 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Diaries 2010
February 2010
Grey for the most part and a bit above freezing ( 7°C today). Sowed seeds last Friday in a heated propagator, Mimulus up in 2 days! In the other propagator, sown last weekend, Scabious Derry's Black has started, Snapdragons fast as usual (Crimson Velvet) and a couple of Crambe cordifolia too. I fear the first sown sweet pea seeds in the cold greenhouse including Miss Truelove, have failed, the second lot sown only a few weeks ago seem to be starting to sprout though.
On winter walks recently
I have seen woodruff near Midford, periwinkle (not native), in the Golden
Valley at Wick and Babington's 
Leek
emerging (probably not native) near Abbotsbury. On a sunny hillside under
bushes the bluebells were also pushing through. The general lack of sun
however means little stretching of the crocus and snowdrop flowers, it
is a shame not to see crocuses in particular wide open and smiling at
the sun.
Potatoes purchased and chitting, 5 each of Shetland Black, Highland Burgundy, International Kidney, Pink Fir Apple and Anoe.
Got engrossed by Southern African flora on a couple of websites this weekend so have indulged at Silverhill Seeds, scented gladioli, a couple of Kniphofia and Drosera cistiflora (why not? I still have some of the specialist compost left!).
Still too early to assess winter's losses in the garden and too early to prune things like Buddleja's, nor do I want to clear too much from tenderer plants, leave some protection for a while longer. A rabbit has started on some of the plants, chewing the tops off the emerging leaves of the autumn crocus and scattering cyclamen hederifolium leaves.
Am enjoying dipping in to Robin Lane Fox's Variations on a Garden at the moment. It is good to re-discover old and sometimes forgotten plant friends through the eyes of others. Another good snippetty read is Bob Brown's Cotswold Garden Flowers catalogue.
Also enjoyed Dan Pearson's recent article on flowers for cutting - a cutting garden would be a splendid indulgence if I had the space outside, and in!
I see Gardener's World got a kicking again recently - I like Toby and Carol! It's a pity we can't seem to support more than one vaguely intelligent gardening programme viewing wise. Lawns are boring, composting can be boring etc etc if you have seen it year on year on year - great for beginners and if you want the gardening equivalent of Horlicks. Trendyupping mostly didn't work though - hoorah for the most part! I would like to see something along the lines of C4's Real Gardeners again but keep the Country Living Burberry wellification stylie out of it. Let things develop, campaign for slow TV gardening ...
(15/02/10)
January 2010
I think my memory is going - I thought I had updated my diary in December 2009 and I had not - very poor (said with a Vic Reeves accent I would suggest). This festive break has involved much perusing of plant catalogues, google images and Rix & Phillips books, long lists which gradually have to be whittled down to short and affordable lists. There is only so much propagation space and only so much garden to put things in.
I also got inspired last week by the Annie's Annuals website which shows riotous combinations of annuals, perennials, succulents and much more! Sadly I can't seem to find some of the US native annuals mentioned on UK seedlists and have also had to temper my wild prairie ambitions as the patch of ground I have to play with is small, so Layia or Tidy Tips, Nottingham Catchfly and Godetia bottae will have to suffice.
I am trying Drosera
anglica (Sundew) from seed as I enjoyed Drosera capensis which
sat on an outdoor table all summer but is 
not
hardy. Hopefully D anglica will be.
My mother has gone for Zinnias in a big way for summer colour - scarlet, white and green - yikes! I must admit I have already placed my order for Dahlia's from the UK national collection and have a few surprises in the mix i.e cultivars I have not grown before.
Ate the first of the 2 squash that set last year, Cornu d'Hiver, quite nice flavour, sweetish with a lightish chestnutty texture. Potato days get into full swing this month, I will be found rummaging amongst heritage tubers in a couple of weeks - roll on spring.
Frost currently has us in its grip which will halt the onward march of bulbs appearing and keep the just emerging purple buds of spring flowering Cyclamen coum shut up.
Here's to good growing in 2010.
(3/01/10)