Spring Equinox

Today is the day we have been waiting for. Today is the Spring Equinox and the first day of Spring. Not that we really need an official day, many of us will already have been in the garden and started sowing for the new season, but it is nice when today comes along. A season of hope and amazement.

I'll be trying to educate my son later, telling him about today, heres the science bit :-)

  Equinox translates from Latin to English as 'equal night'. Supposedly today will have equal night and day, this isn't strictly true, but I'm not going to spoil the meaning of today. At 16.57 GMT the Sun will pass over the equator and the Earth's axis will neither tilt towards or away from the Sun. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, this our Spring Equinox.  Down in the Southern Hemisphere its their Autumnal Equinox.

But for us gardeners and our weird British weather, many of us will be forgiven for thinking Spring was already here. Spring bulbs are flowering,  theres Blossom on the trees and this last week or two has seen some beautiful weather.

But lets just stick with tradition and what today means. The day of rebirth and the start of a season :-)

Plant Black List and Japanese Knotweed

Last year I saw a news article about the EU banning plants that did not have botanical names, meaning that unless someone took time and money to invest in having hundreds, thousands and maybe more plants registered, then we could potentially lose some garden favourites.

Now, there has been another item in the news. The plant ‘Black List’. This is again from the EU. In essence, what the problem is here is that, quite rightly, certain plants should not be allowed to be owned, transported and basically spread around. Plants like the very invasive Japanese Knotweed. A plant like this that can grow up to 10cm a day and do damage to paths, drains and pretty much anything it touches, should obviously be heavily regulated. The Japanese Knotweed has been in the news over the last year or so because it is so invasive and so difficult to get rid of. Specialists have to be called in to try to dispose of it and once it is in your garden, house prices and insurance are directly affected.

So what is the problem with the Black List? The problem is, how far is too far! As with the legislation regarding botanical names, this list could mean that household favourites are also affected. I have seen reports that Rhododendrons, for example, could be included in this list. It’s well known that these shrubs can, if left, take over an area, but is really as much of a problem as the Knotweed? The RHS are obviously monitoring and being involved in this.

Here are the links to the articles that took my attention and that I have used for this post:

'Plant Black List' - The Telegraph

Plant Registration - The Telegraph

On a similar topic, going back to the Japanese Knotweed, I also saw this article (The Telegraph) which says that as much as 50% of gardeners cannot identify Japanese Knotweed. This is something that really needs to be out there. It can be so invasive and damaging both to the garden but also to your pocket as it can affect housing prices etc.

Please take a look at the article and maybe Google Japanese Knotweed so you are aware of it.

Japanese Knotweed - Environmental Agency

I have written this post, because items like this are very interesting, but how many people see them? If I can make someone else take note, then it has been worth me writing this.

That Monday thing

Well Monday is here again. Back to work after an enjoyable weekend off. The weekend is even more important now as work has become busier, not that being at home is quiet, with three kids running around. Just recently though, with the appearance of nicer weather, it has been the twins first opportunities at playing outside,and they are loving it :-)

Sunday was a prime example of the kids enjoying playing in the garden and me enjoying being able to get back out there doing what I love. The twins seem to like daddy doing gardening, as they like to try and help. Isabella trying to sweep, Taylor going after tools and Joseph wanting to help at whatever I'm doing.

This Sunday we washed and waxed the cars, which has needed doing for months, living in the country, means that it's pointless washing cars during winter. The next job was to get the mower out and clean it up. An arm needed replacing as it had rusted and snapped off. Then all the edges of the lawn were trimmed and grass cut. What a difference!!

Plants that have been in the cold frame are now out and planted, I can't wait to see the newly created beds in flower. The two beds either side of the arch have a Bay tree at one side and an Olive tree at the other. There are now delphiniums, lupins, penstemons, several different alliums as well as the beautiful daffodils. Up the arch we have a honeysuckle, clematis and hopefully if they haven't died, two grape vines. It should be interesting.

The twins helped to put the plants in as they tried to help dig the beds last autumn.

The future weekends look like they will be fun. Looking forward to show the kids the veg seeds going in and them seeing what grows. I just have to get through the Monday to Friday thing first. My wife is a SAHM (Stay At Home Mum), wish I could be a SAHG ( Stay At Home Gardener) :-)

Have a good week!

GBBD March 2014

Lupins starting to flower early.  This time last year these Lupins were just seeds in a pack. Now they are thriving!

Preparing for winter

This morning has seen me have some time in the garden.  It has been time spent, tidying, weeding, finishing and preparing plants for the first frost which is no doubt almost upon us.

The cold frame has had the finishing touchs made, plants placed in in there and small plants repotted and put away for winter.

Weeds have been removed, the sweet peas which have been still flowering until recently have had the remaining seeds harvested and are now in the compost heap.  Talking about compost, the heaps have been turned and the heap that has been working this year is looking amazing.  It has already been used here and there, but the bulk of it is still there.  It will give our garden some great goodness.

Fleece protection is now over some of the veggies to help them warm and keep growing.  Tomatoes and cucumbers are still producing fruit in the greenhouse and beetroot will soon be ready to be harvested.

I will soon be turning to indoor jobs and gardening will be taking a back seat for a bit, although plans need to made and seeds purchased ready for next year.

  It's just nice to be able to spend time in the garden when we're almost in November.

Holiday post

Its been a while simce my last post. Life has been hectic recently, with a very busy time at work and the handful which are the children.

It is currently early in the morning on our holiday.  The wife is having a well earned lie in, the twins are sat with me having their early morning milk and Jos is sleeping at his Nanna and Grandads...so I am sat relaxing before watching my gorgeous toddlers.

Well its that time of year when trees are turning res and bronze, leaves are falling and as we saw yesterday,  geese are getting ready to find a warmer climate.  We are currently on holiday in Northumberland,  a very much unspoilt and beautiful part of England.  Our base up here is surrounded by trees and bushes all putting on a glorious autumn display.  At some point over our final days up here, we will be visiting Holy Island, an island not far from the coast but which for hours of the day is connected to the mainland by a Causeway as the tide goes out.  We will also be visiting Alnwick Castle and gardens.   We did visit in April,  so will be interesting to see how the gardens have changed in the space of half a year.  The nature and attractions of my native land have much to offer.

Yesterday we visited Ford and Etal and enjoyed a ride on the small gauge railway.  It was heartwarming to see my young sons face as he saw the 'choo choo'.

On the gardening front back at home, recent weeks have seen the  coldframe completed and now housing small tender plants, ghe judas tree is now planted and seeds have been collected from several plants ready for next year.  In the vegetable plot we are still harvesting potatoes and will have more in the coming weeks.  Beetroot and brassicas are all growing strongly.   And finally, in the greenhouses, tomatoes,  cucumbers and peppers are all still growing and giving fruit.   The autumn maybe here but the garden isn't quite finished yet!!       

The weekend

Well its the weekend again :-)

Its been a busy week at work and happily I got to a point where I was happy with what i'd done and i'm pleased the weekend has arrived.  Last night was what myself and my wife have designated 'date night'.  Kids to bed, film, wine and cheese and welcome a couple of days of family time.  Tonight my parents in law will be coming for the evening as they arrive back from holiday today.  That will be a chance to have an unwind, a laugh and i'm sure a few drinks as i'll have my drinking partner (father in law) back. 

Today has seen a chance to do a little gardening.  This morning i went down to PILs house and cut their lawn as a surprise for when they get back.  They have had a lot on recently, so that little job that i can do for them is a help.  Plus i enjoy it.  They have a large garden and a sit upon mower (tractor).  Its great fun flying up and down and a chance to have a bit of peace on my own.
    I must confess I was slightly worried when I first got there.  I got the engine started and tried to get started, but there was no movement.  I was very worried about this.  But after stopping and thinking how my father in law thinks, I realised he had disabled it by pulling out a lever at the back.  I pushed this in and tried again and straight pulled out of the garage and I was away.

Once I got back home I went and got our mower out and cut our grass.  As I nearly finished I realised that one of the handle has worn that much that it has snapped, so a repair job or replacement handle needs to be sorted.

I then planted our winter Jasmine in the garden and a Michelmas daisy in a large pot.  The daisy will be going in the garden eventually, but as we are still very early in designing our garden, I am not ready for a final placement.

The Judas tree we bought is still waiting to be planted.  Placement for this has not been decided upon yet, but it is being looked after and will be fine a while longer.

Thats today.  Tomorrow will depend on the weather as to what gets done. 

Also, the wife has been making some very nice plum jam using plums from PILs orchard, I must say this is very tasty and I'm looking forward to tonights plum jam roly poly pudding and homemade custard :-)  Take a look http://hijackedbytwins.blogspot.com

Now time to spend some quality time with my kids.