Red Roses My Love

Well I have never seen such a deep purple nigella before. It was a total surprise. Where did it come from? I`ve no idea.

Today was a day to wander around the garden and enjoy the fruits of our labours, literally.

When I added these to our pick at home, I was able to make my first batch of raspberry jam. It is so satisfying to make, as it sets so quickly. Can`t wait for toast and new jam tomorrow for breakfast.

 

The lavender hedge is doing well after we removed the wire net tunnel and weeded around. The net is now behind forming a wall. I do not trust those rabbits.
 

The first dahlias are out. The variety is My Love which has proved to be a strong plant and one of the easiest to take cuttings from. 

These are the first dahlias from seed, in bloom.

Steve and I set up a strong framework for the longest stand of sunflowers, using two stakes and the old yurt frame poles. It meant that we were able to remove all the canes which are never strong enough to support fully grown sunflowers when it gets windy.

 

 

The alstromerias in this clump have survived upright. Elsewhere in the garden they have been flattened. They make a good cut flower.

 

 

These incredible red roses appear to be too heavy for their stems and I keep finding them bent over which is a good excuse to bring one home.

 

 

And finally I picked the first bunch of sweetpeas.

 

Bumble Bee Frenzy

Every year I collect a lot of poppy seed and its all pretty random, though I do keep the different types in separate envelopes. I just scatter it all over the garden and there is always a wonderful show.

But this year, the colours are amazing, deep dusky pinks in all shades, to almost purple. Is there an outside influence that has caused this? Usually the colours are mid-pinks and pale mauves.

Blended in with the foxgloves we are awash with colour. 

Just outside the garden I scattered them on the chipped bark.

When the sun shone, the bumble bees were in a frenzy to get to the nectar. We stood and watched in fascination.

The cute guinea pigs were enjoying a feast of fresh young grass.

And the very first sweetpeas were out.
 

A Better Day

A couple of days ago we had "one of those days"

Anne discovered Ermine moth caterpillar infestations in our little orchard and we spent most of the visit collecting them. With a plastic bag over my hand, I just grabbed handfuls of web, dead leaves and either bundles of eggs or tiny caterpillars. It was not pleasant and it was too windy for Neem oil spray.

The next thing we found was the rocket plants eaten from above. Not sure what by though.

And finally the wind was playing havoc with the delicate poppies and many other plants.

Luckily today was better.

The poppies are just lovely in deep shades of pink and red.

  

 

I had to clear a space for tithonia plants. They are Mexican sunflowers and a little touchy so I hope they do well in this spot.

 

 

I picked some of the redcurrants so I will be making jelly tomorrow. There were a few green ones but I`ve been picking them out. The crop is really good this year.

We began another batch of comfrey mixture. It is growing prolifically alongside the tortoise run. As I cleared it, the perfume of the honeysuckle was over-powering.

 

The very first passionflower is open. When I planted this small cutting last year alongside the fence, I never thought it would flower so quickly. There are many buds to come.

 

Today was definitely one of the better days.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Golden Newts and Fairy Guardians

Well I suppose it was inevitable that the weeds would come as soon as we had rain but ..... oh my goodness. The new lavender hedge has been all but swamped and our last job yesterday was to clear as much as we could. Not easy with a tunnel of rabbit wire held down by tent pegs.

Before anything can be planted the ground has to be cleared. But I did get the last 12 helichrysum plants in and the last bare dahlia tubers. That was very satisfying.

I was dismayed to find three more lovely aubergine plants still at home, after having thought everything was in the polytunnel. I had to clear yet more space to get them in. Now they are protected by my sister in law`s wedding dress hooped petticoat.
 

The broad beans are now out, creating space for peppers and cucumbers. The harvest was either frozen or eaten.

Amongst the damp growth I found this golden newt. So tiny.
 

The polytunnel is now ready for the summer, looking quite tidy and guarded by fairies.

The foxgloves are taking over and such a range of colours. Amongst the weeds are myriads of tiny seedlings.

 

 

The wind has blown the oriental poppies around. I will try to rescue them next time.

The sweetpeas are going great guns though I am having to keep them clear of weeds. They got a good feed with comfrey mix as well as a good tying up.

 

 

I am very happy with the fruit this year. I am keeping a close eye on the blistering on the currant leaves by picking off affected shoots and spraying with neem oil.

 

Anne has covered some of the cherry branches with net sleeves as the crop looks good.

 

There are many campers at the farm over half term and they all looked to be having a great time despite some rain. The farm looks beautiful at the moment. The walk down to the campsite is lined with grasses and buttercups, with the cuckoo calling almost continously.

I can`t tell you how happy that makes me feel.

 

Everything`s Gonna be Alright

 This is my mantra of the day.

I was getting a little bit into panic mode. After a weekend away, during which my brother watered the greenhouses for us (thank goodness) a lot of our bedding plants are now in stress mode. That is .... desperate to go in the ground and drooping after days of sunshine.

Today we have managed to get in 19 trays.

Sunflowers, cornflowers, cerinthe, calendula, helichrysum, ipomea, borlotti beans, runner beans, leeks.

As I chant my mantra, I can feel pride in all the plants we have raised with loving care. In my panic mode I can look at the 26 trays left and wonder where the heck it going to go ..... and that doesn`t include dahlias!

The back seats were down today for all the plants that went to the garden, And we got them all in. Sometimes all our time there is spent planting in May, but today I had time to weed the sweetpeas and spray the fruit with Neem oil.

Unfortunately I had to pull up a lot of poppies. Their leaves are enormous and will compromise the sweetpea plants, so they had to go. There are plenty elsewhere.

I watered the row and fed it with comfrey mix diluted in water.

 

Outside the polytunnel is a stunning white foxglove. I must remember to save the seeds.

I made a large patch of soil ready for helichrysum plants. Last year I had soooo much trouble getting any plants and ended up with 6. This year I have had 5 trays with 24 in each so no shortage of straw flowers this year. I just have to keep them free from slugs, snails and rabbits. 

Jan and Julie have given us 4 metal bakers trays which are ideal to keep rabbits off new plantings. Later I will use them, lined with net curtains, to dry the flowers.

The sweetpea row fronts the potatoes this year, flanked on either side by aquilegia. So pretty.

Watering has been very important in this hot weather and next time the pond will need a top-up.

Flowers looking good at the moment......

 

Iris sibirica

Bearded iris

 

Californian poppies

Sweet rocket

When I reassessed my greenhouse patio at home earlier this evening, everything was indeed, alright.