Finally, this last week has brought warmth. The first time I have genuinely not felt cold without a coat in what seems like forever. We wait all Winter and then -BAM- everything seems to be happening all at once.
It is such a busy time and much to think about and hopefully nothing is missed, everything in its place and all will be smashing!
Each of the three gardens I work in (in addition to the allotment) has veggies which need attention as well as numerous borders and lawns. It is a mind game, remembering which seeds need sowing when, which seedlings need transplanting, which don't. Which plants need to have heat, which need to be hardened off. Which need staking, which need cropping soon.
We have some fantastic Salads at Heale and this Rocket, having just been watered, looked far too good to just walk on by.
The Prop at Heale, is THE place where everything can rest happily, not too cold, not too hot. The benches are now groaning with pots and HG is constantly playing Plant Jenga, moving pots this way and that to make sure all are happy.
I have been up to all sorts this week. We have planted more Broad Bean seeds and Peas. We needed to stake and net the Peas. HG uses a metal pole which is hollow, allowing you to put a bamboo cane in each end to lengthen/shorten the pole for your requirements. Then you use a large tack to hold the cane in place on the posts. A nifty trick.
I have been feeding various animals too. We now have Pigs, Geese, Chickens, Cats and Lambs on our roster. The gardens have sprung into life.
Of course with all of this life, comes unwanted growth. Namely, Bittercress, Fat Hen, Nettles and Thistles to name but a few. Hand weeding is the best option or a good hoe and a rake seems to help too. Many areas at Heale have been given The Garden Bird treatment and are in their place - for now.
Watering has quickly become a requirement and is constantly on our minds. We use sprinklers, once we have prepared the area but in some cases only a gentle watering with a can will do. Especially with seedlings.
We are gradually filling up the ground space in the veg garden. HG has the Celeriac in, looking mighty fine, upright, glossy green, erect growth. The Potatoes are showing themselves, Asparagus is being cropped and we will soon be planting out Courgettes and Cucumbers along with Tomatoes outdoors. We also mix it up in a Potager style, so we will be flowering it up with Sun flowers, Zinnias and Cosmos as well as climbing plants such as Cobea and Ipomoea.
The wider garden is coming into its own now. Blossom is plentiful, we have Camassia over on the river bank starting to flower. Peonies in their lollipop form, almost flowering. The trees have their first leaf emergence. Of course, some of it is so fleeting. I took this pic of Magnolia 'Butterflies' a week or two ago and now it will be year to wait before we see her again. Prunus 'Shirotae' blossom has all but gone already!
Scilla 'Peruviana' are up in the Triangle, wild area and they are stunning things. Very complex in their form. Lots
to look at.
On my allotment, my youngest has grown Brussel Sprouts from seed and we managed to get these going for him, hopefully in time for Christmas. A labour of love for sure. We have Wild Garlic at the plot, under the shade of Plum trees and an impressive Aesculus hippocastanum, the great Conker tree. It has such beautiful white flowers right now and I tell my boys of all the promise to come as every flower spike will bring those amazing shiny brown nuggets - the conker!
