Oh, My Days!

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Easter Parade

What lovely weather we enjoyed today! Jokes are often made about Bank Holiday weekends inviting in horrible weather, but in my part of the world we had blue skies and sunshine all day which meant - you’ve guessed it - gardening time!! I hadn’t planned to do gardening today. High on my list was cleaning the car, giving the kitchen the once over with a damp cloth and sorting out the tableware in the dresser. However, when it became clear it was gardening weather, out I went to crack on. Mr and Mrs Swallow were being most industrious. Mr Swallow returned from a few days’ absence a couple of days ago with a lady swallow in tow. He was showing off with great extravagance and loudness, shouting, ‘Look at this superior nesting accommodation!’ And I think Mrs Swallow was marginally impressed but said something along the lines of, ‘Well, it’s okay I suppose, but I want a few improvements made before I move in,’ so for the last two days they’ve been swooping in and out with beak...

Odd Stuff

When we visited the stately home craft fair on Mothering Sunday, Heather got chatting to one of the stall holders who was representing a company that made toilet paper from bamboo. It was all very eco-friendly and non-profit making, and the sample I was given withstood several nose blows without being reduced to a ragged and soggy mess, which was good. Anyway, Heather parted with her email address in order to be entered into a prize draw competition and was given a free loo roll as a ‘thank you’ which she took home as a gift for Oli, who was thrilled. I think he was probably even more thrilled with the chocolate brownies Heather also took back to him, but he is a polite chap and receives all gifts with equal gratitude. Anyway, a couple of days ago Heather discovered she had won second prize in the prize draw and will soon be the proud recipient of a box of twenty four - yes, twenty four - bamboo loo rolls! How exciting is THAT!??! In the greenhouse, there are now thirteen to...

All Gravelled Out

The tonne bag of gravel arrived just after 8 a.m. The delivery driver very kindly parked it right next to the back gate which meant I wouldn’t have to barrow it half way up the driveway which was what I’d anticipated. He saved me a lot of huff ‘n’ puff ‘n’ back ache, that’s for sure. We shared a bit of gardening banter, mostly about potatoes, and then he was off on the rest of his deliveries and I was faced with some hefty manual labour. Armed with wheelbarrow, spade and rake, and my Health and Safety training about bending from the knee to prevent back injuries, I set about re-gravelling the courtyard. It was a bit faffy because the courtyard space is dotted with paving slabs which required some delicate arrangement of gravel around them, and this is when I learned that gravel often has a mind of its own and sometimes needs a jolly good stamping on to make it know its place. Periodically, I gave myself a break from shovelling and raking to get two loads of laundry done and ...

Six! And Nine!!

On Tuesday evening, Darling Daughter and I went to the cinema to see the musical ‘Six’ on satellite. I didn’t know what to expect, really, but it was very good and something I would happily see again. Yesterday, I was in Head Gardener mode again because it would be rude not to take advantage of this consistent blessing of fine and dry weather. As the Damson Cottage Estate has taken shape over the past almost nine years (I know! Where did that time go??) I am glad we made the decision to divide the plot into dedicated, if somewhat pretentiously named, sections. This means when I have a gardening day, I can decide what section I am going to work on - the Mediterranean area, the Orchard, the Vegetable Garden, the Soft Fruit Garden etc etc - rather than spend time buzzing randomly from one area to another as I did when it was a blank and open canvas. Yesterday, then, I decided that the lavender bed next to the garden shed needed attention. It’s called the lavender bed area becau...

What Is It About Gardening?

Pootling around the greenhouse this afternoon trying not to fret about poor, poor Prince Harry and his lack of security court case (pah!) I thought, ‘What is it EXACTLY about gardening that makes one so, well, happy?’ I was tucking seeds up in their new composty beds - courgette, cucumber, purple sprouting broccoli, dwarf French beans, basil - patting them down gently and watering them so they settled, and it was just such a lovely thing to be doing. The air was warm and still, the birds were singing, Nell was only grating slightly on my nerves with her excitement that a watering can was in action. It was just so…nice. The seeds I sowed two or three weeks ago are doing well. I can announce there are now FIVE emerging tomato plants so all is not lost. But it’s the lupins that are racing away with 22 out of the 30 I sowed all emerged. I haven’t stopped to consider if twenty two lupins might be too many. Gardeners can never have too many plants. Look at this dear little t...

Swallow Return!

Announcement! The first swallow of the year appeared above the skies of Damson Cottage on Friday! I spent the whole day gardening and at 10 a.m I heard a familiar trilling, looked up, and there it was - swooping above me, and I am SURE it was saying, ‘Hello! I am returned!’ Of course, I greeted it with equal and great enthusiasm. ‘Hello, swallow! How wonderful to see you. Congratulations on arriving safely home!’ I wondered if the swallow was one of the parents from last year, or one of the nine babies. Anyway, it’s been hanging around the house, perching on the TV aerial and singing away, waiting patiently for the return of more of its family before the ‘Battle For Laundry Nest Ownership’ begins in earnest. I feel very joyful at its return and am looking forward to hosting many angry baby swallows as the season progresses. The gourmet mushrooms are progressing at great speed, too. Here is the Status of Mushroom this fine and dandy Sunday morning: My brother wanted to ...