Monthly Archives: September 2018

Self-seeded cherry tomatoes

Posted on September 28, 2018 by Helen

Last year was awful for blight on my tomatoes and I was lazy about clearing up the fallen fruit. What I hadn’t expected was for these to grow into new plants this summer. They took their time about it, not … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, In the kitchen | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

No qualms whatsoever!

Posted on September 26, 2018 by Helen

A friend yesterday identified what I thought was a hawthorn bush at the back of the garden as cotoneaster! Just as well I didn’t pick the berries and make jelly, although in all probability they are not that toxic. But … Continue reading →

Posted in foraging, Gardening, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 12 Comments

A surprise harvest

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Helen

Most of the time, food comes in from the garden in dribs and drabs. I pick what I need for that meal and leave the rest till it’s wanted. However, as I’m determined to avoid the dreaded blight this year, … Continue reading →

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

Another neglected corner

Posted on September 21, 2018 by Helen

There is a certain satisfaction in clearing the garden. Even though in the long run I would like to have a garden which is full all year, with as little bare ground as possible, knowing what I know now and … Continue reading →

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

All trussed up

Posted on September 20, 2018 by Helen

It’s raining buckets right now – my weather app was accurate for a change: rain started promptly, just as I had finished today’s round of painting. Getting at the final panel on the new fence required cutting down the fennel … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The snail is oblivious

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Helen

Today, I had new windows fitted, so hopefully the house will be warmer in winter and simultaneously the heating bills will go down. In the meantime, whilst the work was going on inside the house I busied myself with some … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Wildlife | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

A feeling of space

Posted on September 16, 2018 by Helen

After a somewhat disrupted night’s sleep due to four young ladies having a ‘sleep-over’, I decided the best way to keep awake until this bedtime was to crack on with the fence-painting. There is now one panel left on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Succulents waiting for a home

Posted on September 15, 2018 by Helen

How often do you walk past something without giving it a thought? My dad gave me a couple of succulents last time we were there, which have been waiting patiently in pots until the ground was soft enough to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , | 7 Comments

Preparing the ground for a hazel

Posted on September 14, 2018 by Helen

The start of a two and a half week break came yesterday evening. I’ve been longing for this moment, not so much because I need a break but because I’m itching to get on with so many jobs. I won’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, Permaculture | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

White borage

Posted on September 9, 2018 by Helen

This year, my borage has fared very poorly. Hardy annual it might be but drought resistant, no. However, it has started to re-emerge, now that we’ve started to get rain again. What I wasn’t expecting was to find a white … Continue reading →

Posted in Gardening, herbs | Tagged , , | 10 Comments