We took yesterday off, and have got a bit further with the vegetable beds. The C-shaped bed is now joined up, but the back length (the outer edge) is waiting. It'll be the last one I do, as it's a good place to use up shorter bits of plank where they won't be too visible. Getting the post into the top-right corner (which is where the bed meets the terrace) was tricky, but I've managed. The planks, there, aren't screwed into the post from the outside, but from the inside, rather than excavate working space 'outside' the bed.
The rectangular bed, the mini-bed in the centre of the Q, and the back of the C are all that's left...well, I say 'all'. All of the topsoil has now come down from where it was delivered on the drive. The beds won't be full, but we'll probably only need about 2m3. That said, I think we'll order a full (6m3) load, as the extra will come in useful over time.
We also went over to Norland, as planned, to see the scarecrows. They were, as predicted, rather good. There was an impressive Dr Who (complete with Tardis and Dalek), and a superb Scooby Gang. Along with a full size Ice Road Trucker.
Tomorrow: bit more vegetable beds? And lunch with Liz's grandparents (visiting t'in-laws).
Saturday, 4 September 2010
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Blackberries & Scarecrows
After mowing half the lawn (doing all of it at once seems too much like hard work, frankly), I popped out to collect some blackberries. Although those on my route to work have been ripe for a week or two, those near home are a bit further behind. I managed to collect about a pound, I reckon, and have frozen them: hopefully more will come ripe over the next week or two—although the threat of frost worries me.
Once fruited, the canes of blackberries (and hybrids: loganberries, tayberries, boysenberries...) are exhausted, and won't produce fruit again; they flower on the previous year's growth. This is all very well on domesticated plants, grown against wires, but who cares for brambles and wild fruit? Well, in an effort to increase yield, I'm thinking of cutting back some of the 'done' canes this year. It might seem mad, pruning the brambles, but there you go.
On an entirely unrelated tack: I'm hoping we might visit the Norland Scarecrow Festival this weekend. We went last year, and enjoyed it: it runs from Friday 3rd September to Tuesday 7th, in (predictably), the village of Norland. Each year has a theme (last year was Myths and Legends; this year is TV Programmes), and there are scarecrows in the gardens of houses, in fields, verges, and commons. Some are highly inventive, many are quite amusing. Worth a visit, if the weather holds, and you're in the area!
Once fruited, the canes of blackberries (and hybrids: loganberries, tayberries, boysenberries...) are exhausted, and won't produce fruit again; they flower on the previous year's growth. This is all very well on domesticated plants, grown against wires, but who cares for brambles and wild fruit? Well, in an effort to increase yield, I'm thinking of cutting back some of the 'done' canes this year. It might seem mad, pruning the brambles, but there you go.
On an entirely unrelated tack: I'm hoping we might visit the Norland Scarecrow Festival this weekend. We went last year, and enjoyed it: it runs from Friday 3rd September to Tuesday 7th, in (predictably), the village of Norland. Each year has a theme (last year was Myths and Legends; this year is TV Programmes), and there are scarecrows in the gardens of houses, in fields, verges, and commons. Some are highly inventive, many are quite amusing. Worth a visit, if the weather holds, and you're in the area!
Tuesday, 31 August 2010
Cuttings
The weather forecasts have been reporting ground frosts 'in rural areas', which sounds suspiciously like a description of home, and—although this seems early—I don't want to lose some of my tender perennials, nor miss the opportunity for some cuttings. Hence, we've popped out and taken a few trays. Quite a lot of lavender (30-odd) soft-tip cuttings (evenly split between the three clumps we have); several from each of four fuchsias (several fuchsia's didn't survive last winter, sadly, but I've taken cuttings from most of those that did, including the rather pretty 'Annabelle' in the hanging baskets); pink/white/red pelargoniums from the front beds; and a couple from the wallflower by the front gate. We also put about 40 stems from the petunias into jars of water: if they send out adventitious roots, then they'll be potted up.
As I say, it seems too early to be worrying about frosts, but there you go. The morning temperature (according to the car at around 0630: sunrise is nominally about 0615 now) has been about 9°C, so frosts can't be far off. I'll have to think about fleecing up some plants, and this means it'll be nearly time to bring the olive tree in, and collect apples and sloes.
As I say, it seems too early to be worrying about frosts, but there you go. The morning temperature (according to the car at around 0630: sunrise is nominally about 0615 now) has been about 9°C, so frosts can't be far off. I'll have to think about fleecing up some plants, and this means it'll be nearly time to bring the olive tree in, and collect apples and sloes.
Plant Orders
An exciting set of plant orders has been made, ready for the autumn.
Firstly, I've ordered 50kg of mixed daffodils. We planted, at a guess, about 200 last autumn, and now want to extend the planting up the garden, and possibly add some to the verge in front of the house. These are from Fentongollan in Cornwall.
Next, I've got 400 Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica coming from Peter Nyssen. These are little hyacinth-like flowers, only 10cm tall, with a blue stripe on the petals. We put in 100 of these last year, and I rather liked them, so more are on their way.
An offer in a newspaper has led to 48 mixed cottage garden plants (scabiosa, hollyhocks, kniphofia, lupins, achillea, geum, delphinium, lobelia, galliardia, poppies, aquilegia, and aubretia); a further 40 from Van Meuwen will join them (aquilegia, hollyhocks, gypsophilia, Chinese lanterns, lupins, kniphofia, sea holly, delphinium, liatris and echinacea).
From Thompson & Morgan, we've got 10 hellebores, 168 viola 'Amber Kiss', and six honeyberries (a honeysuckle/Lonicera that is, unusually, edible), and a gardenia.
Lastly, a big order from J Parker: 10 cyclamen, 400 Siberian squills (to add to the 100 from last year), some heathers, 200 muscari, 172 candelabra primulas, 100 anemone blanda, 145 miscellaneous narcissi, 60 tulips, 3 blackcurrants and 30 raspberries (to fill the gaps left by those that didn't take last year), 12 monarda, 172 'Cat's Whiskers' pansies, and some centaurea.
Most of the bulbs are headed for the copse; the bedding will go in the front, in hanging baskets, and elsewhere; the fruit, obviously, is going into the fruit beds; the honeyberry will go up trellis at the edge of the fruit beds (demarcating the start of the kitchen garden); the 'cottage garden' plants will go where the cotoneaster currently is. That probably won't be the final spot, but it'll do as a holding ground while they grow, and we clear space.
This will almost certainly mean an epic planting session, in all weather. That will be familiar, as the bulbs last autumn were planted in wet and cold conditions, with latex lab-gloves over the garden gloves, and waterproof trousers...it was surprisingly good fun.
Firstly, I've ordered 50kg of mixed daffodils. We planted, at a guess, about 200 last autumn, and now want to extend the planting up the garden, and possibly add some to the verge in front of the house. These are from Fentongollan in Cornwall.
Next, I've got 400 Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica coming from Peter Nyssen. These are little hyacinth-like flowers, only 10cm tall, with a blue stripe on the petals. We put in 100 of these last year, and I rather liked them, so more are on their way.
An offer in a newspaper has led to 48 mixed cottage garden plants (scabiosa, hollyhocks, kniphofia, lupins, achillea, geum, delphinium, lobelia, galliardia, poppies, aquilegia, and aubretia); a further 40 from Van Meuwen will join them (aquilegia, hollyhocks, gypsophilia, Chinese lanterns, lupins, kniphofia, sea holly, delphinium, liatris and echinacea).
From Thompson & Morgan, we've got 10 hellebores, 168 viola 'Amber Kiss', and six honeyberries (a honeysuckle/Lonicera that is, unusually, edible), and a gardenia.
Lastly, a big order from J Parker: 10 cyclamen, 400 Siberian squills (to add to the 100 from last year), some heathers, 200 muscari, 172 candelabra primulas, 100 anemone blanda, 145 miscellaneous narcissi, 60 tulips, 3 blackcurrants and 30 raspberries (to fill the gaps left by those that didn't take last year), 12 monarda, 172 'Cat's Whiskers' pansies, and some centaurea.
Most of the bulbs are headed for the copse; the bedding will go in the front, in hanging baskets, and elsewhere; the fruit, obviously, is going into the fruit beds; the honeyberry will go up trellis at the edge of the fruit beds (demarcating the start of the kitchen garden); the 'cottage garden' plants will go where the cotoneaster currently is. That probably won't be the final spot, but it'll do as a holding ground while they grow, and we clear space.
This will almost certainly mean an epic planting session, in all weather. That will be familiar, as the bulbs last autumn were planted in wet and cold conditions, with latex lab-gloves over the garden gloves, and waterproof trousers...it was surprisingly good fun.
Monday, 30 August 2010
Raising the Veg Beds
After yesterday's rapid progress, I started building the raised beds this morning. This was the same sort of construction as for the fruit beds, but modified, as they're not designed with tall posts for netting. Instead, the posts are only as tall as the boards, and crops that need netting will have these supported on canes. We decided to do it this way, as the netting requirements will vary with the crop, which will themselves move, and to have each bed able to cope, integrally, with any crop would mean having tall posts throughout.
The vegetable beds, then, have 5cm square posts, 60cm long, at each corner, and breaking up the long runs. These are short enough to hammer into the ground (impossible for the 8-foot posts making the raspberry beds!), which considerably speeds up emplacing them. Once they're in, the 15x2cm board can be cut and screwed on (I prefer screwing them into place, rather than nailing: more secure, and easier to remove and re-jig). As before, I've gone two boards high. This makes quite a nice height for kneeling next to, and, when filled to about 60% of their depth, gives a good root run in 'improved' soil, while allowing space for mulching. The wood's all pressure-treated pine, so it should last well.
I've got about a third of the C-shaped bed done, and about half of the Q-shaped bed. That's allowed almost all of the remaining heap of top-soil to be brought down, and means I've probably got another weekend of construction to go. In all, the progress has been enormous: all of the ground cut, about a third of the beds raised, and a quarter of them filled—much more than we expected to get done!
I also broke in my new spade, a lovely ash-handled stainless steel affair. It's got a longer shaft than our other spade, which makes it better for me, and a tread edge. I have hopes of more tools from the same supplier, as the spade was excellent (and has a lifetime guarantee).
The vegetable beds, then, have 5cm square posts, 60cm long, at each corner, and breaking up the long runs. These are short enough to hammer into the ground (impossible for the 8-foot posts making the raspberry beds!), which considerably speeds up emplacing them. Once they're in, the 15x2cm board can be cut and screwed on (I prefer screwing them into place, rather than nailing: more secure, and easier to remove and re-jig). As before, I've gone two boards high. This makes quite a nice height for kneeling next to, and, when filled to about 60% of their depth, gives a good root run in 'improved' soil, while allowing space for mulching. The wood's all pressure-treated pine, so it should last well.
I've got about a third of the C-shaped bed done, and about half of the Q-shaped bed. That's allowed almost all of the remaining heap of top-soil to be brought down, and means I've probably got another weekend of construction to go. In all, the progress has been enormous: all of the ground cut, about a third of the beds raised, and a quarter of them filled—much more than we expected to get done!
I also broke in my new spade, a lovely ash-handled stainless steel affair. It's got a longer shaft than our other spade, which makes it better for me, and a tread edge. I have hopes of more tools from the same supplier, as the spade was excellent (and has a lifetime guarantee).
Sunday, 29 August 2010
Veg Beds Cut!
A shockingly effective day spent preparing the veg beds. We had help, in the form of parents-in-law turning out. The weather started a little unprepossessing (light rain), but cleared by 11ish, and we got started. I hadn't expected to get as far, but the addition of a strong father-in-law meant that digging speed was more than doubled. The Q-shaped bed is all but cut and turned, and almost the entire C-shaped bed, too. The top-right corner of this was rather difficult: there was a cotoneaster growing well into the proposed bed, and a berberis rooted outside the bed, but hanging into it. The latter was easily resolved, but the cotoneaster was a struggle to cut back, and then up-root. Eventually I managed to dig its roots out (discovering, along the way, that it was an appropriately named Cotoneaster congesta, purchased for a miserly £2.25—probably some thirty years past), and then did a bit of excavation, as the ground sloped up quite steeply under it. The bed will be butted up against one of the large rocks that support the terracing, but I think (hope) will miss it.
The long rectangular bed was already partly dug—we'd cut a nursery bed, quickly, last autumn, knowing that it would roughly fall where the veg bed would eventually be. It's not far off, about a foot north of plan, so the plants that fell in the new path were quickly lifted and replanted, and the uncut section can be prepared tomorrow.
In laying out the beds, we also worked out that there should be a 12x16 foot space available for greenhouse/shed. I'm quite taken by this shed/greenhouse combination. It would allow the two to exist side-by-side, and catch the sun best with the greenhouse part.
Tomorrow, I'll start building the beds, while everyone else finishes cutting the turf, digging it over, and barrowing down top-soil.
The long rectangular bed was already partly dug—we'd cut a nursery bed, quickly, last autumn, knowing that it would roughly fall where the veg bed would eventually be. It's not far off, about a foot north of plan, so the plants that fell in the new path were quickly lifted and replanted, and the uncut section can be prepared tomorrow.
In laying out the beds, we also worked out that there should be a 12x16 foot space available for greenhouse/shed. I'm quite taken by this shed/greenhouse combination. It would allow the two to exist side-by-side, and catch the sun best with the greenhouse part.
Tomorrow, I'll start building the beds, while everyone else finishes cutting the turf, digging it over, and barrowing down top-soil.
Saturday, 28 August 2010
Marking the Veg Beds
Despite some intermittent rain, we've strimmed the 'lawn' that is currently the vegetable beds (lawn is generous, as it's not been cut in around 16 months, and was rather rough), and marked out where the beds will lie. We had previously marked the beds, but—unsurprisingly—over seven months then some of the pegs have vanished, and a lot of the strings had been chewed through or broken.
Anyway, the beds (a large rectangular one on the south edge, continuing a raspberry bed; a C-shaped one abutting it; and a Q-shaped one inside them) are now marked with pegs and string. Tomorrow we'll start cutting them, ready to raise and fill them.
In other news, my Sweet William seeds have started to germinate.
Anyway, the beds (a large rectangular one on the south edge, continuing a raspberry bed; a C-shaped one abutting it; and a Q-shaped one inside them) are now marked with pegs and string. Tomorrow we'll start cutting them, ready to raise and fill them.
In other news, my Sweet William seeds have started to germinate.
Sunday, 22 August 2010
Fruit Beds Finished
At last, the fruit beds are finished. We put the wire and net up on the strawberry beds, which completed the netting. It was by far the easiest, as it only needed one net, and it's only a couple of feet off the ground (by contrast, the rasperry beds' net is 7–8 feet up, and the blueberry/currant bed required three nets).
The strawberries have been extremely busy, sending out runners. We cut off a lot from the edges, to get the netting in place, but there are many more running within the bed. The prunings have been potted up, and we now have about 40 extra plants of each variety (Honeoye, Cambridge, Florence). Where they're going to go, I know not. Liz keeps suggesting a second strawberry bed...
We also sowed some more seeds: lupins, astrantia, and species tulips, all collected last Wednesday. I don't know how reliable they'll be (especially the tulips), but I thought it would be worth a go.
The strawberries have been extremely busy, sending out runners. We cut off a lot from the edges, to get the netting in place, but there are many more running within the bed. The prunings have been potted up, and we now have about 40 extra plants of each variety (Honeoye, Cambridge, Florence). Where they're going to go, I know not. Liz keeps suggesting a second strawberry bed...
We also sowed some more seeds: lupins, astrantia, and species tulips, all collected last Wednesday. I don't know how reliable they'll be (especially the tulips), but I thought it would be worth a go.
Saturday, 21 August 2010
Stitching
Today we finished stitching together the netting for the first raspberry bed, and put together the netting for the second bed. The raspberry beds are now completed, some months after they should have been...
They look enormously better, with complete nets, and this should end the problem of raspberry canes poking through the top of the nets...for now.
We were in Derbyshire yesterday, in the picturesque village of Endon (no Ewoks in sight, sadly), for Ann and Alan's wedding. Lovely event: lots of decorations made over the last couple of years for the day, and good to meet some of their family we've not encountered before. The weather was, sadly, a bit lousy: they just about got the group photos done before it started raining, and we managed—after dinner—to snatch a game of croquet.
They look enormously better, with complete nets, and this should end the problem of raspberry canes poking through the top of the nets...for now.
We were in Derbyshire yesterday, in the picturesque village of Endon (no Ewoks in sight, sadly), for Ann and Alan's wedding. Lovely event: lots of decorations made over the last couple of years for the day, and good to meet some of their family we've not encountered before. The weather was, sadly, a bit lousy: they just about got the group photos done before it started raining, and we managed—after dinner—to snatch a game of croquet.
Wednesday, 18 August 2010
Deliveries
A day working at home, and receiving deliveries. Most of them were related to the kitchen: the units were all delivered, and then the worktops; the in-line water heater, and the fridge (a Baumatic integrated) also arrived. (There were also some bike bits for Philip's new bike, which I'm ordering as apparently I know what I'm doing.)
I'm really hoping the water heater will make life better: because hot water is only available after oil-heating a whole tank, I boil a kettle to wash up. Not ideal, as I can never be bothered to wait for two kettles, which is what you need. The on-demand water heater (basically, like a self-heating shower, attached to the tap) should improve this situation.
The kitchen units look really gorgeous. They're made by PWS, and bought from DIY Kitchens. They're really good quality, and an extremely reasonable price. Hopefully they'll go in smoothly, and look as good in place...
Over my lunch, I also straightened up the workshop, which looks miraculously improved, and collected some lupin, tulip, and astrantia seed, which I hope to sow this weekend.
I'm really hoping the water heater will make life better: because hot water is only available after oil-heating a whole tank, I boil a kettle to wash up. Not ideal, as I can never be bothered to wait for two kettles, which is what you need. The on-demand water heater (basically, like a self-heating shower, attached to the tap) should improve this situation.
The kitchen units look really gorgeous. They're made by PWS, and bought from DIY Kitchens. They're really good quality, and an extremely reasonable price. Hopefully they'll go in smoothly, and look as good in place...
Over my lunch, I also straightened up the workshop, which looks miraculously improved, and collected some lupin, tulip, and astrantia seed, which I hope to sow this weekend.
Sunday, 15 August 2010
Clearing the Cotoneaster
When the garden was claimed from the hillside (when the cottages were converted, about thirty years ago), a mainstay of the planting was a number of cotoneaster. I have no idea which variety, but the leaves are a mid-gloss green, fairly small, and the berries are red and about 5mm diameter. It is entirely undistinguished. I have nothing, in principle, against cotoneaster: the berries are very good for birds, and the flowers produce nectar that's invaluable for bees during the June Gap.
However, it's really not that interesting, and there is far, far too much of it. As in, around 50m2. Removing most/all of it has long been the intention, and we've finally got started. We cleared a big gorse last September, with my mum's help, and—once again—she helped with the cotoneaster. The target was the patch at the end of the upper long bed, on the eastern end. We've certainly not eliminated it, but we've cleared probably 4–5m2, which is a nice start, and it's uncovered a rhododendron and conifer that were buried. The area will need clearing of roots, and we'll probably replant it with herbaceous perennials. They won't necessarily remain there, but it'll be something to fill the ground with, and they can get growing (a tactic of frugality: buy 'em small and cheap, and grow them on, as we have plenty of space).
It's nearly time for the autumn orders to go off. I'm hoping to get in a load of spring bulbs (daffodils, of course, and more puschkinia and squills), some perennials, and replacement raspberries and blackcurrants. If the weather's acceptable, we also hope to get started on the raised vegetable beds. They've been on hold for some time, but I want to get them finished before winter. Of course, we still need to finish the raspberry beds' netting!
The local blackberries are nearly coming into ripeness, which means jam & winemaking can't be far off.
However, it's really not that interesting, and there is far, far too much of it. As in, around 50m2. Removing most/all of it has long been the intention, and we've finally got started. We cleared a big gorse last September, with my mum's help, and—once again—she helped with the cotoneaster. The target was the patch at the end of the upper long bed, on the eastern end. We've certainly not eliminated it, but we've cleared probably 4–5m2, which is a nice start, and it's uncovered a rhododendron and conifer that were buried. The area will need clearing of roots, and we'll probably replant it with herbaceous perennials. They won't necessarily remain there, but it'll be something to fill the ground with, and they can get growing (a tactic of frugality: buy 'em small and cheap, and grow them on, as we have plenty of space).
It's nearly time for the autumn orders to go off. I'm hoping to get in a load of spring bulbs (daffodils, of course, and more puschkinia and squills), some perennials, and replacement raspberries and blackcurrants. If the weather's acceptable, we also hope to get started on the raised vegetable beds. They've been on hold for some time, but I want to get them finished before winter. Of course, we still need to finish the raspberry beds' netting!
The local blackberries are nearly coming into ripeness, which means jam & winemaking can't be far off.
Monday, 9 August 2010
Tidying
We travelled down to Ludlow on Friday afternoon, and then on to a wedding in Dorset (near Shaftesbury) on Saturday. We came back to Ludlow late Saturday night, and stayed with Liz's grandmother until lunchtime today.
The wedding—of two of our college friends—was a wonderful event. We met up with lots of friends (some of whom we've not seen for a year), and everything went really well. There was a monumental buffet which deeply satisfied my inner gourmand (including a really excellent Stilton), and an entertaining ceilidh in the evening. The bride looked lovely, the groom looked delighted, and the guests looked happy: what more could you want?
Having dragged ourselves back to Ludlow, we spent the Sunday and Monday pottering, and did a bit of tidying in the garden. Grandma built a small pond/water-feature with my sister-in-law at her last visit, which is a pleasing addition to the garden. We helped straighten the lining edges, and I re-positioned the pump (along with cleaning and fiddling with it), and it's now looking much neater, and the fountain is more vertical.
She also had a half-metre diameter clump of irises that were getting rather congested, which we dug up and split. We now have about two-fifths, Liz's mum has the same, and we replanted the last fifth in a better spot. I find it quite satisfying, splitting things like irises. They come apart quite well, with a sharp spade cutting them, and it doesn't seem too brutal.
We also took out a rose (brought back for us) which was badly located, and cut back a lot of ivy (growing rampant over a fence) and a bit of eucalyptus. Young eucalyptus is really striking, but the adult leaves are no great thing.
Otherwise, we also put up a mirror, and put new batteries in her smoke alarms. Bizarrely, doing so seemed to set the carbon monoxide detector off, which started claiming that it needed attention. As it's a mains-wired unit, supplied by Fire & Rescue, all I could do was disconnect it. Oddly, it's on the lighting circuit, not the smoke detectors' circuit, but there you go.
Back home, now, and back at work tomorrow!
The wedding—of two of our college friends—was a wonderful event. We met up with lots of friends (some of whom we've not seen for a year), and everything went really well. There was a monumental buffet which deeply satisfied my inner gourmand (including a really excellent Stilton), and an entertaining ceilidh in the evening. The bride looked lovely, the groom looked delighted, and the guests looked happy: what more could you want?
Having dragged ourselves back to Ludlow, we spent the Sunday and Monday pottering, and did a bit of tidying in the garden. Grandma built a small pond/water-feature with my sister-in-law at her last visit, which is a pleasing addition to the garden. We helped straighten the lining edges, and I re-positioned the pump (along with cleaning and fiddling with it), and it's now looking much neater, and the fountain is more vertical.
She also had a half-metre diameter clump of irises that were getting rather congested, which we dug up and split. We now have about two-fifths, Liz's mum has the same, and we replanted the last fifth in a better spot. I find it quite satisfying, splitting things like irises. They come apart quite well, with a sharp spade cutting them, and it doesn't seem too brutal.
We also took out a rose (brought back for us) which was badly located, and cut back a lot of ivy (growing rampant over a fence) and a bit of eucalyptus. Young eucalyptus is really striking, but the adult leaves are no great thing.
Otherwise, we also put up a mirror, and put new batteries in her smoke alarms. Bizarrely, doing so seemed to set the carbon monoxide detector off, which started claiming that it needed attention. As it's a mains-wired unit, supplied by Fire & Rescue, all I could do was disconnect it. Oddly, it's on the lighting circuit, not the smoke detectors' circuit, but there you go.
Back home, now, and back at work tomorrow!
Tuesday, 3 August 2010
Anniversary
Today's the first anniversary of moving into the cottage. It's been a fun year; stressful to start with (I hate moving house, and being unemployed!), but it's picked up considerably. We're both (all, if you count the cats) really pleased with the house, and garden, and location. Progress on the house and garden has been a bit slow, necessitated by jobs, and weather: but I'm hoping to get on a bit over the next year.
Building the fruit beds, and really improving the front garden have been the highlights in the garden: inside, we've changed the utility room (and made it much more useful), and installed a lot of insulation, and the new windows. The next big change will be the kitchen, and—hopefully—the vegetable plot.
As a result of reaching this milestone, I don't think I can keep the profile entry to the right the same. I'll be updating it in a minute, but here, for posterity, is the current entry:
New resident of Yorkshire (just on the 'right' side of the Pennines), having moved up here in August.
I started this blog mainly as a gardening log, as it seemed a more interesting way to do it than in a notebook, as I can add links to things, photos, and tag posts. It's already branched out into cooking exploits, too, but it's unclear yet whether anyone else will ever read it.
Building the fruit beds, and really improving the front garden have been the highlights in the garden: inside, we've changed the utility room (and made it much more useful), and installed a lot of insulation, and the new windows. The next big change will be the kitchen, and—hopefully—the vegetable plot.
As a result of reaching this milestone, I don't think I can keep the profile entry to the right the same. I'll be updating it in a minute, but here, for posterity, is the current entry:
New resident of Yorkshire (just on the 'right' side of the Pennines), having moved up here in August.
I started this blog mainly as a gardening log, as it seemed a more interesting way to do it than in a notebook, as I can add links to things, photos, and tag posts. It's already branched out into cooking exploits, too, but it's unclear yet whether anyone else will ever read it.
Sunday, 1 August 2010
Wine, seedlings, and friends
We had Hazel and Alex with us for the weekend, which was much enjoyed: we've not seen them since their wedding, so it was good to catch up, and see the photos and footage from the day. In addition to much board gaming and chat, we also tried a bottle of newly bottled blackberry wine. It was the 'over-spill' from the main demi-john (the recipe, which I'd not tried before, made a bit more than would fit in one), and it was—in my opinion—rather good. Quite sweet, and fairly strong, and wonderfully fruity. I think the blackberry and elderberry (made at around the same time) may be slightly too tannin-y, but we'll see.
In other pleasing news, some 18 of my pulsatilla seeds have germinated. They've taken about six weeks, but that's within the normal range, and I'm pleased that two-thirds have come up. Hopefully a few more will emerge over the next week or so.
The blackberries on my route to work are slowly ripening, but there's not much sign nearer home. I think they'll be another month, really. Unfortunately, I've not been able to collect more bilberries, but I'm holding out hope that I will, still. The blueberries (the older two plants) are producing lots of fruit, which is tasting good: sadly, I think we'll have no more strawberries. We lost a lot to rot, during the damp weather we've had.
We have a busy run of weekends coming up. Next Saturday, a couple we know from university are getting married in Dorset, so we're travelling down to Ludlow on Friday, staying with Liz's grandmother, going the wedding on Saturday, and then staying in Ludlow 'til Monday. It'll be a good occasion, and a nice short break. The weekend after, my parents are visiting. Then, the following Friday (20th), we have another wedding: this time in Derbyshire.
I'm hoping, in the next week, to order some new raspberries, and some other bulbs and autumn goodies. Next month, probably, we'll also pick up another big load of daffodils, to extend the patch of them. I'd like more Scilla and Puschkinia, too.
In other pleasing news, some 18 of my pulsatilla seeds have germinated. They've taken about six weeks, but that's within the normal range, and I'm pleased that two-thirds have come up. Hopefully a few more will emerge over the next week or so.
The blackberries on my route to work are slowly ripening, but there's not much sign nearer home. I think they'll be another month, really. Unfortunately, I've not been able to collect more bilberries, but I'm holding out hope that I will, still. The blueberries (the older two plants) are producing lots of fruit, which is tasting good: sadly, I think we'll have no more strawberries. We lost a lot to rot, during the damp weather we've had.
We have a busy run of weekends coming up. Next Saturday, a couple we know from university are getting married in Dorset, so we're travelling down to Ludlow on Friday, staying with Liz's grandmother, going the wedding on Saturday, and then staying in Ludlow 'til Monday. It'll be a good occasion, and a nice short break. The weekend after, my parents are visiting. Then, the following Friday (20th), we have another wedding: this time in Derbyshire.
I'm hoping, in the next week, to order some new raspberries, and some other bulbs and autumn goodies. Next month, probably, we'll also pick up another big load of daffodils, to extend the patch of them. I'd like more Scilla and Puschkinia, too.
Tuesday, 27 July 2010
Blue Berries
We went along the lane tonight picking bilberries. I find bilberries (for no good reason) rather interesting. They're from the same family (Vaccinium) as blueberries (V. species in the Cyanococcus ('round and blue') section and cranberries (V. Oxycoccos ('acidic and round') species)), and the look a lot like blueberries. They're smaller (4–7mm diameter, against 6–12mm), though, with bright red flesh (a blueberry's is pale green), and the flavour is deeper. The plants are low-growing (30–60cm tall, instead of the 1–2m a blueberry can grow to), but broadly similar in foliage.
They are, sadly, deeply tedious to collect. Blueberries, which form in clusters, are a lot easier, but bilberries form singly or in pairs, are smaller, and often hidden in the foliage. Also, as they're so much smaller, you need more! I'm given to understand that they make a fine country wine, which I'll try if I can collect enough, or might make a smaller quantity into a blended-fruit wine.
Continuing the comparison with blueberries: bilberries also keep much less well. Blueberries are easy to store for several weeks, and don't split or bruise too easily. Bilberries split readily on picking, and don't lend themselves to storage and transport. Needless to say, transporting them a few dozen meters to the house, and storing them for the few hours to days it takes to eat them is not a problem... Because they're difficult to cultivate (and collect), they are, seemingly, quite a pricey commodity (€25 per pound?), if you can even find them. Given the number of plants growing near us, it will be no surprise to reveal that they like (very) acid and nutrient-poor soil.
Here's hoping that I can collect enough to vinify!
They are, sadly, deeply tedious to collect. Blueberries, which form in clusters, are a lot easier, but bilberries form singly or in pairs, are smaller, and often hidden in the foliage. Also, as they're so much smaller, you need more! I'm given to understand that they make a fine country wine, which I'll try if I can collect enough, or might make a smaller quantity into a blended-fruit wine.
Continuing the comparison with blueberries: bilberries also keep much less well. Blueberries are easy to store for several weeks, and don't split or bruise too easily. Bilberries split readily on picking, and don't lend themselves to storage and transport. Needless to say, transporting them a few dozen meters to the house, and storing them for the few hours to days it takes to eat them is not a problem... Because they're difficult to cultivate (and collect), they are, seemingly, quite a pricey commodity (€25 per pound?), if you can even find them. Given the number of plants growing near us, it will be no surprise to reveal that they like (very) acid and nutrient-poor soil.
Here's hoping that I can collect enough to vinify!
Monday, 26 July 2010
...still more coming up!
There are now eleven pulsatilla showing, which is much improved (37%). Now I just need to keep them alive...
Wednesday, 21 July 2010
Germination
The Pulsatilla vulgaris seeds I sowed 31 days ago have finally started to show: three of the thirty have germinated. I'm hoping that more of them will gradually emerge, and I'll tend them on a bit before potting them up in a while.
No sign of the contemporaneously sown Erythronium 'Pagoda', though.
No sign of the contemporaneously sown Erythronium 'Pagoda', though.
Sunday, 18 July 2010
Potatoes and Fruit
When we completed the fruit beds at the start of May, we planted out a number of potatoes and onions in the spaces between the (rather small) fruit bushes. It's still a little soon for the potatoes, as they've not gone over, but they're rather large, and are threatening to swamp the blueberries, currants, and gooseberries, so we've harvested about eight plants.
Most successful has been the Belle de Fontenay, which is an early, and has thus cropped quite well. We also had to bring up some Pink Fir Apples: as it's a late maincrop, it was a little disappointing—but by September should be much better. The same is true of the King Edwards, which are pretty, but small.
The Belle de la Fontaine were extremely tasty, however, boiled and buttered.
We also collected the red, white and blackcurrants: two of the three blackcurrants were casualties, so we're rather short of those (I think we had four currants). We also had a good bowlful of gooseberries (Invicta (green), and Hinnonmaki Red & Yellow), which have been frozen for now.
Sadly, that's almost it for soft fruit this year: there might be a few raspberries, but not many, and I hope for another bowl or two of strawberries. That said, there'll be blackberries and elderberries from foraging!
Most successful has been the Belle de Fontenay, which is an early, and has thus cropped quite well. We also had to bring up some Pink Fir Apples: as it's a late maincrop, it was a little disappointing—but by September should be much better. The same is true of the King Edwards, which are pretty, but small.
The Belle de la Fontaine were extremely tasty, however, boiled and buttered.
We also collected the red, white and blackcurrants: two of the three blackcurrants were casualties, so we're rather short of those (I think we had four currants). We also had a good bowlful of gooseberries (Invicta (green), and Hinnonmaki Red & Yellow), which have been frozen for now.
Sadly, that's almost it for soft fruit this year: there might be a few raspberries, but not many, and I hope for another bowl or two of strawberries. That said, there'll be blackberries and elderberries from foraging!
Saturday, 17 July 2010
A Bubbling Demi-John
I've strained the elderflower wine into its demi-john: it's obviously still rather murky, but smells yeasty and fruity, and is bubbling away quite quickly. It didn't seem to have generated much foam, but I haven't filled the demi-john too much, in case: the excess is alongside in an air-locked bottle, ready to top-up in a week or so.
Monday, 12 July 2010
Fermenting
The elderflower wine has started its transmogrification from soup of flowers and lemon pulp into (hopefully) glorious nectar. Or some-such: at least, the yeast has kicked in, and it's bubbling away. It'll get strained into a demi-john in a few days, and left to its own devices.
Sunday, 11 July 2010
Elderflower Wine
As intended, I've started a batch of elderflower wine. It's a little time-consuming, trimming the flowers from the stems, but hopefully worth it. I used Gervin strain 5 (GV5, white label) yeast, which is the white wine, low-temperature strain. The low-temperature (down to 8-10ºC) ability is actually one that would be useful in a red-wine yeast, as the blackberry/elderberry wine made in the autumn is slow over the cool winter months. As it's staying 18-24ºC at the moment, I hope this wine will move quickly!
Anyway, I've made enough (hopefully) to fill a demi-john, which meant scaling the recipe slightly (to 4l of water). Notes on progress will follow...
Anyway, I've made enough (hopefully) to fill a demi-john, which meant scaling the recipe slightly (to 4l of water). Notes on progress will follow...
Wednesday, 7 July 2010
Elderflower Cordial part 2
The elderflower cordial we started at the weekend is ready. The recipe makes about 5 pints (we doubled it), and it's been decanted into pint milk bottles and frozen. We tried it a couple of days ago, and it didn't seem strongly flavoured enough, hence leaving it a couple of days longer: much better now.
Monday, 5 July 2010
No sign yet...
...of my pulsatilla seeds germinating. Nonetheless, I'm not giving up yet: apparently they might take a couple of weeks to come up, and I am at least trying at the right time. I wasn't sure (no detail in any of my books), but a bit of rooting on t'internet suggests fresh seed is the way to go. I'm still hopeful!
Similarly, the Erythronium 'Pagoda' seeds haven't germinated...apparently, though, they could take several months...patience, patience.
Similarly, the Erythronium 'Pagoda' seeds haven't germinated...apparently, though, they could take several months...patience, patience.
Saturday, 3 July 2010
Elderflower Cordial
After a run of sunny days last week, it was time to make elderflower cordial. Harvesting the flower heads in the morning works best, when the scent is strongest and sweetest: and the cordial starts to smell wonderful almost as soon as it's mixed. On Monday, we'll bottle it up and freeze it: and then next weekend (hopefully), I'll start some elderflower wine.
I've also added a few more planks to the compost bay, which was starting to over-fill with lawn clippings and kitchen waste. Its capacity is probably about 60% greater now, so it should keep going for a bit. As before, I used pallet planks, which seem ideal.
I've also added a few more planks to the compost bay, which was starting to over-fill with lawn clippings and kitchen waste. Its capacity is probably about 60% greater now, so it should keep going for a bit. As before, I used pallet planks, which seem ideal.
Sunday, 27 June 2010
Strawberries
After a glorious week of sunny weather, we had a handful of alpine strawberries, and six 'real' strawberries ready for picking today.
Oh, so good. Fresh from the plant, and perfectly ripe, they've restored my faith in strawberries. Because they're new plants, they're a behind established ones, and these are the first ones from our plants. So far, we've had bought strawberries and---as normal, I'm afraid---I've been slightly underwhelmed. These, however, were wonderful. They looked perfect (deep red, firm, and big), and tasted just as good.
Oh, so good. Fresh from the plant, and perfectly ripe, they've restored my faith in strawberries. Because they're new plants, they're a behind established ones, and these are the first ones from our plants. So far, we've had bought strawberries and---as normal, I'm afraid---I've been slightly underwhelmed. These, however, were wonderful. They looked perfect (deep red, firm, and big), and tasted just as good.
Punting
We've been visiting friends in Cambridge this weekend: Saturday on the river (punting to Grantchester for a picnic), and meeting people today. The weather's swelteringly hot, and it's just got to the end of term (graduation Thursday to Saturday, in order of college foundation dates), so the city was packed. Fortunately, the river wasn't too busy, and---although busier than normal---peaceful above the rollers (up which one drags the punt, to get to the upper river).
Lovely to see 'everyone', and well worth a hot and sticky journey home. We've got two weddings to attend in August, and we saw the bride for one, and the couple of the other: plans appear to be going well, and they should both be memorable occasions. One's in Dorset, which we'll break up the travel for in Ludlow; the other's in Derby, which I intend doing in a day.
Of course, having been away for the weekend, I'll now need to find time during the week to mow the lawn...
Lovely to see 'everyone', and well worth a hot and sticky journey home. We've got two weddings to attend in August, and we saw the bride for one, and the couple of the other: plans appear to be going well, and they should both be memorable occasions. One's in Dorset, which we'll break up the travel for in Ludlow; the other's in Derby, which I intend doing in a day.
Of course, having been away for the weekend, I'll now need to find time during the week to mow the lawn...
Monday, 21 June 2010
Solstice!
It's the solstice today (at 1128 UTC): I always like noticing such astronomical events. This one's bitter-sweet for me: although it marks the formal start of 'summer' (although I think it's been summer for a couple of weeks), it's also slightly depressing to know that the days will now get shorter for six months.
On the topic, I'd really like to find a way to build an analemmatic sundial into the garden, possibly one where the observer themselves is the gnomen. Don't know where, yet!
Next stop: the cross-quarter, Lammas/Lughnasadh on 1st August.
On the topic, I'd really like to find a way to build an analemmatic sundial into the garden, possibly one where the observer themselves is the gnomen. Don't know where, yet!
Next stop: the cross-quarter, Lammas/Lughnasadh on 1st August.
Sunday, 20 June 2010
Straw-berried
After getting a big bale of straw (from a equestrian supplier, where it was £3, instead of a pet-shop, where it would have been £5 for something a tenth of the size...) included in a neighbour's order, we've now put straw down around the strawberries. It's rather later than 'normal', but there you go. At least it's before the strawberries have started ripening, and it'll help keep them happy and clean.
We've done a fair bit of tidying up, too, and sorted out a number of pots that needed attention. I've also collected seed from a Pulsatilla vulgaris, and sown it: they're really attractive seed-heads, and I'm fond of the pulsatilla foliage and flowers, so a few more plants would be nice. At the same time, I've sown Erythronium 'Pagoda'. The parent, unfortunately, dried out before it was properly established, but I'm hoping to do better next time.
We've done a fair bit of tidying up, too, and sorted out a number of pots that needed attention. I've also collected seed from a Pulsatilla vulgaris, and sown it: they're really attractive seed-heads, and I'm fond of the pulsatilla foliage and flowers, so a few more plants would be nice. At the same time, I've sown Erythronium 'Pagoda'. The parent, unfortunately, dried out before it was properly established, but I'm hoping to do better next time.
Saturday, 19 June 2010
New Cooker
The new range cooker arrived today! It is a thing of beauty, even though it's standing in the dining room. When the kitchen's rebuilt/reinstalled in late July, it'll get moved, obviously, but is safely out of harm's way in the mean time. We got (predictably) a rather good price, and I'm really looking forward to trying it out.
The weather's been rather warm, so we've been putting the new irrigation system to use. Seems to be doing the trick...
The weather's been rather warm, so we've been putting the new irrigation system to use. Seems to be doing the trick...
Sunday, 13 June 2010
Brief Note
A quiet weekend, visiting my parents. Weather's been nice, and it was good to see them both. We've had some complications with the windows, which will hopefully get sorted, but there's not a lot to report, otherwise.
Sunday, 6 June 2010
Weekend to Plan
I'm as astounded as anyone: the weekend went, pretty much, to plan. Yesterday we installed the irrigation system. It's about 30 360º sprinklers, and four 90º sprinklers (in the strawberry bed). Not quite perfect, as a few strawberries are being missed, and some of the potatoes/onions aren't being reached, but the permanent fruit bushes are all covered. This week is now forecast to be rather wet, so it won't actually be put properly to the test for a while, but it's good that it's in. I also laid a hose down the side of the garden (hidden behind the shrubs/trees/undergrowth at the edge) from which to water by hand, or attach the irrigation. When I have time, and possibly in stages, I'll install the new outside tap and move the existing tap.
We've also prepared for the double glazing installation, which starts tomorrow. All the windowsills have been cleared, and furniture moved from in front of the windows (including some pots from outside the windows). I'm really hoping it'll go smoothly, but we're not going to be present while they get on, so I'm a bit nervous...
(Oh, and to boot: I mowed the lawn on Thursday!)
We've also prepared for the double glazing installation, which starts tomorrow. All the windowsills have been cleared, and furniture moved from in front of the windows (including some pots from outside the windows). I'm really hoping it'll go smoothly, but we're not going to be present while they get on, so I'm a bit nervous...
(Oh, and to boot: I mowed the lawn on Thursday!)
Monday, 31 May 2010
Fluffy Glass Blanket
It's been a little while, but I've finished putting new/additional loft insulation in the lofts. I started in February, but needed more insulation than would fit in the car (or be stored), so stopped after doing most of the loft above the master bedroom. I've now done the loft above the guest bedrooms, and the smaller loft above the bathrooms, which has taken about nine rolls. I've still got several rolls left, as the offer (a British Gas subsidised offer of £5 per roll (about 5m2)) was too good to miss. The spares will wind up either in the porch/utility, above the downstairs loo/cloakroom/porch, or as increased depth in the main lofts.
We've also ordered a new cooker. Building work to open the kitchen out into the hall is planned for the end of July, and we'll be putting in a new kitchen shortly after. The cooker's going to be sitting waiting for a little while, therefore, but it was an ex-display with 30% off. We'd admired it once or twice while browsing, so we leapt at the opportunity of getting it cheaply! Well, relatively cheaply.
It's been a bit damp and grey, but the weather's meant to improve over the week, so I'll probably be out mowing the lawn on Wednesday or Thursday. Next weekend, we'll need to get everything in order for the double-glazing installation on the 7th (clearing the windowsills, for one thing), and I hope to install one or both of the irrigation system and the tap/hose for the vegetable garden.
Will either happen? I just don't know.
We've also ordered a new cooker. Building work to open the kitchen out into the hall is planned for the end of July, and we'll be putting in a new kitchen shortly after. The cooker's going to be sitting waiting for a little while, therefore, but it was an ex-display with 30% off. We'd admired it once or twice while browsing, so we leapt at the opportunity of getting it cheaply! Well, relatively cheaply.
It's been a bit damp and grey, but the weather's meant to improve over the week, so I'll probably be out mowing the lawn on Wednesday or Thursday. Next weekend, we'll need to get everything in order for the double-glazing installation on the 7th (clearing the windowsills, for one thing), and I hope to install one or both of the irrigation system and the tap/hose for the vegetable garden.
Will either happen? I just don't know.
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Racking Wine
We made two batches of wine last autumn: a blackberry (2nd Sept '10) and a blackberry and elderberry (20th Sept '10). They've been quietly sitting in the airing cupboard, and were mentioned last November. A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned that they were clearing well, and would need racking, and here we are.
I was excited to discover that our new supermarket ('new' being a relative term, as it's on the route to Liz's new workplace -- I think it's been there some time) has a selection of wine/beer/cider making equipment, so I replaced the siphoning tube/tap/filter a couple of weeks back. I've now racked the two wines into clean demi-johns...and, of course, reserved a bit to try. The blackberry's still, possibly, a little sweet, and the black & elderberry hasn't fully cleared, so they're probably not quite done, but both are tasting very good. The demi-johns are back in the airing cupboard: when I feel like it, I might measure the specific gravity of them, to see if they warrant further fermenting; that might require a restart yeast, though.
Over the long weekend, in addition to a session of bicycle maintenance that needs doing but which fails to fill me with joy, I'm hoping to install the irrigation system. We'll see if that happens...
I was excited to discover that our new supermarket ('new' being a relative term, as it's on the route to Liz's new workplace -- I think it's been there some time) has a selection of wine/beer/cider making equipment, so I replaced the siphoning tube/tap/filter a couple of weeks back. I've now racked the two wines into clean demi-johns...and, of course, reserved a bit to try. The blackberry's still, possibly, a little sweet, and the black & elderberry hasn't fully cleared, so they're probably not quite done, but both are tasting very good. The demi-johns are back in the airing cupboard: when I feel like it, I might measure the specific gravity of them, to see if they warrant further fermenting; that might require a restart yeast, though.
Over the long weekend, in addition to a session of bicycle maintenance that needs doing but which fails to fill me with joy, I'm hoping to install the irrigation system. We'll see if that happens...
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
Wall Plants
We've planted some new plants in the stone wall at the front of the house:
- Calamintha nepeta (lesser calamint): loads of small pink flowers through the summer.
- Artemesia 'Powys Castle': finely divided silver foliage.
- Sedum 'Autumn Joy': typical sedum leaves, slightly glaucous, with pink flowers in mid summer/mid autumn, which should turn salmon-pink then copper-red.
- Lamium roseum: low-growing, green leaves with silver stripe, and pink flowers in summer.
Sunday, 23 May 2010
Himalayan Garden
We spent the morning at the Himalayan Garden in Grewelthorpe, near Ripon. It's only open for a short period (late April-mid June), and has a fairly specialized theme of planting. It's got the soil (ericaceous) and aspect (protected and northerly) to concentrate on azaleas, camellias, bamboo, magnolias, and rhododendrons. And wonderful they are, too. Some really striking rhododendrons, and magnificent ground covering azaleas. We also found a couple of bamboos we liked (Chusquea culeou and Arundinaria nitida). I have some photos, which I might put up once I've downloaded the memory card...
Bakingly hot, too, so it was fortunate that the caravan had many windows to create a breeze! Everything seemed in order, with just a few repairs (second-hand caravan) needed, and a short list of supplies that need adding.
My irrigation components arrived on Friday, incidentally: I'm really impressed that they got to me so quickly, having ordered them on Thursday! I hope to get it installed over the Bank Holiday weekend, with a little luck.
Bakingly hot, too, so it was fortunate that the caravan had many windows to create a breeze! Everything seemed in order, with just a few repairs (second-hand caravan) needed, and a short list of supplies that need adding.
My irrigation components arrived on Friday, incidentally: I'm really impressed that they got to me so quickly, having ordered them on Thursday! I hope to get it installed over the Bank Holiday weekend, with a little luck.
Saturday, 22 May 2010
Hanging Baskets
We've just planted up the four hanging baskets for the front of the house. We previously had them as 'all-season' baskets, with a grass, heather, ivy, and cyclamen, and added a bit of colour from annuals. However, they needed an over-haul, as the grass had got a little carried away, some of the heathers and ivy weren't looking too great, and the cyclamen were no more.
Thus: we picked up some fuchsia (Annabelle and Cascade) and some bedding (petunias, impatiens, and lobelia). They're now planted up and adorning the front of the house. I'd like to put up some window boxes, when I find some that look nice.
We're now off on a 24-hour jaunt in the in-laws' new caravan. They're new to the touring world, and are off for a week in Scotland next weekend, but wanted a short and close-to-home try-out, to see what they've forgotten to pack, but without it being a problem. We've booked a plot at a site near Ripon, and hope to spend the afternoon/evening getting to grips with the caravan, before going to a Himalayan garden in the area on Sunday. Looks like we'll have glorious weather, at least!
Thus: we picked up some fuchsia (Annabelle and Cascade) and some bedding (petunias, impatiens, and lobelia). They're now planted up and adorning the front of the house. I'd like to put up some window boxes, when I find some that look nice.
We're now off on a 24-hour jaunt in the in-laws' new caravan. They're new to the touring world, and are off for a week in Scotland next weekend, but wanted a short and close-to-home try-out, to see what they've forgotten to pack, but without it being a problem. We've booked a plot at a site near Ripon, and hope to spend the afternoon/evening getting to grips with the caravan, before going to a Himalayan garden in the area on Sunday. Looks like we'll have glorious weather, at least!
Thursday, 20 May 2010
Chocolate and Fudge (take 2)
I've made another batch of fudge (a birthday present), and what promises to be a very tasty 'Egyptian chocolate cake' (a birthday cake). I'll let you know whether it lives up to its promise.
It's been very warm and bright, so I've been round with the hose, too. The raspberries are (finally) showing some sign of life: several of them appear to have new canes coming up alongside last year's bare-rooted cane. One of the gooseberries is looking unhappy (that is, no leaves), and one's a bit lack-lustre, but the others all seem to be doing well. Quite a few strawberries now have flowers, and I think the total body-count is only seven, which means some 68 or so survived the delivery and very cold winter.
I'm enjoying the evolution of the acer in the front: it's gone from red, through orange, and is now a greeny-yellow, as the leaves near their summer hue. The blackthorn (sloe) blossoms on the hillside have gone over, but they've been replaced by apple flowers. Our apple is also flowering: striking pink, which are fading to white. Oh; I've found a useful identification tool which may help me work out what the putative cherry near the daffodils is.
Having ruminated on it for a bit, I've ordered the necessary parts to irrigate the fruit & veg beds. I did go with Hozelock components, and found a good price for them. Don't know when I'll get round to installing it, yet, mind!
It's been very warm and bright, so I've been round with the hose, too. The raspberries are (finally) showing some sign of life: several of them appear to have new canes coming up alongside last year's bare-rooted cane. One of the gooseberries is looking unhappy (that is, no leaves), and one's a bit lack-lustre, but the others all seem to be doing well. Quite a few strawberries now have flowers, and I think the total body-count is only seven, which means some 68 or so survived the delivery and very cold winter.
I'm enjoying the evolution of the acer in the front: it's gone from red, through orange, and is now a greeny-yellow, as the leaves near their summer hue. The blackthorn (sloe) blossoms on the hillside have gone over, but they've been replaced by apple flowers. Our apple is also flowering: striking pink, which are fading to white. Oh; I've found a useful identification tool which may help me work out what the putative cherry near the daffodils is.
Having ruminated on it for a bit, I've ordered the necessary parts to irrigate the fruit & veg beds. I did go with Hozelock components, and found a good price for them. Don't know when I'll get round to installing it, yet, mind!
Monday, 17 May 2010
Pruning the Dandelion Bed
Or, put another way, I've been mowing the lawn. Which I didn't really get a lot out of: I get more pleasure, frankly, out of the lawn awash with yellow. Admittedly, close-up, it looks a lot neater, but still. As I've said, over time the amount of lawn will decrease, but at the moment, cutting it is a two-hour job I don't enjoy. If I could bring myself to do it more often, it'd probably be quicker, but--ultimately--there's still the same area of grass to push the mower over, so it'd still take a while.
I'm thinking about constructing an irrigation/automatic watering system for the kitchen garden. As it warms up, it's going to need watering rather frequently, so something automated would be nice. I've used the Hozelock system before, so might use that. We shall see...
I'm thinking about constructing an irrigation/automatic watering system for the kitchen garden. As it warms up, it's going to need watering rather frequently, so something automated would be nice. I've used the Hozelock system before, so might use that. We shall see...
Sunday, 16 May 2010
Knitting Nets
We've spent quite a long time today and yesterday, trying to stitch together the nets over the fruit cages. As they're quite large, the 6m x 4m nets aren't individually big enough, so we're having to join them. We tried using soft steel split rings (think crude keyrings), but they haven't worked very well, and there are significant gapes between rings.
Instead, we're now weaving jute between the nets, going in and out every hole, which leads to a tight join, if a visible one. However, jute's inoffensive, and actually blends in with the wooden posts, so they're looking fine. We've almost finished the bigger beds: the raspberry beds are going to be harder, as they're so much taller, and the nets will have to come off to be stitched. Never mind.
While we've been working on them, bees have been coming and going unhindered, which is reassuring. Speaking of bees: there are what look like two fruit trees that we were unaware of last autumn. One's near the daffodils on the south edge (reasonably large), and the other's in the corner copse. My identification skills aren't fabulous, but I think they may be cherries or plums...and with a little luck they might bear fruit.
If the weather holds, I'll mow the lawns tomorrow (oh, the joy), as they're looking badly in need of it. If I'm quick, I'll catch the dandelions before the go to seed. No; I'm not a very good groundsman, since you ask.
Instead, we're now weaving jute between the nets, going in and out every hole, which leads to a tight join, if a visible one. However, jute's inoffensive, and actually blends in with the wooden posts, so they're looking fine. We've almost finished the bigger beds: the raspberry beds are going to be harder, as they're so much taller, and the nets will have to come off to be stitched. Never mind.
While we've been working on them, bees have been coming and going unhindered, which is reassuring. Speaking of bees: there are what look like two fruit trees that we were unaware of last autumn. One's near the daffodils on the south edge (reasonably large), and the other's in the corner copse. My identification skills aren't fabulous, but I think they may be cherries or plums...and with a little luck they might bear fruit.
If the weather holds, I'll mow the lawns tomorrow (oh, the joy), as they're looking badly in need of it. If I'm quick, I'll catch the dandelions before the go to seed. No; I'm not a very good groundsman, since you ask.
Wednesday, 12 May 2010
Repotting
We've re-potted the Christmas Tree, into a big half-barrel: it's not been looking happy, and I'm not sure if it's the soil exhausting, or a lack of water. Anyway; we donated some of our huge pile of topsoil, and with any luck it'll pick up.
To do so, we had to pot the previous occupants of the barrel: two conifers (doing well), a buddleia (leggy), and two skimmia (not so happy). There were, once, three heathers, but they gave up the ghost, it appears. No plan, yet, for where these pots will end up...
We also filled the gaps (given the small stature of the bushes at the moment) in the fruit beds with the gladioli. They'll probably be cut for bringing inside, rather than left there, which is always good.
To do so, we had to pot the previous occupants of the barrel: two conifers (doing well), a buddleia (leggy), and two skimmia (not so happy). There were, once, three heathers, but they gave up the ghost, it appears. No plan, yet, for where these pots will end up...
We also filled the gaps (given the small stature of the bushes at the moment) in the fruit beds with the gladioli. They'll probably be cut for bringing inside, rather than left there, which is always good.
Sunday, 9 May 2010
Netting the Cages
We've spent most of the weekend putting netting up over the fruit cages. The posts supporting the raised beds are 5-6' taller than the sides, and are the supports too for the cages. I've run 1mm galvanized steel wire from their tops, and we're hanging 2cm netting to protect against birds (and rabbits, deer, and playful cats). It's quite slow work--we're about half done--but seems to work, and allows bees in and out uninterrupted.
We also popped out to the garden centre, and picked up some bedding (Busy Lizzies/impatiens), and some 'cottage garden' perennials. The latter are mostly to go in the planted wall at the front of the house: the bedding is to scatter in the front, and revitalize the hanging baskets (four of them on the front of the house).
The daffodils are still doing tolerably: they're pretty from a distance, but getting a bit dog-eared up close. The juneberry has almost finished flowering, although the foliage is still a pretty shade. The front's acer is leafing up rapidly--it's gone from quite red, to yellow-gold, and is looking lovely.
The apple, plum, and cherry are all in bloom, and I'm hoping that the frosts predicted for the week aren't too deep: they're all in protected corners, so I think they'll be fine.
I've checked over the wine that's been sitting quietly in the airing cupboard: it's settled and cleared, so I'm going to put it somewhere a little warmer, and we should rack it in the next couple of weeks.
We also popped out to the garden centre, and picked up some bedding (Busy Lizzies/impatiens), and some 'cottage garden' perennials. The latter are mostly to go in the planted wall at the front of the house: the bedding is to scatter in the front, and revitalize the hanging baskets (four of them on the front of the house).
The daffodils are still doing tolerably: they're pretty from a distance, but getting a bit dog-eared up close. The juneberry has almost finished flowering, although the foliage is still a pretty shade. The front's acer is leafing up rapidly--it's gone from quite red, to yellow-gold, and is looking lovely.
The apple, plum, and cherry are all in bloom, and I'm hoping that the frosts predicted for the week aren't too deep: they're all in protected corners, so I think they'll be fine.
I've checked over the wine that's been sitting quietly in the airing cupboard: it's settled and cleared, so I'm going to put it somewhere a little warmer, and we should rack it in the next couple of weeks.
Monday, 3 May 2010
Last Fruit Bed Completed
Finally, we've finished the fruit beds. I part-built the last bed on Wednesday evening, and another 6m3 of topsoil arrived on Thursday. Today I finished the bed (it was only a quarter done; just enough to move the last of the last batch of topsoil), and we've filled it.
The gooseberries, blueberries and currants are now all planted, including the two blueberries (Grover, and something unknown) and redcurrant that we already had.
They look really good, and I'm delighted. They've been hard work, though! Next weekend we need to put the wires up to support the netting. Shouldn't be too hard... Famous last words?
We've planted potatoes and onions in the spare space (obviously, the plants are all quite small), so hopefully we'll have some vegetables out of the beds, even though the 'proper' vegetable beds are some time off now.
Lastly; we visited my parents Saturday-Sunday, and have come home with a tray of goodies. I shall list them when they're planted, but they include a blue geranium I'm fond of, some geum, Sweet William, and a primrose.
The gooseberries, blueberries and currants are now all planted, including the two blueberries (Grover, and something unknown) and redcurrant that we already had.
They look really good, and I'm delighted. They've been hard work, though! Next weekend we need to put the wires up to support the netting. Shouldn't be too hard... Famous last words?
We've planted potatoes and onions in the spare space (obviously, the plants are all quite small), so hopefully we'll have some vegetables out of the beds, even though the 'proper' vegetable beds are some time off now.
Lastly; we visited my parents Saturday-Sunday, and have come home with a tray of goodies. I shall list them when they're planted, but they include a blue geranium I'm fond of, some geum, Sweet William, and a primrose.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
More Top Soil Moved
A couple of days work on the raised fruit beds...I finished constructing the first of them, which was a time-consuming job as it has about 25m of perimeter, half of which is curved. Nonetheless, I finally managed it, and am quite happy with the curves. It's needed some supplementary pegs in the straight sections, as otherwise they were threatening to bow.
We then dug it over, laid some of the turves that have been breaking down in their stack, and filled it: we haven't quite finished the first delivery (6m3) of topsoil, but we're nearly there. About 1m3 left, I'd guess. I've then started the second bed, which is a bit smaller, and slightly simpler shape, but this time with a convex edge, as well as a concave. Still, I'm not very far into it (rain stopped play): I'll try to crack on during evenings of this week, as a further 6m3 of soil arrives on Thursday morning...and Liz would like somewhere to move it to, as she's on leave Thursday/Friday.
Here's hoping for clear, dry evenings this coming week!
The daffodils are continuing to look very pretty, and new ones in different varieties are coming up, so the show should continue for a while. No further puschkinia or scilla have emerged, and I'm now very concerned for the anemones. On the other hand, the flowering currants have been a hive of industry for the bees for a couple of weeks, but are slowly reaching the end of their season. To balance that, the Amelanchier (juneberry, forget which type) is looking excellent: its new foliage and flowers are always really striking, and although it can be a little 'plain' over the summer, it then brackets the season nicely with good autumn colour, so I'm a fan. The tulips (Pinocchio, and botanical) are looking good, and opening up on bright days.
The apple, cherry, and plum all have what appear to be flower buds that are a week or so from opening (I reckon): the lilacs also look to be coming in to bud. And the Astilbe (still in its pot) is coming up: Astilbe are a favourite of mine, for no particular reason.
We then dug it over, laid some of the turves that have been breaking down in their stack, and filled it: we haven't quite finished the first delivery (6m3) of topsoil, but we're nearly there. About 1m3 left, I'd guess. I've then started the second bed, which is a bit smaller, and slightly simpler shape, but this time with a convex edge, as well as a concave. Still, I'm not very far into it (rain stopped play): I'll try to crack on during evenings of this week, as a further 6m3 of soil arrives on Thursday morning...and Liz would like somewhere to move it to, as she's on leave Thursday/Friday.
Here's hoping for clear, dry evenings this coming week!
The daffodils are continuing to look very pretty, and new ones in different varieties are coming up, so the show should continue for a while. No further puschkinia or scilla have emerged, and I'm now very concerned for the anemones. On the other hand, the flowering currants have been a hive of industry for the bees for a couple of weeks, but are slowly reaching the end of their season. To balance that, the Amelanchier (juneberry, forget which type) is looking excellent: its new foliage and flowers are always really striking, and although it can be a little 'plain' over the summer, it then brackets the season nicely with good autumn colour, so I'm a fan. The tulips (Pinocchio, and botanical) are looking good, and opening up on bright days.
The apple, cherry, and plum all have what appear to be flower buds that are a week or so from opening (I reckon): the lilacs also look to be coming in to bud. And the Astilbe (still in its pot) is coming up: Astilbe are a favourite of mine, for no particular reason.
Thursday, 22 April 2010
First Mowing of the Year
Having had several fine days in a row, and realising that my lawn/moss patch was in need of attention, I've taken the opportunity to try out the new lawn-mower.
All-in-all, I'm rather happy with the mower
.* It did a really good job of collecting the clippings, and changing the blade height was quite straightforward. Nothing can change the fact that there's a lot of grass to mow, but the 90 minutes walking up and down wasn't really too bad. And it even looks a bit neater now.
While the purists might suggest I should cut it twice-per-week during growing season, I really don't see me having the time, much less the inclination. If I have that much time to spend in the garden, I'll be devoting it elsewhere.
* As ever, the Amazon link, should you follow it and buy, will earn me a commission. I like to note this, from time to time. They're useful for me, as they provide quite a neat summary of a Thing that I'm talking about. And any such earnings will be spent on horticultural, photographic, or gustatory pastimes.
All-in-all, I'm rather happy with the mower
.* It did a really good job of collecting the clippings, and changing the blade height was quite straightforward. Nothing can change the fact that there's a lot of grass to mow, but the 90 minutes walking up and down wasn't really too bad. And it even looks a bit neater now.While the purists might suggest I should cut it twice-per-week during growing season, I really don't see me having the time, much less the inclination. If I have that much time to spend in the garden, I'll be devoting it elsewhere.
* As ever, the Amazon link, should you follow it and buy, will earn me a commission. I like to note this, from time to time. They're useful for me, as they provide quite a neat summary of a Thing that I'm talking about. And any such earnings will be spent on horticultural, photographic, or gustatory pastimes.
Sunday, 18 April 2010
Three Completed Raised Beds
We're both rather stiff and sore, but the strawberry and two raspberry beds are now completed, and filled. It's taken about 3-4 cubic metres of topsoil, and they're looking really good. I'm in the middle of building the lower of the two mixed fruit beds: it's going to take a bit longer, as it's complicated by a curved side, and it's also quite a lot bigger.
The raspberries have been replanted, and are looking happy--some of them have a couple of new canes budding. The strawberries are mostly looking well: I reckon we've lost 9 or so of the Cambridge, unfortunately.
Many of the daffodils have come out, and are looking really cheerful: there's a good variety of type. The 'Cheerfulness' in the front aren't out yet, but the pinnochio tulips are looking very pretty. Still a bit short on puschkinia and scilla, and no sign at all of the anemones, which is worrying.
It's been a glorious weekend of sun; really still today, and a little cloudy, but that made it cool enough to work. Yesterday morning was brighter, but actually a bit hot. Long may it last.
The raspberries have been replanted, and are looking happy--some of them have a couple of new canes budding. The strawberries are mostly looking well: I reckon we've lost 9 or so of the Cambridge, unfortunately.
Many of the daffodils have come out, and are looking really cheerful: there's a good variety of type. The 'Cheerfulness' in the front aren't out yet, but the pinnochio tulips are looking very pretty. Still a bit short on puschkinia and scilla, and no sign at all of the anemones, which is worrying.
It's been a glorious weekend of sun; really still today, and a little cloudy, but that made it cool enough to work. Yesterday morning was brighter, but actually a bit hot. Long may it last.
Monday, 12 April 2010
Strawberry Bed
Just a quick note: we got home from work early, so we've driven in the stakes/posts for the strawberry bed. They're shorter than for the fruit beds: about 1' in the ground, and 21" above. That means I can hammer them in, rather than digging, which is much quicker! I'll screw the boards onto the posts when next out, as the first load of topsoil arrives this Friday. Fortunately, the forecast for the weekend is good, so hopefully we can make good progress with making the beds and filling them.
Almost all the Florence and Honeoye are looking good, and about 15 of the 25 Cambridge are doing well. They were the ones we were concerned about, but enough of them seem to have survived.
More of the squills have come up, though I'm not sure that the full 50 we planted are showing; similarly, there are meant to be 100 puschkinia...hopefully they're a bit slow, rather than dead...
Almost all the Florence and Honeoye are looking good, and about 15 of the 25 Cambridge are doing well. They were the ones we were concerned about, but enough of them seem to have survived.
More of the squills have come up, though I'm not sure that the full 50 we planted are showing; similarly, there are meant to be 100 puschkinia...hopefully they're a bit slow, rather than dead...
Sunday, 11 April 2010
Wedding
We got back from Hazel and Alex's wedding very late (about 0300), and--predictably--slept in. Today's a day for pottering, so we've ambled round the garden and admired the spring bulbs, and watched TV. Very decadent.
The wedding went really well: the ceremony was nice, and the reception appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed. Hazel and Alex looked great, and the photographer appeared to be doing a good job. I loved an opportunity to dress up (a black morning tailcoat, traditional black/grey/white striped trousers, a purple/lilac patterned waistcoat, and purple cravat/pocketsquare), and I think the toast was well received. Alex's mother produced a really excellent cake, too, which was very pretty.
The standard of dancing was incredibly high, as Alex and Hazel, and a lot of their friends, are keen ball-room dancers, so the first dance was--in a literal sense--awesome.
They're off to Scotland for their honeymoon: hopefully I'll be able to admire some photos when they're back.
The wedding went really well: the ceremony was nice, and the reception appeared to be thoroughly enjoyed. Hazel and Alex looked great, and the photographer appeared to be doing a good job. I loved an opportunity to dress up (a black morning tailcoat, traditional black/grey/white striped trousers, a purple/lilac patterned waistcoat, and purple cravat/pocketsquare), and I think the toast was well received. Alex's mother produced a really excellent cake, too, which was very pretty.
The standard of dancing was incredibly high, as Alex and Hazel, and a lot of their friends, are keen ball-room dancers, so the first dance was--in a literal sense--awesome.
They're off to Scotland for their honeymoon: hopefully I'll be able to admire some photos when they're back.
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
A Few More Posts In The Ground
Just put a few more of the 2x2" posts in the edge of the berry beds. Two were straight-forward; one discovered a drainage channel two foot down. Bit of a problem, as I wanted it about 2.5-3' deep. Still, I've worked round that issue.
The daffs are coming, slowly: we're going to cut a few to get them to open inside (bit of extra warmth). The puschkinia are now looking rather pretty, and the squills are opening up. I also noticed a patch of--I think--chiondoxa hiding underneath a berberis (at the end of the upper existing bed, near the oil tank), which are rather striking. We'll have to relocate them/protect them while taking out the berberis. We've also found daffodils turning up all over the place (not just where we planted them last autumn), often hidden or obscured by something overgrown. What we suspected of being a flowering currant has confirmed itself as such, and the one we (slightly brutally) transplanted from the in-laws' garden has also started flowering.
The daffs in the front (Cheerfulness) haven't come up yet, but some of the tulips are near. And the hyacinths in the pots outside the kitchen window are looking good.
In other news, we're off to Cambridgeshire tomorrow, for Hazel and Alex's wedding on Saturday (actually nearer Peterborough, but we're staying with them Thursday & Friday night to help prepare. I'm nearly happy with my Best Man's speech (it's really more of an elongated toast, but there you go), and will be practising it on the journey down...
The daffs are coming, slowly: we're going to cut a few to get them to open inside (bit of extra warmth). The puschkinia are now looking rather pretty, and the squills are opening up. I also noticed a patch of--I think--chiondoxa hiding underneath a berberis (at the end of the upper existing bed, near the oil tank), which are rather striking. We'll have to relocate them/protect them while taking out the berberis. We've also found daffodils turning up all over the place (not just where we planted them last autumn), often hidden or obscured by something overgrown. What we suspected of being a flowering currant has confirmed itself as such, and the one we (slightly brutally) transplanted from the in-laws' garden has also started flowering.
The daffs in the front (Cheerfulness) haven't come up yet, but some of the tulips are near. And the hyacinths in the pots outside the kitchen window are looking good.
In other news, we're off to Cambridgeshire tomorrow, for Hazel and Alex's wedding on Saturday (actually nearer Peterborough, but we're staying with them Thursday & Friday night to help prepare. I'm nearly happy with my Best Man's speech (it's really more of an elongated toast, but there you go), and will be practising it on the journey down...
Monday, 5 April 2010
Easter Weekend
We spent the weekend getting on with the raised beds...it now appears that we're growing posts, admittedly, but it is coming along well. Most of the posts for the berry beds are now in: they're 3x3" posts for the corners, and we're putting in some 2x2" posts along the edges, as they're curved: the posts will hopefully help form the curves. They're all rather tall (the raspberries' posts are about 7', and the berry posts 6', to allow for a foot of raised bed, and then enough space for the bushes to grow.
There's still a long way to go, admittedly, and we'll then need about 20 cubic metres of topsoil to fill them all! I'm having to dig spade-width holes for the posts: they're too tall to hammer in, and--additionally--there are so many stones that it would never work.
The daffodils are coming up, but there are only a few that are imminently going to be out properly. The puschkinia are coming up, but looking a little small as yet. The siberian squills are there, but similarly small; but there's no sign of the anemones yet.
We also had a shopping trip, which led to a car-full of stuff...never mind. In addition to a couple of rolls of loft insulation (we can only fit a couple in at a time, so we get some whenever we visit: we need another 8 or so to finish the lofts), we also bought a lawn mower, a garden vacuum/blower, a new blender, and some odds-and-ends.
Although we currently have quite a lot of grass/lawn, neither of us is a big fan of lawn, so we'll be reducing it as the beds are created. Thus, there's unlikely to be much of an expanse that needs proper tending (read, striped and short). Combining this with the gradient and softness of the soil, I wanted a hover-mower, as only a self-propelled petrol would be a sensible alternative, and I just think that would get literally bogged down.
The vacuum/blower I'm absurdly excited about. I'm hoping it'll make clearing the leaves and twigs in autumn much simpler, and I'll probably try it out soonish on the remnants of last year.
The blender was a coup: nominal price £125, reduced to £50, but we had a £20 voucher after the delivery disaster with the freezer/washing machine. £125 blender for £30? Yes, please.
There's still a long way to go, admittedly, and we'll then need about 20 cubic metres of topsoil to fill them all! I'm having to dig spade-width holes for the posts: they're too tall to hammer in, and--additionally--there are so many stones that it would never work.
The daffodils are coming up, but there are only a few that are imminently going to be out properly. The puschkinia are coming up, but looking a little small as yet. The siberian squills are there, but similarly small; but there's no sign of the anemones yet.
We also had a shopping trip, which led to a car-full of stuff...never mind. In addition to a couple of rolls of loft insulation (we can only fit a couple in at a time, so we get some whenever we visit: we need another 8 or so to finish the lofts), we also bought a lawn mower, a garden vacuum/blower, a new blender, and some odds-and-ends.
Although we currently have quite a lot of grass/lawn, neither of us is a big fan of lawn, so we'll be reducing it as the beds are created. Thus, there's unlikely to be much of an expanse that needs proper tending (read, striped and short). Combining this with the gradient and softness of the soil, I wanted a hover-mower, as only a self-propelled petrol would be a sensible alternative, and I just think that would get literally bogged down.
The vacuum/blower I'm absurdly excited about. I'm hoping it'll make clearing the leaves and twigs in autumn much simpler, and I'll probably try it out soonish on the remnants of last year.
The blender was a coup: nominal price £125, reduced to £50, but we had a £20 voucher after the delivery disaster with the freezer/washing machine. £125 blender for £30? Yes, please.
Sunday, 28 March 2010
Starting the Raised Beds
I spent the weekend building the raised beds for the raspberries. The wood was delivered first thing on Saturday morning by the excellent Walker Timber: it looks like a huge pile, but then there's about 320m of plank, and around 100 posts/pegs.
I started with the raspberries as they -- along with the strawberries -- are the most in need of the new beds, and they're also the simplest (about 1.2m wide, and 4.3m long, simple rectangles). Because the corner posts are meant to be six foot taller than ground level, it meant digging 60cm holes for them (can't hammer the top of a three-metre post: I'm not that tall), which was actually simpler for being in clay. Once the posts were in, cutting and screwing the planks was reasonably quick, and both beds are now done.
I might order some top-soil for next (Holy) weekend, if they can deliver it, and then the raspberry beds will be done, and I can turn to the strawberries. The vegetable beds will be last, as the turf for them hasn't even been cut, though we did mark the beds out.
I started with the raspberries as they -- along with the strawberries -- are the most in need of the new beds, and they're also the simplest (about 1.2m wide, and 4.3m long, simple rectangles). Because the corner posts are meant to be six foot taller than ground level, it meant digging 60cm holes for them (can't hammer the top of a three-metre post: I'm not that tall), which was actually simpler for being in clay. Once the posts were in, cutting and screwing the planks was reasonably quick, and both beds are now done.
I might order some top-soil for next (Holy) weekend, if they can deliver it, and then the raspberry beds will be done, and I can turn to the strawberries. The vegetable beds will be last, as the turf for them hasn't even been cut, though we did mark the beds out.
Sunday, 14 March 2010
Chocolate, Fudge, and Mulching
I had a weekend of cooking and gardening, as Liz was working, and I had to entertain myself. There was a big pile of branches waiting to be chipped from last autumn. A lot of them were from the big gorse that was blocking the sitting room window until about September, and they were making the corner of the garden rather untidy. Thus, I borrowed the chipper from Liz's parents, and set to. Chipping always takes a long time, and I'm always struck by how a huge heap of branches turns into a small pile of mulch. Nonetheless, I now have several bin bags of chipped stuff, which will make its way onto a fruit bed sometime. There's still a bit more chipping to do, but that can be next weekend's entertainment, as I was subsequently distracted by making fudge.
This is what happens when I'm unsupervised. I made a batch of chocolate almond fudge (basic fudge recipe, but with chocolate and toasted almonds stirred in), a tray of fridge cake, and two sorts of Easter egg (blackberry brandy, and caramel filled).
I have good memories of making fudge and toffee with my father, when I was little, especially toffee apples; fudge is a favourite of his. I have a soft spot for almonds, so the chocolate/almond fudge is a treat. I prefer dark chocolate, so I use plain in the fudge, so it's not as sweet. Toasting the almonds gives them a better flavour, I find. The fridge cake, I've been having indecent daydreams of for the past couple of weeks, so I'm pleased to have finally made it. I've only had one slice (admirable restraint, I have to say), with a coffee, and am very happy. It's a different recipe to what I've made before, with condensed milk, and it's turned out very well.
Filled Easter eggs were also an experiment. We've got a set of moulds (a silly-priced 10p for four sheets of 18 small halves, and 2 single big halves, in the supermarket after Easter a few years ago), and we've made solid small eggs and a couple of hollow big eggs. However, I fancied trying my hand at filled eggs, so I made hollow small eggs, and then whipped up some caramel (70g sweetened condensed milk, 55g butter, 55g light brown sugar, heated a bit shy of 'fudge' (116ºC)), and a truffle (dark chocolate, splash of the same milk, butter, and blackberry brandy). I filled the hollow eggs, and sealed them. I'll take them out of their moulds and join the halves when I can...and hope that they've worked!
An entirely unintended consequence is that I have a mug full of 'spare' caramel. Oops.
This is what happens when I'm unsupervised. I made a batch of chocolate almond fudge (basic fudge recipe, but with chocolate and toasted almonds stirred in), a tray of fridge cake, and two sorts of Easter egg (blackberry brandy, and caramel filled).
I have good memories of making fudge and toffee with my father, when I was little, especially toffee apples; fudge is a favourite of his. I have a soft spot for almonds, so the chocolate/almond fudge is a treat. I prefer dark chocolate, so I use plain in the fudge, so it's not as sweet. Toasting the almonds gives them a better flavour, I find. The fridge cake, I've been having indecent daydreams of for the past couple of weeks, so I'm pleased to have finally made it. I've only had one slice (admirable restraint, I have to say), with a coffee, and am very happy. It's a different recipe to what I've made before, with condensed milk, and it's turned out very well.
Filled Easter eggs were also an experiment. We've got a set of moulds (a silly-priced 10p for four sheets of 18 small halves, and 2 single big halves, in the supermarket after Easter a few years ago), and we've made solid small eggs and a couple of hollow big eggs. However, I fancied trying my hand at filled eggs, so I made hollow small eggs, and then whipped up some caramel (70g sweetened condensed milk, 55g butter, 55g light brown sugar, heated a bit shy of 'fudge' (116ºC)), and a truffle (dark chocolate, splash of the same milk, butter, and blackberry brandy). I filled the hollow eggs, and sealed them. I'll take them out of their moulds and join the halves when I can...and hope that they've worked!
An entirely unintended consequence is that I have a mug full of 'spare' caramel. Oops.
Sunday, 7 March 2010
Lights Fitted and Raised Beds Measured
I've now fitted those lights in the sitting room, and they're behaving just as hoped. The previous lights had big metal hoods which stopped much light from going up to the ceiling, but these have 'bare' candle bulbs, so even though the bulbs (cumulatively) have no more power, much more of the light bounces round the room. Very pleasing.
With the lovely weather earlier, we also went out to re-plan the vegetable beds, and measure up the perimeter of the raised beds. The first design for the veg beds was, really, too fussy, so we've simplified it considerably. There's a long bed at the bottom (about 7m by 1.25m), parallel to the fence, and continuing the lower raspberry bed, and then a C shaped bed (squared) above this (6.7m). Within the space this leaves, there's then an annular bed, with a path cutting into it. I'll do a plan, when I have a chance.
Anyway, doing that allowed us to calculate the perimeter of all the beds that want raising. We intend using 6" planking, two high: there's about 170m of perimeter, so it adds up to a lot (80-odd) of planks. I know where they're coming from, so I'll probably order them next weekend. The pegs for the beds will also form the supports for netting cages for the fruit, and we'll have to work out how we net the veg beds later. Then we'll need soil to fill the beds: I'm guessing about a dozen cubic metres, but I have the measurements to get a proper figure. An expensive installation (about £600 for the planks and posts, and about the same again for soil), but should be well worth it.
With the lovely weather earlier, we also went out to re-plan the vegetable beds, and measure up the perimeter of the raised beds. The first design for the veg beds was, really, too fussy, so we've simplified it considerably. There's a long bed at the bottom (about 7m by 1.25m), parallel to the fence, and continuing the lower raspberry bed, and then a C shaped bed (squared) above this (6.7m). Within the space this leaves, there's then an annular bed, with a path cutting into it. I'll do a plan, when I have a chance.
Anyway, doing that allowed us to calculate the perimeter of all the beds that want raising. We intend using 6" planking, two high: there's about 170m of perimeter, so it adds up to a lot (80-odd) of planks. I know where they're coming from, so I'll probably order them next weekend. The pegs for the beds will also form the supports for netting cages for the fruit, and we'll have to work out how we net the veg beds later. Then we'll need soil to fill the beds: I'm guessing about a dozen cubic metres, but I have the measurements to get a proper figure. An expensive installation (about £600 for the planks and posts, and about the same again for soil), but should be well worth it.
Monday, 1 March 2010
Boiled Home-Cure Ham
Just to quickly report: the boiled ham was delicious. The cloves in the wet cure worked nicely, and added a touch to the flavour. After the over-saltiness of the bacon, we soaked the ham for 36 hours: I think 12-24 would be sufficient. However, it was cooked (slow-cooker) beautifully (I'll note the recipe down at some point...), and tasted excellent.
No More Head Banging
We've found, after a few months of looking, new lights for the sitting room. They're from Homebase, and are a little more 'stately' than I might have intended, but -- once in situ -- actually look really good. The main/pendant 'luminaire' has five candle bulbs: each one's only 5W (fluorescent), but between them, and without the ludicrous metal shades that blocked so much of the light from the previous fitting (which had three 11W bulbs), they ought to light the room well. The second wall light (two 5W candle bulbs) will go in the corner with the TV. I have -- on order -- a second wall light, that will go at the foot of the stairs, which will be excellent when trying to get from stairs to kitchen.
The best part? They were half price, and then had bulbs thrown in, so the fittings were effectively only £3 (wall) and £12 (luminaire). Bargain.
I've not installed them yet, but the new ceiling light will be higher than the existing one, so I'll stop smacking my head. Technically, I've not hit my head for months, but Liz's dad does so every other time he comes round, and Alex seems to manage it twice every visit. Read into that what you will, but it'll be good to eliminate the threat.
The best part? They were half price, and then had bulbs thrown in, so the fittings were effectively only £3 (wall) and £12 (luminaire). Bargain.
I've not installed them yet, but the new ceiling light will be higher than the existing one, so I'll stop smacking my head. Technically, I've not hit my head for months, but Liz's dad does so every other time he comes round, and Alex seems to manage it twice every visit. Read into that what you will, but it'll be good to eliminate the threat.
Sunday, 28 February 2010
Bacon Success
A very enjoyable cooked breakfast! The sausages were excellent, and the bacon has worked well. It's a bit too salty, though, so in future it'll want to be soaked briefly, I think. As expected from slicing it, it's not a particularly pink bacon, but it tastes the part. Next time, I might adjust the cure recipe, to have a bit more sugar, and a bit more saltpetre. I might also try a wet cure. Still, that's six months off.
In other news, I've finished putting up the cupboards in the utility room, and also installed a worktop under them/over the washing machine. It's looking really smart, and the cupboards are invaluable. The walls need painting, and the curtains need changing, but it's getting there!
The gap in the kitchen units (where the dishwasher used to live, and which was a hole under the worktop) has now also been filled, with three Contiboard shelves, which looks much neater, and is a useful space. We've also recently put up two long shelves in the workshop, above the big freezer, which has immediately been filled with ring-binders from our degrees. Still, it's better than having them in boxes in the garage, which was their previous residence.
Last two jobs of the weekend have been putting an extra foot of insulation in the loft over our bedroom. As I said in December, the existing insulation was ancient and thin, so this was an ideal way to improve things. It took six big rolls (and, actually, I need another half-roll), but was quite straightforward. The other two lofts (above the two bathrooms, and above the two guest/spare rooms) still need doing, which means getting another 10/11 rolls sometime...it's a slow process, as we can only fit a couple in the car at any time. Still, we'll try to get two tomorrow, as there's a B&Q trip planned. The other job was putting up a rail of coat hooks in the cloakroom, and taking out the sideboard that had been left there. That's now at the foot of the bed (an experiment), and the cloakroom's looking much better.
Busy weekend? Yes.
In other news, I've finished putting up the cupboards in the utility room, and also installed a worktop under them/over the washing machine. It's looking really smart, and the cupboards are invaluable. The walls need painting, and the curtains need changing, but it's getting there!
The gap in the kitchen units (where the dishwasher used to live, and which was a hole under the worktop) has now also been filled, with three Contiboard shelves, which looks much neater, and is a useful space. We've also recently put up two long shelves in the workshop, above the big freezer, which has immediately been filled with ring-binders from our degrees. Still, it's better than having them in boxes in the garage, which was their previous residence.
Last two jobs of the weekend have been putting an extra foot of insulation in the loft over our bedroom. As I said in December, the existing insulation was ancient and thin, so this was an ideal way to improve things. It took six big rolls (and, actually, I need another half-roll), but was quite straightforward. The other two lofts (above the two bathrooms, and above the two guest/spare rooms) still need doing, which means getting another 10/11 rolls sometime...it's a slow process, as we can only fit a couple in the car at any time. Still, we'll try to get two tomorrow, as there's a B&Q trip planned. The other job was putting up a rail of coat hooks in the cloakroom, and taking out the sideboard that had been left there. That's now at the foot of the bed (an experiment), and the cloakroom's looking much better.
Busy weekend? Yes.
Saturday, 27 February 2010
Bacon & Hams Ready
Well, I've just finished the bacon and ham curing. The bacon's been rubbed with dry cure every evening, and I've stirred and turned the hams in their brine most days, and today they were -- hopefully -- finished. I've washed the bacon, and sliced it into rashers (about 50-odd), and then cut the scrappy bits up for other cooking. The colour's not as pink as shop-bought bacon, probably because there was less preservative: not necessarily a bad thing. I'm planning a cooked breakfast tomorrow, and then a boiled ham on Monday, so we'll be able to try out the results.
Sunday, 21 February 2010
A Weekend of Pork
Yesterday, we collected our half pig, which had been raised by a friend, slaughtered last Monday, and butchered this week. We'd specified our butchery requests, and it was ready on Saturday. The half carcase went into a number of components:
We decided to stick with a basic bacon cure: next time I might play with some flavourings. Ultimately, I'd like to build a smoker, and smoke some/all of the bacon, but that's a little way off yet. As for the hams' brine, it's also a simple one: again, next time I might try some beer, treacle, vinegar, apple juice, or spices. We'll see: I didn't want to overcomplicate our first go.
They'll be ready next weekend: the bacon will need draining, and more cure rubbing in every evening, and then we'll rinse, slice and freeze it. The hams should also be done on Saturday, and we'll freeze three, and try the fourth.
Reports on our success will follow...the sausages were extremely good, so we're working from good raw materials: any fault will, sadly, be our own.
- 96 sausages (from the trimmings)
- 1 fillet
- 3 shoulder joints
- 2 belly joints
- 8 chops
- 1 loin joint
- 2 belly cuts
- 4 leg joints
- liver and kidney
We decided to stick with a basic bacon cure: next time I might play with some flavourings. Ultimately, I'd like to build a smoker, and smoke some/all of the bacon, but that's a little way off yet. As for the hams' brine, it's also a simple one: again, next time I might try some beer, treacle, vinegar, apple juice, or spices. We'll see: I didn't want to overcomplicate our first go.
They'll be ready next weekend: the bacon will need draining, and more cure rubbing in every evening, and then we'll rinse, slice and freeze it. The hams should also be done on Saturday, and we'll freeze three, and try the fourth.
Reports on our success will follow...the sausages were extremely good, so we're working from good raw materials: any fault will, sadly, be our own.
Friday, 19 February 2010
New Pages!
I'd been hoping for a development like this, and it has come to pass. Blogger now has undated/not-blog pages, for extended about me info, or other things. I've used this to create a recipes page (also linked to the right), which I'll try to add to. There will, no doubt, be other ones over time --- I have a plan for a garden design one, for instance.
Saturday, 13 February 2010
Pottering
It's a bit cold outside, and Liz is working, so I've had a fun day pottering. I've put up two new lights above the cooker, which is in an alcove, and rather dark: the existing light gave up about three months ago, but I've only just got the new one in. I've done some laundry in the new and exciting washing machine (hoorah!). I've installed the doorbells: cunningly, both buttons (on top and bottom front doors) can communicate with the single chime (in the middle of the house), but each one can trigger a different melody: excellent for knowing which door to go to. I've chopped some kindling, and tidied up the sitting room fireplace, which has needed some attention. And had general pottering fun. Time to settle down soon, and contemplate dinner.
Saturday, 6 February 2010
A Day of Timber Construction
No, not the raised beds. Yet.
Instead, the near-to-overflowing state of our green compost bin meant that we had to get round to building a compost bin. I found an unwanted pallet some time ago, and broke it down into planks. Using some old fence posts (3 inch, yard long) as the verticals, we've made some sides using the pallet planks. Not high enough, really, but they will be once I find another pallet. It will, however, allow us to decant the council compost bin, which will be good. I just need to dig out some carpet to go on top, and I might also line the inside with plastic, to keep it warmer and a bit drier.
Secondly, we put back together the corner arbour. It went quite nicely in the corner of our last (micro) garden; it's now, in fact, back in the corner of this one, although it has rather more to look out at. The surroundings are still a complete mess (it's next to a pile of branches that need to be chipped), but it was getting a bit damp and unhappy sitting in an unassembled pile, so it's better to have it upright.
Slowly, slowly, getting things done. The complete lack of time during the week---and, for that matter, light---is frustrating, but there you have it.
Instead, the near-to-overflowing state of our green compost bin meant that we had to get round to building a compost bin. I found an unwanted pallet some time ago, and broke it down into planks. Using some old fence posts (3 inch, yard long) as the verticals, we've made some sides using the pallet planks. Not high enough, really, but they will be once I find another pallet. It will, however, allow us to decant the council compost bin, which will be good. I just need to dig out some carpet to go on top, and I might also line the inside with plastic, to keep it warmer and a bit drier.
Secondly, we put back together the corner arbour. It went quite nicely in the corner of our last (micro) garden; it's now, in fact, back in the corner of this one, although it has rather more to look out at. The surroundings are still a complete mess (it's next to a pile of branches that need to be chipped), but it was getting a bit damp and unhappy sitting in an unassembled pile, so it's better to have it upright.
Slowly, slowly, getting things done. The complete lack of time during the week---and, for that matter, light---is frustrating, but there you have it.
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