At The Allotment - Digging, Weeding and Raised Beds

Well after a rough morning I went to the allotment. I dug over another bed and weeded as I went. Still finding lots of couch grass and bindweed. I only have one more bed to get ready and then I can start on my little patch of flower garden.

I also dug up my parsnips and spread out the soil on both my raised beds, then I re-planted the parsnips. The soil is a bit lumpy with stones and bits of root, but I can gradually remove these and also start to add compost/manure as the years go by. The soil isn't bad though its pretty crumbly with the odd lump of grey clay. It started to rain so hopefully it will water them in a bit. They should be ok as they roots are only just showing.

I've still quite a bit to do but its getting there.

At Work - The Walk Out

Today started off relatively well. Then one of the owners' sons came by and talked to my assistant asking that he go down and plant up some plants. This annoyed me because they did this before, and as far as I'm concerned they should really come to me and not my assistant, plus we are really busy and shouldn't be doing jobs for them at their beck and call.

Well went down and planted up plants that he had dug out from somewhere else (I don't know where they came from, I dread to think), then got started on finishing off the weeding around the Gorse and Berberis that we had been doing all week.

Well all was fine until two Greenkeepers turned up and started to spread out the mulch. As they were doing this I noticed that one was spreading it a bit thin, and so I asked them if they would keep it really thick. The response from the other Greenkeeper was "I know how to mulch". I said that I was just saying I'd like it thick but before I could explain why he said "I know what I'm doing I know how to mulch". I said I was just saying and it was "I know what I'm doing". And I just said forget it, dropped down my tools and walked away. I decided then I'd had enough and just went home.

It is the second time that someone has snapped at me this week. I asked the cook the other day if he would put his cigarette butts in the bucket that I had provided as there are cigarette butts all over the place outside our shed and his response was "we use roll ups" and "I'll flick it where I want". So as you can tell I'm not having a great week. As if it wasn't enough I was trying to cope with my assistant and his non-existence, and the management's mismanagement of the whole thing.

I really couldn't think what else to do and feeling like I do, I just couldn't stay another minute. No doubt I'll be gossip for the rest of the day.

I think I'll go to the allotment, and take it out on some weeds.

At Allotment - Very Tired But Happy!

First thing this morning I went up to the lottie and dug over both raised beds. Hard work because it was like concrete. I added some sand to one and fresh manure to the other to give them a good bottom as that is what they will become, because I then went off to see the nice man who put an ad on Freecycle saying he has lots and lots of topsoil.

We then proceeded to fill up and then empty out a little trailer full of soil. Its amazing just how much soil will go into a small trailer! Anyway we did this until we were too wet and tired to do it anymore, which fortunately turned out to be enough for my raised beds. Yes it rained heavily every time we got out the car! Anyway my raised beds are now near enough filled.

I say near enough because I just recently planted out my parsnips in one of the beds at one end. I'm now wonder if I should lift them out carefully and replant them so I can spread the soil out a bit, and if I need more going get another trailer load. I'm frightened because they are my babys and I don't want to damage them. Daft aren't I. The soil wasn't perfect as it had lots of small stones and bits of root in, but I can sort this out eventually and I'll gradually add manure or compost to the mix. I'm just happy I could fill the beds for free.

A good days work. I think I now need to lie down.

Went to Tescos to get something to eat after, and an old lady said I could use my Clubcard on her shopping to get extra points as she didn't have one. How nice that was! There are more nice people in this world than I realise.

I only have two beds to dig over and my little garden to finish off. I feel really pleased. Now I'm going to look on eBay to see if I can get some Weed Control Fabric for my paths to keep the weeds down. The cardboard looks pretty untidy although it is helping a bit.

At Allotment - Getting Topsoil For Raised Beds For Free Woohoo!!!!!

Well looks like I'm having tomorrow off to go and collect lots of lovely topsoil from someone off of Freecycle. How cool is that! I thought I would never get them filled. I'm very pleased. I hope its not too bad quality. They are going to deliver it by trailer as well I'm doubley lucky! Something to cheer me up after so far a slightly stressful week.

At Work - Finishing off

Well we got stuck in again pulling up ivy and removing Laurel seedlings that are everywhere. I got my assistant to cut down the Gorse a bit more, and got my boss (yes I'm getting very bossy now aren't I) to start mulching the whole area to try to prevent further weeds coming up whilst the area is empty and in full light. It was starting to look tidy when I left.

I had to repeat myself a few times today to my assistant as he wouldn't do things I had asked him straight away. I saw the lady in the office hand him an envelope towards the end of the day and had a few words with him, but I do not know what the conversation entailed. Should I hear anything I'll update you further.

One surprise I got today was that my Boss had been discussing me with his father (one of the owners of the Golf Club) and whether I would like to go on any courses with regards to gardening. Well I was a bit surprised but the first thing that came out of my mouth was the RHS Certificate in Horticulture. He seemed happy to do that, it wouldn't be until September now.

I'm wondering if I said the right thing. I know this course is quite difficult and I'm not overly academic. I did try this course before but by correspondence course and didn't get very far, I did say actually being in a classroom and doing it that way would be far better. Perhaps I should get the old text books from the correspondence course out now to swat up before I even start.

At Allotment & At Home - Planting and Sowing

Went up the lottie and prepared a bed for my Parsnips, by digging it over, breaking up clods and adding some compost. I then planted the 9 Parsnips I had in toilet rolls. It looks like it was just in time as the roots were just showing at the bottom.

I have also put in some Sweetpeas 'Heirloom Mix' against my pallet compost bins. It is an area I intend to make into a garden area so I feel like I've made a little bit of a start on that. Still lots to do on my lottie though. I need to try to go more often!

At home I have sown Runner Beans 'Scarlet Emperor', Climbing French Beans 'Cobra' and some Cucumbers 'Crystal Apple' a small round yellow cucumber which I hope to eat and to share with my Guinea Pigs. I have also sown two module trays of Mixed Salad Leaves.

My little Potting Shed is now feeling a tad full. Which is great because it means I'm trying! I really hope that I do well this year.

At Work - The Wrath Of Tina! (Updated)

Got to work after a detour due to a road traffic accident, only to find the WOS about to do mulching. I have told him time and time again no, but simply does it anyway. So I got a bit mad with him and told him not to mulch anywhere unless I say so, I said that there were plenty of jobs to do including weeding which you can find anywhere if you just look! He has this thing about mulching everywhere instead of doing work I have asked him to do. I was pretty wound up before I even got to work because I have been worrying about it all with the WOS, so when I saw him doing this what was boiling under the surface finally exploded!

I think he got the message. I am going to write this down though because I've told him so many times now, this will go the list of things he's doing that he should which I've been asked to do.

I think everyone has steered clear of to me because my face showed it all!

I got him working with me pulling up tons of Ivy which was underneath the Gorse that we cut down just recently. We still have lots more to do.

He was trying to tell me how ill he was last Monday, I asked him did he go to the doctor. He said yes and that the doctor had given him medicine and told him to stay off work for two weeks! I asked him what did the doctor call what he had, and he didn't know. So I do wonder if he's telling the truth. I told him that I didn't think gardening was for him because he keeps getting ill with the rain and the wind. Not a lot was said to this remark. I think I've got to a point where I don't care what I say to him, which could be dangerous!

I have emailed the lady in the office to see what is happening as they were supposed to be having another formal meeting with him to discuss his not turning up for work and not always giving a reason. They were also supposed to get back to me regarding whether he was still under the Disciplinary period. If he is they can give him his last warning. As yet I have heard nothing. If nothing gets done I think I will feel the place is one big joke and you can do what you like. I may have to reconsider my position there.

Update: just got an email back from the lady in the office. His written warning is still valid for another 3 months! We may have him! Well he'll be getting a last warning anyway and then he's out.

At Home - Sowing More Seeds

Today I sowed Cabbage 'Primo', Brussel Sprouts 'Bedford', Chard 'Bright Lights', Kale of the curly variety, and some sunflowers of the ordinary sort and some red ones 'Velvet Queen'.

Still to do are Runner and French Beans, and maybe some salad stuff. I'm thinking of doing the salad stuff at home in my garden as its gets picked more often. Still thinking about that one though.

We've had a little rain here just to dampen the ground though really. Enough to get the weeds growing no doubt.

Indoors I also re-sowed my chilli, belle peppers and Echinacea again as they have not appeared. Not doing very well on this score.

At Home - Transplanting Seedlings

Today I potted on some seedlings. Cosmos Candy Stripe, Gazania, Monarda, Aquilegia were all transplanted to their own modules.

With a little luck I may have a nice lot of flowers this year. I hope so.

Shelves are now starting to look full.

At Work - Another busy day on my own

No prizes for guessing who didn't turn up for work again today. Getting a bit beyond a joke now. This time no excuse given.

Went around doing all of the jobs he should have done cutting back Hypericums and trimming over Potentilla and Spirea. I tidied up the Wedding Garden as well. The Blackbirds tend to make a bit of a mess by turffing out mulch and mud all over the place so I had to go around sweeping up, only to find it all out again later.

Another lovely quiet day.

At Home - Moving Plants

Today I felt fed up because I can't really afford to buy any plants and have lots of space. So instead of feeling sorry for myself I've got a bit creative and moved some plants. I moved a stray Buddleia seedling to a fence where its a little short and I require my privacy, so I moved it there as a screening. Just hope it doesn't mind moving too much.

I had some spare soil in bags from a kind Freecycler and it looks quite good stuff, I've put that in the crater left behind by a Weigela in the front garden. Another plant to be moved was a Euonymus which I felt would be smothered one day by a Hebe right next to it. Euonymus don't mind a bit of shade so I've moved it around to the front garden where I have lots of space after I removed the Weigela and Campanula. It is a small, narrow leaved variety.

I also had a very poorly looking Hebe in a pot which I had rescued from work but had never gotten around to planting it. So I've planted that next to the Euonymus and will wait and see if the plant gets better. It can't do much worse it really is a bit sickly.

Another plant not doing great in my garden is a Heuchera 'Purple Palace', another bit of plant I got from work a few years ago. I made the mistake of planting it between two Geraniums and they won! So have moved that to the front garden as well.

Fingers crossed they all feel reinvigerated and get going really well, either that or they just die, which is the more likely. I might be a gardener, but I didn't say I was a good one!

I'm pleased to see my two Echinops that I got from work earlier this year and are growing well. They were spare small bits which now seem quite big and I'm really pleased because I love them.

My Echinacea plants that I sowed last year have returned thankfully. I did wonder if they would reappear, although the slugs are having a nibble by the looks of things.

I have loads of Foxgloves in all different places. I love them!

At Work and At Home - A pleasant day on my own

Well I'll get it out of the way first and then talk about gardening. My so called assistant was yet again not in, so it appears he's not taking a bit of notice of anything anyone is saying. I talked to the lady in charge of the office and hiring and firing today, and like Veg said they have to follow procedure, which of course I had guessed. However, she did say that he may still be under the disciplinary hearing period of before and they may be able to give him his very last warning, and if he doesn't start to take his job seriously they will be able to finally fire him. I have been asked to take notes of his not coming and what his excuses for not coming in are. Also of anything that he does without my say so and what he doesn't do. So I'm now a spy as well as a gardener. But if its what it takes, then I shall do it.

Back to gardening. I had a lovely day considering I had very little sleep last night. The weather was a little chilli this morning with a bitter wind, but it eased off after lunchtime and became quite nice indeed.

First thing in the morning, one of our duties now is to water the containers around the Clubhouse as they are getting very dry due to no rain for quite some time now.

I have pruned down a Cotoneaster this morning because I was asked to by one of the Greenkeepers the other day. The reason is that there is beyond this Cotoneaster where they Tee off, and he was worried a person may walk out in front of the golfers, as there is a path that runs right in front of this tee and the Cotoneaster was hiding the Teeing off area.

So that was what I did, of course he is the sort of person who isn't a gardener and would always say it could have been cut shorter. I'm used to him and his little ways. I think it was just the right height and the poor plant could cope with the hacking down if kept that tall. Behind the Cotoneaster is Elder and this has just been pruned hard, I did try to get through to him that this will grow tall and in the way as well but I don't think he really took it in. Nevermind, I've done what I was asked and that's all that I can do.

I also trimmed over hard lots of Hypericum. Its a bit late but Its nice to get it done. I also trimmed over a few more Spirea in the same border. I decided to stay on this border and give it a good weed as there were a lot of those Hairy Bittercress, I'm sure you know the ones that shoot their many seeds everywhere only to create thousands more of the tiny weeds. I also took out quite a few Dandelions as well as other weeds. I then edged up the border to finish it off.

On my way home I decided to treat myself by going to the local Garden Centre. I didn't buy anything but I've seen a few nice plants I'd like to put in the front garden. Heuchera 'Key Lime Pie' and another one that was a reddish-pink I forgot the name. I also saw a lovely Geranium 'Mourning Widow' which I have my eye on also. I think I will get the Geraniums there but shop around for the other plants that I would like as they are a tad dear.

When I got home I checked on my pots and saw that I have one Courgette coming through and one Pumpkin Jack O'Lantern, some of the Chives are starting to germinate, and Tomato Roma are all germinating. So that's exciting news, well I find it exciting anyway!

At Allotment & At Home - Busy In The Sunshine

Well I had it in my head today that if I couldn't go to work then I had to keep busy and get things done. My OH is borrowing my car as his is at the MOT. Its passed jammy bugger!

Anyway, I went to the lottie this morning and planted up all my red and ordinary onions today. I had to wet the ground first to soften it up. Its gone like concrete because of the lack of rain. Anyway planted them up so am really happy about that. The Garlic looks ok that is already in and growing. No sign of the spuds, but I see a few shoots of Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts by a miracle. I've not been up to water them. I'm a terrible gardener!

I then went home, had a drink and something to eat, then got started on cutting the grass. Moved everything off the lawns and got cutting, when I finally got the mower started that was. I hate petrol mowers, well this one anyway. Takes ages to get started. After cutting the front and back lawns, I then raked up the grass. Some went in the compost bin and the rest went into big plastic bags ready to take up the lottie.

The next task was to make a new mesh roof for my Guinea Pigs run. I originally had that horrible green netting across it, and it was disintegrating and my little pigs were eating the bits that fell to the ground, do they have no taste buds?!! Also a local cat was in their run looking in their house the other day, so that was enough to get me off my big fat behind and do something about it.

Anyway, whilst at the lottie I grabbed the big roll of chicken wire I had lying around doing nothing and brought that home. I've cut it to fit and now they have a new mesh roof. I feel better now that they are safe once more.

And I've done some clothes washing too. Just call me Wonder Woman! I still have to edge up the lawns, but I'll do that another day.

All that's left is the washing up and the hoovering and collecting my OH and cooking the tea. A woman's work is never done!

I'm pleased with what I've got done. All jobs that have been bothering my brain until I do them.

At Work - Gorse and Sickly Assistant

Today I decided that my assistant was going to work with me and cut down lots of Gorse. Of course he started to become ill during this time and asked to go early. My boss actually laughed when he asked him what was wrong. "I went to Devon and it was very windy and now I hurt." replied my assistant. My boss turned to me and laughed.

I told my boss today that I was happy if he wanted to get rid of him and I'd do extra hours, but unfortunately he thinks he has no grounds to sack him. I said well he has had enough sick days now, anywhere else would have sacked him by now. He seemed surprised by that. So I'm none the wiser if they will or not. If they're not careful they'll have just him as the gardener as I'm not sure how much more of the BS I can put up with.

Anyway the Gorse has finally been hacked down to about knee height and we'll pray that it grows back, apparently it does.

I have to say I feel thoroughly pee'd off that nothing is really being done about my assistant and I'm feeling taken advantage of quite a bit now. I've made my feelings very clear to my boss about the whole situation, so I'm hoping this is added pressure.

I did hear from my assistant that he had been stopped again by the police on Wednesday of last week again, and that it is apparently somebody at work who is dobbing him in to the police, someone who absolutely hates him. I can now see why and don't blame him quite frankly. He has to pay a £350 fine for not having a tax disc but has some how gotten away with the not having a driving licence.

I am fed up. Can you tell?

At Home - Tragedy and Re-sowing

Last night I put propagator lids on my peppers, aubergines and tomatoes. They had also been moved to in front of the window in the potting shed, instead of where they were at the back of the shed.

Well disaster struck, they all died due to the heat of today in my shed and being under those lids and right in the sun. I had done all of these things because it was cold outside at night, but I should have removed those lids first thing. Because I haven't been very well I've been sleeping lots and so didn't get up until late. That is my excuse anyway.

So I've started again and sown them all again. I hope that I can catch up. The aubergines are supposed to be sown in March not Apri so they will be really behind. Well I live and I learn as they say.

At Home - Weeding Front Garden (updated)

Still feel unwell, so just did a little bit in the front garden. Removed a lot more of the Campanula that started the other day along with grass. I've also removed a fair few Dandelions and Nettles. I had some pretty primroses in amongst it all and have moved them to a spot on their own. I seemed to have inherited quite a few of these, all in pretty colours. Some are the lollypop type which are quite fun.

The border that I am working on is in front of the house and is partly shaded, partly in full sun and partly a bit of both. I have a big Wiegela that I wish to dig out but its pretty old and so the roots are huge. I need energy to even attempt to get this out of the ground, and at the moment I really don't feel like it.

Still feel unwell, so just did a little bit in the front garden. Removed a lot more of the Campanula that started the other day along with grass. I've also removed a fair few Dandelions and Nettles. I had some pretty primroses in amongst it all and have moved them to a spot on their own. I seemed to have inherited quite a few of these, all in pretty colours. Some are the lollypop type which are quite fun.

The border that I am working on is in front of the house and is partly shaded, partly in full sun and partly a bit of both. I have a big Wiegela that I wish to dig out but its pretty old and so the roots are huge. I need energy to even attempt to get this out of the ground, and at the moment I really don't feel like it.

Well I went out again this afternoon and went a bit mad. I dug out the Wiegela! Took a bit of time and left a big crater in the ground, but I got it out. I'm really pleased as now I can put thing in that I really would like rather than what I inherited. Now all I have to worry about is getting the giant root into my green wheelie bin. Perhaps my partner will help with that one.

At Home - More Sowing, Vegetables This Time

Today I did a little bit more sowing. I haven't seen any sign of my Pumpkin 'Hundredweight' so thought I'd sow two more. I've also sown some Courgettes and prepared some pots for my partner. He likes to have a go at the fun stuff. I got him sowing Sunflower seeds and Pumpkin 'Jack O' Lantern' seeds. I'll get him into gardening if its the last thing I do! Shelves are filling up.

At Home - Pricking out and sowing more flowers

I didn't go to work today as I am feeling unwell, but I did do some gardening of a sort.

I sat at my garden table and pricked out some of my flower seedlings which I sowed at the end of March. It was lovely, not too hot but just right. I now have a tray of 12 Rudbeckia Rustic Mix, a tray of 10 Rudbeckia Marmalade, 4 Lupins individually potted, 2 Cosmos Candy Stripe and 1 Gazania Sunshine Mix. I still have lots of little seedlings to prick out but they are still a little small. The Rudbeckias were pretty tiny but seemed to have a good root system, so I'm hoping they will be ok. Do you think I have too many?

I have sown 6 pots of chives. I really like the flowers on these and they would look great with my Alliums. I've also sown a half seed tray of Lychnis Coronaria 'Rose Campion'. My partner loves these and as a matter of fact so do I. So lets hope that they germinate. I have a feeling I'll end up with more flowers than I know what to do with, but then again do I care?!

Later this afternoon I went out for a bit longer, and moved a Hebe that wasn't doing very well where it was. It was in a partially shady position and never flowered there and was starting to look more dead than alive. So I've cut it back hard and planted it in a fully sunny position. Fingers crossed it gets over the shock and flourishes better there. I have another one I think I might move, but ran out of energy and am not exactly sure where I'm putting it yet.

I have started on another bit of the same border removing Campanula. Now this version has become a bit of a weed and I've decided to dig it all out, along with grass and Couch Grass. The whole of this border is a bit of a nightmare with grass and buttercups to be honest, but I persevere with it. I've also cut down some Penstemon as well. I love these and so do the Bees. Oh well, little by little I might get my own garden up together. Don't expect it done in a rush though will you!!

At Work - What Comes Around Goes Around

Today has been a funny old day. The first thing I was told by my boss this morning is that my unreliable assistant wouldn't be in, again. Mind you he had a good excuse this time. He's been caught by the police driving his car without a licence, and I would assume no tax as well as he hadn't any last time I'd asked. I knew that he was doing this, and no it wasn't me who dobbed him in before you all wonder, but now so does everyone else including the boss. The thing is that he's already been caught, last year whilst driving his moped. He didn't have a licence for that either. Doesn't learn. I don't normally feel good about others misfortune, but in his case I'll make an exception. Karma seems to exist afterall.

Anyway, back to gardening. I continued around the borders, cutting down yet more Cornus, trimmed over Potentilla and Spirea, cut down Perovskia and trimmed over more Hypericum, this time the larger sort. I collected some Elder branches and some Cornus prunings for my allotment. I use the elder as canes for my beans, and I thought I could use the Cornus as support for my Sweetpeas. Add a bit more colour.

Today was a lovely, warm and sunny day. And talking of what comes around goes around, a helicopter landed next to my shed! I kid you not. I have seen it land there once before last year, but this year it looked a little skittish. I believe someone was being taught how to fly it. Everyone looked, unsurprisingly. I was hoping for a ride, but alas it did not happen. All in all an enjoyable day.

At Work - Spirea, Hypericum, Potentilla

I got the shears out again today and trimmed over more Spirea and Potentilla. I also cut down to the ground some small Hypericums. The smaller ones can be cut this way, but the larger versions can't.

I also had to trim back some Gorse near these plants as it was getting out of hand and smothering them.

At The Allotment - Dig Dig Dig Dig Dig All The Day Through

Well I went to the allotment today with determination to dig over my onion and bean bed, and spud beds. I was there for 4 and a half hours digging. I think that my back is going to hurt alot later when I've sat down for a bit, and need to get up. Ouch!

Anyway I got all three beds dug over. Then I planted my potatoes (Aaron Pilot and Kestrel), by digging out a trench with my Azada. A brilliant too for this job. Then I added some of my rotted manure that I have into the trenches and planted the spuds. My back was hurting before I did this, but I was determined to get this done. I really wanted to plant up my onion sets as well, but I well and truly ran out of steam by that time. It will have to be left for another day.

At the very beginning I sowed some Cabbage and Brussel Sprouts seeds in my new seedbed. Nice to be able to use that at last.

I still have my two brassica beds to dig over and my raised beds as well, but these can wait. The most important beds have been done for the timebeing.

My Daffs are looking nice up the lottie. Well I never planted them, they came with my plot. Very cheerful until the council cuts them down.