Monthly Archives: May 2016

Lardon Chase

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Helen

After saying bye bye to our YHA at Streatley-on-Thames this morning, it seemed fitting to have a closer look at some woods we had discovered on Sunday. We didn’t have a lot of time to explore but at last I … Continue reading →

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The River Thames

Posted on May 29, 2016 by Helen

Goring, a village on the Thames this afternoon. Amazing wisteria! A local passing by as I took the above agreed – but the banks of the Thames were no less charming. Rapeseed gets everywhere. Boathouses less so. I didn’t know … Continue reading →

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‘Nature abhors a vacuum’

Posted on May 27, 2016 by Helen

My original plan for the herb garden, once the hugel beds were in, was to use bricks to make a path between them. However, that hasn’t happened yet, so volunteer plants have been making their way to this patch of … Continue reading →

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View from the kitchen window

Posted on May 25, 2016 by Helen

I learned on the PDC course that it was normal to have a dip in the weather about now, but I’m hoping that today will be the last of the chilly days.  I do love my garden when it is … Continue reading →

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Clearing the path

Posted on May 23, 2016 by Helen

Last year, between two of the stones that constitute the garden path, there was an interesting collection of plants: brambles, silver birch and dandelion. Needless to say, I didn’t plant any of them and didn’t want them there. At the … Continue reading →

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One tomato plant has had its day!

Posted on May 22, 2016 by Helen

Last autumn, a tomato seedling appeared in a pot on my windowsill. No idea how it got there but, out of curiosity, I decided to let it grow to see what happened. The upshot was an occasional cherry tomato in … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 17 Comments

Dianthus (Sweet William)

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Helen

I had run out of compost for seeds (my own is far too heavy and in any case none is ready at the moment), so I decided the next best thing was a bag from my local garden centre. And … Continue reading →

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Repurposing the repurposed

Posted on May 20, 2016 by Helen

Officially, the last day for frost risk is 22 degrees Celsius in Leeds. Not sure if it is the same where I am but since the night time temperatures are predicted to be about 10 degrees over the next few … Continue reading →

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Three Sisters peeping through

Posted on May 19, 2016 by Helen

The second attempt at courgettes seems to have been a fail, so I have sown some more in perhaps the vain hope of the third round germinating. On the other hand, I’m ever so pleased that the runner beans are … Continue reading →

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Time to get the net out

Posted on May 17, 2016 by Helen

The mangetout I sowed indoors and then planted out after the ones sown in situ had started poking through the top of the milk cartons put over them as a cloche. So, even though the nights are still cool, feeling … Continue reading →

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