Time To Say Goodbye

Well it was time to say goodbye to my allotment at the end of last year after much soul searching. It had got to the stage where fretting about it rather than enjoying it was. I had been debating the issue of whether to call it a day for some considerable time feeling that I've not been doing either the garden or the allotment justice. Then falling over in the autumn of 2019 resulted in two broken bones in my right hand. Originally I thought that I would catch up with any remaining autumn tidying and preparation come the spring and perhaps sow fewer crops last year. Although my hand has regained it's strength it is certainly not the same and does twinge and ache from time to time. 

Events in the outer world meant that I was very cautious last spring although it was legal to visit and tend the allotment which was deemed as exercise. Himself has always been excellent about taking me there and collecting me after an allotment session but my other mode of transport which was to get there and back by bus became a non starter. 

When I did get there it was a case of rushing to my plot and shutting myself in. This was not always as simple as it may sound. Walking up and down the main path there was a good chance of crossing paths with other plot holders some of whom had no concept of social distancing. I appreciate the fact that we were outside but I still found this disconcerting. As the year unfolded I visited the allotment less and less and it helped me reach the conclusion that perhaps I wouldn't miss it at all I didn't have a plot. I did feel tremendously guilty though that I wasn't utilising the plot to its full extent and that somebody else who was on a long waiting list could. That combined with the feeling that once this state of limbo is behind us I don't want to be committed to the same extent. There are places to go and gardens to visit whilst we are both still able. Having an allotment a big commitment which you can't afford to turn your back on for more than a couple of weeks. If you do you are asking for trouble. Himself is delighted with my decision.

As I said giving up the allotment had already been in the back of my mind for some time. With that in mind I grew a few annual and half hardy annuals in the garden last year and also French beans to see how they fared. My garden at home is much shadier than the allotment. The flowers including my favourite sweet peas did well on the whole but the French beans faltered. Possibly the fact that they were grown in front of a wall didn't help. We dismantled three of the relatively new raised beds that himself had installed and these have now been found homes in the garden and were filled with a vegetable friendly growing medium last week.

I'm now having fun deciding what I can fit into my reduced growing space. I plan to  grow cut flowers, herbs, strawberries, French beans, shallots, kale, beetroot, salady stuff and courgettes in the first instance. I hope to squeeze in a few of my favourite salad potatoes 'Charlotte' probably in containers and of course there will be tomatoes which I've always grown at home. I'm sure that one or two crops will squeeze their way in. 

What I will not miss? Well allotment life is not all a bed of roses or perhaps in this case I should say a bed of cabbages. Sadly over the years there have been upsetting incidences of vandalism and theft. I will not miss the fact that there inevitably seems to be some internal feuds going on and it is sad to say that in this day and age some women on the site felt that were bullied by a handful of men. I will not miss the lean over the fence and give you so called advice types who never once offered to lend a hand. I will not pine over the fact that to get to my plot for a good few months of the year involved slip-sliding through mud. This was a normal winter happening but the photo below was taken one July day in 2022.

What will I miss? I will miss my lovely apples trees which I have left for the next plot holder to enjoy. I did consider bringing my apple trees, well two of the three, back home. I apparently should have done some preparation work at least a year in advance beforehand if I had transplanted them so decided to let them be. A new tree for the garden is on its way - an eater called 'Sunset' which was my favourite of the three. I will miss the thicket of the delicious autumn fruiting raspberry' Polka', as well as the gooseberry and currant bushes. 

I will miss growing crops that like the sunshine such as sweetcorn. I will miss the visiting birds and bees which varied from those visiting the garden. I will miss the community fun days that the allotment association supported over the years. Hard work but most rewarding. 

I will miss my lovely well established stipa gigantea grass which lapped up the sun there. I will start again with one in the garden. Above all though I will miss the camaraderie of fellow plot holders, exchange of growing tips and the generous swapping and gifts of plants and crops. I do have invitations though to call in at any time and catch up on what is happening. No doubt I will report back here on the progress of my new home allotment over the next few months. Hopefully before long I will be tucking into a bowl full of some strawberries like these again.

In the meantime I wouldn't have missed the experience for anything and count myself privileged to have been an allotment plot holder.

IAVOM - 'Here Comes The Sun'

The quickest of pick and plonks and photo too today for 'In A Vase On Monday'. I have had my eye on the main road today looking out for a bulk delivery of compost - still to arrive at the time of writing and a grocery delivery which looked as if it might sail past but eventually found us. The flowers and the vase are reflecting not only today's sunshine but also an optimism after receiving my first vaccine last week just less than a fortnight after himself. Now to wait until today's road map out of lockdown is revealed in detail.

The flowers are both iris reticulata - 'Eye Catcher' and 'Scent Sational' both of which are little beauties with their exquisite and detailed markings. Sadly they do not seem to do well for me for longer than one season either in pots or in the ground. Still worth a little splash in the autumn for the pleasure they provide. The latter makes a good companion for crocus siberei 'Firefly' so I discovered completely by accident.

With thanks as always to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for hosting this welcome platform for sharing our flowers and foliage on a Monday.

IAVOM ~ Good Companions

 

Just a couple of flowers in today's 'In A Vase On Monday', quickly gathered on a most cold day when a bitter wind is plummeting the temperature in a downward spiral. It looks as if this cold spell is here for the week and I'm hoping that it might be the last really cold snap of winter. No doubt like most of you spring can't come soon enough for me this year. I much prefer to take all my vase photos out in the elements where not only the light levels are stronger but I'm also not bought to an abrupt full stop when I notice every single speck of dust. However it was much too nippy out there to take my time so I came inside to take my photo. The fairy lights on the mantlepiece remain all year for an instant touch of a button sparkle.

I'm sure you will all recognise the two occupants in the vase - snowdrops and hellebores - both stalwarts and comfortable companions. The varieties of both in this case are both unknown. The snowdrops live in a big container outside and have multiplied over the years. The marking on the petals vary.  I did consider snipping a witch hazel but perhaps my shrubs are still too small so I came down on the side of caution. On the subject of  companions for snowdrops Plant Heritage is running a Zoom lecture this coming Saturday. The event is open to non-members for the most reasonable price of £4.00. Details are here. I listened to another talk on snowdrops via Plant Heritage on Saturday night and was most taken with the speaker's idea of planting her snowdrops without labels in the lawn. Something I've never considered before now.

The vase is one of a set of four, a present from my sister. Each is a different colour. I don't think this one has made a public appearance before. The other three are in need of some intensive care - each having developed a misty bloom on the inside. Any tried and trusted cleaning tips would be more than welcome. 

Thanks as always to our hostess Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' who came up with the idea of sharing vases each week to mark the start of a new week which makes Monday a special day in the diary.

Wordless Wednesday ~ Hippeastrum 'Evergreen'

 

Wordless Wednesday ~ Galanthus plicatus 'Amy Doncaster'

 

Wheelbarrows & Wellies

It seems to have been a long time since I've been here. I would like to say that I have been wearing wellies and wheeling a wheelbarrow but truth be told I've been relishing a deep longer winter hibernation than usual. I'm not sure sure what I've actually achieved but the seasonal jigsaw has been completed,  plenty of books have been enjoyed and much amusing entertainment has been had watching the birds feed. They for one as one of my nieces put it "are blissfully unaware of the turmoil going on around them". On the gardening front little has been done but the flower seed box is immaculate and sorted out in alphabetical order and the seed order will be going in later today. My dahlias were ordered on New Year's Day so I feel that I'm making some inroads, Now I need to get cracking on some indoor jobs before outdoor jobs and the seed sowing season take priority.

Our seasonal jigsaw this year was 'Wheelbarrows and Wellies', the first jigsaw from the Gibson's stable that we have tackled. It was made up of a set of garden related cameos and was most pleasurable to do. You can see some close ups here. The artist Val Goldfinch is behind other jigsaws so we shall look out for her in the future.

My main pleasure in the garden at this time of year is of course snowdrops both in the garden and also my collection of named snowdrops in the greenhouse. Outside up to Christmas everything seemed to be well ahead of schedule but is now back in kilter after the much cooler weather of the last month. However the joy that I get from the indoor residents has been diminished as so many of them have decided not to flower this year. I'm not sure why this has happened but think that water - either too much or too little is a factor. I have to confess that the pots may have baked too dry in the hot spring that we had - they were back outside by then and I took my eyes off inspecting the pots regularly.  I also divided a good number of them in the spring as the pots were crowded and then all the pots almost drowned before I took them in under cover earlier than I usually do because they were just so wet. I think that it has been too stressful for them especially the more immature bulbs and that with some tender loving care they will flower in profusion next year. I do have some showing their colours though and have welcomed some newcomers in the fold namely 'Aunt Agnes', 'Lucy', and 'Green Of Hearts'. Hopefully I will post photos soon.

In the meantime I've gained some snowdrop pleasure elsewhere via Zoom lectures, a virtual snowdrop festival on Instagram from The Garden House in Devon  and from a most enjoyable programme 'Snowdrop Country' here on BBC radio 4 focusing on Alan Street, the nurseryman from  from Avon Bulbs who has been responsible for most of their star snowdrops. Well now having found my way back here I hope to return sooner than later.

IAVOM - Winter Solstice Offering

"So the shortest day came, and the year died,

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world
Came people singing, dancing,
To drive the dark away.
They lighted candles in the winter trees;
They hung their homes with evergreen;
They burned beseeching fires all night long
To keep the year alive,
And when the new year's sunshine blazed awake
They shouted, revelling.
Through all the frosty ages you can hear them

Echoing behind us - Listen!!"

- an extract from the poem 'The Shortest Day' - by Susan Cooper. You can read the full poem here.

 In what may be my last 'In A Vase On Monday' this year (blooms are few, decidedly soggy and far between at the moment) are :

• The first snowdrops of the season to open in the garden. These are the early flowering 'Fieldgate Prelude' and 'Faringdon Double'. They seem a little ahead of schedule although accurate record keeping is not my most strong point but they are still most welcome. 
• Stems of cornus or dogwood' Anny's Winter Orange' - these with the exception of one snip appeared in November vases.
• Some bleached and well blown about ready peeled seedcases of lunaria annua alba variegata, also known as variegated white honesty from the garden. I have a big pile of this in the greenhouse crying out in the greenhouse for me to to do much in the way of peeling and bring inside the house for Christmas. If anybody should want spare seed there will be no doubt be plenty to spare so please request in comments.

With a special shout out to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden' for continuing to host us so steadfastly and with such good cheer every Monday, whatever the weather is sending our way and through good times and bad. Looking forward to settling down this evening when surely there can't be any urgent household tasks to deal with, so that I can peruse vases from near and far.

December Musing ~ 2020

 

"From December to March, there are for many of us three gardens - the garden outdoors, the garden of pots and bowls in the house and the gardens of the mind's eye"

~ Quotation by Katharine S. White.

~ Illustration by Mary Azarian.

In A Vase On Monday ~ Rescue Mission

 

The flowers in my vase were picked towards the end of last week thinking that they were about to fall victim to a heavy frost. The predicted frost did not materialise and apart from the lightest of frosts one morning early last week we have escaped. I think though looking at the forecast for the week ahead this state of affairs might change. In my 'In A Vase On Monday' today are :

• Rudbeckia 'Sahara' which has flowered throughout summer and well beyond. I am leaving the plants in to see if they overwinter but will also sow a batch in February in a heated propagator.
• Rosa 'Lady Emma Hamilton'. After reading hearing her praises being highly proclaimed in books and various blogs I finally took the plunge and bought a bare root plant last autumn. She has been slow to get going, has suffered slightly from blackspot but I have great hopes for the future. She has all the magic ingredients for a perfect rose. Her foliage is indeed most attractive as are her flowers and perfume.
• The twiggy bits of cornus 'Anny's Winter Orange' and the green lonicera nitada are both pre-loved having appeared in my last vase some three weeks ago now. After a spell on the kitchen window-sill the vase was moved to the cooler climes of the greenhouse.

I didn't think that it would get a photo of my vase as the light here has been so poor over the weekend but there was a break in the rain and some temporary lightening of the gloom so I was able to snatch a couple of photos earlier this morning. As always a special thanks to Cathy over at 'Rambling In The Garden'. Do visit if you haven't already and see what she and other bloggers have in their vases on this very last day of November.

A Week Of Flowers ~ Day 7

 

My last flower of the week is one that is in flower today. Despite its appearance suggestive of early spring this little narcissus is a particularly early one to flower. The plantswoman Beth Chatto wrote in her 1998 book 'Dear Friend and Gardener' "On the kitchen window sill, I have a small vase of two or three flowers of our earliest daffodil, Narcissus 'Cedric Morris'. The late Sir Cedric, my old friend brought it from Spain more than 40 years ago. It seemed to be a one-off there in the wild, he could find no others around, and now the site has been blasted away to make a motorway. We always look, and find buds, if not open flowers, by Christmas , whilst established clumps continue to flower well into March. It is neither miniature (weedy), nor dwarf 'stunted', but stands in prefect scale, about 25cm (10 in ) tall. I love the green stain on the back of its perfect little lemon-yellow flowers ; the way its twisting petals curve round the frilly-edged trumpet. When picked, it lasts longer in a warm room than snowdrops". 

The Cedric she refers to was the artist and plantsman Cedric Morris.

It took me some time to get hold of some of the bulbs but after much patience I got my bulbs from the Beth Chatto nursery. They have taken a while to settle down, didn't do very well last year but are looking healthy this year and the bulbs are multiplying. I think that the flowers were much later in opening last year but this year they have opened up this week. I will have to check to see when I planted them but it was possibly four years ago or so. It will be some time before I have enough flowers to pick for a vase but I have noticed that the flowers do last for a long time despite any inclement weather that is thrown at them.

A BIG thanks to Cathy who came up with the idea of spreading some cheer in November by posting flowers from all the seasons. I must admit that I didn't stick entirely to the brief mainly because I have not taken many flower photos this year. However having said that all the flowers I've posted have flowered in my garden this year and it has given me great pleasure browsing through my photo archives. As well as photos of flowers, gardens, special gatherings I've also looked back at some holiday photos.  Do visit 'Words And Herbs' and see what flowers are there today and also check out the blogs of other gardeners who are participating.