tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-83077070961676755602024-03-13T13:43:34.678+01:00Swapping the city lights for rural SwedenLaurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.comBlogger109125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-39331690570045922042013-07-13T14:32:00.000+02:002013-07-13T17:42:16.293+02:00Roses<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="fbPhotoCaptionText">My (our - oops) garden isn't all about veg, I also have a new and growing interest in flowers, particularly roses and lillies.</span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSVptXj9KZ0/UeFIAb40FYI/AAAAAAAABGA/lhO6RyPzfZQ/s1600/1074937_10151478306986036_1048860256_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qSVptXj9KZ0/UeFIAb40FYI/AAAAAAAABGA/lhO6RyPzfZQ/s320/1074937_10151478306986036_1048860256_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Queen Elizabeth - Planted 2012 (No.1, i.e. my first rose)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBe0o_sCly0/UeFIIUajhZI/AAAAAAAABGI/ZApjMaLXWWk/s1600/1073698_10151478308521036_1047350002_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yBe0o_sCly0/UeFIIUajhZI/AAAAAAAABGI/ZApjMaLXWWk/s320/1073698_10151478308521036_1047350002_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Fairy - Planted 2012 (No.2)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVzGB2RvCRU/UeFIJVsJzbI/AAAAAAAABGQ/4Cefp-g712E/s1600/1072328_10151478305851036_1349123557_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HVzGB2RvCRU/UeFIJVsJzbI/AAAAAAAABGQ/4Cefp-g712E/s320/1072328_10151478305851036_1349123557_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Bonica - Planted 2012 (No.3)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SI7G_yiGKRQ/UeFIMZ3KWGI/AAAAAAAABGY/cFlOZkou55Y/s1600/1075610_10151478310571036_1978682304_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SI7G_yiGKRQ/UeFIMZ3KWGI/AAAAAAAABGY/cFlOZkou55Y/s320/1075610_10151478310571036_1978682304_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">New Dawn - Planted 2012 (No.4)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oph6ChbWchY/UeFIOLthyqI/AAAAAAAABGg/gLa3GbBlTsg/s1600/243650_10151478309741036_1519847325_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oph6ChbWchY/UeFIOLthyqI/AAAAAAAABGg/gLa3GbBlTsg/s320/243650_10151478309741036_1519847325_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Madame Hardy - Planted 2012 (No.5)</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-387c5ObGK1k/UeFIQVjGLeI/AAAAAAAABGo/Lo6iUHN3xhY/s1600/1015816_10151478307866036_845901761_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-387c5ObGK1k/UeFIQVjGLeI/AAAAAAAABGo/Lo6iUHN3xhY/s320/1015816_10151478307866036_845901761_o.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="fbPhotosPhotoCaption" data-ft="{"type":45}" id="fbPhotoSnowliftCaption" tabindex="0"><span class="hasCaption">Marvellous Poulpmt006 - Planted 2013 (No.6)</span></span><span class="fbPhotoTagList" id="fbPhotoSnowliftTagList"><span class="fcg"></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-83730189630230757782013-06-17T18:26:00.000+02:002013-06-17T18:59:18.018+02:00Fighting bugs with bugs<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have aphids. Lots of them. :(<br />
<br />
They've been slowly taking over since our ski trip in March, when I returned to find a few critters lurking on my chillies. My first (and far too laid back) attempt to eradicate them consisted of simply squishing them. Which seemed to work... for a few weeks, then I noticed them again. All of a sudden there were a lot more of them. Grrrr.<br />
<br />
This time I attacked them vigorously with a gelatine spray, which didn't do ANYTHING, followed by a warm soap water spray, which seemed to work... for a while. Grrr.<br />
<br />
So. This called for slightly harsher action and I sent off for a bottle of biological oil-based anti-aphid gunk, which took ages to spray onto my, now enormous, 45 or so chilli plants.... And it worked!! Yay.<br />
<br />
However. I was too lazy to apply the second (and third) treatment, because it was just so unpleasant. Oh how I wish I'd applied the second treatment...<br />
<br />
Which brings me to my fifth and final strategy: bug on bug action. <br />
<br />
I bought 1,000 Chrysopa larvae online and let them loose in the greenhouse. Unfortunately most of them seem to be either very lazy or vegetarians... I have spent hours - seriously... hours! - gently moving them from their hiding places onto leaves with greenfly on them and gently prodding them towards the food. Which they then eat and scurry back off to their hiding places...<br />
<br />
I managed to capture this gruesome sequence this morning...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oOKdGJ4tYPw/Ub84R3M7w6I/AAAAAAAABFk/OIEBuH8zxG0/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-06-17+at+6.21.40+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="171" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-oOKdGJ4tYPw/Ub84R3M7w6I/AAAAAAAABFk/OIEBuH8zxG0/s320/Screen+Shot+2013-06-17+at+6.21.40+PM.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chrysopa larvae draining a greenfly :P</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-85062013736433055982013-05-28T14:19:00.003+02:002013-05-28T15:11:54.216+02:00Spicy sauces on the horizon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
It's starting to look like there will be a definite glut of tomatoes, chillies, garlic and coriander this year.<br />
<br />
So
I've been looking at different storage options. Freezing or drying are
always good options for chillies, and garlic stores well. But what
about the tomatoes? Sure you can freeze some, and most people make pasta
sauces, but we don't really eat that much Italian food, or tomato-based
pasta sauces.<br />
<br />
What we do however eat mountains of is
spicy food. Not necessarily country-specific, although we eat a lot of
Asian cuisine. Basically anything with chillies in it is popular in our
house. <br />
<br />
Today I started looking for spicy sauce recipes with these ingredients and came across this wonderful website & blog:<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<h1 id="post-5372">
<a href="http://laylita.com/recipes/2013/05/09/jalapeno-cilantro-salsa/">Jalapeño cilantro salsa from<br />Laylita's Recipes</a></h1>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.laylita.com/recipes/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Homeade-jalape%C3%B1o-cilantro-salsa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" height="320" src="http://www.laylita.com/recipes/wp-content/uploads/2013/05/Homeade-jalape%C3%B1o-cilantro-salsa.jpg" title="Laylita's Recipes" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
...can't wait for this lot to grow so I can get saucing...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ug0TQUHeNhw/UaSWc1T187I/AAAAAAAABEY/zgZBSkGVeU4/s1600/Photo+2013-05-28+09+17+56.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ug0TQUHeNhw/UaSWc1T187I/AAAAAAAABEY/zgZBSkGVeU4/s320/Photo+2013-05-28+09+17+56.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chillies - Ají Colorado, Trinidad Scorpion, Ají Límon, Padron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNKgjpEL-zU/UaSWnRiQsJI/AAAAAAAABEg/5IzTMShcS0Y/s1600/Photo+2013-05-28+09+23+21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZNKgjpEL-zU/UaSWnRiQsJI/AAAAAAAABEg/5IzTMShcS0Y/s320/Photo+2013-05-28+09+23+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomatoes - Yellow Pear, Flavorino, Super Sweet, Tigrella, Black Cherry, Green Zebra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-teMGdg7VqP4/UaSWsJtwxeI/AAAAAAAABEo/wMZtI3RVxVw/s1600/Photo+2013-05-28+09+25+21.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-teMGdg7VqP4/UaSWsJtwxeI/AAAAAAAABEo/wMZtI3RVxVw/s320/Photo+2013-05-28+09+25+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garlic - Cledor</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvBVprA33JU/UaSW0U1wmwI/AAAAAAAABEw/cvPg4Fj_QRE/s1600/Photo+2013-05-28+09+25+02.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvBVprA33JU/UaSW0U1wmwI/AAAAAAAABEw/cvPg4Fj_QRE/s320/Photo+2013-05-28+09+25+02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coriander - bought in bulk from <a href="http://www.olssonsfro.se/page/index.htm">Olssons</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And although there isn't a single flower on any of the toms yet, things are looking promising on the chilli front...<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN8eCz7x8Gs/UaSYV3J4EXI/AAAAAAAABFA/MePQS1uX-98/s1600/Photo+2013-05-28+09+20+23.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WN8eCz7x8Gs/UaSYV3J4EXI/AAAAAAAABFA/MePQS1uX-98/s320/Photo+2013-05-28+09+20+23.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ají Límon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ0HAWL4da8/UaSYg3qyVvI/AAAAAAAABFI/qb0DeKpIdvo/s1600/Photo+2013-05-28+09+21+13.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yJ0HAWL4da8/UaSYg3qyVvI/AAAAAAAABFI/qb0DeKpIdvo/s320/Photo+2013-05-28+09+21+13.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Padron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsHLOYD5UAM/UaSYq9EMEwI/AAAAAAAABFQ/l4gTw3e0dTg/s1600/Photo+2013-05-28+09+16+30.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-AsHLOYD5UAM/UaSYq9EMEwI/AAAAAAAABFQ/l4gTw3e0dTg/s320/Photo+2013-05-28+09+16+30.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jalastar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
:)<br />
<br />
<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-42254228540851726772013-05-16T11:47:00.001+02:002013-05-16T11:48:10.892+02:00Red onions - starting off indoors<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I can't remember where I read it, but something/someone inspired me to start off red onion sets indoors for an early harvest. And it seems to have worked.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n4R-QFRemoY/UZSo7scqyhI/AAAAAAAABDw/SJ1-5knefzc/s1600/Photo+2013-03-02+13+53+05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-n4R-QFRemoY/UZSo7scqyhI/AAAAAAAABDw/SJ1-5knefzc/s320/Photo+2013-03-02+13+53+05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">3 February - planted half of the sets in seed compost/ half in <br />
seed compost mixed with quality potting compost.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cML6MRXvj2g/UZSo_cESj7I/AAAAAAAABD4/yZ-wyRF5Oig/s1600/Photo+2013-03-17+09+48+40.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-cML6MRXvj2g/UZSo_cESj7I/AAAAAAAABD4/yZ-wyRF5Oig/s320/Photo+2013-03-17+09+48+40.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17 March - growing nicely, time to find them a new <br />
home - the currently idle greenhouse perhaps...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AkvwWkSLYSU/UZSpE3VTdrI/AAAAAAAABEA/spkyWbnJR3o/s1600/Photo+2013-05-15+11+14+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AkvwWkSLYSU/UZSpE3VTdrI/AAAAAAAABEA/spkyWbnJR3o/s320/Photo+2013-05-15+11+14+27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">12 May - time for the chillies and tomatoes to move into the greenhouse, <br />
half of the onions have been relocated (again, poor things) into the kitchen garden.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZwCBqPR41E/UZSpJMsER1I/AAAAAAAABEI/zWNdi9VZ5eM/s1600/Photo+2013-05-16+08+41+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZwCBqPR41E/UZSpJMsER1I/AAAAAAAABEI/zWNdi9VZ5eM/s320/Photo+2013-05-16+08+41+28.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">16 May - all in their final resting place and settling in nicely.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-44938324454208989942013-05-12T11:04:00.000+02:002013-05-12T11:14:18.947+02:00Waking up the kitchen garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Here are some progress photos of how it's slowly coming back to life.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">10th J<span style="font-size: small;">anuary</span></span></b></span> </div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">16th April</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">27</span>th April</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><b>28</b></span><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">th April</span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">29</span>th April</span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">12</span>th May</span></b></span> </div>
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-21674150738768475522013-04-28T22:38:00.000+02:002013-04-28T22:40:03.010+02:00Starting to feel a spring in my wellies...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Wow, it finally feels like the gardening season is here! At last! :D<br />
<br />
The past few months have not only been excruciatingly cold and gardening-unfriendly, but I have also been completely snowed under with work. And it doesn't look like it's going to ease up any time soon either.<br />
<br />
Nevertheless, I did manage to steal a few hours over the weekend to make the most of the weather and get the kitchen garden, greenhouse, mojito bed and flowerbeds up to speed. Here are a couple of today's happy snaps...<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYAGEWPKtvA/UX2H35KSefI/AAAAAAAABAI/1XsutVG1XKI/s1600/Photo+2013-04-28+16+50+36.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KYAGEWPKtvA/UX2H35KSefI/AAAAAAAABAI/1XsutVG1XKI/s320/Photo+2013-04-28+16+50+36.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All looking so very promising. Please please please weather gods & nemaslug, <br />
let me have a productive kitchen garden this year....!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first ever fritillaria, so ridiculously pretty & delicate.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-73570182502941612102013-04-16T15:26:00.002+02:002013-04-16T15:26:19.864+02:00Promising garlic<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
With the temperature reaching a whopping 14oC today, it was time to take the mini poly tunnel off the garlic bed.<br />
<br />
As my garlic was a complete wash out last year, due to a mild winter and a very wet summer, I didn't have particularly high expectations this year. But things are looking very promising... Fingers crossed!<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-86038392483648700512013-04-14T13:46:00.000+02:002013-04-14T13:46:17.064+02:00Bit 'o fresh air<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
The temperature is slowly rising and, although it was -3oC again last night after a week without frost, daytime temperatures are now pretty much staying above 5oC.<br />
<br />
And despite an evil wind whipping them about a bit, I couldn't resist giving my chillies a bit of proper sunshine and fresh air.<br />
<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-45590557996403535472013-04-09T13:58:00.003+02:002013-04-09T14:48:39.618+02:00Giving Nemaslug a go...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This year I've decided to finally give Nemaslug a go, after having lost what little harvest there was last year to slugs (as well as mice, deer, pigs and hares but they're a bit harder to deter).<br />
<br />
I tried everywhere to find the stuff, having seen <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006mw1h/presenters/monty-don">Monty Don</a> splashing it about in his kitchen garden, but no-one will deliver to Sweden.<br />
<br />
Then I found this guy:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nematoder.se//bestall-nemaslug-nematoder.php">Nematoder.se</a><br />
<br />
What a hero!</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-22556155219337869632013-04-06T17:44:00.001+02:002013-04-06T17:44:06.558+02:00Beautiful Purple Serrano flower<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
As predicted, the Purple Serrano was next to flower. So purdy too. :)<br />
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Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-92064603382966807212013-04-05T11:09:00.003+02:002013-04-05T11:10:18.745+02:00And the winner is....<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
...Lombardo!<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSoiDMmTaSo/UV6UqgpflVI/AAAAAAAAA-s/a9VtyXi1QgA/s1600/Photo+2013-04-04+16+29+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QSoiDMmTaSo/UV6UqgpflVI/AAAAAAAAA-s/a9VtyXi1QgA/s320/Photo+2013-04-04+16+29+15.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
<br />
Ok, so it's not exactly fruition, but it's looking that way.<br />
<br />
:)</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-47756237992713744702013-04-03T09:13:00.000+02:002013-04-03T09:37:53.424+02:00Chilli chaos again...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Oops.<br />
<br />
The house has turned into a chilli jungle again. I guess I should have realised that 35 little seedlings would turn into monster plants and take over the place.<br />
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These are the survivors:<br />
<br />
Lombardo 6<br />
Aji Colorado 6<br />
Trinidad Scorpion 5<br />
Hot Lemon 4<br />
Early Jalapeno 4<br />
Jalastar 3<br />
Purple Serrano 3<br />
Padron 2<br />
Bailey Piquin 2<br />
<br />
So... I have to 'get rid' of a few. I want to keep at least two of each, just in case.... But any takers on any of the others?<br />
<br />
</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-19076995641775173182013-03-17T11:20:00.003+01:002013-03-17T11:31:59.534+01:00Ski trips + tiny chilli plants <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This time of year is slightly problematic for chilli growers that ski; two things that aren't exactly compatible, unless you have a heated greenhouse and live near a ski resort.<br />
<br />
Each spring, every inch of space under the grow lamps is jam packed with beautiful, flourishing green, albeit very small, chilli plants. Plants that I haven't left alone for more than a few hours (an advantage of working from home).<br />
<br />
How then am I supposed to just up and leave for a week? Completely forget about them as I whizz about on the ski slopes, laze around in the spring sunshine with a yummy glass of wine and lounge around by the fire with a good book?<br />
<br />
Actually it was quite easy once I got there. :D<br />
<br />
But the week before I left was filled with anxiety. I was going to have to leave all of my teeny tiny hopefuls in their teeny tiny pots for a WHOLE WEEK! :O With no-one to water them, feed them, re-pot them, talk to them or squish any little nasties that might take a fancy to them. :'(<br />
<br />
I have an extra grow lamp this year, so they weren't quite as squashed up, i.e. light wasn't a problem. But watering was worrying me.<br />
<br />
I eventually decided on the re-pot and drown-them tactic. And it worked! :) Yay.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrwvG6je-wg/UUWT6LoOF3I/AAAAAAAAA9s/xGWEAhjPxm4/s1600/Photo+2013-03-02+13+50+01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lrwvG6je-wg/UUWT6LoOF3I/AAAAAAAAA9s/xGWEAhjPxm4/s320/Photo+2013-03-02+13+50+01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 March</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q554fm-0e7Y/UUWUko512mI/AAAAAAAAA90/maTChQfj7f8/s1600/Photo+2013-03-17+09+44+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q554fm-0e7Y/UUWUko512mI/AAAAAAAAA90/maTChQfj7f8/s320/Photo+2013-03-17+09+44+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17 March</td></tr>
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I have juggled them about, so it is difficult to compare plant by plant, and the first photo was taken 6 days before we left, i.e. there is a 15 day time difference, but still....<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDntPZp9XFc/UUWVouXexAI/AAAAAAAAA-A/DU4MV5Ml2U8/s1600/Photo+2013-03-02+13+50+51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XDntPZp9XFc/UUWVouXexAI/AAAAAAAAA-A/DU4MV5Ml2U8/s320/Photo+2013-03-02+13+50+51.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2 March</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fxN7LtaWuUs/UUWV7Oh9PGI/AAAAAAAAA-I/nr3OzkmGaRI/s1600/Photo+2013-03-17+09+51+37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fxN7LtaWuUs/UUWV7Oh9PGI/AAAAAAAAA-I/nr3OzkmGaRI/s320/Photo+2013-03-17+09+51+37.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">17 March</td></tr>
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<br />
<br />
I was expecting half of them to be exceedingly unhappy. They were thirsty, sure. And I did have to spend an hour or so squishing little green nasties. Which, of course, I did before I'd even taken my coat off, ruthlessly leaving the hubby to unpack the car, etc. :D<br />
<br />
But look at the size of them! :) The healthy chap in the middle is a Purple Serrano and the lanky one is an Aji Colorado. Two favourites in our kitchen.<br />
<br />
Right. Off now to buy some quality compost for them...</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-49682911689852283872013-02-23T14:26:00.000+01:002013-02-23T14:26:31.563+01:00Jalastar and Lombardo (capsicum annums) neck and neck<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Of this year's chillies, the Jalastar and Lombardo capsicum annums are currently leading the race to fruition:<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1NAZG5kHL0/USi9pIj50xI/AAAAAAAAA8g/zkJ2Myqnkn8/s1600/Photo+2013-02-23+13+35+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D1NAZG5kHL0/USi9pIj50xI/AAAAAAAAA8g/zkJ2Myqnkn8/s320/Photo+2013-02-23+13+35+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Now aged 3 weeks and 5 days (sown 28 January), these are my two strongest plants (Lombardo front left, Jalastar back left) at the moment:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43k0CJ1rxyc/USjA-6KZcxI/AAAAAAAAA9E/VbufM2Z1Of8/s1600/Photo+2013-02-23+13+25+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-43k0CJ1rxyc/USjA-6KZcxI/AAAAAAAAA9E/VbufM2Z1Of8/s320/Photo+2013-02-23+13+25+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
All sown on the same date, not only is there a fair difference in development between the varieties, as you can see from the lanky Aji Colorado twig at the back right of the picture, but even within the same variety, as you can see from the two Lombardo plants at the front.<br />
<br />
I think this is normal even when seeds and plants are grown in exactly the same conditions, but in my case it's probably more likely due to slight differences in light, heat, water and potting compost. Everything basically... Hmmmm need to be more consistent...<br />
<br />
:)<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-43041607928421072012013-02-17T14:29:00.002+01:002013-02-17T14:32:17.114+01:00Progress at last!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm finally seeing some progress among the chillies:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7bJrIb9Teo/USDYmRWeeQI/AAAAAAAAA7c/aU3Zz6GGslE/s1600/Photo+2013-02-17+13+28+37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y7bJrIb9Teo/USDYmRWeeQI/AAAAAAAAA7c/aU3Zz6GGslE/s320/Photo+2013-02-17+13+28+37.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is how you want your seeds to behave. All the Lombardo seeds germinated <br />
really quickly and are growing fast. Time for a place of their own. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZTRQt1AySo/USDYsgNsVnI/AAAAAAAAA7k/nfbkrblfHW8/s1600/Photo+2013-02-17+13+29+09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fZTRQt1AySo/USDYsgNsVnI/AAAAAAAAA7k/nfbkrblfHW8/s320/Photo+2013-02-17+13+29+09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First sowing results: 0/3 2012 Trinidad Scorpion; 2/4 2013 Hot Lemon; <br />
3/4 2013 Early Jalapeno; 4/4 2012 Jalastar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMDIZVJLhWU/USDYvJ0EI4I/AAAAAAAAA7s/s9YX7hJ8S8c/s1600/Photo+2013-02-17+13+29+51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vMDIZVJLhWU/USDYvJ0EI4I/AAAAAAAAA7s/s9YX7hJ8S8c/s320/Photo+2013-02-17+13+29+51.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooray!! 6/6 2013 Aji Colorado - Our favourites! :D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7f6IsF7qfQk/USDY0C61zhI/AAAAAAAAA70/UHDzfRz-cDE/s1600/Photo+2013-02-17+13+30+37.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-7f6IsF7qfQk/USDY0C61zhI/AAAAAAAAA70/UHDzfRz-cDE/s320/Photo+2013-02-17+13+30+37.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After the failed first batch (albeit old seeds) of Trinidad Scorpion, when the new lot arrived in the post, I opted to germinate them (all varieties) in moist kitchen paper. It worked. However, some of them, like this one, germinated so fast they attached themselves to the paper, so I had to clip them out and plant them with a bit of paper. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSW6fBZQMoM/USDY1kc_H2I/AAAAAAAAA78/xUdgibbkbJA/s1600/Photo+2013-02-17+13+31+03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NSW6fBZQMoM/USDY1kc_H2I/AAAAAAAAA78/xUdgibbkbJA/s320/Photo+2013-02-17+13+31+03.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My lettuces are doing really well too, I'm going to try and liberate a few and grow them on indoors for cut and come again early salad leaves. Anyone tried that?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-58857124973896953682013-02-13T12:38:00.001+01:002013-02-13T12:38:22.272+01:00Great workout!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
This time of year is not <i>all </i>about seeds and grow lights. For us, it is also lumberjack season. So far we've felled a huge oak, a mid-sized oak, a large aspen and a few small birches.<br />
<br />
And it's one thing chopping them down, but then you have to process them...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWVqEfcuzDk/URttPG8TMmI/AAAAAAAAA6A/UDQeH_lwa7U/s1600/Photo+2013-02-02+12+51+28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UWVqEfcuzDk/URttPG8TMmI/AAAAAAAAA6A/UDQeH_lwa7U/s320/Photo+2013-02-02+12+51+28.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak up</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y9b6blxqCz4/URttfUEZlaI/AAAAAAAAA6I/tEKk8ZmGmV4/s1600/Photo+2013-02-02+13+38+44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y9b6blxqCz4/URttfUEZlaI/AAAAAAAAA6I/tEKk8ZmGmV4/s320/Photo+2013-02-02+13+38+44.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oak down</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0YRh0H95hGw/URttsEjHWyI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/8aDsshNuTNQ/s1600/Photo+2013-02-02+15+43+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0YRh0H95hGw/URttsEjHWyI/AAAAAAAAA6Q/8aDsshNuTNQ/s320/Photo+2013-02-02+15+43+04.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I pulled all the branches away from the trunk as the hubby sawed them off<br />so he didn't stumble over them and to make it easier to get to the next bit.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jARojOswlQ/URtuUuHU0QI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/1DWmwhKZJxY/s1600/IMG_6927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8jARojOswlQ/URtuUuHU0QI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/1DWmwhKZJxY/s320/IMG_6927.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All this has to be dragged away and piled up onto the bonfire. <br />Oak is HEAVY and awkward to carry!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WgEGD_7yRBU/URtu13ZdSBI/AAAAAAAAA6g/Rvh2-ZoxKKE/s1600/IMG_6931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WgEGD_7yRBU/URtu13ZdSBI/AAAAAAAAA6g/Rvh2-ZoxKKE/s320/IMG_6931.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slowly getting there.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEJi_XSPug0/URtu_IszjOI/AAAAAAAAA6o/HMSmTqinQ_g/s1600/IMG_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jEJi_XSPug0/URtu_IszjOI/AAAAAAAAA6o/HMSmTqinQ_g/s320/IMG_6942.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The large aspen in the woods on the other side of the lawn.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_E3uTTXRrWk/URtvG2z3WGI/AAAAAAAAA6w/iv_gKfvBVC0/s1600/Photo+2013-02-13+10+03+47.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_E3uTTXRrWk/URtvG2z3WGI/AAAAAAAAA6w/iv_gKfvBVC0/s320/Photo+2013-02-13+10+03+47.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even with a log splitter, work is slow and heavy going. <br />And really tough on your back.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7oKvktPFtc/URtvK8Do8rI/AAAAAAAAA64/IZTBOJDnTWA/s1600/Photo+2013-02-13+10+34+58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a7oKvktPFtc/URtvK8Do8rI/AAAAAAAAA64/IZTBOJDnTWA/s320/Photo+2013-02-13+10+34+58.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This lot is 100% oak. We have started storing the various wood varieties<br />separately due to different storage times. Oak takes 3-5 years!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-60602581862994738152013-02-11T14:28:00.000+01:002013-02-11T16:10:22.262+01:00Seed chaos<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I have spent the past 4-5 months hardly giving my vegetable garden/ cultivation/ greenhouse/ seeds, etc. a single thought. Why then was I - all of a sudden - unable to sleep last night. Seriously. I lay awake almost <i>all night</i> worrying about the state of my seed collection and how to fix it. <br />
<br />
I even got up again and trawled the Internet for ideas on how to index & sort your seeds.<br />
<br />
o.O<br />
<br />
Luckily, I have a bad habit of collecting old plastic ice-cream containers and take-away packets, much to the annoyance of my husband, who often asks me what I intend to do with the 158 or so plastic containers (and lids) littering every cupboard and draw... Well, at last, I have an answer! :)<br />
<br />
They are perfect seed containers!<br />
<br />
I lined them with kitchen roll and, where needed, a piece of thin cardboard as a separator. And voila! Seed boxes!<br />
<br />
Knowing full well that I am never going to keep them in alphabetical, or any other order for that matter, I have clumped them together into the following groups:<br />
<br />
Tomatoes /separator/ Chillies<br />
Herbs/ separator/ Lettuces & similar<br />
Root veg & chard/ separator/ Beans & peas<br />
Flowers<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wz0bWotg3uE/URjxdMim9ZI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/yZIIvxhMZHY/s1600/Photo+2013-02-11+09+45+27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Wz0bWotg3uE/URjxdMim9ZI/AAAAAAAAA5Y/yZIIvxhMZHY/s320/Photo+2013-02-11+09+45+27.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyX7e0gPBZ4/URjxecfKm1I/AAAAAAAAA5g/5DsWyuV_Ufg/s1600/Photo+2013-02-11+14+07+53.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nyX7e0gPBZ4/URjxecfKm1I/AAAAAAAAA5g/5DsWyuV_Ufg/s320/Photo+2013-02-11+14+07+53.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Here's hoping I get some sleep tonight!<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-9474181813285235162013-02-10T10:36:00.002+01:002013-02-10T10:36:59.643+01:00Itchy fingers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
I'm pretty sure I'm not the only gardener with itchy fingers at the moment.<br />
<br />
It's crazy. All it takes is the feel of the fresh new potting soil and a glimpse of a little green hook of life rising through it a week later. <br />
<br />
All of a sudden, every inch of surface under the grow lights is covered.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPWR3MiEyAg/URdo_K7yVwI/AAAAAAAAA4o/A123Nm1B2tQ/s1600/Photo+2013-02-10+10+23+38.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kPWR3MiEyAg/URdo_K7yVwI/AAAAAAAAA4o/A123Nm1B2tQ/s320/Photo+2013-02-10+10+23+38.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new mega seed trays :) Rocket (L) and Chartwell & Amerikanischer Brauner lettuces (R)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8vdmk2Qc18/URdpAfc8kQI/AAAAAAAAA4w/yOEbbRDYGxo/s1600/Photo+2013-02-10+10+23+45.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R8vdmk2Qc18/URdpAfc8kQI/AAAAAAAAA4w/yOEbbRDYGxo/s320/Photo+2013-02-10+10+23+45.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My new mega seed trays :) coriander (L) and Matador spinach (R)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDwIwxAxpYU/URdpBrCaX6I/AAAAAAAAA44/IdnVW4k-FaE/s1600/Photo+2013-02-10+10+23+05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDwIwxAxpYU/URdpBrCaX6I/AAAAAAAAA44/IdnVW4k-FaE/s320/Photo+2013-02-10+10+23+05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chillies, coriander, rocket, chives and two types of parsley</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-17243153273954798162013-02-09T11:40:00.000+01:002013-02-09T11:41:49.842+01:00Germination<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Ok, so I understand why the Aji Colorado seeds didn't germinate, being that I collected them myself before they'd matured. And I kind of expected last year's Trinidad Scorpion pot to be a bit on the bald side. Not one single seed from these two varieties germinated at all.<br />
<br />
But this year's fresh new expensive Espelette & Hot Lemon Lord Nelson seeds? Pfff, what a disappointment. :(<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kSb2_rzV6I/URYmLYfn_aI/AAAAAAAAA4I/8Oq_cc_-tt4/s1600/Photo+2013-02-09+10+21+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3kSb2_rzV6I/URYmLYfn_aI/AAAAAAAAA4I/8Oq_cc_-tt4/s320/Photo+2013-02-09+10+21+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
I guess I <i>should </i>be a little more patient, as they've only been in the soil 12 days... But a few 2012 Jalastar seeds (unexpected) and all of the 2013 Lombardo have already popped up.<br />
<br />
<br />
Lucky I have another 42 backup seeds about to germinate...<br />
<br />
:D<br />
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-56228524707127926822013-02-06T16:29:00.001+01:002013-02-06T16:29:44.165+01:00Here we go again...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
Having spent most of the winter sulking about the relatively rubbish vegetable summer we've just had, I pretty much decided to have a lazy 2013. And because the greenhouse seems to be infested with blight (or some other nasty stuff that eats plants) I decided to skip chillies and tomatoes this year.<br />
<br />
However. Along comes January & February and all the magazines are going on and on about all the wonderful different varieties, and friends are boasting about their lovely little green babies flourishing under fluorescent lights in the basement... <br />
<br />
Oh bugger it.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMqjG8aqzdk/URJ0h-5hF9I/AAAAAAAAA3g/IajV5SAMfLo/s1600/Photo+2013-02-06+16+07+04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FMqjG8aqzdk/URJ0h-5hF9I/AAAAAAAAA3g/IajV5SAMfLo/s320/Photo+2013-02-06+16+07+04.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So I dug out last year's chilli seeds and sowed a few of them (Jalastar, Trinidad Scorpion <br />& Aji Colorado) until I'd bought some fresh seeds, just to combat the cravings. I then drove <br />as fast as I could to the local garden centre and bought Lombardo, Espelette & Hot Lemon seeds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As if <i>that</i> weren't enough, I got sucked into the world of online seed catalogues.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcl3GLDWZ14/URJ0gKbMjDI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/PqIP0VRM2a8/s1600/Photo+2013-02-06+16+07+57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vcl3GLDWZ14/URJ0gKbMjDI/AAAAAAAAA3Y/PqIP0VRM2a8/s320/Photo+2013-02-06+16+07+57.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Package arrived from <a href="http://www.thechilipeppercompany.co.uk/">The Chili Pepper Company</a> today</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So. I've gone from "absolutely no chillies this year" to ... ummm...<br />
<br />
Jalastar, Trinidad Scorpion, Aji Colorado, Lombardo, Espelette, Hot Lemon, Early Jalapeno, Padron, Purple Serrano and NuMex Bailey Piquin.<br />
<br />
Oops.<br />
<br />
:)<br />
<br />
Welcome back by the way. Sorry I've been hibernating.<br />
<br />
xx <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-73109022082419257232012-09-13T12:06:00.002+02:002012-09-13T13:46:39.396+02:00Tomato time!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">I was a little lazy, or restrictive if you will, with my tomatoes this year. I was hoping for a little less work, a little less must-harvest-all-the-veg anxiety, and a slightly more attractive greenhouse. But as is usually the case (I am learning) with gardening, things didn't really turn out that way...<br />
<br />
This year's toms (2 of each) were:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hgXKOO4T7s/UFGmHouQeMI/AAAAAAAAA08/hE5TCMgu7gg/s1600/IMG_5886.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6hgXKOO4T7s/UFGmHouQeMI/AAAAAAAAA08/hE5TCMgu7gg/s320/IMG_5886.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Delicious Super Sweet cherry tomatoes. Will definitely grow again<br />
next year, but next time 4 instead of 2 plants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pYMy4Qqhr2M/UFGmLgtxDSI/AAAAAAAAA1E/bNTLisDOZcI/s1600/IMG_5867.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-pYMy4Qqhr2M/UFGmLgtxDSI/AAAAAAAAA1E/bNTLisDOZcI/s320/IMG_5867.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somewhat unattractive Maskotka large cherry tomato plant. The tomatoes<br />
are very tasty, particularly for their size, but I didn't know that they were <br />
bush tomatoes - I could have grown them in front of other, taller plants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ByyZursRm3Q/UFGmPu9yt6I/AAAAAAAAA1M/9M5_Wp0w2YY/s1600/IMG_5866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ByyZursRm3Q/UFGmPu9yt6I/AAAAAAAAA1M/9M5_Wp0w2YY/s320/IMG_5866.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I haven't actually tasted these yet, but I am very surprised that they turned out<br />
identical to the fruits from which I saved the seeds - my favourite shop bought <br />
plum tomatoes - I'm getting used to seeds being a bit of a lottery. Could have <br />
had another plant or two, space-wise.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Work-wise I guess I saved a bit of work in the spring, sowing, repotting, mollycoddling, moving plants in and out, etc. But after that, I have still had to water and fertilize the entire greenhouse so it wouldn't really have made that much difference. Perhaps pinching out the side shoots etc, but how long does that take? So. Verdict? Six plants is too few. Perhaps 8-10 is about right... I guess I'll find out next year.<br />
<br />
Harvest-wise, I am actually harvesting almost all the tomatoes before they split, rot, drop this year. If I do have more plants next year, it will be to store them. Here are some foodie photos of a few tomato harvests:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1goQnC2wj-o/UFGo7Wy-KsI/AAAAAAAAA1w/9JLDRYucboc/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-1goQnC2wj-o/UFGo7Wy-KsI/AAAAAAAAA1w/9JLDRYucboc/s320/IMG_5811.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Super Sweet - and they really are!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-blQM82rGU7w/UFGpKm88UvI/AAAAAAAAA14/1OuS2poMD5U/s1600/IMG_5773.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-blQM82rGU7w/UFGpKm88UvI/AAAAAAAAA14/1OuS2poMD5U/s320/IMG_5773.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Maskotka - whopper cherries.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tHVCE7XlP10/UFGphoSBVyI/AAAAAAAAA2A/kT8ltWzu3xE/s1600/IMG_5842.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tHVCE7XlP10/UFGphoSBVyI/AAAAAAAAA2A/kT8ltWzu3xE/s320/IMG_5842.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fabulously juicy, red red fruits. You can see the difference in size <br />
between the Maskotka - bottom right hand corner, and the Super <br />
Sweet - just above it to the left.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>So that just leaves the pretty.<br />
<br />
I was really hoping for a pretty, neat and tidy greenhouse this year, with lots of flowers and no dirty tools, pots, fertilizers.<br />
<br />
I imagined myself sitting there with friends, sipping on a glass of chilled champagne, admiring the tidy greenhouse, the pretty flowers, the flourishing, healthy plants... <br />
<br />
Haaaaaa ha ha ha haaaaaa...<br />
<br />
Well I guess I did get a lot of flowers (I sowed marigolds around the edge of the border as I was told they were good bug-preventers), and they GREW like crazy. But I wouldn't say it was pretty this year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCIuBQtWPRk/UFGvI8vn3II/AAAAAAAAA2g/RoQvK9O1cm0/s1600/IMG_5917.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yCIuBQtWPRk/UFGvI8vn3II/AAAAAAAAA2g/RoQvK9O1cm0/s320/IMG_5917.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
My tool shed is just that bit too far from the greenhouse, and I'm just a bit too lazy.<br />
<br />
Perhaps I should just accept the fact that (without a lot of effort and discipline) a working greenhouse can't look like they do in the magazines...?<br />
<br />
Happy harvesting!<br />
:)<br />
<br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-40331862660915058152012-09-10T14:13:00.000+02:002012-09-10T14:13:54.785+02:00I don't know how all you bloggers do it...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">...how do you keep blogging when you get the garden blues?<br />
<br />
Personally I haven't even wanted to read all my favourite blogs over the summer, as they just remind me how much I have to do, how many things went wrong with the flowerbeds/kitchen garden this year, what didn't grow, what I didn't harvest and left to rot on the plant/to get eaten by birds/slugs/etc, how to get rid of all the pests/diseases, etc, etc.<br />
<br />
Obviously there has been a lot of lovely, but the hurdles just get so overwhelming in a garden of this size.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I've managed to fight the absence anxiety and found a few photos from my mother's visit a few weeks ago (she lives in Gibraltar and came to stay for a week). Having a completely new opinion and taste with me around the garden centres was brilliant, you do tend to get stuck in a style rut. For example, I can't leave a garden centre without buying a herb or two, despite the fact I have more than I can possible consume/take care of :D And my mum just went round picking out shrubs with dark foliage - which I would NEVER have done. Any don't they look fabulous?! (well they will next year)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnSYxSMEhbg/UE3RObYm3LI/AAAAAAAAAyc/4J1Q1AjxeYI/s1600/IMG_5819b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="237" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wnSYxSMEhbg/UE3RObYm3LI/AAAAAAAAAyc/4J1Q1AjxeYI/s320/IMG_5819b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coral Flower 'Palace Purple' (Heuchera micrantha)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgvJ24ePk0w/UE3RWYDEOrI/AAAAAAAAAyk/Z7lVlW3fHBQ/s1600/IMG_5645b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hgvJ24ePk0w/UE3RWYDEOrI/AAAAAAAAAyk/Z7lVlW3fHBQ/s320/IMG_5645b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bugbane 'Brunette' (Cimicifuga racemosa)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2xCKesTdd8g/UE3ReCAnujI/AAAAAAAAAys/xwpQb1PNei8/s1600/IMG_5649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2xCKesTdd8g/UE3ReCAnujI/AAAAAAAAAys/xwpQb1PNei8/s320/IMG_5649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ninebark 'Diablo' (Physocarpus opulifolius) - between the mallow and the tall aster.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>We've only had a garden for four years and my mum has never seen it before (apart from photos), and she has really green fingers, so it was a real pleasure to talk plants and gardening for the first time ever.<br />
<br />
Here are some lovely random photos I took while she was here:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hshmwLPgmRE/UE3VUmRj5yI/AAAAAAAAAzM/8qWqi-iXvKw/s1600/IMG_5618.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hshmwLPgmRE/UE3VUmRj5yI/AAAAAAAAAzM/8qWqi-iXvKw/s320/IMG_5618.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Union Jack up of course...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IP_v-n9ar6U/UE3VelZrXBI/AAAAAAAAAzU/ur22NfsJ1Hc/s1600/IMG_5626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IP_v-n9ar6U/UE3VelZrXBI/AAAAAAAAAzU/ur22NfsJ1Hc/s320/IMG_5626.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went for a walk in Särö Västerskog and had lunch at <a href="http://www.blomstermala.se/">Blomstermåla</a>. <br />
I absolutely love Scots pines and there are plenty around Särö.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f94RFcqs3Mg/UE3Vt4fvsaI/AAAAAAAAAzc/SSIc9rhm47Q/s1600/IMG_5666.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f94RFcqs3Mg/UE3Vt4fvsaI/AAAAAAAAAzc/SSIc9rhm47Q/s320/IMG_5666.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Day out at <a href="http://www.tjoloholm.se/">Tjolöholm Slott</a>.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rufm0_iNMYw/UE3Vy4ATa8I/AAAAAAAAAzk/4hkF-nb638k/s1600/IMG_5671.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Rufm0_iNMYw/UE3Vy4ATa8I/AAAAAAAAAzk/4hkF-nb638k/s320/IMG_5671.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Once you get over the fact that you will never EVER get your garden to look <br />
like this one, some of the plantings were very inspiring.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iGEb4YDqpp0/UE3V3_eC5uI/AAAAAAAAAzw/SDzvsOvFWSQ/s1600/IMG_5672.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iGEb4YDqpp0/UE3V3_eC5uI/AAAAAAAAAzw/SDzvsOvFWSQ/s320/IMG_5672.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Effective block colours...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkGEE9Kg_F8/UE3WDAtF4RI/AAAAAAAAAz4/_0g3vuvHFkE/s1600/IMG_5684.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GkGEE9Kg_F8/UE3WDAtF4RI/AAAAAAAAAz4/_0g3vuvHFkE/s320/IMG_5684.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing dahlia walk, the yellow ones were the size of two hands..</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yvo5hvSbxQ/UE3WLAHwAPI/AAAAAAAAA0A/LHbuLlYu7nQ/s1600/IMG_5694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1Yvo5hvSbxQ/UE3WLAHwAPI/AAAAAAAAA0A/LHbuLlYu7nQ/s320/IMG_5694.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the visit wouldn't be complete without a crayfish party!! :D</td></tr>
</tbody></table>I will try and blog more often now I'm on top of things again, but if you have any tips on how you manage to keep blogging despite the weather, slugs, bugs, fungi, non-germinators, etc, etc. they would be much appreciated. <br />
<br />
Thanks for coming back to my blog!<br />
:)<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-48063052610453091852012-08-07T12:40:00.002+02:002012-08-07T19:12:50.726+02:00Overwhelming summer, with a few gems...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Apologies for my long absence, but it has been a rather overwhelming summer.<br />
<br />
I do tend to get a slight case of the blues in July, with so much to do: the weeds, the slugs, the hares, the re-sowing, clipping back, tying up, watering, fertilizing, etc etc. and this year was no exception.<br />
<br />
Also, with everyone being on holiday, life tends to move outdoors, and consequently away from the computer... <br />
<br />
We also painted the house this year, which really uglified the flowerbeds, so I wasn't particularly inspired to post lots of pretty photos.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVwJY7G-XRc/UCDoZW61sSI/AAAAAAAAAwo/8wG4f07ZbdE/s1600/IMG_5384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sVwJY7G-XRc/UCDoZW61sSI/AAAAAAAAAwo/8wG4f07ZbdE/s320/IMG_5384.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trampled flowerbeds.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>But, as most gardeners say, "It'll be lovely next year..."<br />
<br />
There have been a few gems though:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4HmLNpUwZU/UCDpJ5PP_OI/AAAAAAAAAww/cu2dQhVyMw8/s1600/IMG_5407.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F4HmLNpUwZU/UCDpJ5PP_OI/AAAAAAAAAww/cu2dQhVyMw8/s320/IMG_5407.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose No. 1, Queen Elizabeth, in bloom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhrOm7SXoKw/UCDpZLMj0HI/AAAAAAAAAw4/3eTn5NQn3yU/s1600/IMG_5403.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zhrOm7SXoKw/UCDpZLMj0HI/AAAAAAAAAw4/3eTn5NQn3yU/s320/IMG_5403.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A few great harvests, in particular yummy cucumbers and an endless supply of rocket.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDKwI5h3nWc/UCDp9xnEljI/AAAAAAAAAxE/xtOqBGDOCW8/s1600/IMG_5349.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDKwI5h3nWc/UCDp9xnEljI/AAAAAAAAAxE/xtOqBGDOCW8/s320/IMG_5349.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magnificent bouquet of Musk Mallow flowers that had to be <br />
removed from the flowerbeds so we could paint the house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fSuNJYuZqbQ/UCDrMqUfSQI/AAAAAAAAAxM/QEFjyqQlA44/s1600/IMG_5320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fSuNJYuZqbQ/UCDrMqUfSQI/AAAAAAAAAxM/QEFjyqQlA44/s320/IMG_5320.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots and lots and lots of herbs...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mf-AcCzv2hw/UCDry4sl_QI/AAAAAAAAAxU/zPBemsdnFG0/s1600/IMG_5289.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mf-AcCzv2hw/UCDry4sl_QI/AAAAAAAAAxU/zPBemsdnFG0/s320/IMG_5289.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose No. 4, New Dawn, being trained up an old apple tree.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMqbY1c4RJU/UCDtFboWqNI/AAAAAAAAAxk/I9PllhcdZmI/s1600/IMG_5217.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PMqbY1c4RJU/UCDtFboWqNI/AAAAAAAAAxk/I9PllhcdZmI/s320/IMG_5217.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose No. 3, Bonica, in bloom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lj8lzrD-w0/UCDtqSawvtI/AAAAAAAAAxs/p9wSB4BwLL8/s1600/IMG_5398.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-0lj8lzrD-w0/UCDtqSawvtI/AAAAAAAAAxs/p9wSB4BwLL8/s320/IMG_5398.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An endless supply of Sweet Peas filling my bathroom with perfume.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>A quick mention of Rose No. 2, Fairy, which has spread madly and wildly in one of the flowerbeds. I don't have a photo of it unfortunately, and I would pop out and take a picture if the heavens had not completely opened while writing this post... It is absolutely TIPPING it down! So you'll have to take my word for it...<br />
<br />
Anyway, I feel I must also show you a little nastiness.... so please look away now if you are faint-hearted...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8ps8Bdgnec/UCDsaJIuVGI/AAAAAAAAAxc/ZcQsIZd78qo/s1600/IMG_5262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q8ps8Bdgnec/UCDsaJIuVGI/AAAAAAAAAxc/ZcQsIZd78qo/s320/IMG_5262.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many slug collections... BLEUGH!!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
Sorry to end on such a yucky note, but this was very much a part of my 2012 summer, and so had to be shared.<br />
<br />
Happy August!<br />
<br />
xxx<br />
<br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-41452997319713232132012-06-21T11:25:00.004+02:002012-06-21T12:34:34.767+02:00A few pretty pickies from the garden<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">The garden is getting everso very pretty now and even I find myself wandering around it with a smile on my face... :D<br />
<br />
I'm not a huge fan of yellows and oranges, and I've been trying to slowly harmonize the colour scheme in the garden since we moved here almost four years ago. Looking at these pictures, it looks like I'm actually getting somewhere. <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRtWCy-2OxI/T-Lj_XAU4NI/AAAAAAAAAuo/9i9KB-8ORTA/s1600/IMG_5062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VRtWCy-2OxI/T-Lj_XAU4NI/AAAAAAAAAuo/9i9KB-8ORTA/s320/IMG_5062.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Borage.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nUjKIk0E4E/T-LkXv_8cPI/AAAAAAAAAuw/XnEp8EbtuAI/s1600/IMG_5067.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4nUjKIk0E4E/T-LkXv_8cPI/AAAAAAAAAuw/XnEp8EbtuAI/s320/IMG_5067.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't notice last year how the blue Borage flowers start off pink...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCm-0JBeDWE/T-LlB9iqZFI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Tj5V8zpbckw/s1600/IMG_5070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-wCm-0JBeDWE/T-LlB9iqZFI/AAAAAAAAAu4/Tj5V8zpbckw/s320/IMG_5070.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The newly-added white pebbles (thanks to my mother-in-law) made a huge aesthetic difference.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6q_ABlDcrSk/T-LlH7Au-eI/AAAAAAAAAvA/9pVm09dXr5o/s1600/IMG_5111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6q_ABlDcrSk/T-LlH7Au-eI/AAAAAAAAAvA/9pVm09dXr5o/s320/IMG_5111.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fast-spreading Fairy rosebush is finally flowering. My first ever roses! :)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SzxqotCrghM/T-LlOR99uII/AAAAAAAAAvI/9_UkmLn9lQY/s1600/IMG_5113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SzxqotCrghM/T-LlOR99uII/AAAAAAAAAvI/9_UkmLn9lQY/s320/IMG_5113.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of pinks and blues. Finally some order to the chaos.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LX-TAkTEFQ/T-LpEV8UZCI/AAAAAAAAAvw/RHM6POeg0l8/s1600/IMG_5119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8LX-TAkTEFQ/T-LpEV8UZCI/AAAAAAAAAvw/RHM6POeg0l8/s320/IMG_5119.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are still flowers on the Aquilegia and the Bleeding Heart! <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-GF8P-47gY/T-LpVpN-n0I/AAAAAAAAAwA/puD_nfQ2IVE/s1600/IMG_5149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u-GF8P-47gY/T-LpVpN-n0I/AAAAAAAAAwA/puD_nfQ2IVE/s320/IMG_5149.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I finally managed to get some very finickety Cape Marigolds to flower this year.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nlMTB-gao5A/T-LpYwQuJPI/AAAAAAAAAwI/P9_VOYDS7OM/s1600/IMG_5154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nlMTB-gao5A/T-LpYwQuJPI/AAAAAAAAAwI/P9_VOYDS7OM/s320/IMG_5154.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My Queen Elizabeth rose is surviving (actually this is my first ever rose, but the Fairy <br />
beat her into flower), but has been attacked by all manner of nastiness. I'm really having to <br />
pamper her every morning, squishing little munchers. I haven't the heart to rid her of all her <br />
rusty leaves just yet, but I know I have to. I'm waiting for her to flower first...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-goSqh_KHtmY/T-LlXrrkbII/AAAAAAAAAvQ/wmg_8XuuauA/s1600/IMG_5121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-goSqh_KHtmY/T-LlXrrkbII/AAAAAAAAAvQ/wmg_8XuuauA/s320/IMG_5121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark cerise Million Bells Calibrachoa Petunias in the tall urn under the birches. In contrast <br />
to last year's regular Petunias, these ones are self-cleaning, saving me A LOT of time...</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlvcNYms8jY/T-LldIdLyoI/AAAAAAAAAvY/uI8HkIL_MoM/s1600/IMG_5125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dlvcNYms8jY/T-LldIdLyoI/AAAAAAAAAvY/uI8HkIL_MoM/s320/IMG_5125.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wilderness corner by the expanse of rhododendron. I think that it <br />
may actually have been a flowerbed at some point judging by the plants.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8eE22ZFTXTE/T-LlpTFS8aI/AAAAAAAAAvg/6TvpSOMNOwA/s1600/IMG_5128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8eE22ZFTXTE/T-LlpTFS8aI/AAAAAAAAAvg/6TvpSOMNOwA/s320/IMG_5128.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tidy herbs and fruits bed still looking good despite the hare attacks.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Happy Midsummer everyone! </div><br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8307707096167675560.post-15635835320454881242012-06-11T16:30:00.000+02:002012-06-11T16:30:52.328+02:00Flower arranging<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Flowers have finally started sprouting up all over the place, which not only means the garden's looking a little prettier, but it also means I now have a huge (free) resource for designing little bouquets for every room in the house.<br />
<br />
Being not too clever at this, I recently invested in a book on <a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/1405362316/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00">flower arranging</a>.<br />
<br />
Here are some of my first (feeble) attempts:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88bhB_w_3aE/T9X9i6gYJsI/AAAAAAAAAtc/oTiAkzv4Bro/s1600/IMG_5057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-88bhB_w_3aE/T9X9i6gYJsI/AAAAAAAAAtc/oTiAkzv4Bro/s320/IMG_5057.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">His bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBmEtRV3OpA/T9X9oXn6MlI/AAAAAAAAAtk/fIxn5KuUBmU/s1600/IMG_5055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IBmEtRV3OpA/T9X9oXn6MlI/AAAAAAAAAtk/fIxn5KuUBmU/s320/IMG_5055.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My bathroom.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfFHMmIIuIM/T9X9rrP5iCI/AAAAAAAAAts/h-RsG5EAGGc/s1600/IMG_5054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GfFHMmIIuIM/T9X9rrP5iCI/AAAAAAAAAts/h-RsG5EAGGc/s320/IMG_5054.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Very patriotic in the entrance hallway.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-penEnvSRZWE/T9X9wSvPE_I/AAAAAAAAAt0/Oc5PV7kqzVk/s1600/IMG_5051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-penEnvSRZWE/T9X9wSvPE_I/AAAAAAAAAt0/Oc5PV7kqzVk/s320/IMG_5051.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dining table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4cLZYUc8pms/T9X90zoFt_I/AAAAAAAAAt8/03o6__8AsII/s1600/IMG_5047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4cLZYUc8pms/T9X90zoFt_I/AAAAAAAAAt8/03o6__8AsII/s320/IMG_5047.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room. Okay, so I cheated - I didn't grow these. I usually have<br />
lillies in this vase, but they always try to droop to the sides - brilliant tip<br />
from my new book: use a grid of sticky tape! So simple!</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8bcRLl-uGA/T9X95h50JqI/AAAAAAAAAuE/2f8wTBJr8jI/s1600/IMG_5048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-U8bcRLl-uGA/T9X95h50JqI/AAAAAAAAAuE/2f8wTBJr8jI/s320/IMG_5048.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Living room (I didn't grow these either). Same here with the tape.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ62FkHxjkM/T9X-L9iJqtI/AAAAAAAAAuM/wLC7XAVl_bY/s1600/IMG_5040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TQ62FkHxjkM/T9X-L9iJqtI/AAAAAAAAAuM/wLC7XAVl_bY/s320/IMG_5040.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My first attempt at flower arranging. With an oasis. The rhododendron is actually cerise, <br />
which doesn't come across in the picture - very striking against the black granite patio table.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0sIhaNbUyc/T9X-QhTXb8I/AAAAAAAAAuU/L3L575ekdns/s1600/IMG_5061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F0sIhaNbUyc/T9X-QhTXb8I/AAAAAAAAAuU/L3L575ekdns/s320/IMG_5061.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So elegant in its simplicity.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>These little arrangements have really cheered the place up. So my advice to you is: pick a few flowers and bring them indoors. You really won't miss them from your flowerbeds and they do make such a difference to your home!<br />
<br />
Happy flower arranging!<br />
Laura<br />
<br />
</div>Laurahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00598779852484398272noreply@blogger.com4