Tina's Plot

RHS Level 2 in Practical Horticulture - What I've done so far?

2011-10-18T20:44:00.000+01:00

I started this course back in September and thought maybe some folk might be interested.

So far we have covered how to properly sow seeds trays and how to sow different sized seeds. I have also learned abit about petrol driven mowers, the parts, looking for hazards, and how to actually mow the grass. Sounds a bit daft but its true. But then I'm not the biggest lover of grass! We've also had a go on a petrol driven scarifier and talking about thatch.

I have just learnt a bit about cuttings, basal, heel, mallet. Very interesting but just started this so I've still a lot to learn.

The most difficult thing so far has been the Plant Identification. We have to get 110 correct, we are given 12 plants to identify and name correctly (in their botanical name) and we have to get 10 right. This assessment is taken every 2 weeks. I think its hard to identify that actual plant than remember the botanical names. We are allowed to take a long list of name in with us, but only to use for the purpose of getting the spellings correct. I think that's cheating but there you go lol

I am so far thoroughly enjoying the course and getting all round experience and knowledge. This is exactly what I want. To boost my confidence and make me realise I know quite a bit already.

If anyone wants to ask me questions about it, I'll try to answer them.

Front Garden Update

2011-10-14T20:13:00.004+01:00

I'm getting to the tinkering stage of my front garden now. Today I've planted out some strawberry plants that I propagated from other plants in the back garden. I also laid a slab there, which you might think is odd but its away around the Acer tree that I have in the centre of the path and also will be a way in to the veg garden through the strawberries. I don't want the man who comes to check the water meter to wreck my tree now do I! And yes what a place to put a water meter!

It might sound silly to you, but I'm starting to feel immensely proud of what I have achieved so far. I am now starting to think about what flowers and plants I'm going to put in the other side of the path, and that I feel is very exciting indeed.

I'm thinking of planting tulip bulbs inbetween the strawberry plants to give us something nice to look at in the spring.

At the end where the yellow tub is I'm planning to plant Lavender as a small hedge. The other end has one gooseberry plant newly planted up, but I'd like maybe two more.

I'm really getting into propagation now and I would like to think that those two gooseberry plants will be propagated by me, just like all those strawberry plants.

Another bit of pride and propagation for me are some small Lonicera bushes that I am currently growing. I am proud to say they have both lots of roots and new shoots. Going to pot them all on this weekend into their own little pots and they'll go out around the other front garden as I am currently lining the whole of the border of that garden with these.

I'm getting to be like Carol Klein and passionate about making my own plants.

Pictures

1. This is what my front garden used to look like, for those who don't know the story.

2. This is the same garden currently.

3. Vegetable patch, now lined with old coping stones and strawberries.

4. New path (well will be eventually) and a rather large silhouette of me. I really hope I'm not that huge!

5. This I am hoping will be my pride and joy next year. All the plants are a bit mixed up and a little bit weedy as they a few of them were just dumped there whilst I was taking up the turf. I really want this to be a border about me and what I really love. I hope I achieve it. I like to think it will be an ongoing project with new plants etc.

6. Current pride and join, my little baby bushes (Lonicera) which I, yes I, propagated earlier in the year and are now rooting and shooting, but not tooting lol. I can't remember its full name but its a low growing one and looks a bit like Box.

What have I been up to?

2011-10-11T20:08:00.000+01:00

Well last month I started a course courtesy of my employers. I have started RHS Level 2 in Practical Horticulture. So far I have done a little bit of propagation, seed sowing and division, power tools namely petrol driven mowers and a scarifier, and plant identification. I have already taken one assessment for the seed sowing bit and next week I have the scary assessment on Plant Identification. Why scary? Because not only do I have to remember the proper Botanical name but I've got to actually be able to identify the plant as well. Scary but we did a mock test yesterday and I felt I did pretty well. Every two weeks we are given 12 to learn and then we take an assessment. We have to get 10 out of the 12. In total there will be 110 I will have to get right! At least I'll have a few plants in my head. I've been amazed how many I actually already know.

I've been busy catching up at work, although I'm getting quite tired now. Its tiring doing it on my own and with the course as well, well you can guess. I seem to be getting there anyway and I've not had any complaints. Quite the opposite in fact.

At home I've succeeded with potatoes, pumpkins, squash, Runner beans, onions, shallots, garlic, carrots, cucumber and courgette. My failures have been the tomatoes which caught blight and the brassicas as usual. Mostly caterpillars and slugs. I will either give up next year, or try garlic spray and a better way of netting them. Things still to come are sprouts, swede and parsnips. Fingers crossed on those ones.

Plans, I'm currently messing around in the front garden. I've just finished making a path, well the edging to a path anyway. Just waiting for any more weeds to come before laying down weed suppressant membrane and deciding what to use as a pathing material. Thinking gravel.

I am also going to line the vegetable side of the path with strawberry plants. Makes more sense to have them there than in the ornamental borders. I've got the idea of under planting them with tulip bulbs so that it looks a little pretty in the spring as well. I'm due to be getting some lavender plants which I want to use to make a hedge at the end of this bed and along the main path. I think they will do well here as its sunny and sandy soil.
Hoping that next year is better and prettier, but I'm sure that is what every gardener says....

Barn Owl 'Ringing'

2011-07-15T17:44:00.001+01:00

Well as my last blog went down so well, thought I'd better tell you about my day watching Barn Owl chicks being 'Ringed'. Better late than never!

On Sunday 3rd July I went back to where I work to watch Barn Owl chicks being 'Ringed'. Now before any smarty pants says oh that's cruel (no I don't mean it was strangled), all this essentially means is putting an identity ring around the little birds leg.

A few weeks ago, I was unlucky in not seeing the Kestrels being 'Ringed' as it was torrential rain and felt quite sad about it. I was really pleased to hear that there were Barn Owl chicks and that the people who did the Kestrels would be coming back to 'Ring' the young owl chicks. I got a second extra special chance.

Anyway, got there at 9:45am to find lots of people in the bar waiting to go and see the birds. It was a lovely hot day and we had a little talk first with a kind of Q&A session. Things like.... what do they eat? Wood Mice, Voles and Shrews. What attacks or eats them? Buzzards. If the baby birds strays away from his nest the parents will not feed them, the little bird has to go back to the nest before they will feed it. In a natural nest the faeces of the chicks will be taken away by the parent, but this isn't the case when it comes bird boxes. The little birds sit in a very very thick layer of their own manure. It is amazing they are still pristine white! When they are removed from the box to do the 'ringing' their box thankfully gets emptied and a new layer of bedding put back in for them, bless 'em!

Well after the talk we all made our way up to the oak tree in the field. All eagerly awaiting the sighting of our first Barn Owl chick. Now the process was to 'Ring' the bird with a ring that doesn't rust apparently. It is put in a small bag and weighed. Is sexed and then measured. The gentleman who did all of this seemed a might confused as I think I'm right in saying the females are heavier than the males and are a certain wait. Well all the birds seemed to be more the weight of a female than a male, but some of them looked like males when he checked their sex. Maybe it isn't very easy! Anyway one of the birds turned out to be heavier than an adult bird so the parents were definitely doing well in feeding their children.

There were 5 eggs in the box the last time they checked and to their delight all the eggs had hatched. What amazed me was the difference of each chick. All eggs are layed at so many days intervals. The difference between the smallest white fluffy chick and the near adult sized chick was 2 weeks (see photo). The oldest was 6 weeks old, and at 11 weeks they'll be flying around their tree and getting used to being adult birds.

Once the gentleman had finished doing all his measurements etc he then, to my amazement, handed the chick to a lady in the group. We all got to take lots of pictures as you will see from mine :0) Well these poor young owls all got handed about to different people and I started to wonder might I get the chance to hold one, and lo and behold I did. Well I could have died and gone to heaven, it was the best thing to happen to me. I know, I'm a softy but I had this little soft and warm life in my hands and it just lay their quitely still apart from its head which seemed to be on a swivel as it focussed on something, you would move its body but its head stay in the same position. You could see how they might work in hunting!

Well after lots of photos and cuddles, they all were put back in the big bag, carried up the ladder and put in the back entrance of the box, which has a platform on it, so I guess it was a bit safer for them.

My Very Own Springwatch Moment

2011-06-17T17:33:00.001+01:00

I started work early again this morning (5.45am) and I have to say I was greatly rewarded for it.

I have been watching keenly an old Oak tree in the corner of the car park at the Golf Club where I work as I had discovered that a pair of Little Owls had had chicks in it. I've watched them flying back and forth feeding them with mice etc. I had a guess at where abouts the chicks were, in the under side of a large old branch of the tree where there was a tiny hollow, as this was where hissing noises were coming from.

Today I actually saw one of the parents jump down to it, so I moved in closer to take a look. That was when I heard a hissing from the hollow, but also from a different part of the tree... so I moved around the tree and kept trying to figure out where the sound was coming from. Finally, I saw a Little Owl chick on a large branch tugging away at what I can only guess was his breakfast. The little chick was I guess fairly old now as he looked more like an Owl than a ball of cotton wool. Quite tiny though with dark grey fluffy feathers. Very sweet looking down at me, then all of a sudden it got a bit excited flapping its wings about and stamping its feet and it was at this time I thought I'd better make a quick exit before the little thing jumped out of the tree. I'm glad to say it didn't.

I feel pleased to know at what stage they are at and that there is more than one. I also feel extremely privileged and lucky to have seen this tiny wonder in a natural setting and that it looks very healthy. I've been an acquaintence of the Little Owls since starting work at the Golf Club nearly 5 years now and it is the first time that I've seen them with offspring. I feel this has been my very own Springwatch moment.

Before I forget.... we have a number of birdboxes set up around the course and 2 of the birdboxes had kestrel chicks and these were 'ringed' on Sunday. I was going to go except it was torrential rain. Little did I know it would stop just in time. Here is an article from The Wiltshire Times if anyone is interested..... http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9078285.Watch_the_birdies_at_Cumberwell_Park_Golf_Course/

I have since been told by my boss that there is a birdbox up in an oak tree which contains 6 Barn Owl eggs, 3 of which he said had hatched but he got down quickly so as not to disturb the parents too much. They are going to be 'ringed' in a couple of weeks and I'm really hoping that I may get to witness this instead. Fingers crossed!

If I do I will of course take my camera. I shall endeavour to get a picture of the Little Owls also. Well I shall try!

Exciting Times

2011-06-06T20:09:00.001+01:00

I planted up four tomato plants today in one of my raised beds. Quite excited. I hope they do well. Slightly worried as some areas tonight might get ground frost. Hope it isn't ours! I also planted out one January King cabbage to join the other cabbages woohoo.

I've spotted today that I've actually got some spring onion seedlings popping up, something I've never managed before these are inbetween some lettuce and radish that I sowed in the same area. I also have some Swede and Kale growing too. Very excited as I've never grown or eaten kale and its quite a colourful one when it gets going. Starts of purple and when the frost hits goes red. Something colourful to look at and indeed eat.

Winter this year is going to be lots of my own veggies yippee! Have I finally cracked it?!!

I think it definitely helps have it all going on at home, as not only can you keep a better eye on things it encourages you to keep going and keep sowing.

So far everything looks more or less healthy, even with the massively dry weather. I'm keeping all fingers and toes crossed that this will continue. I think I'm supposed to sow more carrots and lettuce.

I'm actually frightened to thin my carrots hearing all the nasties about Carrot fly! Wonder what happens if you don't?

The Pumpkins Are In!

2011-06-04T15:45:00.004+01:00

Been busy trying to dig out stones and roots from the front garden. The last bit of root that I dug up today was the biggest and heaviest so far. I have also had to sort out the water meter cover as it was very wonky so I dug out the cover and surround and repositioned it. Bloody nuisance that it is!

I have dug out holes, filled them up with compost and then backfilled the soil to create mounds. My other half grew some pumpkins, and he planted them. One was 'Hundredweight' and the other was 'Fester F1'. I have also planted up Squash 'Hunter', Courgette 'Green Bush' and Cumber 'Crystal Apple.

Very excited but I still have a way to go, as there is the last quarter of this garden to weed and sort out.

I then went to the other side of the path and began weeding their and planted up my one and only Dahlia 'Chic Red' and some Osteospermum of the annual sort.

The Blue Tits have left the building!

2011-05-30T15:41:00.001+01:00

At work we had a bit of an unusual nesting place for some Blue Tit chicks. One of those small cigarette boxes you sometimes see attached to buildings. Well I think either Friday or over the weekend the little babies left their nest. Not only that but their appear to be lots of Great Tit chicks everywhere also, plus the sparrows up in the clubhouse roof are busy getting fed and just today I realised Little Owl has had at least one baby up in the old Oak tree. So well pleased with the new life in my work place.

Isn't nature grand!

Front Garden - Weeds

2011-05-23T15:39:00.001+01:00

Well started on another quarter and the thing that finally stopped me was a huge thick root from an old cherry tree. I've dug up many roots from the old tree and they'e easily broken up. I knew I'd find one that would finally get me, if only for a few days.

Before discovering the huge root I did manage to empty part of the old border of all the plants I want to keep. Ornamental grasses, penstemon, geranium. I then began to dig out the weeds. The biggest problem that I have always had with this old border is a small variety of buttercup, which no matter how hard I try to get rid of, always eventually returns. So this is partly why I've dug up everything to get at it properly. I'm sure this will take a good while to thoroughly clear it. I've got the rest of the border to do, but I'm a little hesitant to dig up all my plants as I've things like Echinacea and Echinops which have really gotten going. So it might still be a case of digging around them for now at least.

Even though its jam packed full of weeds there are some real gems poking through, from Iris to Foxgloves and Geraniums. I really think making this corner a cottage garden style as it seems to do so well. Just have to tackle the weeds.

The more I clear the more excited I get, thinking what will go where and how it will turn out. Half of this part of the garden is going to be no doubt looking like a jungle throughout the summer as I've pumpkins, squash, courgettes and cucumbers to go in, if they all fit that is!

At Home - Sowing and Digging

2011-05-21T15:37:00.000+01:00

Been feeling extremely tired and sleepy lately so appologies for the lack of progress.

Today I sowed some seeds. Lettuce 'Little Gem', Raddish, Spring Onions, Kale and Swede.

In the front garden I've dug over a quarter and a bit. Trying to get ready for the pumpkins, squash, courgettes and cucumber. I'm starting to wonder if they'll all fit in!

I've also trimmed around a conifer tree and taken the top off before it gets too big and I can't reach it.

Oh and I earthed up the spuds. Need to give it all a really good watering as we've not had proper rain in ages now.

Front Garden Part 2 - 1st Quarter

2011-04-27T19:12:00.001+01:00

I finished off digging over the first quarter of the front garden. Dug up 3 heathers and one hebe and tried to remove what I could of the couch grass in amongst it. A nightmare and I feel it will come back to haunt me. Hopefully with it all more spaced out and well dug it may be slightly easier to remove than before.

I've now put the heathers, hebe, ferns and bits of hardy geranium in their permanent place. Some plants have been removed permanently that I was not so keen on, and some plants are still to be moved. Namely right and left of the heathers (see picture). By the way this quarter is a partial shade bed as it gets a bit of shade and then a bit of sun. In the winter its more shade than sun.

Still needs a little finishing off and possibly a few more plants added but I feel like its slowly coming along. Just the other 3 to do.

Oh I ended up with 3 extra wheelie bins to get rid of the turf. Still a lot to get rid of though unfortunately.

My little ragged robin friend is gradually getting braver and used to me, he/she looks so skinny and scruffy though. I hope it feeds itself in the process.

Front Garden Part 2 - The Grass Is Gone

2011-04-25T19:08:00.000+01:00

Yesterday I managed to remove the last of the grass but unfortunately had little enthusiasm/energy to do anything else. Today I knocked off what soil I could from the turf lying everywhere, chucked some in the wheelie bin and stacked up the rest for later to be thrown away.

Had a rest and then started to dig over a bit and weed. Lots of couch grass roots in the old borders along with zillions of dandelions. I'm sure those will return to haunt me. I ran out of gas after a long weekend of digging. I still have to go to work gardening so I think I did the right thing by stopping.

I'm going to be moving shrubs including heathers, a hebe and some other things along the way. Hope they'll be alright. Done it before so should be alright.

The only thing in my way is the huge mound of turf. I'm hoping this will go down fairly quickly. I'm quite excited about moving everything to their better places and making this garden better and more productive. Its been a bit of a bane in my life to be honest as the borders have always gotten smothered with buttercup and couch, now it has nowhere to hide i.e. the lawn, I am hoping it will be easier to remove. Here's hoping.

Also I now have French Beans growing and the Runner Beans have just come up in pots as well so I've a few veggies on the go thank goodness. Just sowed Pumpkin Fester F1, Courgette, Cucumber Crystal Apple and Butternut Squash Hunter. A bit late but I'm sure they'll get going once planted out. Just wish I could master carrots. I seem utterly hopeless when it comes to them.

I know I keep saying this but I do feel very excited this year about gardening at home. Not just the veggies but the whole gardens in general. It is getting more and more how I want it.

Front Garden Part 2 - Two more quarters dug up

2011-04-23T19:01:00.002+01:00

Been quite busy over the last few days. Started weeding borders, tidied up a bit of garden I never got around to finishing at the back of the raised garden putting things away, weeding, edging up with that green edging stuff. All I need to do is a get a bit more bark mulch to finish the path.

Then I went back to the front garden. Yesterday and today I got a half of the lawn dug up. I have stacked up the turf temporarily and this will be wheelie binned as its got more weeds than grass in it. Thankfully my neighbour has kindly offered me the use of his bin and has also said he'll get the old lady's bin who used to live next door but has just moved in with her family. So I could hopefully get a chunk of the large pile moved this week. Amazing that I did this much as its been really hot and the wall tends to have the heat bouncing off of it so extra warm!

Been digging up large roots from the cherry tree that used to be in the corner of this garden, thankfully they're rotten and break up easily.

Just one quarter to go. I will be very pleased if I get this finished this weekend.

Front Garden Part 2

2011-04-16T23:36:00.003+01:00

Today I made a start on the second front lawn. I decided that I would just do a bit each weekend as at the moment I am very busy at the moment at work and very tired. I actually did more that I expected, nearly a quarter so I'm quite pleased with that. If I get the second quarter across done next weekend then I will have enough space to grow my pumpkin, squash, courgette and cucumber which I need to get going in pots soon.

It will be nice to sort out all the plants that I have growing in this garden as I've a few nice ones. Will be nice for them to have their proper place.

Very pleased with what I've done so considering how I feel lately. My neighbour said that I could use his green wheelie bin to get rid of some of the turf too as I've already filled mine. I thought that was really kind of him. Nice when people do that.

Rabbits On The Run

2011-04-15T23:26:00.000+01:00

On Wednesday my OH surprised me by showing me that he'd caught two pet rabbits that had appeared in our garden and placed them in the guinea pig run! He gets nervous picking up our piggies so its a miracle how he caught these two. They are massive. These were the same two that escaped before and I saw them on the pavement near where I live. So I knew where they lived.

I went straight around to where I thought they were from and the owner came along with me and couldn't believe how far they'd gotten. To be honest I'm not sure how much he really cared about these animals, for starters he picked them up by their ears ( these were big heavy rabbits)! Its a miracle they've not already been killed as we live quite close to a main road where quarry lorries go up and down at a pace. My OH took more of an interest in them than me. I think he was quite taken with a large black one with floppy ears.

I didn't want to get attached, they were too big and I didn't want the hassle of taking care of them. Glad to give them back but at the same time feeling a little guilty. They didn't appear to be properly looked after (very grubby) and the way he handled them, but then was it his animals or his wife and kids'? The other thing was that they kept trying to well do what rabbits do with each other continuously. Shouldn't you neuter them?

Anyway found lots of dig marks in my veg garden and tops eaten off my shallots. Seriously p'd of by that! Looks like they are slowly growing back though so there is hope.

Its hard to know what to do for the best. I said to OH if I saw them again I would seriously think about doing something about it, I mean you should learn after the first time shouldn't you?

Sometimes you just need a little patience

2011-04-15T23:25:00.000+01:00

I've been busy at work over the last few weeks now that I work on my own five days a week. I'm happy to say I'm doing alright. Over the last week or so I've tried to keep on top of the weeds as best I can and not to let any border get too out of hand. I also go back to those that I've already done and dig out any new weeds that appear. I'm hoping this is a good tactic.

I am pleased to say that after a long and anxious wait the Escallonia and Ceanothus all seem to be greening up after my fears that they could have died from the last few harsh winters that we have had. You definitely need patience in gardening. Lost a few plants namely Phormium and Cordyline, but saying that some do have new shoots, so not all are lost. My only fear now is that I may have lost a hardy Plumbago. An absolutely gorgeous plant with electric blue flowers. I'm going to sit it out and wait though as this one can trick you into thinking its dead when its not. Fingers crossed for this one.

I need to get myself a lot of bug spray as I get trouble with Spindle Ermine Moth caterpillars which cover the large plant in webs and shred the plants to pieces within a couple of days. I also seem to be having a problem with what I think is Viburnum Beetle. I don't see any little critters but lots of holes, browning leaves and distruction. I'd like to give these plants a chance to grow back and prevent any further damage.

Spring is most definitely here with green growth, scent in the air, weeds growing at a faster rate than I can keep up and me worrying about pests already. Life in the garden is certainly a fast paced adventure and you never know what's going to happen next!

Spuds, Tomatoes and Beans

2011-04-03T22:56:00.000+01:00

Well finally planted up my potatoes in the front garden. They were Charlotte, Kestrel and Rooster. Five of each. And I still have room for a little ornamental decoration of flowers at either end.

I also took some time to do some sowing of both French and Runner Beans, and some Tomatoes, Gardener's Delight.

Fingers crossed they all come to life. I always seem to have some difficulty getting beans to get started. I get there in the end though. It rained after I planted the potatoes, which was handy. I did the sowing of the seeds in my potting shed.

Its all quite exciting now everything is slowly coming together how I want it.

Update on front garden

2011-04-02T21:59:00.003+01:00

Today I decided to make a second attempt at removing the Escallonia and this time I succeeded! It took me quite a while and lots of perserverence to get it out. I realised after a bit that what was actually keeping the root stuck in was the clay it was sitting on top off and it was keeping it sucked into the ground. With a lot of heave hoing I finally got it out. It left quite a crater at the end of it.

I forgot to say that about a week or two ago I planted up a small hedge on the front of the triangular front border.

The only other thing I've managed to do is to partially cover the square lawn that I wish to remove. I used whatever I could find but it still hasn't been enough, so will have to find something else to cover up the rest. Can't help thinking I'll just dig up the turf in the end. Especially if it takes too long. No patience me, just need energy that I'm running low on at the moment.

I think I've decided against replanting the escallonia as it is full of rubbish like ivy, bramble and a tree!

What I Did This Week At Work

2011-03-25T21:09:00.000Z

This week I have trimmed over nearly all remaining Spirea. We have Anthony Waterer, Goldflame and Gold Mound at the golf club. I totally adore Goldflame, especially when planted up with Cornus MidWinter Fire. Found two dinky plants that I shall be bringing home with me to do just that!

I've also finished cutting down the Sedums and they're busy shooting away again already.

Hacked back some bamboo, now I don't know the name of it but its pretty invasive with narrow stems. It looked all dead on top so trimmed it right down with a pair of shears. It took a while, and I was busy trying not to get run down by cars, vans and lorries and its on the entrance to the car park so that was fun!

I've also pruned back low Perovskia (Russian Sage) all over the place. Did some weeding and edging of lawns as well.

Today I cut down hard two Phormiums, these have all been hit badly by the winter we've just had. I hope that they re-shoot. I have so many to do and some are huge! I live in hope after finding the odd green shoot! I've got several Bronze Baby varieties they're mahoosive!

Planted up two Senecio 'Sunshine' plants and had a general tidy up in that area as it was a bit of a mess. Looks heaps better now.

Whilst being busy I have looked up once or twice and noticed all the Daffodils out and the absolutely brilliant Cherry Blossom. That certainly has the wow factor in my opinion!

Being on my own I feel so far that I am almost on top of things, but then again April starts next week and so it starts all over again!

Stone Border

2011-03-20T21:08:00.000Z

Today I did a little bit in the garden. To be honest I'm feel a bit tired lately, no surprise really as I'm now sole gardener at the golf club.

I decided to dig out all the stones that I thought were making a border. Turned out the middle was missing. I dug out all the stones I could find anyway. I then decided where the driving was going spread out to in the border, then levelled that bit, and then began lining up my stones in a straight line to give a barrier between the drive and the border. I've run out so will have to look out for a couple at work. I dug over half of the border (the widest part), and I only have a little bit left to do now. Just want to sort out the stone border then start moving plants about.

Found an old shilling in the garden, is that lucky? OK it won't make me rich.

I also took off a bit from our hedge as it had covered large part of our path, I'm sure once the Escallonia has been moved as well, my postman will have a straight run down the garden path!

That's another job to be done, moving the Escallonia. I envisage that to be hard work. I'll need a day where I have plenty of energy for that one.

Turf Removed And Moved

2011-03-15T21:05:00.000Z

Well earlier today I put down some tarpaulin and began the long job of knocking off as much soil from each piece of turf that I could back onto the garden, then chucking it into a wheelbarrow and taking it over to the tarp and piling it high. I'm glad to say its all moved. Phew but I am knackered!

I also removed the lump of concrete which wasn't too difficult thankfully, and I've started slowly to dig over the whole new border and whilst I'm at it finding the rest of the stone border as I go, and draw the earth away from it a bit.

So what to do next? Well firstly finish the long job of digging it over. I won't be doing that again until the weekend I'm sure. I want to chop down an Escallonia that will eventually be in the way on the other lawn and move it to the far corner of this new border. I shall also move about other plants as well, but that's another blog entirely.

Going to sit down and rest now.

A Supporting Act

2011-03-13T19:50:00.001Z

Feeling a bit under the weather today so haven't done any digging or anything. I went out spending money instead. Oops! Bought a dahlia tuber called Chic Red, well there are a couple of tubers on it so I'm kind of hoping to create lots of plants from one. Fingers crossed.

I also bought a bag of 10 shallots to plant next to the onions. Might need to plant some elsewhere as well unless I can squeeze them all in.

I also bought myself an obelisk from Wilkos for £4.98 for my poor clematis which never seems to have any proper support. I don't think its too bad for the price. I wonder if it will rust?

Last but not least I put up some sticks for my beans. I know a bit mental but I've kind of created an archway across my paths (I know I'll probably not be able to go under it!), but thought rather than waste the space inbetween the sticks, I'd have it do this instead. I'm thinking French on one side and Runner on the other side.

Well that's as far as the excitement goes for today, need to lie down and rest my aching head now.

First lawn removal finished

2011-03-12T19:28:00.002Z

Today I started to tidy up my shed, but soon got bored. I clean it a bit and washed the windows and that's about as far as I got. Still a few things to put their correct places.

I then went on to finish off digging up the rest of the grass on the triangular lawn in my front garden. I found a stone border underneath it all so hopefully this might look pretty when I get the remainder bits of grass off of it, easier said than done I have to say. Weed killer will be used.

I also found a piece of concrete, thankfully not too big and feels lose, so I shall be digging that out tomorrow. I know what it was for as I had an old picture of my garden. A very old lady live in our house prior to us and she had a hand rail running along side the path, and that is what the concrete was for I presume.

My only problem now is what to do with all that turf. I have been given advice to dig a big trench and put it in there upside down. I would need to dig several very big ones to fit all that in. Still thinking about it at the moment.

Well theplant pots are to be collected today after I put them on Freecycle, and hopefully the coping stones too. The driveway is almost tidy at last.

Nearly One Lawn Gone

2011-03-08T19:22:00.001Z

Well spent a couple of hours digging up the grass. I didn't quite make it to the end as I got pretty tired and I have work tomorrow. I did more than I expected though so that was a nice suprise. Already nearly filled my ton bag, so I guess its filling up my green wheelie bin time again. I hope to finish removing the turf in the next few days and hopefully dig it over.

The idea is that I will then have somewhere to move any plants that need moving out the way when I go to dig up the other lawn. At least I've made a start.

My New Garden Project

2011-03-03T19:16:00.001Z

As some of you may know (especially if you read my last blog) I've been given permission to dig up my two front lawns and turn them both into garden rather than lawn by my other better half.

Very excited about this, although slightly daunted about digging up more grass (as you recall from last year had to do that for my back garden vegetable garden project). So expect complaints of bad back in the near future.

At least I shall have a bit more room for veggies as well as lots of lovely flowers and shrubs.

The big ball on the square lawn in an Escallonia and will need to be moved if I can manage not to kill it when I dig it up. Goodness knows where that's going to go.

I've got a bit of a plan, but not much of one as yet. See pictures for details (if it comes out clear enough.

On the square shaped garden there is an Acer in the centre and I wish to keep that and work around it with a small path criss-crossing the whole of this area. I want to make each of the beds that are created hedged with a small hedge (yes very fancy) and then get to planting. Now you know why the Escallonia needs to move.

Similary with the triangular bed it will also be hedged off all around it. I shall be taking a bit off this bed for more drive way (yes I know sacrilege!) so my other half has a bit more room to get down.

Well that's really as far as I've thought so far. Its got to be better than the current mess we have out there. Looking forward to getting started. My other half is away up to Blackpool to play chess next weekend so who knows might make a start then. I'm dreading the digging up grass bit I must admit.

Trimming Away

2011-03-02T19:07:00.004Z

I'm buzzing around all over the place now trimming over the last of the deciduous type berberis and also Snowberry. I also decided to finish a job that was start a week last Monday by my assistant, of whom I have not seen since and assume I won't be seeing again, but who knows. It was a simple job, take off the flower stalks of the Pampas grasses and pull out all the old dead stuff from the middle. As you'll see from the pictures its appears he just cut off the flower stalks and little else. Nothing new, even if he hadn't been sacked it would have still turned out like this. But enough about that.

I thoroughly pull out all the rubbish and now they look a bit thin, but worry not they always come back brimming with the health. I also pruned back a rogue Elder and hoed off lots of weeds to give myself a chance.

So that's all of the Pampas grasses done and just a few more Berberis to do. Only a million other things to do but totally enjoying on my own.

A New Project

2011-02-27T19:05:00.001Z

Well over this weekend my other half said that I could dig up both front lawns and make them into garden. I'm well excited about that. More room for veggies and flowers!

Now to the planning and the thought of digging out non-stop couch grass, dandelions, buttercups etc etc. How I'm going to do that properly is anyone's guess!

I've considered both digging it out and weedkilling. The lazy side of me is saying zap the b@$terds but the other side of me is saying no that's bad for my little environment. Trouble with couch grass is it never seems to go away.

I would like to use small hedging and do a fancy job as its out the front for all to see. I thought of box or lonicera nitidia. If I were really clever I'd propagate my own but don't have a clue.

By the way on Friday I had another meeting this time with the HR lady and it looks like the more hours thing is going ahead and I shall now be working 5 days a week instead of 3. She asked me the stupid question "how much do you want?" in regards to the payrise, so I gave a stupid answer "£7.50 per hour". I'm currently on £6.50 an hour. She didn't think they would pay it. I said it was worth a try they can only knock it down and every little helps as they say on that well known supermarket advert! So now I have to wait til next week to see what happens next. The gardening assistant came in on Monday but I've not seen him since. Well.... it is raining afterall! I'm wondering will he be back though.

Five Down To One

2011-02-24T20:31:00.002Z

I had a meeting yesterday with my Boss about what will happen now that the other gardener has been given the sack. I had said to him that I wouldn't mind working on my own for more hours as I am only part-time. I wasn't really sure he liked the idea until today when he agreed that it would be better than trying to get someone else in for just two days (the two I don't work).

We had a good discussion about some minor problems from last year, namely having to weed all the huge patios. I can now weedkill these out of hours which will I am sure help immensely. I also asked a very cheeky question, but all the same deserved I think after the year I've had, can I have another pay rise. To my astonishment he said that this would be taken into consideration too. Just awaiting formal confirmation about it all, but I have to say I feel excited and already raring to go for this year!

This week at work I have been busily going around the place trimming over decidous Berberis to keep their shape and keep them under control. I still have a great many to do as you can well imagine.

I've planted up some Snowdrops as I couldn't believe we didn't have any, I've some more hopefully coming. Can't wait for next year! I have also planted up some Thyme (Vulgaris and Silver Posie) and Rosemary in the herb garden. This has been a personal pet project of mine to get this really going and I'm feeling quite excited about it. Just hope the Kitchen Staff like it too. I plan to sow Basil, Parsley, and Dill.

There is a sense of Spring is on its way for me at the moment. Daffodils about to flower, the smaller types already have, Crocus are out and trees are starting to bud or even come out into leaf. All exciting but also a sense of urgency to get on with things.

At Home I've just filled up my nursery seedbed with compost. In the dark I've sown Parsnip in toilet rolls and Chilli Peppers in pots. Its starting! Get ready for mayhem!!

Its Pruning Time Again!

2011-02-18T20:29:00.001Z

Over the past few weeks I've been busy weeding, edging up borders and digging them over, and then getting my assistant to mulch them all with bark mulch. Trying to get well ahead of the game.

I planted up some Senecio Sunshine on Wednesday and mulched them too. I do hope it doesn't snow because they'll be the first to die and I have enough with dodgy looking plants at the moment, due to the harsh winter.

I still have several new plants to go including Thyme and Rosemary for the newly rejuvenated herb garden for the kitchen staff. Quite excited about this little project.

Now that the news of my assistant being sacked has reached me, I've started frantically pruning Elders and Buddleia. Trying hopefully to stay one step ahead of the game. Still got a few of those to do, plus tidy up Pampas Grasses and trim over the deciduous types of Berberis. I've still got plenty of time, but if I'm going to be on my own then I need to pull my finger out as the weeds will grow in earnest soon.

I had already decided to not prune the Cornus this year around the Clubhouse as they all look pretty small, most likely because of the dodgy weather. So I'll let them go this year. One less thing to worry about!

My head is certainly buzzing today from the news of the sacking and all the stuff I need to do. Its all good fun though, hey!

Its All Happening!!!

2011-02-18T20:29:00.000Z

Firstly lets get this out of the way first. My gardening assistant at work hasn't been very reliable over the last year as many of you will know. I can tell you that from October until just the last week or two he has barely been in work at all.

On Friday I was told that he had been sent a letter saying he had a disciplinary meeting the following week. I haven't held my breath because he has had a great many of these and nothing changes. Very frustrating, very annoying and I have felt utterly used by all.

He had the meeting with the HR lady on Wednesday of this week. Now he did seem to come out of the office in a bit of a storm, but thought that it was just me imagining things as he later said, glad its the end of the day and see me Monday. Well I thought nothing has change, nothing new there.

I came into work today wondering why I really bother at all, when the company allows this to go on and me to have to put up with it all. Felt pretty downhearted and not very motivated. At 10:20am this morning the HR lady was chasing me in her car trying to get my attention, and I wondered what was up, more excuses no doubt. As it turns out she told me she has given my assistant a months notice and his last day is on 16 March. I nearly fell over with shock!!!

As it turned out everyone including her had really gotten fed up with his pathetic and not very convincing excuses and it was finally time for him to go. Two questions, will he come in on Monday? Who knows with a muppet like him. Secondly, what happens next? I've asked the boss man if I can work on my own. He doesn't sound happy about it, but I'll try changing that next week in the meeting that we will be having.

Fingers crossed I don't have to work with anyone else who doesn't want to be there and I can get on with things my way.

First Batch of Wine Bottled

2011-01-03T14:38:00.002Z

Well I made my first ever wine from a wine kit before Christmas and when we tested it with the Hydrometer it wasn't at the right number. My other half took a sneaky sip of it and had a screwed face and said it was sour. Well to be honest this put me off and I left it to its own devices, nor for just one more day but until Saturday this weekend! When I finally decided to finish it off no matter what.

I tried the hydrometer test again on my own and this time it sank. Possibly not enough fluid or the thing was broken who knows. Anyway, finished it off with finings etc and then left it until today. I forgot to have another go with the Hydrometer and bottled up the wine. Another mishap was that it overflowed onto the floor first go into the bottle. What am I like?!!

Well three of the first bottles to be filled look nice and clear and as I went on it became like mud by the last one which wasn't completely filled due to it being on the floor eh hem...

Now all I have to do is hope the bottles don't explode and that we can actually drink the stuff. I do tend to have a "bung it in" kind of attitude to making things so I'll probably go crossed eyed but very drunk when I drink it ha ha!

At Home - Wine Making - A Beginner and possibly the first mistake of many

2010-12-06T14:43:00.000Z

Me and my other half bit the bullet late last week and had ago at winemaking. We did the first stage of making the wine. We put the water, sugar, grape juice, yeast and oak chips in all as directed by our instructions. The mistake may be that it should have been in a bucket with a lid rather than straight into a demijohn with an airlock, as I'm reading on forums you should start in the bucket.

It started to bubble away both in the demijohn and the airlock, then before I went away on the weekend some of the wine was in the airlock and by the time I got back yesterday from our trip quite a bit of the wine hit the radiator it is sat next to and over the floor, plus in all in the roasting tin I sat it in.

Today I have noticed a change in colour, its light in colour now, its still bubbling away but maybe not quite so vigorously as before.

I think I still have a heck of a lot to learn and to maybe not listen to people who own brew shops that say buy two demijohns and start it in one. I've got quite a bit of cleaning to do with regards to the airlock and demijohn. If I need for the next bit then I'm slightly buggered and I'll have to get another one, as I don't think I'm supposed to let air get into it. Thinking out loud now.

Signing off from someone who knows absolutely bugger all about wine making and hopes not to be creating vinegar rather than something drinkable...

At Home - My First Lot Of Homemade Compost

2010-11-14T14:46:00.000Z

Well over this weekend I have started to tidy up my borders, pulling out weeds rescuing the many strawberry plants that I have and find new places for them at the front of the borders and generally digging it over a bit. Also cut down a big Buddleia branch from over the other side of the wall. I have to say that shrub is getting to big now and wish they'd give it an annual cut down because it shades quite a large part of my garden now. Moan moan moan.

Today there wasn't much to do as it was wet and miserable, so I decided to empty my two compost bins. That makes sense in wet, miserable weather doesn't ?!?! Anyway this is my first year really of using it. It wasn't too bad, although there were compacted leaves, bits of spud peeling and animal bedding not completely rotted down. Otherwise most of it went on the veggie beds and a bit where the sunflowers go.

I think I need to put less tough stuff in and more soft stuff next time. I had a big bin bag of shredded paper I put in the bottom of one of the now empty compost bins, and proceeded to chuck in all the bits not rotted down, including two old carved out pumpkins. So I've got one about a third full for the moment and one empty, ready to start all over again. I was pleased with just how much I got out of them.

I did have one concern and that was the potato peelings going on the area where I plant to grow a few potatoes. I might have to rake them off when I get the energy and put them back in the bin.

I'm still learning. Fingers crossed everything works out.

At Work - In Memory Of Sid

2010-11-10T19:30:00.000Z

Today myself, my assistant and my old boss took part in a very special gardening task. The planting of a tree surrounded by Tulip and Daffodil bulbs, and Cyclamen in memorial to our old friend and gardener along side us, Sid Tyrell who died earlier this year. The tree was a Crataegus laevigata 'Paul's Scarlet'. A small tree with dark pink blossom in the springtime. It has been planted in one of his favourite borders and I am sure it will stand proud amongst all of the other plants.

I hope you like it Sid, and knowing you I am very sure that you will. I miss you very much, but I am sure you are following me around telling me I've missed a bit!

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Onions and Garlic

2010-11-07T19:28:00.000Z

Today I planted my onions and garlic. The onions were Senshyu and Red Electric, and the Garlic was Cristo.

I have planted them roughly 6 inches apart in all directions as I have only a small plot now. I have a bit of room left at the end to plant some beans later on. This has taken up the whole of the bed by the path.

I feel a bit of a newbie again, or maybe I never learnt properly in the first place. Smaller gardens present more challenges and much more planning. I'm on a bit of a steep learning curve. Considering mini veg, especially where Brassicas are concerned, I understand that you can grow these closer together anyway and don't necessarily have to buy special seeds.

Please don't laugh if you think me completely wrong or foolish. I do appreciate advice though.

I would like to grow a few potatoes if I can fit them in. We enjoyed the potatoes Aaron Pilot this year so I hope to grow those again. My partner has hinted at Pumpkins and Butternut squash. I know that I can buy a bush variety of pumpkin known as Cinderella and it will grow the size of pumpkin we are after. Not too big, not too small. Butternut squash I'm still looking into. I guess there would be nothing to say I couldn't go upwards with these. Grow them up netting.

I want to grow tomatoes and peppers again, plus root crops too.

I'm now beginning to feel a hell of a challenge coming on for next Spring.

At Work - Cornered Boss (Warning May Contain Bad Language)

2010-11-01T19:28:00.000Z

Well after Friday's email I decided to corner my so called boss and ask him outright is this is email a disciplinary action. "Oh no no no" he said "I do this with everyone ". I thought well no wonder no one takes you seriously or thinks much of you. I said do not email me any more as they can be misconstrued and if I am not coming in I will telephone you, please give me your contact number. His response was to give me a mobile number "you can text me on it". I think I frightened him a bit. I always get the feeling he's scared of me. I reckon that's what started this off when I stood up for myself on Friday and so he emailed me cause he was too chicken to act like a boss. What a child! No wonder he gets no respect.

The other funny thing was my assistant not turning up and texting my boss to say he had toothache. What a load of tosh! He went to a Halloween Party at a club and got hungover no doubt.

At least I can take my time job hunting and get something I want now.

My thoughts as I walked out of his office with a smirk on my face what a gutless idiot my boss really is. If you're gonna act all mean and authoratitive at least back it up when your face to face with your employee. Moron!

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Finished and Planting

2010-10-31T15:14:00.002Z

I finished off trimming away the plastic. I painted the stakes and added boarding to the front of the paths to keep the mulch away from the grass. All finished. Well unless I changes something... oh and the little seedbed isn't finished. Damn!

Anyway, I decided to sink four pots into the ground and plant four Raspberry canes into them. I've done this so that they won't sprout everywhere as they had a tendency to do this up at the lottie. I've no idea if they are Summer or Autumn fruiting because I had both and they got mixed up, so we'll have to wait and see on that score.

I hope to get all or most of my strawberry plants that are dotted around the garden in this area as well as planting up my one and only Gooseberry plant. I would like to get one more to plant next to it at a future date. So this will be my fruit corner! Exciting stuff.

I've won a mixture of red and white onions on eBay, 20x Red Electric and 30x Senshyu. I think this will be plenty in a small space. I'm also going to buy Garlic Cristo. Apparently a French variety with a strong flavour that does well in the UK. I am a bit late I think but if I can get them quickly and plant them out asap I should do ok. Now to decide which bed they will go it. Decisions, decisions!!

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Bark Mulch Paths (Updated)

2010-10-30T18:05:00.003+01:00

Well I zoomed over to B&Q yesterday and bought 4 bags of Bark Mulch for the price of 3. Can never resist a bargain! Started to lay it down as paths and did the rest today. I had to fill in a few gaps with more weed suppressant membrane and then filled it all in with the bark. I am quite pleased with it, its just what I wanted. A bit of a woodland look about it. The very back path has been left at the moment with only membrane and a few slabs on top as I'm not too sure what I'll do there as this will be where I'll sort out my compost and I didn't have enough mulch to cover it anyway.

All that's left to do is trim off that awful plastic and make it look neat and tidy, and paint the stakes and little raised bed all the same colour, oh and add some boarding to the front of the paths to try to help keep the mulch back from the lawn. Apart from that. Job done!

Now I'm looking for Garlic and Onion sets, already bidding for some on eBay!

I went back out later today and made a start on trimming off the excess plastic and I have to say I think it looks so much neater. I only have two to do now. It was getting dark!

At Work - Time To Know When To Quit

2010-10-29T18:03:00.000+01:00

Where to start. As some of you are aware I've had a bit of a horrendous year as Head Gardener with my gardening assistant and all the discplinaries he had right up to his last warning, with me having to report to them about everything he did or did not do. They still kept him on.

We only work Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He got himself on to a course which is every Friday, yes one of the three working days. It has nothing to do with the company and he went ahead and did it without there say so. My boss made a fuss to me saying that he wouldn't let him have an extra day elsewhere blah blah blah. Now he has given him an extra day on a Thursday.

Well with this and other staff doing such outrageous things from swearing and screaming at the boss and punching in doors, to thieving. My company has got me down, and I am not alone in feeling that way. Morale is low. I haven't attended work as much as I should have and now I have had a warning. Not verbally, of course, but by email. Not just about the days missed but that the High Standards have not been kept up like years past.

So all the hard work I have done over the past 4 years has totally been missed. I kind of guessed that something would be said about my not being in, I have grown ever increasingly miserable about having to go in and dreading it. But to say that my work isn't up to standard is just one more thing just too unbearable to take. I have finally decided that enough is enough. "About time too" my partner said to me.

The sad fact is it that I will not be able to get another gardening job, not in the near future anyway as I have little in the way of qualifications is this field and there is sweet fanny adams out there in that line of work. At this moment in time I'd be happy to be a cleaner, I'd get paid more for a start. £6.50 per hour isn't exactly a Head Gardener's wage. The fact that there are now only two of us instead of five gardeners seems to have gone by the wayside too. We're supposed to keep up all the standards.

I feel sad, I feel upset and I feel angry. But to be honest I think it really is time for me to go. The job was beginning to turn stale anyway and the morale is at an all time low not just in gardening but all over the Club. Things can only get worse and so its a good time to go.

I would like to think I can get a higher paid job and perhaps get myself on a course whilst waiting for the next dream job. Right now any job will do as where I am has kicked me in the teeth once too many times. If I don't leave they'll try to sack me or make my life a misery.

Soon to no longer be a Head Gardener. Tina

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Soil Shifting Down Steps

2010-10-28T18:00:00.002+01:00

Well I went to collect some soil from a lady off of Freecycle. This is the lady who lives up a number of steps. As it turned out the soil was lovely and it was the bagging up that tired me out first (knackered my back almost straightaway) and not the steps. Still, a lot of steps though.

The paths are nearly all lined with weed suppressant membrane and the raised beds are filled to where I want them, a little space left at the top so I can top up with compost/manure.

I was going to go and get bark mulch today to finish it of, but the soil shifting finished me off today instead. Nevermind at least it was dry and I've done it.

At Home - The Vegetable Garden - Nearly There

2010-10-21T17:21:00.003+01:00

Today I lined both the middle raised beds with old compost bags and finally got to fill them in with the remainder of the soil. I used everything I had from everything left in the ton bag and two more small bags of soil. I kept going until there was nothing left to put in. I also ran out of steam by this time too. I was sweating in place ladies don't sweat!

The heavy work is all done now, unless I happen to get more soil to fill them all up a bit as they are a bit low.

All that is really left to do is just decorative really. Levelling out the paths a bit and hopefully gaining a little more soil from this. Laying down weed suppressant membrane and bark mulch on the top. I have to wait for pay day before I get the mulch. Also I want to just tidy up the plastic on the raised beds a bit so it all looks neat and tidy. Then well its all more or less done and I'll be ready to plant. I'll need a long sleep after all this!

At Home - The Vegetable Garden - Light At The End Of The Tunnel then Rain!

2010-10-19T16:21:00.000+01:00

I went out with the intention of getting near to or actually finishing all I had to do in the vegetable garden today. I levelled out the front middle raised bed and lined it apart from one small piece in a corner.

I then went on to start levelling out the back one and then it began to rain, and rain, and rain a bit heavier. In the end I had to stop. Very frustrating.

I went out a little later and managed to finish levelling off this bed. I could do no more as the wood was wet so I couldn't line it until it dries out, and I could do any digging because the ground was too wet and so there was nothing left to do.

I do feel, however, that the light at the end of the tunnel is now in view and getting closer. I'm starting to think where I'll get my bark mulch and getting the willow lawn edging, so I am confident that it will all be finished this week. Weather permitting of course.

At Home The Vegetable Garden - Ups and Downs

2010-10-16T16:20:00.000+01:00

On my journey into creating my vegetable garden there have certainly been ups and downs with regards to how I feel about the different events that have taken place. Finishing parts of the project have given me big highs and finding out I don't have enough materials or having to wait for different things have given me the lows.

I lined the bed by the wall the other day and tidied up the path, which is the first time its been clear in a while. Today I staked the bed by the wall and then started the process of filling it with soil. Firstly, I had some sand hanging about and spread this and dug it into the very bottom of beds, both the one by the wall and the one by the path. I've dug these well. Then started carting around the bags of soil from the front garden to the back, emptying them into the bed and raking it out level. I used up all the bags on this one bed.

I then started on the bed by the path. This was far easier. All I had to do was fill my wheelbarrow with soil from the ton bag and tip it into the bed. Easy! The doubts started to arise as I started to use up the soil in this big bag. Am I going to have enough to fill the two middle beds. So I have only used so much and stopped. I fill disappointed not to have been able to use more and fill it up more.

My thoughts and hopes on this are I still have to level up these beds, I have to dig over the now compacted ground, the paths need levelling and there is always more soil in those ton bags than you think. All this may bring me just enough soil not to look silly.

Here's hoping!

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - The Raised Beds Complete....... well almost

2010-10-13T16:18:00.000+01:00

Today I was in a determined and surprisingly energetic mood considering I hadn't slept at all the night before. I did see the first couple of miners come up though out of the San Jose Mine. Glad they are well.

First of all I picked up all the turf and binned it, the pile of plant debris and binned it, and moved everything that didn't need to be there.

I then got to work making the raised beds. I semi made the middle front bed just so that I could make sure that the wall side raised bed would be level with the one by the path on the right.

The long piece of wood was made up of three bits which I had to attach together, then I levelled underneath this wood and attached the two ends. I need to stake this in to press it against the wall and line it with compost bags.

Then I made up the two middle beds. I unfortunately spent a bit of money on not the best wood no doubt as it did tend to split a bit. This wood was used on the backs of the beds so it won't notice too much that they are different.

I had a bit of the wood left enough to make one small bed by the shed. My thoughts are that perhaps this could be used for fruit.

The middle beds need to be levelled as they are way out, paint the bits not painted and then I have to line them both with compost bags as well. Then the fun really begins in earnest. Filling them all up with the soil that I have. I also have paths to make with the black membrane that I have and I would like to get some nice bark mulch to lay over the top quite thickly.

Once all of this is done, and if I have enough funds by then I would like to get some of that lovely woven willow lawn edging to go along the very front of these beds just to set it off and make it look more attractive.

The first thing I will plant will be the garlic and onion sets that I haven't bought yet!

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - The First Raised Bed!

2010-10-12T16:17:00.000+01:00

Well I have made my first raised bed yippee! Put all the wood together, made sure it was level and lined it as suggested by VeggiemanPaul with old compost bags to try to help prevent rotting. I've put three stakes in to keep it pushed towards my path and have started to dig the bottom of what will be my raised bed.

All that is left to do with this bed is to fill it with soil and trim the edges of the compost bags so it looks nice and neat.

I feel like I might actually be getting somewhere! Only three beds, of which one is very large to go! I am shattered just doing one! Pictures to follow if my camera isn't broken!

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Not Enough Wood

2010-10-11T16:16:00.000+01:00

Well I moved the plants that I needed to move including the comfrey although I'm sure I'll see a return visit in the wrong place.

I managed to get the planks dry and have nearly finished painting them, although its taking an age to get them to dry so I can do the other side of some of them. I'm getting impatient to get going with the building of the raised beds now.

I've been measuring up again and again and have now come to the terrible conclusion that I don't have enough wood. I do have some thin bits of wood, something like skirting boards at work that I can bring home and make some sort of reinforced planks with. They don't need to be too long, it is to make the ends of some of the beds. Very frustrating though.

I've also finished digging up the rest of the grass and hope to get that in the wheelie bin this week along with all the other debris.

Well that's really all I've done. I would really have liked to have gotten started on the raised beds by now. I'm very annoyed. My patience is wearing a little thing with one thing and another at the moment, can you tell?

At Allotment - No I haven't returned but I have caused a stink!

2010-10-03T16:23:00.000+01:00

Well went up to get my money for the shed today. Had a beer with my friend and have found out that people on the committee were upset about me leaving and those that have been on my plot spraying will be getting a bollocking (excuse my French)! Here was me trying to leave quietly and I still went out with a bang ha ha

Nobody but the Committee Secretary seems to have realised I've actually left which is quite funny too. I thought it was obvious but there you go.

Well the money for my shed and the money I would have paid for rent will now be used at home in my garden.

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Moving

2010-10-03T14:35:00.001+01:00

Well there has been a quiet period of no rain and wind after a miserable morning, so I've briefly been out in the garden this afternoon. I've moved two Cyclamen, an ornamental poppy and some Echinacea. Still haven't dug out the Comfrey just yet. I have to muster up some more energy. That will be the last thing to move away from the vegetable plot.

I tidied up a bit of the border, but its a bit wet so I haven't done much. Could do with several days of dry weather now, but as Autumn has arrived that's probably unlikely.

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Almost Flat

2010-10-02T14:33:00.001+01:00

I managed to get rid of that great big mound of grass today and whilst I was doing it managed to shaked out quite a lot of valuable soil. The wheelie bin is full to the top and weighs a ton again and I've filled 4 bags ready to take to work to go on the compost heap. I am starting to level it all out now as I feel its a bit easier with an even surface.

I've also gone a bit mad and dug up a Holly bush root which will be in the way. It took quite a bit of effort and me breaking my fork to get the bugger out, but I did it and its one less thing to worry about.

All that's left to take out is the Comfrey and move that to elsewhere, and the rest of the grass which is now a small patch. I've a few plants to shift along the border a bit and then I'm ready to get the wood out. I need to dry it out and paint it first so that could be a while off as it seems to be continually raining at the moment.

I am pretty shattered now but happy that I am making progress even if it is a little slow.

At Home - The Vegetable Plot - Excitement Grows

2010-09-28T14:37:00.001+01:00

Well I've just been out to make rough measurements of the beds I will create in my new vegetable garden. I used canes which are a little bit of a pain as they do tend to move, but I have now decided that the bed by the wall will be 3ft wide and will all the way down. The middle bed will be 4ft across as I will have a path each side of it. The bed next to the shed and path will start off 3ft and then get wider when it hits the path which is fine because I can sit on the path if I want to get to that side of the bed.

The paths will be 50cm wide which looks to be plenty enough. I had thought of putting a path through the middle so I could easily get to my shed, but I'm now thinking that could be a waste of valuable land so I'm now against that idea.

I am actually very surprised at how much land I will have to use for growing and I'm very very pleased. The excitement is now steadily rising now that I have a visual idea of how it might look. I've added some photos of the markers so you might get a rough idea too. You can let me know what you think if you have an opinion on it. All I have to do now is hope I have enough wood, although I can use the walls instead of wood if I need to (which might work out easier).

At Work - A Quiet Day

2010-09-27T14:38:00.000+01:00

Today has been a bit gloomy with drizzly rain and dark clouds. My assistant wasn't in because he came to work with his friend (who drives him to work) who had a bad back and went back home with him. I'm not sure why he went back home again, (well I do: rain, hard work, cold), as I could have taken him home at the end of the day as I drive right by his door. But there you go. To be honest I'm always happier when he isn't here so who cares!

Whilst emptying the bins today I found a whole unopened carton of chopped up ham and immediately thought of the kittens. Of course they nearly choked on it whilst having a good chew, but it fed their little tummies in the end. We have quite a few wandering about at the moment and I think they're feeling the cold, especially the younger ones. My guess is they won't last the winter. The joys of having ferrell cats around the place. I think I will be putting on a different hat later on being a grave digger!

I have to say that I am totally exhausted from yesterday's shenanigans at the allotment, and worked very slowly. I think I deserved to do that seeing as I turned up and was on my own!

The excitement of the day was hearing that a Coke vending machine had been broken into, well attempted anyway, they tipped it over and dragged it I think and wrecked it last night. I found a piece of it in the back of one of the borders of the Wedding Garden this afternoon. I would say it was kids, but its a fair old walk to there, they would have had to have been really bored.

One of the owners brought down some plants today just before I left. This is great actually as I have a few spaces and what he brought me looked idea. Lots of Agapanthus (I know why lots), a Caryoptris and another plant I've forgotten but its a Perennial which is tall with white spikes of flowers and begins Phyto something or other. I'll have to let you know when I remember ha ha So that's another job to do.

On my way home I was supposed to stop by and take a look at the other allotment plot that was offered to me. In the end I drove straight by and went home. If I can't be bothered to go there now I never will and I guess that says it all. Having a vegetable garden at home will be far more convenient for me I think and I'm more likely to look after it and the rest of my garden if its altogether. So I've let the Association Secretary know my answer and that is that.

It is supposed to rain heavy for most of the week so it looks like I could be having a restful week, thank goodness. I do look forward to getting started though.

At Allotment - Last Day (I think)

2010-09-26T14:39:00.002+01:00

Today I went to the allotment and collected bags and bags of soil. Filled up my ton bag to the very top and a long line plastic bags filled with soil is lined across the back of my drive at home.

I've sold my little shed and the patio slabs have been removed.

I also brought home some of my raspberries, but didn't bother with the potatoes as I had very little energy left. I may go back in the next two days to collect them, but I doubt it.

My tools, bits and bobs and wheelbarrow have all been brought home.

It took until the end of me being on the allotment to finally have the emotions come to the surface and get teary eyed, and indeed when I got home I did have a good cry. The thought of the excitement and the hard work that I did and had on the allotment feels like its been taken away by people who in the end put me off. I am a private person there is no doubt about that, and I prefer to be on my own.

I was offered a bit late in the day the chance of changing plots. It is tempting I admit, but at the end of the day I think it would be better if I grew my veg at home. For convenience and privacy.

Well once I've had a rest and a good long sleep, I'm sure the emotions of today will be replaced by excitement and enthusiasm in making a new vegetable garden at home.

At Home - A Tidy Up

2010-09-25T17:54:00.000+01:00

Got up this morning and decided I was going to sort out my little potting shed so at least something is near enough ready for my new Kitchen Garden.

Filled a number of bags with rubbish and recycling. Getting rid of loads of pots that are totally unnecessary and I have no idea why I've kept them so long! Rearranged shelves and now I've got loads of space to move. Most of the tools are in the shed nice and tidy and to hand more importantly.

I sorted out something shelving in the garage, and still found I filled them too quickly. There is never enough room!

It is all just a little bit more organised now and I feel like my Saturday wasn't wasted. Tomorrow the lottie. I have it in my head that it will be my last day there, but in reality that could be a tall order! Here's hoping.

At Allotment - Lots of Soil

2010-09-23T17:53:00.000+01:00

Made a good start on getting soil home and have almost filled one of those builder's ton bags. I haven't even finished emptying one of the raised beds yet and still have the other one to go!

Brought home a Gooseberry plant and lots of bits and pieces. I'm giving my patio slabs to about the only person on the allotments that I like. I'm also giving him two plastic chairs and three water butts. He's always giving me veg, cups of tea or beer and we've always got along really well. He's going to sell my shed for me so all of that is sorted. I think he was well happy.

I think I may not bother with the raspberries and grow smaller fruit such as Gooseberries and Strawberries instead.

All I have to bring home now is chicken wire, blue pipe, potatoes, my fork and shovel, my wheelbarrow and some more soil. I think that's it anyway.

At Work - Phlomis aaaaaaaaccccchhhhhhoooooo

2010-09-22T17:25:00.002+01:00

Did some trimming today. Did a Portuguese Laurel (Prunus lusitanica) hedge, which wasn't too heavy going as I'd done earlier in the year as well. Also trimmed over two Griseliana. Found that there was some Phlomis behind smothering the back of them so made the unwise decision of cutting it back a bit and removing some of the dead, of which there was quite a bit.

Why is it unwise? Well the pollen that comes out of the old seed heads is a bit like sand or at least that's what it feels like on your skin and its irritates your nose and your throat and basically makes you feel pretty awful. Well yes I got that, but also all the pollen which got onto my skin which was all up my arms, around my neck and face started bringing me out in a rash and really really itching. So I had to wash it all off and feel itchy until I got home and changed my clothes. Oh great fun!

Note to self, where an all-in-one bio suite next time I go near Phlomis!

At Allotmentment - A Mad Moment

2010-09-19T19:45:00.000+01:00

Well had a bit of a mad moment tonight and just brought home every single piece of scaffolding board that I had on my lottie and I have to say I'm cream crackered just doing that.

Discovered that I didn't have 3 football sized Pumpkins but 5! They're all home with me and a couple more Cucumbers as well. I discovered that I've some fair sized Turnips to bring home as well and might as well dig up the Parsnips whilst I'm had it.

Will just bring home a few Raspberries and a Gooseberry plant, and bag up a load of soil and get rid of everything else, and stick two fingers up to the lot of them. I've got two weeks to get it all sorted. Can't wait!

Project V - Will it or won't it die? Me and my madness

2010-09-03T21:49:00.002+01:00

OK by now you probably all know I'm a bit loopy and so when I say I just went outside at about 6pm and dug up three shrubs and put them in their new places you won't even batt an eyelid. Especially when I say it is now 6.25pm lol

Well before that I started on the digging of my new vegetable garden. The soil is surprisingly good. I do find lots of bits and pieces like tiles, glass, old leather, you name it, its probably in there, and am getting a bit of a marble collection as well. Apart from that the soil is a lot better than my allotment soil. No huge lumps of clay for a start.

Well then I had this mad moment and thought before I sit down, eat something, feel stuffed and then don't want to do much more I'll just dig out an Elder, Berberis and a huge Euonymus and shift them all along a bit so they all fit by the fence. Yes I know I said I'd wait til next month, but I don't have the patience of a Saint! Now all I have to do is wait and see if they live or die. I'm hoping my plants are used to this by now because I think I've moved the Berberis and Elder several times already this year lol

I was really pleased and amazed and the amount of Ladybirds in my Euonymus. Lets hope the big bugger survives my brutality! And yes it does look a bit big and will need a bit of a trim, but I'll let it settle down a bit first!

Whilst I was puffing and panting and grrring, little ol' Poppy was snoozing in the long grass. Its hard work being a Guinea Pig!

At Lottie - Lurking In The Dark

2010-09-02T21:48:00.000+01:00

Well went to the lottie at 8pm when the sun was going down and blow me my lottie neighbours were there. Is there ever a time people I don't like aren't there???

Anyway pull up some more long weeds. Pulled up most of my onions, all very small as you might have guessed. Collected some more of those yummy cucumbers (I must grow those again next year even if they are huge plants!).

I also made a start on collecting my tools. Brought most of them home. Like my other half said to me last night, it would be sods law that you are leaving and somebody nicks your kit before you leave. So I took that on board and all that is left are some gloves, a watering can and my trusty little fork. Brought home the weed suppressant membrane too, I have a bit left up there and I'll bring that home nearer the leaving date.

I am guessing it won't be long until I'm emptying one of the raised beds. Got three football sized Pumpkins which is great. One for me, one for my other half and who knows about the third one but we'll have fun carving them. I wonder if I'll make something with the innerds this year?

Still got loads of spuds to dig up, all earlies. The ones I dug up the other week were great so hopefully all the rest of those rows are too. I feel a tinge of sadness that I am leaving, but a ton of relief to not have to sneak around whenever I want to tend my veggie plot. It will be nice to go out my back door and look after my new plot with out fear of someone sneaking up on me and telling me I'm not a gardener, or somebody spraying my plot and god knows what else whilst I'm not there.

I have the idea of putting all of about 30 patio slabs on Freecycle rather than give them to anyone there, I feel they are a bunch of vultures and don't deserve them. Do I sound bitter? Probably a bit. Looking forward to my new venture though. Just wondering what to do with my bent and buckled little tin shed. I feel slightly guilty because my other half bought me it, but he also says it was really cheap and not sure why he bought it. I'd like to get a few quid for it, but who would buy it?

Oh well, still lots to think about and at least my tools are all but home. Safely tucked up lol

I forgot to say that I was lurking around in the dark with my little lantern for company, I'm so glad the Police didn't turn up or anything or else they would have thought I was nicking the tools and veggies lol

Project V - The Plan

2010-09-02T21:46:00.000+01:00

Well I've moved some coping stones out of the way. Strimmed the grass in the hot sun. Started to dig out some of the grass where a pathway will be created to get to the compost bins and the water butt. The ground actually looks really good. This could be because I had a mini veg patch here before I got the allotment.

I've drawn up a rough plan and I hope you can get the gist of it from the photo. The beds are going to be 3ft wide instead of 4ft so that I have a 1½ft of pathway. I've got black weed suppressant membrane for the paths and my other half and I have decided that the paths will be bark mulch. There will be a short hedge surrounding the outer edges to make it look a bit more attractive eventually.

I am undecided as to whether to make a pathway going across from the wall to the shed and so cutting the three beds in half making 6. This would give me clean and easy access from the main path by my house to the beds and also straight to my shed. Your thoughts are gratefully appreciated and I will also be going out and taking another look to see what my thoughts are also.

Project V - The New Vegetable Garden

2010-09-01T19:40:00.003+01:00

Today I tooks some photos of the area that will become the new vegetable garden. I've also taken rough measures 13½ft by 18ft (that's the area that will be for veggies).

Trying to figure out what I will do. I know that they will be raised beds and I think it will be three of them with two paths in between. Going to hopefully use the scaffolding planks from the allotment and the soil and the manure.

I still have vegetables in them until about Christmas (Parsnips are the longest). So in the meantime I've got the grass to take up and the planning of what goes where, and to also move several plants including a large Euoymus. I'm sure the plans will keep changing until I get what I want. I want to keep a gap up by the fence as my compost bins and water butt are there and I need some access to it.

I've taken some photos of the before. Please excuse the long grass but my lawnmower is broken. Plan to strim it over and the skim off the top (I'll compost that too). Then get going I suppose.

Going to be hard work running the lottie until I'm ready to give it up and making this new garden, but I think I'll have great fun as I love a challenge. It will be worth it I hope in the end. I hope to make it look as attractive as I can, as it will be part of my garden and something we will be always looking at.

The pictures show the area where its going to be (from the wooden chair onwards), where it is in proportion to my garden, and some of the plants I've got to move. There is comfrey, a Pieris and Euonymus to move. The beds will be right up by the wall and right to the path.

At Allotment - A Mountain Of Weeds

2010-08-17T20:19:00.003+01:00

Well as you may or may not know I haven't been to my lottie in about a month because I haven't been quite right due to an inner ear infection causing me to be very dizzy. Anyway I went up tonight for just 50 minutes, but in that time, as you can imagine, I pulled up a mountain of weeds. I am sure I am the major moan of the allotments at the moment, but nevermind.

Anyway I have 3 fair sized Pumpkins, 2 of which have already turned orange. I found some of my mini cucumbers (Crystal Apple), pick some runner beans found 5 large marrows (of which I have no idea what to do with) and dug out some of my potatoes which look absolutely fab all things considering and especially as they are first earlies! I've collected enough for a meal or two and left the rest there for now.

I hope to go up again tomorrow night, although I'm feeling pretty dizzy tonight. A bit like have a beer but without having a beer if that makes sense!

I almost forgot I've got turnips for the first time and carrots! There is hope for me afterall. The onions could be a bit iffy I'll get back to you on that one. Haven't dug them up yet. Parsnips look huge (well the leaves anyway) and I still have raspberries left so who knows perhaps I'll make my first pot of jam this year?!!?!! I still have quite a lot of weeds to pull up but I feel grabbed the bull by the horns tonight so at least my neighbours will see I'm doing something about it!

At Home - Propagation Experiment No. 1 Update 2

2010-08-14T12:47:00.001+01:00

Well out of the 12 cuttings that I made (6x Penstemon, 6x Lavender) only one survived. A Lavender. It appears that it is doing what it is supposed to. So fingers crossed I haven't completely failed on my first attempt.

My thoughts are you really have to pick the strongest, and not to over water. I also think I need to make more drainage in the compost by adding some grit. I feel this as they all appeared to just rot.

I don't feel too bad because I feel I am learning from my mistakes. I would also like to have another ago but not sure if I've missed the boat for these types of cuttings I shall have to read up about it. I hope I can have another go, as practice makes perfect.

At Home - Propagation Experiment No.1 Update

2010-07-31T14:43:00.002+01:00

Well it has been one week exactly since I made the cuttings, and unfortunately most but not all are looking very droopy or heading that way. Now from a guess I feel I watered the compost too much and it stayed wet too long and so it began a rotting process. I will perserve but at least I'm learning the hard way what not to do.

At Home - A Little Bit of a Tidy Up!

2010-07-27T16:48:00.003+01:00

Well if you know me I'm a bit lazy at home, so if I say I started to organize my shed you might be impressed! I've been collecting together all my many pots and modules and putting them in order of size in crates on my shelves (yes I do have Mr Monk moments). I've put my potting tray near the door on the shelve where I'm more likely to use it. I also cleared a bit of my path from dead plants in pots (yes I had a few), now there is more room for my ever expanding crop of peppers and tomatoes.

My tomatoes are fruiting, thank goodness after all the palava earlier in the year with killing the first lot of seedlings. My peppers are flowering and so are my aubergines.

I also hacked back a bit of Buddleia that belongs to someone over the wall and it is as big as a tree and has been stopping the rain getting to plants on my side so I gave it a bit of a hair cut, well what I could reach anyway.

Planted some chives and my one and only Monarda (don't ask). I've still got an Echinacea to plant out, but got a bit warm. Oh also dead headed my rose that's growing up a wall, still haven't worked out how to make it look better there. Still learning as always.

So far this is all I've done. Oh yes, I sold one of my hutches, the one that was in my garden and not being used, so I get about 4ft of border back which is great (the £25 wasn't bad either!). Now I've just got to remove the blocks it was standing on, dig out some brambles and move a large Euonymus up a bit and decide what to plant there. I think moving shrubs is normally done in the dormant season and as its so big I think I shall have to be patient.

I was pleased to see that I actually have some worms in my compost bin. Odd you might thing but I've not seen them in there before, think it was a tad dry. I must be getting the mix right now. Got two bins on the go, hopefully I'll have something to use this autumn on the garden.

At Home - Propagation Experiment No.1

2010-07-24T15:40:00.003+01:00

Before I start this blog I would firstly like to say that I am a complete plant propagation novice and do not own all of the necessary equipment, and know anything very much at all about it.

I decided to have a go at taking my own cuttings. I do not totally know what I am doing but I did my best. I took some Lavender cuttings which were roughly 6-8cm long, removed all but 4 leaves at the top by pinching them out with my nails. Put them into already watered compost in a pot and then placing them in an unheated propagator. I also took some Penstemon cuttings which were between 5-10cm (closer to 10cm) and did the same with these. Now all I can do is wait 4-8 weeks for the Lavender and 2 weeks for the Penstemon.

All very new but exciting to me and I would be especially pleased if I do get the Penstemons to root because I do quite like these.

I feel I learn better with practical experience rather than with books as I remember better this way. I have read several books on the subject and don't feel any of it has sunk in, although I'm sure bits probably did.

Fingers crossed!

At Work - The Holiday Cottages

2010-07-19T14:57:00.002+01:00

Well I wasn't really sure how the weather was going to pan out for us today as it was very dull and cloudy with a few spots in the air, but in the end it turned out really warm and sunny.

I decided that we would go down and take a look at the borders surrounding the holiday cottages. I set to work my assistant on weeding the biggest border and edging up the grass, whilst I got on with trimming the Privet hedge. It is looking a lot more like a proper hedge these days. It took a while to get going but with careful trimming each year its got thicker and thicker.

I also started to weed on a very steep slope of another border. Lots of stripey orange and black caterpillars everywhere, but fortunately they seem to be attracted to certain types of weed. I believe they are a type of moth. Once the weeds were removed the Blackbird came down and set about trying to find the caterpillars. I hope they aren't poisonous to him.

I feel that we did a good job, but more is still to be done. I like to be busy.

I found out that the owners who lost their black lab earlier this year now have a little puppy Lab called Jack. This name I won't forget because my old boss was called Jack. Have yet to meet the little chap but the lady owner seemed very excited and happy.

Some more good news is that my not so useful assistant is planning a 3 week holiday next month, so peace and quiet for me. I am wondering if he has the holiday to cover it mind you. He's booked it all without checking with the company first. I would be more than a little amused if they said no, but they never do so I just have to be happy with the fact that I get some time off from him and the fact he'll have to work over the Christmas period by himself because I shall book that off. Not that I envisage him coming in at all if the weather is bad anyway. Ho hum!

At Home - A July Update

2010-07-18T21:10:00.000+01:00

Well so far the Tomatoes, Peppers and Aubergines all seem to be doing well, although I'm a bit worried about the wet warm weather. Also something seems to be making what started out as small holes that are now quite big in my peppers' leaves. Can see no trace of what it is that is eating them. Very annoying.

I managed to make my first batch of Comfrey Tea and used some on all of the above plus the Sunflowers which are growing well. The tallest one is now at least 7ft.

I've sown some lettuce and radishes in my front garden where there was still space, as we seem to be eating salads now (unusual for us by the way). The seedlings are now coming up.

At Allotment - A July Update

2010-07-18T21:09:00.000+01:00

The weather has been dry and I have gone up once or twice when I could stand the heat to water, but not often enough.

Even so I've managed to grow two melon sized Jack O' Lantern Pumpkins, a good many courgette/marrows and so far a couple of French Beans.

I've almost kept on top of the weeding this year, not quite as well I'd hoped though. I've sown some Carrots and Turnips finally, and hope to so some more soon.

I've been busy at work with no energy or inclination to go to the allotment for the past week or two, but I do hope to go there this week and do a bit more tidying. And maybe see if my spuds are ready to come up as I've not looked yet.

My only disappointment is having no Brassicas apart from those growing in my seedbed which I never got around to transplanting into their final position.

At Work - A July Update

2010-07-18T21:08:00.000+01:00

July has been yet another hot month up until now. The last few days have been a bit cooler with rain. Long over due! The last few weeks we have been weeding, edging up lawns, trimming over things like Box, Shrubby Lonicera, Laurel, Photinia, and basically catching up on things.

The sad things is the leaves are falling already on the trees. I don't think Autumn this year is going to be very spectacular at this rate.

My assistant was on his last disciplinary warning over the last four weeks, and guess what? they still haven't sacked him. I have, however, been told if he puts a foot wrong now I have to tell them straightaway and not to assume its a one off. I am less stressed (well trying anyway) about the whole situation and have come up with a new tactic, and that is to basically treat him like a skivvy and give him all the jobs I don't want to do. There is a perk to being a boss afterall :-)

I have seen baby birds and kittens and nature generally getting on with life, reminding me I have a great job.

I've heard no word about going on the RHS course so I have to assume that I won't be going on that. I'm not too worried about it and will hopefully put myself on a few courses next year when my money is my own.

Generally things at work feel a bit better and less strained.

At Work - weeding and trimming

2010-07-02T21:04:00.001+01:00

Today I got my assistant to trim over a number of Genista, and some Lonicera bushes, and do some weeding. I did some weeding and edging of borders. I deadheaded some roses in the Wedding garden and removed some very large weeds lurking at the back of a border. Had two ferrel cats with me, one smoky grey one sitting like a statue watching what I was up to. Really pretty cats but unfortunately very wild.

It rained for a good part of the morning, althought it was more drizzle. The funny thing was everytime I took my coat off it would start to rain again. Too warm for coats really. The rain didn't really do much either it was dry again by the afternoon.

At Work - Mrs James' Garden

2010-07-01T21:03:00.000+01:00

Mrs James is the owners of the Golf Club's mother and she is a very old and frail lady who hasn't been very well lately. They have a gardener for her garden, but unfortunately he doesn't appear to be doing anything.

With this in mind I decided to come in on a day off and do a bit in her garden. I've trimmed quite a few shrubs which included two very large Chaenomeles japonica. I probably shouldn't have but they were getting abit out of hand, I was careful not to remove too many fruit. I also tidied up two Phormium that looked really untidy due to lots of dead bits after the harsh winter we had. They look a lot better if a bit thin on foliage. I also weeded a wall which has a bed going the length of the top of the wall, it was full of weeds and several dead plants.

I honestly do not know what the gardener does here, and apparently so does the family and staff. Proof that you can get paid for doing nothing here. I knew I was doing something wrong. However, I don't like to think about poor Mrs James thinking I wish those weeds weren't there as she looks out her window. I'm hoping to do a bit more in the coming weeks. Seems a bit crazy though, me doing someone elses job. Nothing new there though is there!

Apologies

2010-06-24T11:59:00.002+01:00

Yes, I realise its been a while since my last blog. My apologies for that. I have to admit to life getting to me the last few weeks. Haven't really been in the mood for anything. I am hoping that I can lift myself out from under this cloud. I have felt very low and uninterested in anything. Sorry about that. If I say the work issues, then my friend dying and his funeral, my Mum being ill and then my OH being threatened with his job, plus minor issues and illnesses of my own, I think you get the idea of why I might be feeling just a little below par. It feels like a neverending ride of misery that I can't seem to get off of. Like I say I'm hoping to jump off very soon. I need to keep my mind busy on things I enjoy.

To keep you up to speed with what I've been up to I shall post here what I've been doing at work, allotment and home. I hope that's not too confusing.

Well work has been all about primarily trimming over the shrubs that require it, edging lawns and weeding, weeding, weeding. My assistant is on his last chance with regards to Disciplinary action and I now have to check his work and report back. Not a nice situation, but if you are a slacker its going to catch up with you sooner or later.

We have planted up containers and they are doing pretty well considering the dry weather. I've dug up several Hebe Red Edge plants due to them being almost dead and not very pretty looking. Replaced them so far with two Skimmia Japonica Rubella. Trimmed off dead bits off of some Juniper Blue Star. Amazing how many plants were hit by the snow this year.

At home my garden looks a bit of a mess, more due to the fact that my grass is very long than anything. I have trouble getting the petrol mower started. I'm thinking about getting a cheap electric one because I'm fed up with it. I get tired out just trying to start it before I've even started mowing. Otherwise the garden isn't too bad. Had a bit of trouble with some caterpillars eaten a Berberis of all things but I've dealt with that. Potted on my Tomatoes, Peppers and Aubergines and these all seem to be doing well.

The allotment, is a bit messy, but also very very dry. My courgettes and pumpkins are producing fruit, but I am wondering how tasty they will be due to the dry weather. My beans are hanging in there considering I don't water them and my potatoes are beginning to flower which I guess I means I should soon be digging them up. Again not too hopeful on the result. I've found some wood that I plan to edge up the beds with. Its not very thick, looks a bit like something that gets slotted together or like skirting board. But it might be better than nothing. My parsnips are doing not too bad considering. I've also found something growing around my leaf mulch bin. I originally thought it was blackberry growing wild but looking at the fruit I'm starting to now wonder, as they are quite long and at the moment red. They could still be blackberry I don't know.

My other dilemma is that my cabbage and brussel sprouts are growing really well in the seedbed but really should have been transplanted to their final position by now, but the weather is so dry and hot, I'm worried if I move them I'll kill them.

The worst for the weeds at the moment is the onion beds and my raspberry beds. I started today but its just so flipping hot I gave up. Will have to do a bit at a time. Some of the onions are bolting also.

We need some rain!

At Allotment - Weeding, Planting, Rain

2010-06-08T13:50:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I went to the lottie and planted up the rest of what I had in the potting shed. This included French and Runner Beans, Cucumber, Courgette and Rudbeckias for the garden patch. This has now freed up lots of space in my shed. I also did a little bit of weeding in the garden patch (again) and the seedbed where I came across lots of seedlings which didn't all look like weeds. Some were Verbena bonariensis, different types of poppies and some Fennel. There were probably more things but I pulled a lot up the weeds. My Sprouts and Cabbage plants in the seedbed are looking much bigger and healthier than the ones in the potting shed in modules so it was definitely worth me making. Now all I've got to do is get my hands on some decent but not too expensive netting to keep the pests off. I've also been given some Broccoli plants, Romanesco I think they were called. I never seem to get on with Broccoli as nothing ever seems to happen. Perhaps I'm doing something wrong. Its been the purple sort.

As it had been pouring down yesterday evening, last night and today I decided to go up and earth up my potatoes because the ground would be nice and soft and I'd be able to rake it easily. As it turned out I was right and my potatoes are now nicely earthed up. First time ever I think. I also raked out a bed which is now read for the Brassicas. The other bed isn't so I made a start on weeding and digging it over. I did this until the rain came again. I'd already gone through several heavy showers whilst there and by then I was getting tired and very wet so I went home. I had to fix one of my raised beds before I went home though as it had come apart. I've just done a temporary fix for now just to keep it all from falling out. I should have done it properly in the first place, I never learn!

My plot is slowly coming together and looking how I want it, but I've still lots to do. I've got to hurry up and start sowing carrots, turnips and swede. I've also got to finish off the last bed, and to sort out my fruit bed which is very weedy. I've also got to sort out my water butts as at present they aren't being filled with water and are a little green bleh and need raising up off the ground. I wonder if I've forgotten anything...

At Home - Free Water Butt Stand Woohoo!!!

2010-06-07T13:27:00.003+01:00

Well my luck on Freecycle was good again and I managed to get myself a water butt stand for nothing. It would have cost me near enough a tenner or more if I'd bought it. Well chuffed with it. I've got it all set up and it looks great. My only concern is my water looks a bit dodgy. Its yellow! Could be either something on my shed roof, algae (although I would think that more a green colour) or my water butt had some sort of detergent in it or something mad. It throths as well when I pour it. I've tested it on some plants so if they die I know I shouldn't use it. I am evil aren't I??

Well I planted out some of my flowers today and have realised I sowed probably way too many Rudbeckias. I thought I had Geums sown but they look suspiciously like Rudbeckia as well. Grrr I feel very disappointed by that as was looking forward to those. I've also planted out some Gazania, Marigold, Cosmos and Lupin. So not all will be Rudbeckia.

I've still got some Aqueligias and Monarda to go but waiting til they are a bit tougher looking before I put them in. Looking forward to a bit more colour in the garden and lots of bees.

At Work - Hectic Day and Hurt Hand

2010-05-26T15:12:00.001+01:00

Today I started in the wedding garden clipping back a Plumbago removing all dead bits. Removed two dead looking Hebe James Stirling and did a bit of weeding. Then saw my boss who said could I or my assistant cut back some ivy as they'd put a new sign post in. Now if you saw where they put this sign post you would think what an idiot. It is totally in the wrong place. Anyway to have a quiet life I got on with cutting back the ivy.

Then one of the owners asked when I was going down to do their gardens as the weeds were getting tall and its the wedding this weekend. So I had to abandon cutting back the ivy and proceed down there and got my assistant down there with me. Lots to do and too little time as usual. Was rushing away pulling up weeds around some roses when I tugged too hard and wacked my hand straight into a very large thick thorn. I have to say the pain was so intense I actually thought I was going to throw up. I sat there for a few minutes before I could move, then went to wash it as it was bleeding all over the place.

I think that I've done something I shouldn't as now a few hours later I can't straighten my little finger without my hand being painful. Driving home was difficult as is typing this blog. I hope it calms down by tomorrow or else I'm in trouble I still have a hell of a lot to do.

There is now a huge marquee taking up the owners' garden ready for the wedding and the workmen putting it up don't seem too careful with the garden. Will be lucky if the nice plants last to the wedding.

I just hope I can get everything done in time. I have to keep repeating myself with my assistant to get him to do what I've asked him as he does seem to get distracted easily. Unfortunately I have to put up with this because the company is too gutless to sack him. Things will never change and so I have to put up with it. So much for support.

At Home - Had Room, Have No Room

2010-05-25T20:28:00.003+01:00

Well I made some room in the potting shed after taking my beans, courgette, pumpkin and sunflowers up the lottie.

This evening I started pricking out my Kale, Chard and Lettuce into individual pots and modules. I've also sown some Delphinium seeds. Not sure if anything will come of it, but worth ago. I pricked out my one and only Echinacea seedling and put that in its very own pot! They are so hard to get germinating. Or is it just me?

Well now I have no room again in the potting shed. Great isn't it!

At Allotment - Planting

2010-05-25T14:22:00.002+01:00

Today I planted French Beans Cobra and Runner Bean Scarlett Emperor. I first dug out a trench with my azada and then added a layer of shredded paper and then well rotted manure on top. I also water this area before returning the soil over it. Then I placed my old elder branches and made a wigwam with them. Then planted up my beans. French on one side and Runner on the other. I've got some still at home so if the frost get these then I'll still have some.

I also planted a Courgette Black Beauty and a Pumpkin Jack O'Lantern plant in my new raised bed. First I cut out a square about a spade wide all the way around and deep, then filled it with well rotted compost and then mounded over with the soil. I did this for each plant, then planted them up and gave them a thorough watering. I've also made a wigwam at the end of this raised bed, ready for my cucumbers when they are.

I also planted up some sunflowers next to my Sweetpeas on the compost bin at the back of the plot.

I've got plenty of weeding still to do, and to complete my paving as well. I haven't sown any carrots yet in my new raised bed so I'd better get cracking on this. Plus swede and I wonder if I can still do turnip? I'll have to check. I never remember.

My plot is starting to look better and better and have things actually growing in it!

At Work - Hot Hot Hot

2010-05-24T14:08:00.000+01:00

I carried on trimming around heathers today and weeding, and edging up the grass surrounding the borders.

Lots of people playing golf today, very busy. It was a very hot day again so no surprised, although I'm not sure I'd want to go for a long walk with a bag of clubs for several hours! Saying that I did do 7 hours of gardening! But I get paid for doing that so maybe that doesn't count as crazy.

I am glad I brought my hat with me and used sun lotion today. I would have gotten very burnt otherwise. The hat was a good buy. Still lots to do.

At Work - Hedges and Heathers

2010-05-21T15:10:00.001+01:00

On both Wednesday and today I have been cutting hedges. On Wednesday it was Portuguese Laurel and a Hawthorn/Beech hedge. Today it was a Viburnum Tinus. I was asked to cut it low so that the view would not be spoilt. Mind you if I cut it any lower there will be no hedge. I took off about a foot and left it at that. You still can't see the view, but I did realise that even if it weren't there, you wouldn't see alot because where the tee is, is a bit of a hill and that blocks the way. I did what I was told just to keep the peace. That seems to be my motto at the moment. Just do it, get paid and go home.

I also weeded a bed which contains lots of heathers. These needed to be trimmed back into the shape and the dead flowers brushed off. I haven't quite finished.

Today was a very very hot day. Won't be surprised if I'm a bit sunburnt today. Bought myself a hat online and it has just arrived today so hopefully I'll get a bit of protection from that. I'm not really a hat person but sometimes you just need to wear one if you work outdoors.

I found a notice for Sid's funeral today so I shall be attending that on 3rd June. I'm glad I can go as I'd like to think I've said goodbye.

At Work - Goodbye Sid Tyrrell R.I.P

2010-05-19T15:07:00.000+01:00

This morning a golfer came up to me and said sorry about what's happened to Sid, awful isn't it. Sid was a man in his 80's who I worked with until recently when he finally decided to retire as it was getting a bit much for him. I said what do you mean, what about Sid, he said oh I'm sorry I thought you knew, he passed away last Thursday. I was stunned and shocked and couldn't hide my emotion even though I tried hard to do it. Nobody from my work had emailed me to let me know, and nobody from my work has mentioned it. I'm not sure what hurts more right now the loss of Sid or the fact that nobody bothered to care enough to tell me.

Apparently Sid was getting ready to come up to play golf and was having a shave when he had a massive heart attack and as much as I can gather died instantly. Or at least I hope that's how it went.

We got on from the start always having a giggle. His greeting was always 'alright young 'un' to everyone no matter their age. One particular memory I have is sitting on the truck in the middle between Sid and Jack and putting an arm around them both to keep them warm, and Sid enjoying it particularly.

He also had a particular passion for collecting Wade and other collectable figurines and I was his source for getting new books or figurines he couldn't get. I do still wonder how many figurines he kept in his room. He would go to car boots every weekend on the hunt for a figurine that was possibly worth something.

It feels a bit like losing a grandad. I will miss him. Goodbye Sid....

[Picture is of me, Sid in the middle and Jack my old boss on the right]

At Allotment - Paving

2010-05-13T16:34:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I received my new weed control fabric which I bought with my birthday money. I cut it down the middle. I also made some pegs from wire coat hangers.

Then went up and began the task of removing cardboard from the paths, weeding where needed and levelling where needed and edging. Then I put down the weed control fabric. Part of it was put under the patio slabs in the centre of my plot. So it wasn't going anywhere, at the other end I used my makeshift pegs. I could do with a few more, I found some long rusty nails in the shed so I may use those.

Well I continued until my headache took over. I'm feeling hopeful that my lottie is going to look great this year. I want to tuck the sides in eventually. Still quite a bit to do though because the remaining 4 paths are quite weedy and unlevel.

If I'm not too tired I'll do some more tomorrow. I think the paths look better than the cardboard. Hopefully this doesn't fly away either.

At Home - more tidying, sweetpeas and birthday on Saturday

2010-05-11T16:45:00.000+01:00

I started on another border in the front garden. I trimmed a conifer tree back into shape. I hope it will be alright. I also decided to plant sweet peas up it. I'm not sure if its a good idea or not, but it was the only place I could think to plant them.

I had a surprise for my birthday on Saturday, my OH first of all said we were going out for breakfast, so I got ready and when I came back I found him packing a bag. He took me to Plymouth for the weekend. We had a lovely time with a few beers but of course, but we didn't go over the top. I must be getting old!!! Saw a few lovely cars one was a Mustang Convertible. Flipping lovely!

Anyway, I got a card from my Nan a bit late this morning and have gotten some money. I have bought some weed control fabric to use as paving up at the lottie so I'm very pleased about that. Got a gift voucher from my parents which I think I might use to get a water butt for the garden, but haven't totally decided on that yet.

All in all a good few days for a change.

At Work - Owner's Garden

2010-05-10T12:27:00.001+01:00

Headed down to the garden of one of the Club owners today. There is a wedding reception being held there at the end of the month due to one of their sons getting married.

So I thought I'd better get on and do some tidying. Turned out that the owner had been busy weeding and only wanted some edging doing. I say only there is quite a bit to do and I had to re-cut some of the edges. I have also planted up some plants, three Hebe 'Bronze Baby' and three Euphorbia. I think there will be a few more to go in.

Its looking better, not that it looked too bad in the first place. I'll take some pictures if I remember next time.

At Home - Progressing In The Garden

2010-05-04T16:41:00.002+01:00

Been continuing digging out the Celandine in my garden and moving a couple of plants about.

I moved a Perovskia over next to some white Lychnis. There are a few purple and while colours in this area. Getting a little colour theme going I think. I also moved a Geranium Johnson's Blue in front of the Lychnis. There was an Alchemilla Molis being smothered which I moved to where the Johnson's Blue was. A few more strawberry plants have been dotted about.

Still more to do and also the front garden needs to be finished off. I've got ideas about getting small plants to sort of overlap the path a little as its not the prettiest path you've ever seen, and then putting slightly taller plants behind them. Don't ask me about the plants because I don't know, but I hope to use some of things I am sowing to go in. There maybe more updates later as I will be going out again in a bit.

Well went out a bit longer, its getting warm out there! Did some more edging up and weeding. It's getting there, slowly. I had a bit of mental moment. Well you all know I'm a bit mental ha ha. I decided I had enough of my cacti and have banished them to the garden. Yes, I've planted them in the garden! Well I've seen it done before so thought I'd bung them in. I have chosen a sheltered, warm, sunny spot next to the wall. I put in a few trowels full of sand and mixed that in with the soil then put my cacti in. Fingers crossed they cope with the outside. They are out all summer anyway. If I remember I'll put a bit of fleece over them in the colder months. I now have lots of tiny spines in my fingers and hands and arms. Ouch!

Well it is slowly looking a bit better. Better than it was anyway.

At Home - Germinating

2010-05-02T16:40:00.000+01:00

Well my tomatoes came up a little while and seem to be ok although I'll have to pot them on into their own pots. My Chilli Pepper, Belle Pepper and Aubergine seeds have all popped up in the last couple of needs to my relief I didn't think they would after such a long wait. The first lot didn't take that long.

I also have lots of Sunflowers all emerged and my Cucumbers. Cucumbers are another new thing for me along with the Aubergines. A bit nervous about the Cucumbers because I just don't have a clue, but I'd like to have ago as I've heard home grown Cucumbers are much tastier than the ones you get in shops. My French Beans are also on the move, these are the Cobra variety. I'm getting the feeling I'll have more vegetables than I can handle but that's an improvement on the last two years, where I've just had enough.

My only disappointment is not being able to get both Echinacea and Lychnis coronoria 'Rose Campion' to germinate. I might have one more go to see if I can get them to go. I would have really liked these both to succeed. But hey you can't always be lucky I suppose. I have a white variety of the Lychnis but I love the deep pink of the Rose Campion. Why do I get niggled about things I can't control?

I've decided that I've got to try not to worry about work and the people there so much. Its not good for me, and quite frankly its not worth it. So I've got to go to work with the view of working 7 to 2 and earning my money, and basically not giving a monkeys about the rest of it. When I get home I need to tell myself to worry about more important things like my partner, my home and my garden and lottie. It will be difficult but I shall try very hard to keep things in perspective. Work just isn't worth my health and sanity. I should have learnt that when this happened to me a good few years ago.

If they don't care, then neither do I. That's the new motto.

At Home - Weeding and Edging

2010-05-01T16:17:00.001+01:00

Made a good start on the back garden today. It is full of Celendine which makes the whole garden look like its full of weed, so I had a good go at getting rid of some of that. I don't kid myself it won't be back next year, but it does look a whole lot better without it right now and I can see what plants I have again.

I will continue with it again tomorrow if there is some dry time. Right now the big black clouds are rolling in. This is good because I've replanted some of the many Strawberry plants that I have in the garden and planted out an Oregano that I had in a pot for ages, its an 'Aureum Crispum' variety I think. I also have a normal type already in the garden so thought the other one should join it. So if it rains, it saves me watering them in.

After doing a bit of weeding in this particular bit of the border, I then recut the edge of the lawn and trimmed back the grass, this always gives an instant effect on the garden.

I'm really pleased so far and am eager to do some more now its looking so much better, and because at some point I'm going to need to find space for all the flowers I have growing in my potting shed.

Let's hope that it stays dry long enough for me to do some more tomorrow and Monday.

Robin was happy too as he found lots of caterpillars, bugs and worms.

At The Allotment - Digging, Weeding and Raised Beds

2010-04-30T15:02:00.007+01:00

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

2010-04-30T15:01:00.000+01:00

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!

2010-04-29T14:25:00.000+01:00

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!!!!!

2010-04-28T14:24:00.000+01:00

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

2010-04-28T14:23:00.000+01:00

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

2010-04-27T14:13:00.002+01:00

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)

2010-04-26T14:12:00.000+01:00

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

2010-04-25T15:42:00.005+01:00

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

2010-04-24T15:37:00.001+01:00

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

2010-04-23T15:32:00.000+01:00

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

2010-04-22T15:30:00.001+01:00

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

2010-04-21T15:29:00.000+01:00

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

2010-04-20T15:27:00.000+01:00

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

2010-04-19T15:25:00.000+01:00

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?