Happy New Year!!

Well, I did mean to say happy Christmas last week but forgot to publish the post! So hope you all have a fab party tonight. Myself and himself will be at home avoiding the parties and having a quiet one.

I do intend to get back into regular postings so keep checking in - to make it easier, just sign up!

Heres to a fantastic 2014 :)

2000 Hit Challenge

Well, at the moment I have had 1931 hits, can I get to 2000 for Christmas?? Wouldn't that be a nice pressie!

Hmmm, presents, that annual problem. Have to say am not very good at choosing gifts and am not one for enjoyng shopping trips, so its a difficult time!

Luckily I am able to make gifts, theres at least one crochet pressie being created at the mo (its ok, the recipient already knows!). Have a few other ideas up my sleeve, but I guess I better not share as family and friends may read this.

So, get on viewing, only 69 hits to go.....

Apologies for my lack of posts

Its been very busy here at the Dartmoor Gardeners HQ and I just haven't had the time to post. Have you missed me?? I have an alternative occupation that has filled a lot of my time heading up to Christmas - crochet!

I have been selling my crochet work (or trying to!) at a few flea markets recently. Not gone as well as I had hoped, but I will keep trying. It has taken over everything these last few weeks, including my blog. One more Xmas fair on Saturday then thats it til next year. Phew!

Here's some of my work

Wrist warmers, stars and a scarf

Mug cosies, great for gardeners, keeping tea warm!

And some felt owls that I'm really pleased with.

Its a start! I will be creating more crafts, having loads of ideas, just need the time! I am hoping to get a facebook page done over the weekend - will give you a link as soon as!

Eek! Where does the time go???

I haven't blogged for a month! My main excuse is that I have been in Scotland for a couple of weeks, the longest holiday in around 4 years. I've got plenty of photos which I plan to show you in next few days. What a beautiful place! We stayed in the highlands for most of the holiday, house sitting with two gorgeous cats and 4 hens who supplied us with fresh eggs every day.

Apart from the breath taking scenery and the incredibly winding roads, there were 2 real highlights that stand out. The first was watching an otter eating fish in a loch at Kylerhea on the Isle of Skye. We had to take a long, mainly single track road to the purpose built hide to view this beautiful animal, it was sooo worth it! We do have otters here in Devon and I have seen two very briefly, but this time we enjoyed a good 10 minutes viewing. I highly recommend you go if you get the chance, heres a link http://www.forestry.gov.uk/website/wildwoods.nsf/LUWebDocsByKey/ScotlandHighlandNoForestKylerheaKylerheaOtterHide

Unfortunately, my camera doesn't zoom enough to get a good pic, but there were binoculars in the hide, so we got great views.

The other highlight was on our last day in Scotland, much further south near Callander.
http://argatyredkites.co.uk/index.php

We were wanting to go to Doune Castle, but it was closed for filming. We had seen signs for this place nearby, saying Red Kite viewing hide, so decided to have a look. By this time it was raining heavily (again!). We got to the car park, having no idea what to expect and thinking of leaving as it was so wet. We saw one kite, felt pleased with ourselves, decided to go, then were approached by a chap who asked if we wanted to come up to the hide to see the kites. 'OK', so we walked up, with dog (on lead) to the large hide where a few other people were waiting. Tom, the guy who met us, turned out to be an incredibly knowledgeable guide and a really lovely bloke! The hide was built on his parents farm, and is a feeding station for the kites. Tom told us all about these amazing birds and then went outside to put out food. We saw nearly 40!! We ended up staying for an hour 1/2, so worth the accidental visit! Read more about them on their website.

Again, no pics but then you will have to go and see for yourself! Please go if you are in the area, you wont be disappointed :)

Well, thats a bit about our Scottish trip, I will write more in next few days....

Very addictive!

GeoGuessr - Let's explore the world!

Just been introduced to this on Facebook. Its all guesswork but seems most are in the US so you can't go too wrong!

Have a go.

I will be off to Scotland tomorrow for a couple of weeks so will report back with some pics on my return. I hope the storm predicted isn't too bad, we have a lot of driving ahead....

See you all in a couple of weeks :)

What is a Fieldfare??

After comments regarding Fieldfares on my post re Rowan Trees, thought you might be interested in reading more. The RSPB website is so informative on all British birds, take a look (or 'have a gander at this', sorry couldn't resist ;))

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/birdguide/name/f/fieldfare/index.aspx

Thanks to Nick and Bald Eagle

The Rowan Tree

One of my favourite trees is the Rowan, Sorbus aucuparia. Also known as Mountain Ash, Quickbeam, Witchwood, Cairtheand (old Irish) and Dogberry in Canada. They can be found in abundance here, on the north edge of Dartmoor, though also found across much of the UK as well as many countries in the Northern Hemisphere.

They really stand out at this time, with their bright orangey red berries and colourful foliage. A great tree for the small garden, they tolerate most soil, sun or some shade. You can even use the berries to make jelly, which I have done in the past, mixed with some wild crab apples. The berries are also a great food source for many birds.

There are many species of Sorbus, some of which you can find at garden centres, other more unusual varieties can be sourced from specialist nurseries.

Sorbus vilmorinii

Sorbus vilmorinii or Vilmorins Rowan, is a very pretty, rounded small tree with gorgeous pink blushed berries that slowly turn white and hang on well into Winter. A word of caution though, the flowers smell horrible, so dont plant too close to your patio!

Sorbus Joseph Rock

A very popular variety is Joseph Rock, upright in habit with soft yellow berries, and lovely red colour to the leaves in the Autumn.

Sorbus cashmiriana

Sorbus cashmiriana has pretty white berries that last well through the Winter , another great choice for a smaller garden.Also known as the Kashmir Rowan.

Well, that is a few to choose from and if you do fancy one get deciding, it will be planting time soon.

Cloudscapes

I have always been fascinated by clouds and have taken so many pictures of them over the years, yet  am still unable to remember what the different shapes are called. This blog is a great opportunity to solve this problem, my own guide to clouds.....

High Level Clouds

Cirrocumulus cloud, often referred to as a mackerel sky, due to the resemblance to fish scales

Cirrus clouds, also called mares tails, they are made of ice and suggest fair weather.

There are also Cirrostratus clouds in this group but haven't yet found a pic!

Medium Level Clouds

Altostratus, made up of water droplets and ice crystals, a typical English sky! Castle Drogo is on the right, all wrapped up while the roof is being fixed.

Altocumulus have shading to the side away from the sun which helps tell the difference between them and Cirrocumulus clouds.

Nimbostratus, well I think so anyway, its all about rain with Nimbos, and it certainly looks like it here!

Low Level Clouds

Stratus, the lowest clouds, all foggy and drizzly

Cumulonimbus,  usually the bearer of heavy rain and thunder

Cumulus clouds, often spotted during fair weather. If they become larger they may form rain.

Sometimes you see some other, more unusual clouds, I spotted these lenticular clouds a couple of days ago, not something I've seen very often. They have been mistaken for UFOs before!

Well, thats a very unscientific guide, if I am wrong about any of these let me know! Will create a page for more cloud pics when I get round to it.

Slight Change

I have decided to change the font on my blog, much as I loved the old one, it isn't the easiest to read and reading is the whole point! Hope it still looks ok!

Am dedicating this change to Uncle Col, so now he has no excuses not to read my blurb!

Beetroot

My beetroot have been a great success this year, a bountiful crop! Last year was a different matter, having none at all. In fact last year was a total waste of time for veg, due to the awful weather.

Anyway, I popped up to the veg garden the other day and pulled out the remaining beetroot, weighing in at around 1kg, enough for some warming soup.

I used a recipe by Hugh Fearnley Watsit...Whittingstall, crikey, thats one long name! Wouldn't ask him for an autograph, haven't got the time!

Give the beets a scrub, put in a roasting tin with a few garlic cloves (give them a smack with something heavy to release the flavour), add a few sprigs of thyme, a glug of olive oil, then add a small glass of water and cover tightly with foil. In the oven at 180C for 30/45 min til beets have softened. Leave to cool then rub off skin and chop roughly. Blitz in blender, adding veg stock til you get the consistancy you want then heat up and serve with some crusty bread. I added some Cheshire cheese on top. A tasty colourful meal!

I inadvertently created the Swiss flag while dishing up!!

Winter Squash Time

There are two types of squash, the Summer and the Winter.  Summer squash include courgettes, Patty Pan, and Yellow Crookneck, but its the Winter vareties I'm talking about.

I love winter squash, though not been too lucky with them this year, poor crop. We used to have an allotment years ago and grew lots of varieties one year. We cured them for a week or so and they kept us fed til the following April!

 

Uchiki Kuri

There are many varietes to chose from, Butternuts, Acorns, Pumpkins, I could list them but it would make for dull reading! If you want to know the difference between Squash and Pumpkins heres a short description http://voices.yahoo.com/the-difference-between-pumpkins-gourds-squash-6691116.html?cat=22

Squash have trailing and bushy habits, depending on variety, so make sure you chose carefully, especially if you have limited space to grow. I start mine off in pots in the greenhouse and plant out once frosts have gone. Give them a soil rich in manure in a sunny spot for best results. Once ready pick them and leave outside to cure for 10 days or so before storing (keep an eye out for frosts and protect if necessary)

I tend to get my seeds from Tuckers, I happen to live near one of their stores but you can buy online. They have a great choice of all kinds of veg. Take a look http://www.tuckers-seeds.com/

They are fairly easy to grow, great for kids as the seeds are large so easy to handle and once they get going, they don't half move fast! Get them growing Sweet Lightening, a tiny fruit measuring 11-13cm, perfect for little hands to harvest and eat.

Soup is a favourite way of cooking squash, I like to add toasted cumin seeds before blitzing, it gives a lovely spicy flavour. I also like to roast pieces in the oven along with beetroot. Add some cooked green lentils and some feta cheese, yum! Theres so many recipes out there, sweet as well as savoury, what a versatile vegetable. Will try and put some on my recipe page...when I get around to it!

Follow me!

Its all a bit confusing this blog following business, just a simple button to press would be nice wouldn't it??

There are three options on my blog, subscribe by email, Google+ followers and Google Friend Connect. To help me out the best option is Google Friend Connect. This does mean you need to sign up to Google+ which is a bit of a faff but doesn't take long (stick it in a search its easy to do)  and it would really help me as everyone can see how many are following. Not a good thing at the mo, but in time....the more followers the more enthusiastic I get and the more interesting my post get, everyones a winner!!

So what you waiting for ? :)

A Very Local Attraction

We met up with friends at Castle Drogo yesterday, a country home built by the famous friend of Gertrude Jekyll, Edwin Lutyens, now owned by The National Trust. The castle is under wraps at the moment, there has always been a problem with the flat roof,  hopefully they are now going to fix it. 

There was a 'country fayre' on but it was a lot smaller than expected, BUT, the Punch and Judy show was superb, well done Mr Poulton! Proper old fashioned entertainment, though I guess some would suggest its not very 'politically correct'!

Had a good wander through the gardens, came across this unusual looking plant

A Shoo - Fly Plant, Nicandra physaloides (it happens to be in Gardeners World magazine that came through the door yesterday!).  Its an annual originating in South America, and a member of the potato family (Solanaceae), that can sometimes turn up unexpectedly as its seeds are often in bird seed mixes.The flowers are a lovely blue and the fruits are encased in green/black mottled calyces, similar to the Chinese Lantern (Physalis alkekengi), these can be dried and used for decoration. The plant stands around 5 feet tall, with large leaves, and black stems, so a striking addition to the garden.

I spotted a butterfly feeding on a Rudbeckia laciniata .My friend thought it was a Skipper, though just having a look online, it is actually a Small Copper. The Rudbeckia was looking fab, great for late colour and as a cut flower.

 Heres a few other flower pics...

I think this is Crinium x powellii 'Album', also known as a Cape Lily. Can be bought as a bulb from specialist nurseries, there is a pink form which is more widely available. Beware, slugs and snails can cause unsightly damage to the thick strappy leaves.

 

Red Hot Pokers are easily recognisable and make a real statement. Also known as Tritoma, Torch Lily and Knofflers (my personal fave!). Give them lots of room, though keep an eye on them if you want contain them as they tend to be pretty vigorous! I  didn't see a label for this one but think it may be Kniphofia caulescens. There are lots of varieties to chose from, some being more suitable for a smaller space like K. Little Maid.

These autumn flowering Cyclamen hederifolium were looking gorgeous, great for covering a partly shaded spot near a tree. They are happiest with a soil rich in leafmould, and if content they will self seed.

Cornus Kousa. This is one of the flowering dogwoods, very different to the dogwoods grown for the bright winter stems. These beautiful small trees are grown for their large bracts of white or pink, depending on variety, followed by lovely autumnal foliage and these amazing looking fruits.

I do love this time of year, there's a huge choice of plants that really show off right now, whether through their flowers, fruits or leaves. There is so much colour that seems to glow on these dull days.. I'm actually quite looking forward to getting wrapped up, and heading out onto Dartmoor to soak up the Autumnal atmosphere. Lovely!

Goodbye Summer

Well, there it goes, a lovely sunny summer, for a change! I really noticed a seasonal difference yesterday, waking up for work and it was still dark. Time to dig out the woolly jumpers.

It has been a real mixed bag in the garden this year. Due to the dry weather a number of my perennials have really suffered and I even resorted to getting the hose out a few times. My Rudbeckias (Black Eyed Susan) have had a tough time, even though they are well established, they really cannot take long dry periods and have hardly flowered. I lost at least two Echinacea (Coneflower), even in this dry weather I still get plenty of slugs and snails and these plants seem to be most popular. On the positive side, the Clematis have done really well, full of flowers.

 

 

Clematis vitecella 'Polish Spirit'

Clematis 'Fascination'

In the veg garden I've had great success with beetroot, I've grown Bolthardy this year so given the dry weather I think that turned out to be a good choice. Also done well are climbing french beans, broad beans, courgettes - especially the yellow one 'Jenner' and even some florence (bulb) fennel.

The fennel is less likely to bolt if seed sown in situ. Unfortunately, some seedlings were eaten, so I grew a few in cells and planted them out when big enough to handle, these were the ones that bolted.

We have a small, homemade greenhouse which is full of tomatoes, basil, a couple of bell peppers and a cucumber donated by a friend. This one plant has already given us 3 large cucumbers.

The veg that dissappointed were the Charlotte potatoes, a very poor crop. This is definately due to lack of water. We also have a number of squash which could do better!

So, you win some, you lose some!

Well, I have to get on with some paid work now :)

Autumn Approaches....

I know, time to start thinking about putting away the sandals and digging out more substantial footware. Thoughts of putting on the heating crept into my head last night, but no, must hang on til October. Its raining heavily right now so I'm nice and dry inside, having a go at a new crochet pattern, while my husband it out walking with his Dad. Hope they have their waterproofs!

Its time to be buying and planting your Spring flower bulbs. I have been buying mine from here for a number of years now http://www.jparkers.co.uk/  I fancy lots more tulips but am going to hold off this year as we are going to be giving our flower garden a complete overhaul - by the time we get it sorted it will be too late for planting....though it doesnt stop me planting up some pots!

Its best to plant Daffodils by the end of September, this gives them planty of time to get rooted so getting a better show in Spring, though they are usually fine for planting later. Make sure you plant them at the right depth - at least twice as deep as the bulb is high ie a bulb that is 5cm high should be planted at least 10cm deep. Shallow planting is one cause of blindness - no flowers!

Tulips should be planted later, from October to December. They root later than daffodils, if planted too early there is chance of them rotting. Tulips need drainage so make sure the ground is well prepared before planting. Plant them 10 - 15cm deep.

This is just a tiny bit of info on bulbs, a reminder for you to get out there and plant! All you need to know is out there online, try the RHS website or check out the site you are buying from, they usually have great advice available.

Getting Back into Work Mode

Well, what a great weekend! Only rained once so there was no need for wellies, though some still see them as a fashion accessory at festivals - crikey, their feet must have been hot!

Ok so I am deviating from my usual blogging banter but even passionate gardeners have other interests!

So for those interested....Dinosaur Jr were amazing. I have never seen anyone play the bass like Lou Barlow, he was great! Am a bit biased as have been a fan of his for years - Sebadoh and Folk Implosion are/were top bands. And he has lovely hair!!

A 'new to me' musician was Damien Jurado a fantastic singer/songwriter who bantered with the crowd and happened to be very good at it!

Doug Paisley was not to be missed, have seen him at the fest 3 times now. A lovely Canadian with beautiful songs full of feeling and a fellow redhead! If you ever get chance, go see him. I think he has a new album coming out soon.

Theres loads of other entertainment, much of which we missed but we made sure we went along to see Ronan Leonard and his musical quiz Ringo: Music Bingo. Basically its bingo with songs to tick off instead of numbers along with a lot of jokes and banter. Ronan has such a clever way with words, he's a very funny guy. Based in Cork, Ireland, if you get chance go see him do it, you won't be disappointed. Check out his page on Facebook. There, thats enough plugging his stuff!!

So thats that for another year, will be back onto gardening and Dartmoor ramblings asap!

A Music Filled Weekend

Its that time again...off to my favouite music festival tomorrow, End Of The Road fest near Salisbury in Wiltshire. Its not another Glastonbury, thankfully, am too old and its far too big! Have gotten myself lost there in my youth! Nope, give me a nice compact fest with minimal walking needed and plenty of good food, drink and an uncrowded spot to chill and listen to some quality music.

The weather is supposed to be dry, another bonus! Seems this time of year stays pretty settled, have been to this fest 3 times before and only had a spot of rain. Other events that happen earlier in the summer seem to have a lot of rain and everwhere is a mudbath.

From last year, husband and I decided tents were just too uncomfortable, so we transformed our work van into a temporary camper. It usually transports our mowers and various other mucky tools, but with a good clean up, some lino on the floor, purpose built bed and curtains, the work van is transformed into comfortable living quarters!

Not bad!
Heres for a great weekend!!

It's Not All Gardening

I took on a new hobby this year, something to keep me busy in the evenings. Crochet!

I had never tried it before but have always been a bit creative so thought I'd give it a go, and thankfully its not quite as hard as it looks - though I am sticking to simple patterns for the time being.

This is a scarf I recently finished. Made from alpaca and merino wool its really soft. I bought the wool from a lovely little shop in Bude, Cornwall.

I've made a few other items

I love this pretty brooch :), not my idea by the way! Im far too much of a novice to come up with my own stuff! This is from attic24 an amazing blog, Lucy is so talented! Heres a link

http://attic24.typepad.com/weblog/

Am now having a go at coasters, took me ages to find a pattern I could get on with

I got the cotton from Lidls of all places! Its lovely to work with and came in a number of colours, cant remember what I paid but it wouldnt have been much. I try to find bargain yarns, charity shops are a great source and yarn shops usually have a bargain bin.

Well. its a start! Just got to keep practicing, at least I will be kept busy this winter. :)

Delicious Berries

The Japanese Wineberry - Rubus phoenicolacius - is a new addition to my veg garden. I first came across it in a clients garden a few years back, climbing a sunny wall, smothered in sweet sticky fruits. After helping myself to a few mouthfuls I decided I must have one!

 

The plant is native to Japan, Korea and China. Not an easy plant to find here in the UK, I have never seen them in any garden centres, and had to buy from an online nursery.

They have taken a while to settle in, but its worth the wait. It is closely related to the raspberry. Though really a shrub it sends out new growth (canes) from the ground, like a raspberry, and is best trained against a sunny wall or fence. Give it plenty of organic matter when planting, it won't do well in a dry soil. Mine are trained onto wires fixed to the wall.

The canes are biennial, like raspberries, so they grow one year and fruit the next. Once the cane has fruited in August, remove the cane. You can also pinch back the growth in Spring to encourage branching.

The fruit can be eaten straight from the plant and, if you haven't scoffed them all, can be cooked. I made a delicious crumble using wineberries, strawberries. blueberries and apples. Yum!

The added bonus is that these plants look good in winter too, with their softly hairy bare stems, so would not look out of place in an ornamental garden.

Try this link for buying wineberry plants, order for Autumn planting.

http://www.blackmoor.co.uk/products/673#.UhXFuj_AJHA

Local Views

I feel very lucky to live in such a pretty place. There are lovely walks here without even having to get in the car. Though don't fancy it much today as its raining - that fine rain, the really wet stuff! The dog and I often take the route around the back of my house.

The Road To Bondleigh

Sunshine And Clouds

A Tunnel In The Hedgerow

Luckily He Was Nowhere To Be Seen!

Dartmoor View

My Town

Crocosmia Time

What beauties, these add so much colour to your garden when many flowers are fading, everyone should have some! More often known here in the UK as montbretia, and falling stars or coppertips in the US.

They come from South Africa but are grown worldwide. Some species have become rather invasive, as C. x crocosmiiflora has here. You can see them in large clumps along roadsides and hedgerows, particularly here in Devon and in Cornwall. I have this one in my garden - one of very few plants growing here when I moved in. One day I will get around to thinning the clumps out.

They grow from corms and establish quickly, but can be easliy kept in check. They are not very fussy as to aspect though if too dry or shady the flowering will be reduced. A sunny spot in a well drained yet fertile soil is best.

Lots of different cultivars to choose from. Here are a few I have at the moment.

Sorry, name not known! Taken from a clients garden (with their permission!)

C. Solfatare

C. Ember Glow

C. Emily McKenzie

You can buy them as corms or pot grown plants. Best to plant in Spring, though you could plant pot grown now so you dont have to wait til next Summer, just make sure it does not dry out while getting established. If you have an existing clump thats getting a bit too big, lift and divide in Spring. Use fish, blood and bonemeal when planting to help them get growing.

There are lots to choose from, if you want a more unusual variety to wow your neighbours, go to a specialist grower such as this one.

 http://www.trecanna.com/default.asp

Well, what are you waiting for?? Get choosing :)

Penstemons

These are one of my favourites. They originate in North America and known as Beardtongues (never heard that name before!). They became popular in the UK in Victorian times and from there many more varieties wer bred. Penstemons are easy to grow and can flower from around June right through to the Autumn, making them a valuable asset to any garden.

There are so many varieties to choose from and so many colours, from whites through to dark purples, along with some gorgeous blues.These penstemons are hardy, though a couple of  mine suffered with the exceptionally cold winters from a couple of years ago. I prune mine back in the spring, removing any dead or damaged stems and keeping a bushy shape. I have cut some back almost to the ground and they respond well. They need to be deadheaded regularly to encourage more flowers, remove the whole spike of spent flowers down to new growth.

I have found that the smaller leaved penstemons such as P. 'Garnet' are a bit tougher than the larger leaves varieties and handled the cold winters much better.

They are not too fussy with soil though don't cope with high acidity. A well drained soil suits them well. If you have a heavy soil, incorporate grit into the planting hole.They prefer full sun but will tolerate light shade.

Penstemon 'Heavenly Blue'

Penstemon 'Heavenly Blue', is a favourite of mine. Its a low spreading variety, reaching around 30cm in height, has spikes of small but beautiful blue flowers and is really tough.

You can buy Penstemons from any garden centre and there are also numerous specialist nurseries if you want a more unusual variety.