It's all about digging....

...one way or another...

I like to dig.   Seren also likes to dig.   My digging is constructive....and hers, as far as I am concerned is not constructive.

Entire bed now fenced in but it wasn't when I took this photo.

Therefore is the reason for completing my puppy-proofing fence round my front of the patio bed. This operation nearly cost me a new pair of specs....Leah was 'helping' and managed to smack me round the head with one of the stakes for the wire fencing.   She didn't mean to, of course. Nevertheless,it was an excellent smack and I saw stars for a moment.

The ground is lovely and soft for digging at the moment, all the rain has made it so.   Today there is rather more rain, hail and sleet than I'd wish but that is why I did the major digging jobs on Friday and Saturday.

I moved the winter flowering currant to the front garden to complete the hedge I am building there.   I hope it survives, it was quite big.   I grew it from a cutting a 3 years ago when I moved here.

Winter flowering currant - photo cribbed from internet.
My bush is slightly smaller.

I also moved the Kniphofia ...again...it was too close to a Mallow.   So now, fingers crossed everything 'takes' and doesn't keel over dead.  It should be OK.  

Kniphofia - photo also cribbed from internet

Then I went and dug a bit in G's garden.   Another Hebe that needed replanting temporarily and a few Hostas that need a temporary home until she has time to get into their new raised bed.

So, all in all it was quite a digging sort of weekend.   I was amused to find this joke - it seems appropriate (except - as far as I know, both my sons are not in prison)

An old Italian lived alone in New Jersey USA and wanted to plant his annual tomato garden

It was very difficult work, as the ground was hard.

His only son, Vicenzo, who used to help him, was in prison.

The old man wrote a letter to his son and described his predicament:

"Dear Vicenzo,

I'm feeling pretty sad because it looks like I won't be able to plant my tomato garden this year.

I'm just getting too old to be digging up a garden plot.

I know if you were here my troubles would be over.

I know you'd be happy to dig the plot for me, like in the old days.

Love, Papa"

A few days later he received a letter from his son.

"Dear Papa,

Don't dig up that garden - that's where the bodies are buried".

Love,

Vicenzo

At 4 a.m. the next morning, FBI agents and local police arrived and dug up the entire area without finding any bodies.

They apologized to the old man and left.

That same day the old man received another letter from his son.

"Dear Papa,

Go ahead and plant the tomatoes now.

That's the best I could do under the circumstances".

Love you,

Vicenzo

Oh well, I do my own digging...luckily I quite like digging and the ground isn't hard at the moment.   Also I seem to be getting on top of all the rubble that is buried just below the surface in most of my garden so things are gradually improving.

Good News.

Pair of Robins (also not my photo)

Today - in spite of the hail and sleet, I noticed that the Robin who had lost his mate earlier in the winter...probably to the next door cat...has found a new mate and there were two little red chests pecking away at the meal worms I'd put out!  That's a grand way to start the week.

I do hope they nest and bring up young.   I think the garden is becoming more friendly for birds.   There is a lot more growth than when I moved in and I can't wait to establish a pond ...that will really make a difference.

So, in spite of the dire weather there is good news in the garden.   More bulbs pushing through.   More buds swelling on trees and shrubs.   The Hazel has little catkins ...I wish I had a female Hazel too....and look at the Hellebore by my kitchen door....it has really come into its own.

Hellebore by my kitchen door..

I think the shelter we put round the grape vine is just right for sheltering it from the worst of the wind too ...it certainly seems at home there.  

For pyrography

March is nearly upon us.   I will complete the pruning this week, weather permitting.   I will also attach training wires to the fence for the vine, jasmine and the honeysuckle.  All these jobs are easier to do when there is less growth so I can see where I am drilling.  Oh and I promised myself IF I did the housework that I could spend the afternoon making a plaque for JP's grave.   I have a little pyrography tool that I bought in Malta recently for just this little job.

But right now...well right now it is time for housework.   God sends foul weather days so lazy housewives like me have nothing more compelling to do but clean and tidy INSIDE instead of outside where we'd rather be.

Bye for now, chat again soon...probably in March ALREADY!

Is it possible...

...to Puppy-Proof a Garden? ....

....Probably not....

Puppy-proofing the border with a small wire fence.
I added this little barrier fence this week

I am neither optimistic enough nor stupid enough to think the little wire fence will keep Seren out of the garden.   It might remind her not to leap out of the kitchen door and tear across it though.

I don't want her to not enjoy the garden.   Equally I don't want her to think she can destroy it.   Dogs are smart, they can learn.  I think it will be up to me to keep her well exercised so that she doesn't need to dig, to play tug with plants or to race across flowers and vegetables.

There are other pests in the garden apart from Puppy Seren.

February is a good month for digging if the weather isn't too awful.   This week I have spent considerable time in the garden, pruning mostly, not digging, though that is planned for tomorrow if the day is suitable.  I spend my time observing and thinking about the garden when I am out there.   I have been out more than usual to take Seren out to answer her 'calls of nature'.

There's great value to knitting or digging up your garden or chopping up vegetables for soup, because you're taking some time away from turning the pages, answering your emails, talking to people on the phone, and you're letting your brain process whatever is stuck up in there. Chellie Pingree

Nematodes as pest control

One of the things I've been thinking about is how to control slugs and snails.   Certainly for my Hostas I think nematodes may be the answer. Here is a link that explains how they work.

Later on I will order some nematodes and give it a go.   Maybe once the pond is up it will attract toads and frogs to eat the slugs...if I could think of a way to keep a couple of ducks I'd get some...it is all about who will look after them if I go away for a a weekend or longer.  That's the problem...one day there may be a solution to that too.

"Probably more pests can be controlled in an armchair in front of a February fire with a garden notebook and a seed catalog than can ever be knocked out in hand-to-hand combat in the garden."

-  Neely Turner

Another thought while musing in the garden

The greenhouse in Woodcraft yard and solar panel,
also the clips holding the panels in

I had reason (a need for some stakes for my little puppy-proofing fence) to visit the local hardware shop, Woodcraft in Pyle.   It's a fabulous old fashioned hardware shop where you can still buy nails loose by weight instead of in packets of 12....anyway, they have a garden section.   Out there I saw they had recently erected the very same greenhouse model as I have.   There was one significant difference, if you click on the photo it will enlarge and you will see some wire clips holding in the panels.  Now if mine had these maybe the panels would withstand more wind power (more about wind power later).  My greenhouse did not have these very essential clips when it was delivered in kit form....I have bought a packet of them...unfortunately not sold loose,by weight, like the nails.



The other difference you will see is the solar panel mounted on a post.   This apparently drives the power needed for the automatic watering system with which the greenhouse and garden bed to rear of the greenhouse are watered regularly (not visible in the photo).   I did a rapid bit of googling to see what I could find out about them...and discovered there are all sorts of solar powered gadgets on the market...a shed light....solar watering system...to name but two....hmmmm.

Some gardeners reading this live in a part of the world where electricity outages are a norm of day to day life...is there not food for thought here?  And D in Sweden...what about this for light and heating and ventilation in your greenhouse-to-be?   Here is a link for you to see how to make your own.

Wind Turbines

While talking about alternative power...I heard this at breakfast time this morning...

We in the UK are paying through our electricity bills to have wind turbines turned off for part of the day because too much electricity is generated by them!   What....apparently it is something to do with the lines to the grid being insufficient to cope with the supply from off-shore wind farms.  Here is the link so you can read the story for yourselves.

Plants and Seeds.

Black Opal Tomato

Lastly, may I just say a big Thank You to the person who bought me an annual subscription to Gardeners World....apart from a wonderful informative glossy to read every month the free offers to subscribers are great.  For the cost of postage only, £3.20,  I have already ordered 6 Tomato plants due to arrive by end of April.  2 x Gardener's Delight, 1 Sungold, 1 Black Opal, 1 Green Zebra and 1 x Sweet Aperitif.

Later on today I will scrub up some seed pots and plant the chili seeds I eventually found last week...they were also free with a magazine I bought late last year.   I guess someone I know might get a chili plant for his birthday this year ...if they germinate.


Right now...well, right now it is time for a certain little puppy-dog to have a walk round the garden....while I have been tapping this she has chewed up one cardboard box, one bath sponge and draped some washing from the airer around the landing....now she is napping!

Happy gardening, and happy thinking and planning your gardens, till next time we chat.

PS Eating the last of last year's blackcurrants in a fruit crumble today for dessert at lunch time.  Fruit crumble made with my blackcurrants and the apples from my neighbour's tree...no fruit-miles at all!  And oh so yummy.

Digging....

...begins...

....and planning...

Frosted Cistus

It is that time of year when my desk is littered with glossy seed catalogues...I open a new garden diary....like the bulbs that are beginning to poke their heads above ground I am beginning to slowly come to life too as regards getting back into the garden.
 

First thing this morning

"Every gardener knows that under the cloak of winter lies a miracle ... a seed waiting to sprout, a bulb opening to the light, a bud straining to unfurl.  And the anticipation nurtures our dream."

-  Barbara Winkler

Today it was so calm and sunny that as soon as the frost melted I decided to make a start on digging the vegetable patch.   I do love digging on a fine day!   The earth is all crumbly and rich, studded with fat pink worms...I love pulling out the old growth and weeds.  It is so therapeutic and such an optimistic past-time.

I made a start on the veg patch
I've learnt not to try to do too much
at first...a little every day prevents injury!

There are definite signs of new life on the plants too

Hydrangea buds.

Blue sky and red branches
gives a nice bit of winter colour

"The February sunshine steeps your boughs and tints the buds and swells the leaves within."

-  William C. Bryant

In my last post I mentioned Cherry Tree...well, I've ordered a Morello Cherry which should arrive by the end of the month.   Another unexpected offer is for a new pond.   To be specific it is a much loved almost new pond...from Sandra...ooooh Sandra, thank YOU!   You knew how much I've wanted a pond, and I think this one can be made safe so small children and small puppies don't come to any harm.

Yes, there is a new dog in my garden too, Seren (Welsh for Star)...I expect most of you know that already, but just in case you have missed that great news, here she is exploring 'her' new garden...

I feel sure the old guardian of our patch would approve - hey Japes?

JP...Seren has big paws to fill.
Do you approve?

Yesterday I spent 3 hours searching for my up-to-date seeds (they had fallen into that black hole I have in my house where many other things disappear from time to time) and discarding those packets and half packets that expired in 2009/10/11...I know seed can last longer than the plant-by date, but too much over-due and germination is really patchy.  Maybe this week I will sow a few seeds for the windowsill propagator and the heated propagator.   I am thinking of those that like a long growing season like chili and sweet-peas benefit from an early start.   I haven't a lot of window sill space because of these...

Cymbidium (I think)
I bought it for £1.00 on the bargain counter.

Lovely scented hyacinths

Phalaenopsis, home grown from a previous purchase
£1 bargain counter plant.

"From December to March, there are for many of

us three gardens:

the garden outdoors,

the garden of pots and bowls in the house,

and the garden of the mind's eye."

-  Katherine S. White

This year I was considering doing an RHS Horticultural course....I may yet, but it is all about budgeting!   Both finances and time....before Seren I had enough of both...but now, maybe I should put this off till later.  

So...looking forward to a new gardening year.   Do check up on me from time to time if you are interested.   I'll be up-dating this regularly though maybe not every week till it is a bit warmer.

Meantime happy digging....

And condolences to Sally in Pietermaritzburg...hail the size of golf balls is no joke!   But gardens are more resilient than you think...here's fingers crossed for yours. (see ice-moon below, maybe hail is the SA version of it?)

"The word February is believed to have derived from the name 'Februa' taken from the Roman 'Festival of Purification'.  The root 'februo' meaning to 'I purify by sacrifice'.  As part of the seasonal calendar February is the time of the 'Ice Moon' according to Pagan beliefs, and the period described as the 'Moon of the Dark Red Calf' by Black Elk.  February has also been known as 'Sprout-kale' by the Anglo-Saxons in relation to the time the kale and cabbage was edible."

-  Mystical WWW