24 Tuesday Jan 2017
Posted in Uncategorized
A bit of warm sunshine today and I am feeling more inspired so here is a quick round up of what’s happening now. Well I have a seed list, a plan and a spreadsheet. So far, so good – thi…
Source: News from the veg plot(s)
24 Tuesday Jan 2017
Posted in Uncategorized
A bit of warm sunshine today and I am feeling more inspired so here is a quick round up of what’s happening now.
Well I have a seed list, a plan and a spreadsheet. So far, so good – this is me pretending to be organised. I have quite a lot of seeds but there is always room for more and I have another order to go in imminently. My spreadsheet starts the seed sowing in February so not long to wait, as long as the weather warms up soon.
Looking in the unheated greenhouse I was pleasantly surprised to find winter sown salad leaves doing well. I also use the dry soil to store dahlia tubers so fingers crossed these will survive this long period of cold weather.
Meanwhile at the pub garden I am still trying to dig grass out of frozen ground but it is looking almost ready. This year I must keep on top of it!
The chives are showing green shoots and the rhubarb hidden under an upturned dustbin has a few early leaves. It’s more hopeful than productive at the moment but it’s the anticipation that keeps us going. The green thing is an unsuccessful attempt to cover the purple sprouting broccoli. It still manages to look good and leaves have been used in the kitchen over winter but proper netting against pests is another thing on my to do list.
In a large planter at the front there are plenty of sorrel leaves but not many edible flowers at this time of year. Perhaps there will be primroses before too long.
06 Friday Jan 2017
Posted in Uncategorized
Bank holiday Monday, New Years Day Observed apparently, sunny but cold. I wanted to get some use out of my newish RHS membership so I took the family to RHS Garden Hyde Hall in Essex, the only RHS garden that I can get to comfortably for a day visit.
I have never been to a RHS garden before so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Entry was via a National Trust type shop but further in there were more garden related products and an interesting variety of seeds available. I didn’t make it to the plant centre at the end of my visit as my hands were totally frozen from taking photos and I was desperate to get inside, maybe next time!
Out of the doors, the path guided us along a sweeping vista to a lake with a large grass area and picnic tables. I’m sure that it’s lovely in the summer! Climbing the bank, to the left, the path leads through sculptured willow trees, grasses and herbaceous still left tall. The hard surface ends and we carried on up a further grassy slope to the dry garden at the top of the hill.
Paths meander through grasses, interesting shrubs, spikey yuccas and tall Italian cypresses. With some intermingling herbaceous seedheads and a gravel mulch it all looked very appealing even in midwinter. I liked the steps up and down, making the most of the slopes, and the wonderful view across the Essex countryside.
Mimosa, phormiums and Sophora among other plants in the dry garden.
Onward past the redevelopment work and there was a pond with ducks and formal gardens complete with pin sharp hedges and beautifully crafted obelisks. Good for the families playing hide as seek and I bet they look great in the summer when the roses are out although there were a few hardy blooms even today.
Climbing roses, pruned and trained along ropes, form a walk to the vegetable beds, currently closed but the plans look good.
Carrying on the circuit there were mixed beds, roses, shrubs and, hooray, some bulbs coming up! Back down the hill on the other side more wavy paths and bridges and some winter flowers including my first hellebore of the year.
With the finish in sight, I found my plant of the day, a Grevillea in flower. A whiz round some formal beds with low hedges next to the main building to admire the Cornus midwinter fire and we were back in the warm. There was plenty to see but I would really like to return in summer to enjoy the all the other plants hidden away for the winter especially the bananas which were well wrapped against the cold.
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