|
|
Thursday, 26th February
Two days in a row! Yes, I was on the allotment again yesterday
although not doing much constructive, mainly digging out more bindweed
and couch grass in the area I want to use for potatoes this year. I've
got my potatoes chitting in a couple of seed trays now in the spare bedroom.
I got them from our stores for 50p per pound which seems a lot cheaper
than the garden centre are charging and they look good uniform potatoes.
I haven't got as far as sowing anything yet but I have sorted out my seed
packets and will start next week, as soon as I've got some fresh compost.
Yet
another fine day today but I'm afraid I was tempted away from the plot
to take part in an organised walk from Lancing Manor Leisure Centre. It
was in a good cause to raise money for the British Heart Foundation so
I have got an excuse. 40 of us set off up the hill, past the allotments
and up over by Lancing Ring. We had lovely views looking over the coast,
towards Lancing College and as far as Brighton - depending which way you
were looking of course. We got back to the centre cafe around 12, just
in time for a cup of tea.
‹ Here's a couple of locals we spotted
on our walk.
Tuesday, 24th February
Today I have been propagating bindweed. That's not what
I set out to do admittedly. I just wanted to fork over a particular area
of the allotment and finding loads of couch grass and bindweed roots was
just a bonus. Bindweed roots are so brittle that it is difficult to remove
entirely without breaking and of course every little bit left in makes
a new plant. Whoopee! I was surprised to find the soil so wet and claggy
and it stuck to the couch grass roots like glue. Needless to say, progress
was a bit slow and an hour and a half was enough. And what do I do with
it? I'm reluctant to put it in my compost heap in case it likes it too
much there and takes root and the bins are going soon from the allotment
sites. Roll on Peter Hill's composting talk and demonstration on the 8th
March. (See Events page)This afternoon back home I put up another fencing
panel - gently, gently, don't want to overdo it - and did some more pruning,
mainly of a mainly dead forsythia (you didn't even know it was possible
to kill fosythia, did you? Just shows what you can achieve if you're dedicated).
Unfortunately there was a holly bush growing through it which made it
a bit more interesting - some of that had to go as well.
Then this evening it was pancakes! I think 3 was overdoing it by one but
it will be a good tummy lining for tonight's Pub Night.
Sunday, 22nd February
Things have conspired against me recently to keep me away
from the garden, allotment and computer. For a start it's been half term
so other things have taken priority like a trip to Chichester to spend
some Christmas Lakeland Plastics vouchers, only to discover on arrival
that they were closed for refurbishment! Well, you're not going to go
straight back home without a good look round and a bite to eat, are you?
And stop off at the superstores on the way home. When I did get a chance
to venture out the weather was rubbish but I did set foot on the allotment
today. Not that it did me much good - I only had about half an hour and
when I got there and opened the car boot I realised I'd forgotten to bring
my fork. So, picked a cabbage, cleared up a few old beans, threw some
Growmore about and came home. Did a bit of gardening at home, repotting
daffodils and lilies - bit late but I'll probably get away with it.
Spring can't be far away; it's not just snowdrops out now. Even in our
garden we've got crocuses, primroses, heather and a camellia out. When
we were at Wisley last week I experienced the scent of Christmas Box;
I think I'll have to get some of that as there are few plants with as
much scent at this time of year.
The highlight of the week of course was the Association Dinner on Friday
evening at the Windsor House Hotel. About 60 of us there were, I think.
The food and service were excellent and everyone had a good time as far
as I could tell. Mrs N certainly did - apart from being taken out she
won a bottle of wine in the raffle. Must take her out again some time.
Monday, 16th Febrauary
Wisley duck walking
on water
Last week was rubbish. First the weather wasn't fit to do anything then I wasn't. I couldn't even go for my usual Wednesday walk. By Thursday I was eating again but not feeling up to much so I took the weekend off and we went to see some friends in Farnham. They still had bits of snow on the ground there. While we were up there we took a trip to Wisley. I know we're going with the Association in August but this was special as they'd released a load of tropical butterflies in the big glasshouse, just for a 3-week period. Even though my camera and photographic skills aren't up to much, I thought you might like to see a few pictures so here they are:
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Tuesday, 10th February
What
miserable weather! I did get to the West Tarring allotments on Saturday
but I'm afraid it was only to pick up my potato order, 10 lb of Desiree.
They're not the most exciting or heavy yielding but I find them reliable
on my plot where other varieties have succumbed to the dreaded slug. And
they're a decent allrounder; they mash and roast OK which will do me.
I'll start chitting them in seed trays soon although I understand there
is now some debate about the advantages of starting them off in this way.
I've got my onion sets and most of my seeds too although I haven't actually
sown anything. My excuse is the weather of course, so wet I could probably
grow rice but a tad on the chilly side too. Doesn't exactly encourage
you, does
it? Yet, I have seen signs of Spring on the way: snowdrops and crocus
out and robins going around in twos. Now they're very territorial birds
so these two must be more than just good friends, I reckon.
I haven't even got my winter digging done or made a start on my tank
trap bean trench. I did finish clearing all the rubbish I had made
in the garden trimming a few shrubs (more to do when it dries a bit).
7 bags of it I had to take to the tip. And then of course I have been
ill - return of the New Year tummy bug - but I'm sure I'll have got my
appetite back in time for the Association Dinner.
Thursday, 5th February
A clear blue sky and golden sunshine proved too inviting
yesterday and I was enticed outside. Not as far as the allotment but into
the back garden where I set about slaughtering some overgrown shrubs.
Well, that was the plan but the electric hedge trimmer refused to start.
Several minutes of investigation proved it was a blown fuse in one of
the extension leads which was a relief - it's quite cheap to fix and I
had some spares. Several more minutes proved I had probably bitten off
more than I could chew. There were 2 hypericums, a fuchsia and an eleagnus,
all of them over 8ft tall so I contented myself with giving them all a
short back and sides and
decided to leave the tops (and the ladder) for later. I wanted to get
them all done before the birdies start building their nests in them but
I popped inside for a minute and the phone rang. While I was on the phone
the doorbell went - or it would have done if it were working - and before
I knew it, it was lunchtime.
In the afternoon I was leading a walk, and a lovely afternoon it was for
a walk, but the upshot of it all was I got nothing done before going out
again in the evening. My wife has been collecting vouchers from the newspaper
and we were able to eat out at the Squire & Horse at the bottom of
Bury Hill for the princely sum of £10 for 3 courses. And it was
superb! I can certainly recommend it.
So today I'm supposed to finish off the shrubs and clear up all the rubbish.
It's raining! Ah, well, the beat laid plans of mice and men and all that.
As gardeners do, I can always hope it will be better tomorrow.
Monday, 2nd February
 |
Party Time |
It was so nice at the weekend that I gave myself some time
off and took my wife to Eastbourne. I quite like Eastbourne though this
wouldn't normally be my time of choice to go there. But I had an invite
for a free lunch. A former colleague I haven't seen for donkey's years
invited us to his birthday party at the Hydro Hotel so I thought, "Why
not make a weekend of it?" A bit blowy, wasn't it? Not wanting to
lash out for a room at the Hydro we chose a cheaper more reasonably
priced establishment on the seafront within easy walking distance. It
was OK I suppose but the windows didn't fit properly and they contrived
to make the wind outside whistle and sound like a force 9 gale - all night.
It also discouraged you from stepping out in the evening but we needn't
have bothered as 2 of the theatres were shut and the other was hosting
a darts tournament. Brilliant! So we spent the evening in a little Italian
restaurant over a plate of pasta before we retired to our hotel and switched
on the telly to discover we hadn't won the lottery - again. Much more
of this and I'll have to get a job!
The party itself was fine although my small talk is a bit limited. I have
to admit it was a grand meal but Mrs N says I'm having nothing like that
at my next big milestone.
We called at some friends in Seaford on the way home but took flight midway
through the afternoon when it started to snow big flakes. It was pretty
snowy all the way to the Southwick Tunnel then it was like going through
a portal to another world because on this side there was hardly any snow
at all. Made up for it during the night though, didn't it? I didn't bother
going to the allotment today (and Mrs N didn't bother going to work) but
stayed in and tried to make myself useful - I failed but there's always
tomorrow and the snow has already nearly gone.