Another wind-swept weekend, blowing 20mph most of the time, and gusting twice that. It's not made for a hospitable garden, so we've been limited to weeding the blueberry bed (very much in need of it) and starting to repair the fruit nets. I've done the four ends of the gooseberry/blueberry/currant beds, and the mid-length joins in the gooseberry bed. That leaves two mid-section joins (blueberry bed), and the raspberry beds (which comes to four ends and two joins, but are tricky because the beds are so tall). That's for another weekend.
In preparation for Christmas decorating (scheduled, as normal, for the first weekend in December), we thoroughly tidied the house, and I finally managed to replace the locks on the back door (long overdue: I could only lock the door from inside, right handed (and, occasionally from outside—only if left-handed: bizarre), and put up the new lights in the dining room and hall. We got these to match the lights in the sitting room, but it's taken a while to get round to installation.
Sunday, 27 November 2011
Sunday, 20 November 2011
Reindeer
Every year around now, the garden centre has a visit from the reindeer herd on the Cairngorms. We visited them when we were in Aviemore in 2004, and now try to go to the reindeer parade when they visit Huddersfield.
That was yesterday: today, we installed the irrigation system in the 'new' strawberry/rhubarb bed that we finished in August. We then planted it with strawberries, at a wider spacing than in the old bed: about 1' between plants, in rows 2' apart; equal numbers of Honeoye, Cambridge Favourite, and Florence. We also (belatedly) cleared the foliage and debris in the old bed, prompted by the fact that a deer has been climbing in and grazing. No, really. Droppings were found in the bed.
That's now tidied, and hopefully the new strawberry plants will settle in quickly. The rhubarb should arrive any day, so it's good to have the bed ready. Irrigation for the rhubarb won't be sprinklers (like elsewhere), but drippers adjacent to each crown. Rhubarb's badly designed, as the leaves deflect rain (or sprinkled water) away from the crowns—which actually need quite a lot of moisture. Hence, drippers. No rush, though: there's not much chance of them dehydrating over the winter.
The compost bin is now pretty much over-flowing, so I need to get round to turning them soon.
Reindeer from the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd (© Ian 2011)
That was yesterday: today, we installed the irrigation system in the 'new' strawberry/rhubarb bed that we finished in August. We then planted it with strawberries, at a wider spacing than in the old bed: about 1' between plants, in rows 2' apart; equal numbers of Honeoye, Cambridge Favourite, and Florence. We also (belatedly) cleared the foliage and debris in the old bed, prompted by the fact that a deer has been climbing in and grazing. No, really. Droppings were found in the bed.
That's now tidied, and hopefully the new strawberry plants will settle in quickly. The rhubarb should arrive any day, so it's good to have the bed ready. Irrigation for the rhubarb won't be sprinklers (like elsewhere), but drippers adjacent to each crown. Rhubarb's badly designed, as the leaves deflect rain (or sprinkled water) away from the crowns—which actually need quite a lot of moisture. Hence, drippers. No rush, though: there's not much chance of them dehydrating over the winter.
The compost bin is now pretty much over-flowing, so I need to get round to turning them soon.
Sunday, 13 November 2011
FreeSat
We've had the weekend at my parents', which was a welcome, relaxing break. Before setting off yesterday, we planted some spring bulbs, though. 30 fluted tulips, 30 praestens multiheaded tulips, and some more tête à têtes (in pots, to go into hanging baskets in the spring). They're all outside the back door for now, and we'll move them around when they're up.
After the analogue television signal was switched off in September, we've been without TV. We hadn't really had television since moving in, because the signal's awful—we've been surviving on recordings provided by Liz's parents, and holding on to see if the digital switchover improved the signal. It didn't; at least, not enough (we borrowed a digital set to check). The options were to improve/amplify the existing aerial, get Sky (no thanks), or get FreeSat. The house had an existing Sky dish, but we had no idea whether it was functional.
However, we plumped, in the end, for FreeSat, on the basis that it would definitely work, where Freeview only might work (even with expensive new aerial (and fitting) and amplifier). However, that left the installation... So, up the ladder went I, and loosened off the dish and pointed it in the direction of the Astra satellite. In theory, that's the same alignment as Sky...but it wasn't where it was pointing previously. What the previous owners were watching, I have no idea.
It was really straightforward, in the end, and the old dish and LNB (only a mono) are connected to the Humax FreeSat box and working really nicely. It's been foggy all day, so it should be reliable, as it's worked today. At some point, I intend to change the LNB to a duo or quad, and run a second cable to the box, so that we can record two channels at once (rather than one), but that'll wait.
After the analogue television signal was switched off in September, we've been without TV. We hadn't really had television since moving in, because the signal's awful—we've been surviving on recordings provided by Liz's parents, and holding on to see if the digital switchover improved the signal. It didn't; at least, not enough (we borrowed a digital set to check). The options were to improve/amplify the existing aerial, get Sky (no thanks), or get FreeSat. The house had an existing Sky dish, but we had no idea whether it was functional.
However, we plumped, in the end, for FreeSat, on the basis that it would definitely work, where Freeview only might work (even with expensive new aerial (and fitting) and amplifier). However, that left the installation... So, up the ladder went I, and loosened off the dish and pointed it in the direction of the Astra satellite. In theory, that's the same alignment as Sky...but it wasn't where it was pointing previously. What the previous owners were watching, I have no idea.
It was really straightforward, in the end, and the old dish and LNB (only a mono) are connected to the Humax FreeSat box and working really nicely. It's been foggy all day, so it should be reliable, as it's worked today. At some point, I intend to change the LNB to a duo or quad, and run a second cable to the box, so that we can record two channels at once (rather than one), but that'll wait.
Friday, 11 November 2011
Clearing, Cake, and Compost
After seeing half a dozen surveyers, and speaking to dozens of companies, we've settled on a solar panel installation. It'll be a 4kWp installation, taking up about half of the roof, and should be installed at the end of the month. Now we just hope there's no snow.
The decision process has taken up a lot of the last few days, along with surveys and so on, but it's been worth it (I hope). Nonetheless, we've also managed to do a first pass of leaf clearing, bagging them up into bin liners for now (after being unable to make more chicken-wire cages). I've turned the compost heaps, and added a large quantity to the first pile, as we've now taken down the top-growth of the peas and beans.
We've transplanted the dozen winter cabbages ('Frostie') to their final location, and done a bit of weeding. Unfortunately, we've not had a chance to repair the fruit cage nets, which should probably be a priority for the next few weeks.
All of the elephant garlic, garlic 'Germidour', and over-winter onions ('Summer Gold') have now come up, and seem to be doing well. The strawberries appear to have attracted a deer, and have been a bit trimmed: hopefully they'll recover. The sprouts are ready to start, which is fun; however, the frosts did (as expected) kill off the courgettes.
We also managed, yesterday, to make our Christmas Cake (bit earlier than last year), as well as a pumpkin pie (conversely, a bit late!).
The decision process has taken up a lot of the last few days, along with surveys and so on, but it's been worth it (I hope). Nonetheless, we've also managed to do a first pass of leaf clearing, bagging them up into bin liners for now (after being unable to make more chicken-wire cages). I've turned the compost heaps, and added a large quantity to the first pile, as we've now taken down the top-growth of the peas and beans.
We've transplanted the dozen winter cabbages ('Frostie') to their final location, and done a bit of weeding. Unfortunately, we've not had a chance to repair the fruit cage nets, which should probably be a priority for the next few weeks.
All of the elephant garlic, garlic 'Germidour', and over-winter onions ('Summer Gold') have now come up, and seem to be doing well. The strawberries appear to have attracted a deer, and have been a bit trimmed: hopefully they'll recover. The sprouts are ready to start, which is fun; however, the frosts did (as expected) kill off the courgettes.
We also managed, yesterday, to make our Christmas Cake (bit earlier than last year), as well as a pumpkin pie (conversely, a bit late!).
Tuesday, 8 November 2011
Solar Panels
Another frost, yesterday, and more time spent clearing the cotoneaster. The plants we set out to remove this time are now gone, probably representing 40% of the bed cleared. It's unveiled two hebes (which I've cut almost entirely down, to see if they rejuvenate: no tears if they don't), and revealed a silver birch and rhododendron that were previously emerging from the cotoneaster canopy. The latter's a bit leggy, but we'll see how it does.
Having cleared the cotoneaster, we've immediately used the space to plant out the large number of perennials that have been in pots for up to the last 18 months, so hopefully they'll be a lot more content. At the same time, we planted 160 tête à tête narcissi, and 50 Iris reticulata 'Harmony' from recent orders.
We also had an appointment with a renewable energy company, as installation of photovoltaic solar panels is, now, pressing. We're not sure, though, about their quote, so we're going to be hitting the phones over the next few days to get something sorted rapidly.
Tonight was our normal garden centre's annual Christmas launch event. We're not, normally, keen on starting Christmas in November, but we make an exception: mostly because of the mincepies and wine, and the fact that there's 15% off (almost) everything on the night.
I'm always surprised how little use people make of this: we always get a few routine things as well as anything festive that catches our eye. This year, as well as an illuminated Christmas thing (photo in a month, if I remember), we picked up some willow trellis, some ivies and skimmia, and a quince.
I am uncannily excited about the quince. I've wanted one for ages, but the 'right' variety wasn't available from the nursery where we bought our other fruit trees. A bare-root 1-year maiden can, with searching, be had for about £20 (plus delivery). Obviously, that's smaller than a three-year tree, but they usually run to £35-40. However—and here's the really pleasing part—the garden centre had kindly sent a '50% off an outdoor plant' voucher to me (part of their loyalty scheme). Restrictions on its use did not encompass fruit trees, which I suddenly realised while browsing heucheras. Off to the end of the yard we went, and found a 'Leskovac' or 'Serbian Gold' 8 foot, 3-year-old tree: £19.
Serbian Gold is very hardy, and produces heavy crops of apple-shaped fruit—or so I am hoping. In a year or two, I'm hoping to make some marmelo, and quince jelly, and a very exciting apple tart.
Having cleared the cotoneaster, we've immediately used the space to plant out the large number of perennials that have been in pots for up to the last 18 months, so hopefully they'll be a lot more content. At the same time, we planted 160 tête à tête narcissi, and 50 Iris reticulata 'Harmony' from recent orders.
We also had an appointment with a renewable energy company, as installation of photovoltaic solar panels is, now, pressing. We're not sure, though, about their quote, so we're going to be hitting the phones over the next few days to get something sorted rapidly.
Tonight was our normal garden centre's annual Christmas launch event. We're not, normally, keen on starting Christmas in November, but we make an exception: mostly because of the mincepies and wine, and the fact that there's 15% off (almost) everything on the night.
I'm always surprised how little use people make of this: we always get a few routine things as well as anything festive that catches our eye. This year, as well as an illuminated Christmas thing (photo in a month, if I remember), we picked up some willow trellis, some ivies and skimmia, and a quince.
I am uncannily excited about the quince. I've wanted one for ages, but the 'right' variety wasn't available from the nursery where we bought our other fruit trees. A bare-root 1-year maiden can, with searching, be had for about £20 (plus delivery). Obviously, that's smaller than a three-year tree, but they usually run to £35-40. However—and here's the really pleasing part—the garden centre had kindly sent a '50% off an outdoor plant' voucher to me (part of their loyalty scheme). Restrictions on its use did not encompass fruit trees, which I suddenly realised while browsing heucheras. Off to the end of the yard we went, and found a 'Leskovac' or 'Serbian Gold' 8 foot, 3-year-old tree: £19.
Serbian Gold is very hardy, and produces heavy crops of apple-shaped fruit—or so I am hoping. In a year or two, I'm hoping to make some marmelo, and quince jelly, and a very exciting apple tart.
Sunday, 6 November 2011
Frosty start
The first frost of the autumn—later than expected. We're off this week, so we've got a nice long list of things to do; inside and out, depending on the weather. Today we re-started clearing the cotoneaster. We began in August last year, and got far enough to use the space to empty the nursery bed in order to make the vegetable garden.
Sometimes I feel like it's all a puzzle, like the chicken/fox/grain riddle. Never mind.
Anyway; we've set too, once more, on clearing the brush. We're dumping it on the future position of the pond, rather than carrying it all down to the bottom of the garden. It's much faster now, and it means fewer extension cables on the chipper when we come to shred it.
Inside, I put up the shower curtain, and a thermal blind in the kitchen (as it's getting cold and dark).
Sometimes I feel like it's all a puzzle, like the chicken/fox/grain riddle. Never mind.
Anyway; we've set too, once more, on clearing the brush. We're dumping it on the future position of the pond, rather than carrying it all down to the bottom of the garden. It's much faster now, and it means fewer extension cables on the chipper when we come to shred it.
Inside, I put up the shower curtain, and a thermal blind in the kitchen (as it's getting cold and dark).
Saturday, 5 November 2011
Horse-sitting
We've had a busy day, going into town for an infrequent shopping trip. I'd hoped to pick up another 10m of chicken wire, to construct some more leafmould bins. Unfortunately, no luck, but otherwise successful if prosaic: a shower-curtain rail, a bag of mortar (for repointing), a contact-lens appointment, and an engagement ring repaired.
This evening had firework displays going off around the valley, and as the neighbours were out, I had to spend some of the evening keeping their horse company (he doesn't like fireworks, predictably, and there was a display in a nearby garden). Only fair, he provides lots of manure for the garden.
This evening had firework displays going off around the valley, and as the neighbours were out, I had to spend some of the evening keeping their horse company (he doesn't like fireworks, predictably, and there was a display in a nearby garden). Only fair, he provides lots of manure for the garden.
Thursday, 3 November 2011
Morning Mist
Lovely mist in the valley this morning (sorry, no tripod): it disappeared really quickly, though.
Nothing to report from our garden from the weekend: we were visiting Hazel and Alex. However, really good fireworks, a week early (to avoid competition), and fun with sparklers.
They also introduced us to asparagus peas (a legume, but a different genus to 'normal' peas and beans). I think we'll give them a go next year: they're ground cover, nitrogen fixing, and seem to yield well. The peas are nice sautéed or stir-fried. We also had some runner beans which they'd allowed to mature. Similarly, we might try leaving some bean plants to mature, and collect the beans for drying, rather than freezing all of them (relieves strain on the freezer, if nothing else!).
Nothing to report from our garden from the weekend: we were visiting Hazel and Alex. However, really good fireworks, a week early (to avoid competition), and fun with sparklers.
They also introduced us to asparagus peas (a legume, but a different genus to 'normal' peas and beans). I think we'll give them a go next year: they're ground cover, nitrogen fixing, and seem to yield well. The peas are nice sautéed or stir-fried. We also had some runner beans which they'd allowed to mature. Similarly, we might try leaving some bean plants to mature, and collect the beans for drying, rather than freezing all of them (relieves strain on the freezer, if nothing else!).
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