Category: Garden

Pic of the week 1/5/22

Yesterday, Saturday 30th April, whilst sat at my desk in my classroom I glanced out of the window and saw three swallows swooping around in the sky.  I think that these are the first swallows I’ve seen this year, lets hope they herald warmer days to come. (Spring has been dry, but not stunningly warm. Although frustratingly today had been constant grey drizzle – my day off when I could have got out and done some needed jobs in the garden: mainly tidying up bulbs that have gone over, and also mowing the path in the lawn.  The pic above shows the alliums in our giant container at the front of the house which are now bursting into flower.)

And I’m pleased to say that the sunflower seeds I planted a week or so ago have popped up and seem to be growing healthily in our porch.

 

Pic of the week 24/4/22

On Wednesday Becky & I went for a walk. We drove out to, and then climbed, Burrow Mump before walking along the River Parrott. It was a warm day, and wonderful walk. Until we turned back north to cut across some fields and circle our way back to the car park.

All was well as we passed a small group of cows by the river edge – as we calmly and confidently strode by they kept their distance. Turning into the next field, there were more cows. Again, initially they gave us a wide berth but as we walked along the field edge they became a bit more confident and began to follow us, initially leaving a long distance between us and them, but as we walked further through the field, they began to close up – more than once I turned and eyeballed them, letting them know who was boss, and they stopped, but as we walked on they continued to creep ever closer.

Reaching the gate was a relief, and Becky was swift to mount the five bar and put a barrier between her and our bovine followers.

But relief did not last for long.

Waiting for us in the next field was a bigger herd – twenty or thirty head of cattle looking at us inquisitively from 10 yards.

There was nothing for it, but to stride purposefully onwards, towards them, and they did swiftly scatter. But that was not the end of it. They were skittish and excitable, running alongside us, often veering towards us, necessitating a roar from me to send the pounding away. It was getting tense, and when the cows began to circle us it was as if we were in an old fashioned western movie – we were the settlers being surrounded by angry Indians, and we know those scenes only ever ended one way.

We kept a veneer of calm as our pace perceptively quickened along with our rising heartbeats. There was only one way – onwards.  For five minutes we strode across the field until at last a fence and gate offered us salvation. A quick scurry over the gate saw us land safely on the other side, able to continue our walk without further incident.

Friday was a much more leisurely affair as Sam led us on a walk through the woods leading up to Pen Hill mast. The woodland floor was carpeted with bluebells – a magnificent site on a wonderful two hour stroll.

On Saturday I planted up some sunflower seeds – 30 Giant Singles and 30 Korg (which should be a tall multi- headed variety) Here’s hoping they all germinate successfully.

Took Sophie back to Reading on Monday, and Sam back to Cardiff today, so it is back to the two of us for the next five weeks.  Back to school for me tomorrow.

Pic of the week 13/3/22

It has been another tough, tiring week at work for me, but one’s spirits are lifted by the signs of Spring that are now beginning to burst forth. All of a sudden, I can look out of my window and see our magnificent magnolia full of bloom and flower. It is almost as if it has snuck up on us, going from a collection of twigs to big flowers almost overnight.

The daffodils we planted last September are now also doing their stuff and are sitting proud in their clumps all across the garden.  The giant planter at the front of the house looks really good now there is a mix of dafs in flower, interspersed with the grape hyacinths that have, at last, begun to flower. As I write, the rain is once again failing (and yesterday was v cold in the v strong wind) but much of the day today has seen the sun shine through blue skies, and it has been uplifting.

After my run – not the best of time due to the strong wind – breakfast, pottering outside (tidying up the scarps of tiles that were left outside in the front garden and went to the tip to dispose of them x2 bags at £4 per bag) lunch, a read and a snooze, I do feel re-energised and revitalised for the week to come. I think we can safely say winter is pretty much over, and spring is on its way.

Pic of the week 27/2/22

With no home matches this Saturday, I wasn’t needed to referee so finished the day a little earlier. It was a beautiful day and, as I arrived home, Becky – who had at last tested negative after two weeks of positive tests – was about to set of for a walk, so I joined her.  Parking at the Hood layby, we walked down into Compton Dundun, looped round the village and back to the car.  It was only a 40 minute romp, but it was lovely to get out in the sunshine and se definite signs of spring on its way. A real treat.

Today, after swimming (I pulled/tweaked my hamstring last Saturday, so haven’t run since – could possibly have run today, but decided to give it a bit longer to heal) I spent the rest of the morning in the garden – another beautiful day with blue skies and warm sun – when you were in it. I continued to tidy the area by the compost bins, and then gave the buddleia a significant chopping back, only stopping when the car could fit no more for a tip run.

And yet the dawning of spring is marred by conflict in Ukraine.  Earlier this week, Russia launched an invasion into its neighbour. It is bloody and brutal, full on shooting war in Europe. The only positive is is that it doesn’t appear to be going the way Putin planned it, the resolve of Ukraine has been steadfast, Russia has become a pariah state, the west is unifying around the need to support Ukraine and, I suspect, in the long term this will mark the end of Putin and weaken Russia as a global player – it has been shown that if you stand up to them,  they can be beaten. However, the price Ukrainians (and, to be fair, many of the Russian soldiers – mere conscripts who are not sure why they are there) will be high. I think we are living through an event as globally important as the fall of the Soviet Bloc in 1989, 9/11 and the Covid pandemic. The world will be different a year from now.

Pick of the week 16/1/22

Tomorrow is “Blue Monday” – the supposed most depressing day of the year. To be fair, I get it. This last week has been a bit of slog – I’ve been very busy (curriculum days, A level mock marking, L6 parents consultations), Becky has been recuperating from the illness (not Covid!) that knocked her for six – I did have to spend a lot of last week looking forward to today, a day that I knew would come, a day that would afford me a little bit of a rest and mark the end of a tough week.

And it dose seem surprising that we are now mid-way through January, the evenings are getting a little lighter, bulbs are popping up with the promise of better days to come.  And even better, yesterday we booked our accommodation for Naples which, although still many (12?) weeks away, is now something to look forward to.

I have enjoyed watching the Hyacinth bulbs begin to grow and flower (particularly the few that I rescued from abandoned pots outside) and to see the bulbs beginning to burst through in the lawn is great to see ( although I don’t think we’ll be getting as many as I had hopped for.  Must plant more for next year, including crocuses) And for weeks I’ve been looking, and getting increasingly despondent as I could see no sign of them, for any signs of the snowdrops I planted last year – 100 of them. I’ve spotted the first few poking their heads up – two small and distinct clumps and nowhere near the 100 I planted, but the first signs are there. The pic above is of my gardeners garters, with some alliums starting to grow through them, green shoots bringing hope in a bleak month!

I ran today – 10K, was tough (ish) but I felt strong and quite quick, tomorrow I swim.

PMA – positive mental attitude: that’s what will get me safely through blue Monday and the rest of January. Little victories: look for them, and embrace them.

Pic of the week 29/8/21

This year, I let the lawn grow “wild” and haven’t mowed it since April. I did mow a strip by the path, and a swirly path to the compost heap, but other than that it has been left to its own devices all summer.

I have been pleased with the results, particularly its “swishy-swashy-ness” in June. The ants have also enjoyed it, with a few ant hills becoming established, along with a few wild flowers and seed heads.

This week, I cut it back – quite some effort with an erratic strimmer – and have scarified it, the aim is to remove dead thatch to allow seeds to grow through. I have also dug a few holes and planted (daffodil) bulbs from last year’s pots and sowed a few packets of mixed wild flower seed – hopefully my hard work of this week will be a worthy investment, with the rewards to be reaped next spring and summer.

Pic of the week 16/5/21

A combination of poor weather (yesterday and today have been particularly wet) and being tired (the long term is starting is starting to bite, yet half term still seems a way away)result in little to report this week.

We seem to be on top of the mouse problem – no sightings nor captures for several days – and everything is looking green and verdant – verging on the overgrown as I can’t get out to do anything – which is nice: the sunflowers planted out last week are looking healthy, and the cosmos seeds have popped up. I would just like some nice warm weather so I can sit outside and enjoy the garden.
Yesterday, Becky & Sophie went to Cornwall for the day, and somehow dodged the rain. Sam wen to the dentist about his wisdom tooth and was pescribed some anti-biotics which seem to be doing the trick.

I spotted evidence of leakage from the shower – I have applied some tape over the sealant, hope that does the trick.

The week ahead looks set to be wet too, lets hope the sunshine is waiting in the wings for half term in two weeks time …