December

 Over the last few weeks I have been moving plants from the allotment into the garden. It has been great to have lots of cut flowers over the last few years but I decided I wanted to enjoy the colours and smells every day not just on visits to the allotment.  I have dug up rows of tulip bulbs to put in the beds and into pots.  Andy planted half a bed with bulbs about three years ago.  I could not believe how many bulbs I was digging up!  Each single bulb had become a clump of four to six in size.  They went up to the allotment as small bags of bulbs ... they have come back in four large plastic storage boxes!  Well, most of them are planted now (just one plastic box left in the greenhouse but I have some large empty pots so I will get them finished this week).

 

We had filled another allotment bed with roses. This autumn I emptied one of the garden beds so at least twelve roses could be moved to be enjoyed at home.  We pruned them right back before digging them up.  They went back in the ground just outside my kitchen window.  I looked at them today and small leaves are beginning to appear so they have obviously taken.

I had yet another allotment bed of Iris and Peonies.  I chose a lovely sunny spot at the back of the  garden for the Irises.  Unfortunately the sun shine didn't hang around the day I moved them but I had to get them in the ground so I got steadily wetter and muddier. 

The peonies had also mutiplied.  Most of the original plants had come from my mother's garden before we sold her house.  I had divided the clumps and each one is now a decent size plant.  I have put most of them in a border where I already had a couple of peonies.  They don't like being planted too deep but I dug them up keeping as much soil around them as possible, that way I know they are at the right depth. The small pink buds are growing nicely now.

Thompson and Morgan were giving 48 lavender plants away for free when I first got the allotment.  The tiny cuttings were large bushy plants this summer covered in bees.  This spring I want to move a few of these plants onto the side of the lane where we live to make pockets of scent as you walk down to the house.

There's a whole load of crocosmia bulbs, some hollyhocks, about a dozen lupins, achillea and aquilegia still up there so there will still be some cut flowers to bring home ... unless I dig up some more lawn and find room for them down here!

Twitch

Andy got the news about a rare bird in Chesterfield on Sunday afternoon.  Too late to do anything about it.  Well, it was still there this morning so we set off.

There's never any question of not finding the right location on a rare bird twitch. You just follow the crowd.  This was a small crowd in comparison to some I have seen ... but the bird has been here three days ... this was a Tuesday morning ... doesn't anyone go to work any more? Obviously not. But most of them were my age.   You wouldn't believe how many people can turn up to a weekend twitch: there is a full age range too, from young kids (with their own binoculars so not just dragged along by a parent), through to pensioners. Some of them travel miles. A man today had driven down from Newcastle to see this bird.  Last month there was a rare bird on the Isle of Lewis and people were chartering planes to see it. 

Birders can be very obsessive.  A friend left his own wedding reception on getting news a rarity had turned up: his father chased after him to bring him back! Another guy lost an eye in a car crash trying to get to a bird before it flew off and Andy was at a twitch where a guy died from a heart attack and his mate got in a panic because he had to stay with him when the bird was just down the road!

Today's bird was a Crag Martin.  There have only been 9 previous sightings of this species in the UK.  It should be in the South of France but it has ended up in Chesterfield flying round the famous crooked spire.  As I parked up Andy was busy finding the bird.  He got a good view of it as it flew away!! Luckily it returned about five minutes later.  That isn't always the case ... one time Andy drove to Yorkshire (two hours away) to see a rare water bird. He missed it by ten minutes.
 "Which way did it go?" he asked.
 "That way," replied a helpful Yorkshireman.
"Well, what's over there?" He wondered if there was a large body of water close by it might have headed towards.
"Eh," came the reply, "there's naught over there ... that's Lancashire!"

We spent an hour watching this swallow like bird zooming about ... it was incredibly fast.  I could find it with my binoculars but there was no chance with my camera.  It was a nice outing and I got to see the spire close up.  Locals have an amusing explanation for the crocked spire: apparently a virgin was married there and the church was so surprised it turned round to look at the bride!

The spire was added in the 14th century, just after the Black Death had killed off many craftsmen so lack of skill could account for the poor building work.  I was always told it twisted because unseasoned wood was used but apparently they always used unseasoned wood because it was easier to work with ... they just adjusted it as it seasoned.  No, it was the lead covering that caused it.  The sun shining on the south side all day made that side expand more quickly than the north side. The fault was compounded by the weight of the metal (33 tons) because the structure was not designed to hold that kind of weight. It twists by 45 degrees and leans 9 feet 6 inches away from its true centre.

Autumn: Travel or Travail

Well, Autumn has in fact been and gone! The farmer collected the crop, ploughed the field, cut the hedges and sowed the seeds a few weeks ago and a new crop has appeared now. The circle goes on. My garden furniture has been stored until next Spring but I still have bulbs to plant and geraniums to dig up!  It is raining today though so those jobs can wait!

We are taking pleasure in ordinary, everyday things.  We have enjoyed a few local walks in the evenings and after living here for over twenty years we are spending some time exploring the villages around us.  Who knew there was a William Morris stained glass window just a couple of miles away?  Or that King Edward VIII (when he was Prince of Wales) had an affair with a young woman in the next village to us before he met Wallis? Or the very first US Ambassador was buried in East Stoke where a few hundred years earlier 7000 men had been hacked to pieces along the path called the Red Gutter? We are unearthing a great deal of fascinating history, learning about people who lived here before us, at the same time as enjoying the wildlife and the local hostelries.

We went to two local firework displays this week.  I much prefer the organised events of today rather than the back garden parties of my childhood.  There were so many unnecessary accidents in the bad old days.  Kids didn't recognise the dangers because you could buy bangers to throw at people and jumping jacks that cracked around on the playground floor near your feet! The only drawback is the food ... I remember mum and the neighbours making sticky toffee apples, trays of caramel toffee to glue your teeth together and Yorkshire parkin (a flat ginger cake made with treacle). At the bonfire on Saturday we queued for 15 minutes to get a drink then just looked at the line for the mushy peas and decided we weren't that hungry!  Great displays though.

When I came down this morning this fine fellow was in the garden. They don't visit over the breeding season and the farmer working in the field tends to scare them off but I walked into the garden a few days ago and three females flew out, then he came in today.  So good to have them back.

So what else have I been up to since my last post in July?  Not a great deal and yet I have been very busy!  I have been painting the front of the house (very nice pale green) and decorating two bedrooms; working with a group of local residents on a Community-led Plan; reading for a monthly Book Group and visiting my family in Yorkshire,  When I was working and imagined my retirement I thought I would be travelling round Europe or far off places; writing or being crafty.  We have travelled but I find I love being at home! The word 'Travel' comes from the same root as the French word for work, 'Travail'.  Hundreds of years ago travelling was very hard work!  Well, I like the idea of going somewhere but I totally like the idea of sitting around in my cosy house doing whatever takes my fancy for the day, knowing everything I need is at hand! Lazy? No, just content! How I have changed.  Many years ago an older friend said she was content with her life and I remember thinking she lacked ambition! Now I understand what she meant ... I am satisfied with where I am in life and I have never felt happier. 

Having said that we did venture out to London recently.  Andy was invited to attend an award ceremony at the Mall Galleries and I could go along as his guest. We reserved seats on the train and booked a lovely hotel in the centre a few minutes walk away from the gallery.  When we got to the train station the board informed us our train had been cancelled! Luckily there wasn't a long wait for the next train but obviously it was going to be busier and we no longer had reservations.  We needed have worried though we did manage to get a seat. 

We had lunch at Covent Garden, watched a few street performers and enjoyed the shops then walked through the city to the hotel ... by which time my feet were aching! I had worn some comfortable boots but they did have a bit of a heel and when I put them on I intended to pick up my flat shoes before leaving the house.  So why didn't I?!

The exhibition was great.  Some fabulous work by really creative people ... always makes me want to get out the water colours (but then I sit in front of a blank sheet of paper or actually attempt to do something and realise within minutes why I don't paint!).  Here is the link to the catalogue.

We had a wonderful evening, admiring the work, chatting with old friends and seeing the award ceremony before wandering back through London to our hotel. 

After breakfast next day we walked to the V&A.  Half way there I was in dire need of those flat shoes!  I went straight into the first department store and picked up a simple pair of cloth flats.... £248 .... fortunately H&M were right next door ... smart flat lace ups £19.99 ...

Ironically one of the V&A exhibitions was entitled 'Shoes: Pleasure and Pain'! 

During the afternoon we travelled across London to a camera shop where Andy purchased a new lens then made our way back to King's Cross for something to eat from the healthy food stalls outside.  What a great market!  Making me hungry thinking about it now!

Well our train was on time ... but some poor person was killed further up the line so we were diverted!  We ended up being over an hour late so we missed our connection.  We sat in a steamed up waiting room on a cold, wet night for an hour ... just twenty minutes drive from home!

July

Enjoying the summer sun: refreshing drinks with a good book then eating outside.  Lovely!

 

June Garden

April

With the weather being so kind I have spent hours in the garden.  I tidied up the front garden and moved a couple of plants - a clump of grass from the back of a border which is now next to the small pond and a Thalictrum which surprised me after I planted it in the front of a border by growing to be four feet tall. 

I moved a couple of stone pots from the front door to sit beside the rose arch then dug up the turf in front of the two small walls.  I'm picturing Aubrietia or London Pride growing over the walls and Livingston Daisies smothering the ground. 

This little friend and his partner have followed me every where, even into the greenhouse.  They are so confident .... just about taking bugs from my trowel.  He is constantly busy finding food or shouting abuse at my cat from dawn until dusk.

 

 

 

The greenhouse is full of seedlings and geraniums waiting to get outside next month.  I had a bit of a disaster with some of the vegetable seeds though. I was given a bag of compost.  It looked very dark and dry but I used it anyway.  Mistake! None of the cabbages or cauliflowers I sowed in it have germinated; the tomato, cucumber and onion  trays remain devoid of life only a few lettuce leaves have actually survived.  I had to throw everything away and start again so the allotment planting will be a few weeks behind.  The potatoes are in and an onion set, beetroot, peas and runner beans, carrots, spring onions and radishes are in the ground.

Work Horses

My niece is having her front garden bulldozed this weekend.  The lawn is raised higher than the concrete drive which is quite dangerous for small children so the drive is going.  It means she has the opportunity to completely start again with her flower borders.  Many of the plants in my borders came with the house or are cuttings from friends and family: the rest I have bought or grown from seed. It hasn't been designed in any way! It is a complete mix of colour and height but I love it that way! Talking to my niece though made me think if I was starting again which plants would I use? Which are my Top Ten Perennials for my garden.  Difficult!

1.  Honeysuckle, clematis, ivy and roses climb the fences and form a backdrop for our garden. If I had to choose it would be the honeysuckle. I love the smell, especially on a warm summer evening.  Oh, I would miss the clematis .... our neighbour's house is smothered in pink flowers every May and some has escaped over the fence to our side ... lovely!  But the honeysuckle beats it in my book.  The ivy is not a contender but my second choice is .....

 2.  Rose.  I don't know the names of most of the roses in our garden because they came with the house.  If I was starting from scratch I would choose a David Austin climber ... Falstaff.  Beautiful colour and a strong old rose scent.  It can climb to 6 feet but branches out too.  The closest to this I have at the moment is Jazz. A deep colour, lovely perfume and quick growing.



3.  Sweet peas. So easy to grow, provide cut flowers for the whole summer, smell and look gorgeous and add height to the garden when grown over willow sticks in the middle of the border. What's not to like!

 4.  Lupins.  An absolute must in my garden.  Very easy to grow from seed and they come in so many colours.  They quickly bulk up and spread nicely.  I have half an allotment bed taken up with lupins.  This might seem a waste of good growing space but I use them as cut flowers in large vases all summer.

5. Delphiniums.  Half way through the list and nothing small so far.  I have three groups of delphiniums and two trays of seeds in the greenhouse.  I added some white ones last year: the dark blues are lovely but my favourite is pale blue with a lilac hue to it.  I don't know what I am growing because the seed is from my flowers so it won't come true.




6.  Peony roses.  It doesn't matter what kind I love them all.  This one is Sarah Bernhardt: it needs staking as it grows up to three feet tall.  The smaller ones look great poking through other plants in the border.

7.  Snow in Summer is great ground cover.  I had to choose between this and London Pride to keep to my list to ten.  The silver leaves of Snow in Summer gave it the edge although it was close! They are both great plants, spread easily and grow anywhere.


8.  Crocosmia.  Lucifer arching over a border or a small variety arching over a path?  I don't mind I like them all.  Start with five bulbs and a few years later you have five clumps.  I keep having to divide them and give them away.  It looks great next to .....

9. Fuchsia.  So versatile ... I have one that grows like a shrub, one that spreads over the ground, upright ones and smaller ones in my hanging baskets.  Don't make me decide in one!!

10.  So my last choice so soon!  it will have to be a shrub or a bush.  I think I will go with hydrangea, although Mock Orange is another firm favourite.





Well, that is my "Work Horse" list.  I didn't have room for sedum which is great for autumn colour or primulas for spring or red hot pokers or aquilegia or carnations  ...... thank goodness I'm not the one starting with a blank garden.  I would need a lottery win to buy my wish list! 

Fruit and Veg

Our side of the allotment is weeded and the veg beds dug over waiting for us to get planting. The onions and potatoes will be in tomorrow. Then I can sow the carrot, radish and beetroot seeds.

I have planted cabbage, cauliflower, celery, tomatoes, peas and beans in the greenhouse but only the peas are showing signs of life.  There are small green specks appearing in the guttering I strung up under the greenhouse shelf so we should have home grown lettuce leaves soon if nothing else.

The strawberries are loving the warm greenhouse .... they are looking much happier than the ones at the allotment.  I was very pleased to see new leaves appearing on the raspberry cane cuttings from last year. I plan to grow these on the lane.  The raspberries and gooseberries at the allotment are also coming into leaf.  The rhubarb is coming through.  I put a pot over it last year to force it but I left it this year.  One of the plants bolted last year and I collected seeds which have now grown into seedlings.

I have moved some of the flower plants back to the house to go in the garden or on the lane.

Andy spent a few minutes photographing the flowers while we were up there:

 

 

End of Month: March 2015

 

 

I love this time of change!

The view from the kitchen door improves daily as the bulbs come into flower and the perennials come to life. 

 

 

 

I have tidied this bed but obviously the sun improves the view too!!

We have blackbirds nesting in the laurel, robins in the hedge and collard doves, wood pigeons, goldfinches, great tits, blue tits, chaffinches, green finches and dunnocks visit the feeders daily ..... and the squirrels!

 

 

 

The daffodils and primulas have added cheer to the back of the garden.  I had a bit of a problem with the large honeysuckle growing over the far fence today.  We have had 60 mph winds and it came away from the fence and trellis.  It was really heavy and fighting me as I tried to tie it up again.  A neighbour's fence blew down last month ... it cost £500 to repair so I was conscious of not putting too much strain on the panels.  Fingers crossed it survives the next few days of strong winds.

 

The front of the garden has taken up quite a lot of my time and attention this week.  It began as an unsightly mess!

 

 

 

Just removing the dead leaves helped but I added some primulas to the half barrel, moved some of the larger aquilegia from the allotment to improve the display in June and scattered last year's poppy seeds.

 

The lane itself is now in my sights.  I have a couple of neighbours prepared to help dig up the bindweed and I have 30 packets of wild flower seeds to sow.  I began the transformation by tidying up the bit outside my house.

 

Here is a half and half photo showing a bit I have done and a bit to do.

 

The lane belongs to all the residents Derry Lane.  The original hand written house deeds of 1865 explain that the land belonged to John Derry and on his death the plot was divided into four areas with seven houses built: one for his daughter and six for tenants.  The lane gives access for "horse carriages, visitors and servants" and residents share the cost of its upkeep. 

 

 

Everything planted under the hedge has grown from cuttings from my garden.  Aquilegia, sedum, corn flowers, blue geranium, snow in the summer, oriental poppy, achillea and daffodils are all doing well.  Can't wait to get the wild flowers growing.

 

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