Turning a Corner

I felt a distinct turning of a corner today....

sitting in the sunshine for a teabreak

a huge bumblebee spotted

glorious birdsong

and actually wanting to be outdoors

It is very unusual for me not to want to be outside but over the last couple of weeks I have felt a need to wrap up and snuggle, almost hibernating.

And of course I have been nursing a cough which is on its way out at long last.

At the garden, our main job was to cut down the damson tree. It has got rather out of control. It has grown too tall and unwieldy for the space. Despite cutting out the middle a few years back, it continued to grow upwards. It overshadowed the surrounding pear and apple trees.

It took us a while, using loppers, secateurs and a pruning saw. Later Steve used a larger saw. Whilst I cut it into manageable pieces and carted it to the bonfire area, Steve dug it out, sawing through larger roots.

The hole was filled in and the logs stored, ready for either burning or craftwork.

We ended the morning by pruning the Fiesta apple, which had a brilliant crop last year. I must have done something right in January 2022.

The Fiesta is mid-picture.

We saw a huge bumblebee back and forth into this birdbox.

Oh that wonderful sound.

Next we need to find out the name of the insect that spoils the plum fruit and treat the tree.

I will miss the damsons and the blossom but at least I won`t have to worry about those late frosts. 

Winter Fragrance and Wiggly Worms

A lovely sunny but very cold day. Despite sunshine and hard
work, I did not remove any of my four layers or my hat.

The grass through the middle of the garden looks pretty rough. The pond is totally full. 

There is not a single sign of spring, just winter honeysuckle which reminds me of my sister Lee. It is very fragrant ....

 

..... and the euphorbia is just starting.

I roughly cleared the wild flower bed, long over-due. I had to pull up dozens of teasels. I do love them but they were almost taking over the bed. Steve was shovelling manure.

The compost heaps are rotting down nicely and the area behind the polytunnel is keeping clear.

 

The view from the farm was glorious in the sunshine.

The donkeys remained in their shelter with their heads in the sun.

And here are some of my latest crafts.

Tiny patchwork bags .
 

Three little kittens.

And a fistful of valentine wiggly worms.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Frosty First Footing

We made our first visit to the garden today. The ground was hard and crunchy. Leaves were rimed with ice .....

.......the pond was frozen over but the sun was shining ...... yipee.

Steve had trouble lifting the leeks which were the basis of our soup this evening. I had a little wander. There was no wind blessedly, but I did need my fourth layer.

The winter honeysuckle must have been glorious before the frost as it was smothered in blossom, today it was slightly withered. 

However the willow, which I remembered not to trim, is just showing its pink fluffy buds. The sky was an incredible blue.

We hadn`t planned on staying long as we are just beginning to build up our fitness, after having had flu before Christmas.

But I did cut back some bracken and fern by the pond as well as a few dead perenniels. The beds we did not tackle in the autumn are looking a bit bedraggled.

Steve sawed up a few logs from rotting wooden posts.

Inside the polytunnel it was toasty but the poor geraniums were looking awful.

However the broad beans have survived.

But we have signs of spring .... the tubs of daffodils.

 

During the very soggy weather before the cold snap, I think we may have had a four-legged visitor.
 

We were up-lifted by our visit. We sure needed a break from preparation for our new kitchen.

Happy days.

Apples, Wreaths and Grassy Paths Review Part 2

The summer just got hotter and hotter. The main part of the day was spent sitting in the shade of our gazebo and garden management was done in the early mornings and evenings.

July 

We opened the garden and fairy trail and the money raised was for Red Cross Ukranian Appeal. After that things began to look frazzled and many annuals gave up and died.

 

August

We were very lucky, despite being surrounded by hosepipe bans, we never were. The huge water tank lasted nearly the whole summer. The damson crop was good despite late frosts. Hollie`s wedding went ahead and was a splendid occasion, with photo shoots in the garden and the reception in the big barn.

We made late plantings which were well worthwhile. The compost heaps were over-flowing and the tithonia and sunflowers were thriving. 

 

 September

 

We had a lovely visit to Sarah Raven`s garden and discovered a new nursery (to us) called Rapkyn`s close by.

We lifted the chipped bark and weed suppressant on the big path and seeded it. I took many geranium cuttings and lots of tiny seedlings grew around the garden encouraged by the mild autumn.

 

 

 

October

 

We cleared out the polytunnel and brought the scarecrows in. We discarded the tattered bunting, a good excuse to make some more. There were many late flowers, especially dahlias and salvias. We had a great crop of Fiesta apples and the weather was lovely. Tim brought us a good load of manure.

 

 

 

November

We had still had no frost at this point in time. I was busy with lots of Christmas crafts. And we had a very productive visit to Hobbycraft in Eastbourne. I packaged up all my home-saved seed. We created an enlarged seating area with the log-burner as a focal point laying plenty of chipped bark all round.

 

December

We had a great wreath making day in the Valley View yurt. Anne lit the log burner and we had home-made soup and mince pies. We all agreed to do it again this year. After that Steve and I had flu so I spent a lot of time using up my scrap fabric by the fire.

 

 

It has been a great year in the garden full of happy times. Lots of help from my sister Paula, thank you. We`ve had sausage sizzles for all the children in our family which they totally love. And so do we.

A very happy new year to everyone who reads the blog.

And thank you to Anne and Tim for the good times. 
 

Cherry Trees and Dinosaur Gardens Review Part 1

Here is my review of what was not the easiest of years in the garden.

January

The start of the year saw us replenishing the insect hotel and creating a scarecrow hospital for repairs and renewals. The toads came out too early and consequently died. And we had a huge delivery of chipped bark.

 

 

February

 I was doing a great deal of craft and I was making seed papers. I created the flying fairies. These fairies lost their wings. I had made them waterproof but they were not wind-proof. I have to think again for 2023.

March
 

In March I made literally hundreds of pompoms. The Owl Yurt went up and an old bird cage was purchased. The scarecrows came out for the season. The gardens were covered in red Saharan dust. And Buddy, the puppy came to the farm.

 

 April

We had a snowstorm which was a worry with all the fruit trees in blossom. We went to visit our excellent Christmas present ... a cherry tree in full blossom at Rentacherry in Northiam.

May
 

This was the main planting month. Little did we know what was ahead. We let the grass grow long and loved it. The path we allowed to go wild. Anne created a dinosaur garden and we were given a new garden seat.

 

June

In June the grass just got longer. The gunnera was doing well but died later in the season. We prepared the fairy trail.

 

And the weather just got hotter and hotter.