those slugs at bay, thank you Tesco Valu Beer. !

hoe does your garden grow: Wedding Bed unfolds

hoe does your garden grow: Wedding Bed unfolds: "I have just returned from the Emerald Isle having spent a wonderful week with my beautiful Mum. She is only 92 going on 60 and passionate ab..."

Wedding Bed unfolds

I have just returned from the Emerald Isle having spent a wonderful week with my beautiful Mum. She is only 92 going on 60 and passionate about gardening. Her failing eyesight has restricted much in the way of planting this year, however her Petunias are a sight to behold. We visited an amazing garden called Altamont near the village of Bunclody, it's free to get in and the grounds are amazing. Whilst I was there I was observing plants that flower during the month of September, there was one that I have been searching for some time, Thalictrum Delavyi' Hewitts double, its pink/purple colour and flowers from July to September, perfect for the Wedding Bed. Needless to say I came away with the perfect plant, the sales area  was tiny but the assistant was very knowledgable and helpful. Although Mums' sight is failing she could tell her phlox from her campanula and  I am also encouraging my brother in law who came with us on that trip, to get to know his plants and I think we will have an excellant gardener in the making. I returned home to a Wedding Bed that has grown and become more colourful. The Delphinium that had the Chelsea Chop is in full flower now, this is worrying I need it to flower in September.The Sweetpeas are prolific, not sure if they will last till September. However the Dahlia Arabian Nights is living up to expectation, it is stunning, the colour of a good Rioja! The slugs continue to be repelled by my Tesco valu beer. This experiment is an exciting one, my daughter and her lovely husband to be are both climbing Mt. Kinablu in Borneo(4093m) as I write this, somehow worrying about slugs seems insignificant.

hoe does your garden grow: The Wedding Bed

hoe does your garden grow: The Wedding Bed: "I have loved my garden for many years, its not perfect but loved. I decided to create a new growing area in the secret garden to experiment ..."

hoe does your garden grow: Slug Control

hoe does your garden grow: Slug Control: "On a recent trip to the Island of Arran, I noticed the slugs are very shiny and very black and not all that large. Unlike my garden slugs, s..."

hoe does your garden grow: The snails sneaked in

hoe does your garden grow: The snails sneaked in: "As I was out on my usual Sunday morning run I began to allow my mind to wonder. I actually thought that writing a blog is so indulgant. How ..."

hoe does your garden grow: The Fragrance of Summer

hoe does your garden grow: The Fragrance of Summer: "Each year I make a point of planting Sweetpeas. This year I have sown seeds called Matucana they have the most beautiful lingering old fash..."

The Fragrance of Summer

Each year I make a point of planting Sweetpeas. This year I have sown seeds called Matucana  they have the most beautiful lingering old fashioned scent, I saved the seed from last year. I planted the seeds in early spring in root trainers which are long pots, loo rolls also work very well and used ordinary potting compost. I usually use my propogator as it speeds up germination. Once they are strong enough, I pinch out the leading shoot to encourage side shoots making the plant more vigourous. I had an obelisk made last year to grow the sweetpeas up and it seems to work very well supporting them. It looks very attractive when completely covered with flowers. I apply some compost from my own compost heap as a mulch to the soil and some potash to promote flowers. As the young plants grow I tie them to the frame and remove some of the tendrils. These take energy from the flowers and attach themselves to the stem  bending them into curvy shapes. Once the flowers develop I pick them every day usually early morning when the stems have a higher water content, this ensures a longer vaselife. To avoid floppy plants in the vase I sear the stems in boiling water for a few seconds and then immediately pop into a pretty vase and enjoy the fruits of my labour. The jewel like colours of Matucana remind me of Amethyst. I am hoping I might be able to use some for Rachel's wedding, so this year I am experimenting to see how long I can keep them going. There are two other types I might try one is Painted Lady and Black Knight good scent but Matucana has the edge for me.

The snails sneaked in

As I was out on my usual Sunday morning run I began to allow my mind to wonder. I actually thought that writing a blog is so indulgant. How could I imagine that anyone out there is interested in my gardening murmurings. I was running well in my new rocklite trainers, some bearded guy commented on how well I was running, I met another guy who just said "well Hellooooo".  My attention was completely taken away from my thoughts, my murmurings to myself had been totally interrupted, however I quickly became indulgant once again. I realised my focus for attention was wholly on the Wedding Bed and Slug Control in my last posts. I had completely forgotten what was going on in my veggie patch. As soon as I returned home I looked closely at what was going on.
I have grown some different vegetables this year Rainbow Chard some leaves looking like doylies, Salisfy and something called Salsola which is the land version of seaweed! I never tried the latter before so I will await in anticipation. I always grow potatoes, probably something to do with my land of origin, Courgettes, Romanesque and Goldrush they are the nicest I have tasted and not forgetting Queensland Blue Squash. I noticed for starters one cougette plant had disappeared. Just the stem remained, then I noticed the culprits.... Snails, the veg patch did not get  many beer stations, I focused all my attention on the Wedding Bed. These snails are now laying eggs deep into the soil producing a new generation. I am not certain whether snails are more clever than slugs and avoid falling for the beer trap or maybe they just avoid having a nice time in my Glastonbury Garden.

Slug Control

On a recent trip to the Island of Arran, I noticed the slugs are very shiny and very black and not all that large. Unlike my garden slugs, some are the size of a mouse and display an orange frill as they slink their way to the Wedding Bed. Some look like my friends animal print cardigan, almost leopard like and then I have the dull brown ones. They all have one goal and that is to explore my garden, except this year I am ready and waiting with my new killer, Beer traps. I have read that it works, so I bought some beer at my local Asda, they seem to like Tetley having discovered they are not too fond of Cider. It appears they are attracted to the smell which becomes more attractive to them if a lid is placed on a tilt on the beer container. I have collected Jo Malone body cream jars and kept the lids, I half fill with beer and place lid on a tilt to allow the beasties to slink their way into the trap. They become so inebriated they stay at the party far too long and never wake up.  Each morning I visit the beer stations and count.... I prepared all of this before my holiday and returned home to a Wedding Bed that is showing signs of growing and producing flowers. This year is a trial to see if I can manage to produce some of Rachel's wedding flowers. Some of the Cosmos have flowered, I chose ones similar to the species grown in Monet's Garden called Versailles and Antiquity. I picked some today and put picture on post.

The Wedding Bed

I have loved my garden for many years, its not perfect but loved. I decided to create a new growing area in the secret garden to experiment with growing the flowers for my daughters' wedding. I am greatly influenced by Christopher Lloyd of Great Dixter who sadly has now passed away. He did not follow the masses, he clashed colours so beautifully that he has given me permission to play with colour, form and texture. My good friends Sue and Terry dug the border and incorporated masses of manure to improve fertility. They presented me with two Delphinium one blue and one white. They explaind I might have to do the Chelsea Chop to stop flowering this year, it seemed cruel but I obeyed my orders. I then explored my other options for Autumn colour,I chose Crocosmia Lucifer, Dahlia Chat Noir, Arabian Night and Serano. It seems appropriate to have some flowers dedicated to Brides so together we chose Nigella African bride as she has been to Ghana and Guara The Bride. We need some long stemmed flowers for the chapel and decided on Gladioli Green Star, Purple Flora and Espresso. My greatest influence has come from Sarah Ravens "Grow your own Cut Flowers"but my greatest task now is keeping the slugs at bay. See my next post to see the lengths I will go to, to save my dahlias.