Monthly Archives: May 2017

Castle amongst the strawberries

Posted on May 29, 2017 by Helen

I noticed last year the first signs of lupins – presumably moved over from my neighbour’s. However, there were no flowers…… and the ones I’d sown myself didn’t come to much either. Sadly, my neighbour’s own patch is seriously depleted … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , | 9 Comments

Absorbed

Posted on May 28, 2017 by Helen

Yesterday, whilst collected chive flowers, I noticed a bumblebee feeding on them, too. Only this one didn’t flit about. It was like a statue. On one flower for as long as it took me to collect two tubfuls and run … Continue reading →

Posted in In the kitchen, Wildlife | Tagged , | 13 Comments

To weed or not to weed 

Posted on May 26, 2017 by Helen

Since the rains last week, phacelia and poppies have shot up out of seemingly nowhere. They are smothering the onions and getting very cosy with the broad beans. The question of whether or not to remove them has therefore arisen. … Continue reading →

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The benefit of stones in the garden

Posted on May 24, 2017 by Helen

One activity we have done on the MOOC about soil recently is to measure the amount of stones in our own parcel of land. Fortunately, my soil is pretty free of them, so they aren’t restricting root growth or increasing … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

The biggest magnet for insects

Posted on May 22, 2017 by Helen

Yesterday, I was pleased to get a few more plants potted on. It looks like temperatures are warming up and it won’t be long before tender crops can be going in the garden. Of course, in this activity there is … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 14 Comments

Not even hardened off yet

Posted on May 21, 2017 by Helen

I’ve finished Week Two of my MOOC on soil early, so I’m a little lost. That said, there is plenty of observing of my own to do in the garden.  Every time I go past the apple tree, I have … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , | 17 Comments

The results are in

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Helen

Earlier in the week, I did a practice soil test with material from the front garden. The result for this was that the A-Horizon (top soil) was something like sandy loam but I felt certain my B-Horizon (sub-soil) was some … Continue reading →

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Upgrading the coldframe

Posted on May 16, 2017 by Helen

Now that the soil is once more not only diggable but friable, I decided it was an opportune moment to sow some flower seeds in the front garden (in the space vacated by the primulas yesterday). It’s unlikely that we’ll … Continue reading →

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For the good of science

Posted on May 15, 2017 by Helen

This week on the MOOC about soils we are getting into our own soil to find out more about it. The thing is I don’t have a lot of uncovered ground to actually dig into. But, fortunately, I don’t like … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 5 Comments

Citizen Science: Week One

Posted on May 14, 2017 by Helen

First of all, the brilliant news is that it rained last night and it seems that everything has grown since then. Of course, it won’t be enough but maybe this next week will give us some useful top-ups. At least, … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 4 Comments