Bits and Pieces

Seems like I am having another Dave Clark moment.

 The fantastic weather continues and we are loving it but our gardens are desperate for water.

And I am getting a bit fed-up with the continuous watering needed to keep things going.

At home the poor sweetpeas are suffering.

Probably due to the lack of water and the weakness of the plants, I now find them covered in greenfly.

To address this I have sprayed them with a mixture of water and washing up liquid.

It is very disappointing after I`ve grown them from seed and nurtured them for so long.

The French marigolds are happy.

 

Jasmine is happily flowering. It really loves the heat.

Phlox, clematis 

and 

cosmos.

 Melons continue to swell and are now supported by recycled fruit net bags.

Today we pruned the willow arch at Freshwinds Garden.

I brought a bundle home and I have made six willow wreaths.

The secret with willow is to let it do its own thing.

It`s no good forcing it to go where it doesn`t want to go.

I think it helps that it is still green.

I just wish it would stay this lovely colour.

Another of my latest projects can be revealed as it has been given to the recipient.

It is a musical movement, with a fairy theme.

I used to make many of these a long time ago.

This was for a friend who has just retired.

The top revolves to the tune of  Mozart`s Magic Flute.

Another craft project is my pom pom tortoises.

If my great-nephew, Aiden sees these he will want them all.

And finally my favourite place to sit at the moment.

Gladdy all Over

The Aldi gladdies are dotted all around the garden in great splashes of psychedelic colour.

What great value ... £1 per 50.

The other highlight is the black hollyhocks powdered with

dusty pollen. Such a pity that they suffer from rust. I am removing fallen dead leaves at every visit.

Sunflowers and dahlias are on the move.

Some of the cornflowers are burning out already. They just seem to run out of energy in the drought conditions.

I pulled these out.

But these ones will keep going if I continue to deadhead.

The hollowed log that I planted a few weeks ago is filling out nicely. In the orchard fruit moves on despite the lack of rain.

 

 

 In the polytunnel temperatures have reached 46 degrees.

 Here are the melons. It was cooler on Tuesday so I was able to prune out two trugs of growth from these plants. So far two melons have been netted.

 I`ve taken off the bottom leaves from most of the tomatoes, allowing more light to the ripening fruit.

I`ve not bothered to take out sideshoots or bottom leaves on these

Garden Pearl tomatoes.

Today`s harvest.

 

I think the garden is coping well with the drought.

 

 

Fairy Fun at Freshwinds 2018

On a sizzling Sunday we held our fairy and wizard day 

down at the farm.

Unfortunately there was a road closure on our main road and we may have lost potential customers.

There was nothing we could do.

I think I would be right in saying that those who did come, had a good time, as there has been great feed-back.

 I made my way down to the start of the trail and Anne added the last finishing touches before our first guests arrived.

I`m so glad that I had my sunhat and that I had liberally slapped on the suntan lotion.

The trail starts at the old willow tree, where everyone gets a wand and hears the story of how the fairies came to be there.

We pass the trolls bridge, 

where we peer cautiously over the side.

(One dad said he didn`t believe what his daughter was telling him until he had a look for himself, on the way back to the car.)

I thought that was very funny.

Next we come to the second willow tree....

there are plenty of nooks and crannies to peer into.

 

Some of the hollows are lit up.

Very tentatively we creep up to the witch`s hovel, just in case she is at home. Luckily she`s not, so we can have a sneaky look at all her belongings. We can`t get inside but no-one wants to go in anyway.

 We then make our way to the green man`s tree where Hollie is waiting to help everyone to decorate and activate their wands. 

Having an activated wand helps, as we approach the goblins` lair.

Luckily they are not at home either but I hear they have left some rather smelly pants hanging around.

Passing the lake, we wonder how many frogs and toads have been stolen for the witch`s spells.

We make our way up to the garden, past the tiny fairy village and the secret unicorns. I believe they disguise their magical horns during the day.  

The garden is waiting, with Tim and Archie doing tea and cakes from the converted horsebox, Paula helping children to decorate crowns and make bracelets, the fairy yurt for dressing up in or reading fairy books, fairy gardens to create and plenty of umbrellas and seats for relaxing. 

Claire is there doing face painting.

 

Everyone is relaxed and happy.

None more so than my great-nephew Aiden who loves the tortoises

so much. Later on when everyone has gone home, Anne lets him feed them with lettuce.

 

We are tired but happy and very glad to sit in the shade for tea.

 

We had a really great day. Many  thanks to everyone who came and to all those who helped.

We raised £260 and it will be going to the local charity 

"Friends of Fia."