Thursday, 20 November 2014

Some Autumn pics

As ever, am finding I haven't enough time to get on and do everything I need to do. To keep you tuning in, heres a few Autumn pics from last few years. Some were taken at the Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire, well worth a visit and there will still be plenty of colour to see.
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/forestry/INFD-5Y4F5K

Here in this part of Devon, beech is the predominant species of tree and hedge, they have a beautiful golden colour right now and really shine when the sun shows its face. Travelling to work is a joy, driving through golden beech tunnels, shame I can't take any pics!


















Monday, 10 November 2014

All change!

After much nagging, Mr.M has finally removed the rather lumpy green mess some may have called a lawn! This has lead on to lifting all the plants in our (thankfully) small ornamental garden, which meant clearing the veg area to hold the plants. One job needs many more to get it done! Have yet to lift all the plants but we will get there eventually. Then there is the issue of the broken fencing to tackle. One thing at a time.

I am hoping the new lawn will be laid very soon. Three cats and a dogs mucky prints in the house is not pretty! Unfortunately the weather has taken a damp turn, its all about the rain down here so won't make laying turf easy

This Autumn has gone from beautiful unseasonal sunshine to miserable grey almost overnight. Already, work has had to be postponed. Some gardeners will work through any weather, but this can cause damage to lawns and soil structure and you tend to work more slowly. It is so hard to judge whether it is worth getting tools sorted, driving to site with one of my helpers, when the weather is this unpredictable. Thanks to various weather forcasts, decisions can be better made but living next to Dartmoor means it can change so quickly. Always be prepared with wellies!

Heres a few pics I have recently taken while out and about.....

I have had this Pinus Mugo in a pot for so many years. I guess it should be repotted but it seems happy enough being a little bit neglected.
Spotted these Aeoniums while on holiday in Cornwall. Bought a fab small specimen which I then gave to a friend as her garden is much more suitable. Tha was her xmas pressie!!
This bright Pyracantha was growing in our garden when we moved in. The blackbirds will be along soon to help themselves to these plump berries.
Still flowering, still more buds to come on this pretty, hardy fuchsia. I helped myself to a cutting from my local park. Did nothing other than stick it in a jar with water and watched it root. Then potted it on till big enough to plant in a large pot. If you are new to propagation, go for fuchsias, nothing technical here!
This is my favourite plant in my garden, a very bright hardy Chrysanthemum Mrs Jessie Cooper. Wow, does this bring colour to a dull day! Also fab as a cut flower. Love it!
Cotinus coggygria 'Royal Purple', found in my friends/clients garden. Also known as the Smoke Bush due to its fluffy plumes of flowers. Beautiful Autumnal colours.
Love them or hate them, Cortaderia sellowana or Pampas Grass, really are showy plants. The cream panicles of flowers stand proud against the (now gone) blue sky.


Saturday, 27 September 2014

Time for a break

Well, we are off to Cornwall for a holiday, which I haven't yet packed for...
better get on with it then!!

The weather has turned a bit cooler now and a bit cloudier, which is fine by me as there is a woodburner where we will be staying :)

Talking of weather,  heres a link to a great photographer and stormchaser I just discovered. His pictures are amazing :)

http://www.extremeinstability.com/

Not sure I want that kind of weather for our holiday! See you soon x

Thursday, 18 September 2014

Foraging for Berries

I took the dog out the other day for her afternoon walk on a patch of land near our house. A fellow dog walker was picking elder berries, not for jam, as I have done, but for making cordial for her son who has allergies to various manmade ingredients in regular cordial. She told me the recipe was on a website called Eat Weeds and here it is

http://www.eatweeds.co.uk/elderberry-cordial-syrup

I have just had a quick look and the site looks very interesting :) will delve in more when I have some spare time.

A few years ago I went a bit crazy with making preserves as, like this year, there was such an abundance of free food. Hedgerow jelly was a hit with crab apples, blackberries, rosehips, hawthorn berries, sloes, all free to pick. I have not had the time this year (any spare is taken up with crochet!). I did have a walk though the fields with the dog yesterday and spotted some berries.

Blackberries

Hawthorn Berries

Rosehips

Sloes   
Only this morning there was talk of a bumper crop of hedgerow berries on the news

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-29249685

Though not all fruit are doing so well. Two of my clients have very little apples this year - and its not my pruning!! A number of people have mentioned this same issue, maybe something to do with the wet Spring? You never know what nature will throw at you.

Well, there's going to be a lot of well fed creatures this Autumn, including our new addition of a squirrel that has taken up residence in our heavily laden hazel tree. The fella better watch it though, the dog loves a tree rat and I have now discovered Ronan, our big ginger cat, reckons he can take it on, though I really hope he doesn't corner it as squirrels can cause a lot of damage with those sharp claws!!

Get yourselves out there and pick your free food. Just please be sure you know what you are picking.



Thursday, 11 September 2014

Pause For Thought

Nearly 3000 people died this day 13 years ago.

The One World Trade Centre is now complete.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-29148536

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24055725

One World x

Ancient Story

Brown bears on Dartmoor! Not now of course, don't panic your picnic is safe :)
Very interesting article, which was also on tv last week. What an amazing place! This National Park is full of ancient settlements, burial grounds, stone rows and circles, you don't have to walk far to find evidence of our ancestors.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-29067027

Sunday, 7 September 2014

A Happy Wildlife Story

It does seem to be all doom and gloom when it comes to the natural world these days, so it makes a refreshing change to read something positive. Heres a small article about  Marsh Fritillaries. Not really 'headline news' but it all helps. we are members of the Devon Wildlife Trust and through joining, we have found many new places to visit on our doorstep. I think all counties have a Wildlife Trust so get in there and discover your local nature reserves :)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-devon-29075113