Sunshine and Dawn

This week at Heale the sun shone and made everything come alive. I spent my two days with Gardener, Dawn, who gave me lots of advice and crucially allowed me to follow her around all day! In addition, she too was once a WRAG and so she was very aware of what I should be learning and also what experience she could give me. Sadly, Dawn is leaving to pastures new but it was a pleasure to meet her and discuss her role for the past year.

We started with weeding the terrace borders at the back which took a while and leaf blowing to make it all very tidy. Main weeds are the usual suspects, Shepherd's Purse (seems to be everywhere and going mad), Chickweed, Dandelion... Hoeing the soil, you realise how compacted it has become over the Winter and you pretty much take the top layer with you when you weed.

We continued in the Veg plots, again much to do and very satisfying once you get to look back a the soil. As strange as it sounds, I do love a good weed!

We sowed some seed one day and Dawn took me through her process of preparing the compost mix, John Innes 2, with Vermiculite and General Purpose all sieved and ready to go, we managed Nicotiana, Fennel, Dill. We spent some time caring for the Greenhouse plants and planted out some herbs within the cut flower patch, Mint, Parsley, Coriander, Oregano, Rocket and Sorrel, looking good.

We also watered and cared for whole a Greenhouse full of Pelargoniums, lots in flower, gorgeous things and very happy ticking along.

It is amazing how much you can learn in a couple of days but so much knowledge is taken for granted when you are immersed in the garden every day and I am soaking it up.

Wishing Dawn all the best, it is a shame our paths crossed for such a short time!