The first proper snowfall of the winter - 4th February 2012
It's already started melting thankfully, but we did manage up to 6.6 inches in places. Not being fond of the white stuff, I'm hoping this is the first and the last of the winter.
First Snow
The first proper snowfall of the winter - 4th February 2012
It's already started melting thankfully, but we did manage up to 6.6 inches in places. Not being fond of the white stuff, I'm hoping this is the first and the last of the winter.
Problem Areas
Everyone has problem areas in their garden. The bottom of ours is just one of ours. The high winds in the New Year damaged our makeshift fencing.
The problem wasn't really highlighted until we removed the huge tree last summer. All the light-and-nutrient-starved conifers behind the tree were naked. Well, dead really.
We borrowed the idea from a very good friend of ours with a stunning garden. For now, all we're telling is the fact that we have attached simple chicken wire fencing to the dead tree trunks with u-clips.
In the meantime, I thought I'd share a few shots of our garden in January - yes, JANUARY!
Marigold
The exotic-looking passiflora has reappeared after a year out.
The smell from this little beauty is a real treat in my garden at a time when most of my patch looks more like the one below. Bereft of all but weeds!
The bed below is going to be extended this year. Now that it is no longer going to be struggling in the shade of an evergreen, I'm planning on a large shrub. Not decided which shrub yet though.
It's Been a While
Between work, study, holidays and life in general, the garden has taken a back seat I'm afraid. We did however manage to finish pulling down the tree.
The upper most part of the tree proved to be a little more difficult than imagined as we had weekend after weekend of windy weather. What seems like a breeze at ground level feels like a gust at 30ft!
These huge cones were the size of The Man That Can's hands. I'm not sure that they liked being messed with either. They really are as spikey as they look and if that's not enough to put you off, they were extremely sticky. The sap from the branches doesn't come out with your average wash either!
The final cut was a tricky one. We strapped rope to it, and with me pulling with all my weight and The Man That Can doing his best impression of a tree surgeon, we brought the final limb crashing to the ground....
...Missing the greenhouse by a gnat's breath! I think it was the scariest thing we have ever done in the garden!
Of course once it's on the ground, then it needs cutting into bite sized pieces in preparation for disposal.
Not a very old tree by all accounts, despite its grand size.
Now all we need to do is tidy up the 'dead' area. The idea is to grow ivy up wire fencing to create an evergreen screen.
It's safe for the girls to come out and play again now. (L-R) Hedwig, Lola and Fawkes.
As winter approaches and tales told of another early and harsh winter, we have taken the opportunity to move the hen house back up to the yard, closer to the house while we have the time.
The first frosts are due this week, so if you haven't already, try to bring in your tender perennials. Once you've had your first frost, it's time to plant out your tulips. I had a huge bag gifted to me last month. Proper Dutch Bulbs, direct from The Netherlands and our Dutch friends!
The upper most part of the tree proved to be a little more difficult than imagined as we had weekend after weekend of windy weather. What seems like a breeze at ground level feels like a gust at 30ft!
These huge cones were the size of The Man That Can's hands. I'm not sure that they liked being messed with either. They really are as spikey as they look and if that's not enough to put you off, they were extremely sticky. The sap from the branches doesn't come out with your average wash either!
The final cut was a tricky one. We strapped rope to it, and with me pulling with all my weight and The Man That Can doing his best impression of a tree surgeon, we brought the final limb crashing to the ground....
...Missing the greenhouse by a gnat's breath! I think it was the scariest thing we have ever done in the garden!
Of course once it's on the ground, then it needs cutting into bite sized pieces in preparation for disposal.
Not a very old tree by all accounts, despite its grand size.
Now all we need to do is tidy up the 'dead' area. The idea is to grow ivy up wire fencing to create an evergreen screen.
It's safe for the girls to come out and play again now. (L-R) Hedwig, Lola and Fawkes.
As winter approaches and tales told of another early and harsh winter, we have taken the opportunity to move the hen house back up to the yard, closer to the house while we have the time.
The first frosts are due this week, so if you haven't already, try to bring in your tender perennials. Once you've had your first frost, it's time to plant out your tulips. I had a huge bag gifted to me last month. Proper Dutch Bulbs, direct from The Netherlands and our Dutch friends!
It is Summer, yes?
Only this week there have been reports of the odd frost!
Of course now the schools have broken up for the summer, those long summer holidays of our own youth just don't seem to compare. Did we not have long lazy days in brilliantly warm sunshine? Did we not have storms breaking out in the night that went on for hours triggered by these long hot days of summer? Did not these storms finally break as the dawn chorus began only to be followed by yet another glorious summer's day? Now our children are faced with days and days of damp squibs. Of days more reminiscent of late autumn than summer. Cool, cloudy outbreaks of drizzle. The wail of "I'm bored, there's nothing to do" seem to crop up much sooner than in our day.
The only reminder that it is actually summer as I enter this into the blog is that of the flowers. Ok so they may allow a week or two either side, but my Daffs still flower in the spring and the lilies still bloom in summer.
Allium buds about to break, towering above my perpetual flowering prims.
A single daylily. There aren't many buds forming on this plant yet, but it's still a relatively young clump so maybe next year will be the year it shines.
Poppy capsule ripening.
It's been a good year for poppies. Perhaps the warm dry spring did the trick.
The Man That Can and I decided this would be the year to begin replacing the grand fir tree. It's a beautiful specimen but for our size of garden it isn't ideal and it's beginning to ruin the lawn.
This being a neglectful year has thrown up some interesting plants. This is a flower head of one of the onions I grew last year!
I've seen this plant somewhere before. It's an interloper, but I don't know if it's a weed or not. Time for some research.
Ice plants. Doing really well this year. I took some from my in-laws garden last year. Loved by the bees and butterflies, it's a pretty variety.
Another interloper, this snapdragon has probably been 'dropped' by a bird. This often happens and I've had all manner of colours crop up.
They've really flowered their socks off this year, but since we've not had suitable weather I've been sharing the lilies with members of the family. They're strongly scented but one spot of rain and the pollen spoils the pristine petals.
The harsh winter hasn't done my two Passiflora climbers any favours. I'd almost given up completely on them but here they are, end of July and they've finally begun sprouting from the base. They may not flower this year though.
Shrub bed. Their third year now and they've really pulled themselves together with the exception of the Red Robin.
Another task to be fitted in between showers is a good trim of the privet. A good sharp hedge makes a fabulous foil for your plants. It also makes a very efficient windbreak boundary.
Now where did I put my glass of Pimms?
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