|
Post by derekbrooks on Aug 26, 2019 20:01:05 GMT
Heather was working this morning so Rosemaary and me went shopping. We went in Wilkinsons and I bought the tulips and daffodils for my spring containers. I don't normally get them till October but I didn't see any harm in getting them now. This afternoon she took us to a R.H.S. garden about 5 miles from where she lives called Plas Brondanw.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Aug 29, 2019 19:20:18 GMT
We arrived home from Wales this evening after an enjoyable few days. The weather has been good except for some rain first thing on Wednesday. At home I believe it rained all day that day. Alex, our eldest grandson , was 25 yesterday so we all went out for a meal to celebrate. Originally we were supposed to be coming home yesterday but Alex wanted us to stay till today then we could celebrate his birthday. One of the waitresses took this picture of us all . From the left , myself, Karl (son in law), Jake (youngest grandson), Beth (Alex's girlfriend), Alex, Heather and Rosemary.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Aug 30, 2019 21:12:39 GMT
Been at Blackleach all day today. I told you before that I don't normally do Fridays but it was the only day I could do with going away .As you know, Rosemsry and me walk round the park every two weeks counting the birds and recording all the wild flowers .We were due to do it last weekend but we couldn't do it with going away. So I did it myself as soon as I arrived this morning then went in the centre to fill in the charts . On the border alongside the visitor centre , which I showed you a picture of a few weeks ago, there is a patch at one end that I hadn't weeded so I had a go at it this afternoon but it was very difficult because the soil is very stony and I could hardly get my fork in so I didn't finish it. On my way home I called at the allotment because Rosemary wanted some runner beans.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Aug 31, 2019 21:14:02 GMT
Went to school this afternoon to feed the tomatoes. When I went to school last Saturday I noticed that the polytunnel door was falling off. The wind must have blown it. While I was away this week I bought some new hinges for it and this afternoon I repaired the door and put the new hinges on. I went on the allotment after and did some dead heading ,side shooting , disbudding and tying up on anything that needed doing. This evening I fed the tubs, baskets, dahlias, chrysanths, gladioli, tomatoes and the larger pot plants with maxicrop tomato. I have six potato bags with Charlotte potatoes alongside the greenhouse.I harvested three of them this evening. Probably do the others tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 1, 2019 21:01:28 GMT
A bit showery but I managed to mow the lawns between showers this afternoon. They were a bit wet but they needed doing as they hadn't been done for over a week. I also harvested the rest of the Charlotte potatoes from the bags and washed them all. I put the compost back in the bags and sowed some carrots in them. I also sowed some more lettuce in cell trays.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 2, 2019 21:31:11 GMT
This morning I covered the last half of the chrysanth bed with a polythene sheet. It took me nearly all morning. I don't cover the dahlia bed like this . I just put covers on individual blooms and I put covers on two Trouper Dan which I think might be ready for my next show. Then I cut down all the chrysanths that had finished flowering. Went on the allotment this afternoon and planted 36 brassicas that I had potted into 5 inch pots a few weeks ago. They were cabbages Brigadeer and Kilazol, cauliflower Clapton , calabrese Marathon and purple sprouting broccoli. Just got them all in before it started raining about 4,00.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 3, 2019 21:09:44 GMT
Been at Blackleach this morning. One of the volunteers brought 5 plants(2 Rosemary,2 lavender and a thyme ).I planted the lavender in the border and the others in the herb wheel. I have another show to go to on Saturday,at Whitefield. I won't have time to do much on Thursday and on Friday I will be cutting and sorting flowers. I intend going to the allotment for the veg tomorrow I haven't had much time this afternoon and evening but I sorted the potatoes that I washed yesterday ,putting to one side those that had show potential and gave them another wash.I also sorted the small onions into sets for showing .
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 4, 2019 21:45:11 GMT
This morning I removed the bags from the chrysanths to see if any would be ready for Whitefield show on Saturday. None will be ready so I put all the bags back. Many should be O.K. for the week after. I then took some parsnips and carrots from the tubes to see if any of them will be good enough to show. Got 3 carrots that I will show and a parsnip which I will put in the class for "any other veg". Went to the allotment this afternoon and got all the rest of the veg that I need for the show. We had some heavy showers and I just worked between them and sat in the car while it was raining.I washed and sorted some of the veg this evening.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 6, 2019 21:52:10 GMT
This morning I cut the flowers for Whitefield show from the allotment. It was a morning of heavy showers so I had to keep hurrying to the car when it started raining but I still came home wet and had to change my clothes. It dried up this afternoon and I cut the flowers from my garden then loaded the car up with the flowers and pot plants. I have been to the show tonight and staged most of the flowers. I am going again in the morning with all the veg and I still have the roses to stage and two vases of mixed flowers.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 7, 2019 20:37:52 GMT
Did very well at Whitefield show. The quality of the show was very high but I put in 63 entries and won 21 firsts, 9 seconds and 12 thirds .Won 5 trophies 1,most points in general flowers 2,most points in dahlias 3, most points in roses 4, second highest points in veg 5, best exhibit in beetroots. Another thing that pleased me was that I won my eleven thousanth prize. I,ll show you some pictures, probably tomorrow.
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 8, 2019 21:08:33 GMT
Not much gardening time this afternoon but I did some disbudding and side shooting of the chrysanths and dahlias and tied up some of the dahlias. Went to school this evening to feed the tomatoes and started weeding the main veg beds till bad light stopped play at 8.00. I am going to show you some pictures of Whitefield show now
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 8, 2019 21:10:46 GMT
Vase of dahlias for effect. Only me in this class
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 8, 2019 21:13:53 GMT
This is the dahlia championship class for 3 vases.Those are mine in the centre that came third. They are Ruskin Andrea, Ruskin Myra and L'Ancresse
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 8, 2019 21:17:20 GMT
Two vases of annuals, First with Rudbeckia Indian summer and second with Ageratum timeless
|
|
|
Post by derekbrooks on Sept 8, 2019 21:19:04 GMT
First with vase of mixed garden flowers
|
|