My Garden - January 2024

Dear Gentle Reader 

My garden this month kept on giving. (Family issues forced me to be away from my garden in December and January, as I had to travel home.). But my husband was kind enough to provide me with a few pics.

Of course Her Majesty Queen Dubh had to be there too, to make sure everything is done as it should be. 

January also a month of taking stock of what was a success in the garden, what will be grown as a trial plant and also means taking stock of your seeds. Of course, being in another country I had to go and see what kind of veggie and flower seeds I can get 😜 (don't tell hubby that 😁). 

One can't go wrong with Spinach Viking or Butterhead Lettuce White Boston😜. Then the lady in the seedshop was throwing after me Zinnia, Yellow Courgette and Chamomile....how could I leave those packs of seeds there??!! 😜

And ops, I did it again!!! 

With a few more purchases later I'm finally home sick as a dog, fever, coughing and all those horrible feelings that flu brings on. I swear on the plane I thought we were going in circles, not straight ahead. Getting rid of this cough will be a long process. Ughhhh!!!! 

That's all for now

All the best

Annamaria 

My Garden - November 2023

1st of November

The 1st day of this month started cold and it rained all morning, then stopped around noon and the sun tried to push past the clouds. Work in the garden is now limited because of the shorter days and change in weather, but there are still things to do. Elephant garlic and onion sets need to be planted. In the greenhouse winter lettuce, kale, and a few of the cauliflowers will be planted, the rest potted on and planted out early spring for an early crop. Well that's the plan anyway, we'll see now if the weather cooperates too.

These days late autumn and winter months not much to do in the garden, but it's perfect time to take stock of your own seeds, order more if you need to, plan the garden, order fruit trees and roses. This is the perfect time to plant such, when they go dormant.

4th of November

Today started with rain but cleared up around 2 pm, even the sun granted me with its warm rays. Temps in the greenhouses measures 20 C. Not bad at all, so started planting winter lettuce, kale, spinach, and a few winter caulis went in for an early crop. Also put in some red and yellow onion sets.

The lettuce was sown last month and grew in the kitchen windowsill, oh and I also sowed a row of radishes as  trial. And all this was done after a hearty breakfast of scrambled eggs and home made brown bread. Of course kitty had to be where I was, not impressed with the rain either as she was seeking shelter in the greenhouse. Since I've got this garden, I always wanted a pond, didn't get a pond, but I've gotten a tank with 3 goldfish. Also had water beetle find home in there and a few snails that came with the water plants I bought. 

My greenhouse is home not only for my lovely vegetables and fruit, but also for 3 goldfish I have purchased in May. They are doing well so far, and hopefully they will successfully over winter in there. 

I have a battery/solar panel operated oxygenator for them and lots of oxygenator plants. I was told to feed them once week during winter and only a small amount. I also have snails that will take care of any scraps of food. The pennyroyal (which is water mint and cress) will take care of the ammonia levels. I also was advised to change water every fortnight, just to reduce the ammonia levels. I'm using rain water which is the best, not tap water. 

12th of November 

Today I planted a tree in my greenhouse, a peach tree. I always wanted a peach tree. I had one growing from a seed that germinated in one of my own home made compost, and came with me when we moved from the rental, but it got sick and died. I hope I'll have a better luck with this one. 

16th of November

Today was wet and cold. We survived storm Debbie, no major damage in my garden. 

Actually these pics were taken yesterday, we had to do some work on the lamps outside and holding the ladder for my hubby I've noticed that little tortoiseshell butterfly in the corner of one of the rungs. This made me smile, and wished the lil thing good luck hibernating through winter. Don't worry no harm came to the butterfly, it hang very securely to the wood and we were careful getting the ladder in and out the workshop. 

And that handful raspberries were the last crop of the autumn cropping raspberries 😊😁

24th of November 

As the last leaf on my Japanese maple stubbornly clings on, nights are getting colder letting winter takes its place. It was a very wet month and mild with a few sunny spells. My garden looks gloomy and sad, was too wet to even get out and pull weeds. Maybe there will be a dry break in December to get out and do something. Maybe... 

25th of November 

Last night was frosty and very cold, we woke up to a white landscape. Everything was covered with frost, my outside tanks with only plants in them had a light sheet of ice on the top. The tank that's in my big greenhouse was OK, no ice, my fish were happily swimming around. They slowed down a bit, but still active and fine. 

The last raspberries on my autumn cropping raspberry canes were covered with frost and frozen solid. The grass and other greenery also covered in thick frost. I saw a few green finches on my sunflowers I left in the ground for that purpose. This was the 2nd heavy frost since the 15th of October, but I guess from now on there will be more frosty nights. 

Nature in My Garden - October

Sparrows and chiffs and most of the migratory birds are gone by now, Robins, tits, and other wintering, resident birds started singing, claiming territory. I shall set up feeding stations as I do every year. I stop feeding them after fledglings are gone and during summer. Nature and my garden will be their pantry during that time. Buzzing, fluttering wildlife still very active in my garden against the coldness in the mornings and evenings. I guess they have a last drink of goodness that my garden can offer before the big frost or big sleep.

The 1st frost that we had left some pleasant changes in my garden as every creature small or big is looking for a hiding place to survive winter. 

My Garden 2023

October

The first day of this month started well, was sunny and warm. Autumnal colours can be already noticed here and there, and not only that but temps are dropping, nights are getting chilling. Days are getting shorter and there is not much to do in the garden. However the autumn cropping raspberries are pouring their fruit, still beetroot needs to be harvested. Lettuce needs to be sown in the greenhouse and seedlings planted. Also time for cuttings to be taken and planted. Onion and garlic sets need to be planted later this month.

After a couple of days of hot weather (20C-23C), today is cooler a bit and the sky is covered in clouds like a veil. However the sun desperately tries to peek through and melt the clouds. 

I also harvested the last of my tomatoes, the green ones will ripen inside in a bowl lined with newspaper. Breakfast with freshly picked raspberries never looked better 😜😍😋. Yummmmm😁🤤 These are the Autumn cropping raspberries, which are 2 timers, meaning they'll crop during summer and autumn too. The seedlings (cauliflowers, spinach, kale, broccoli etc) in my greenhouse is looking good, time to pot them on.

14th of October 

Since I've written last was a mixture of weather with sunny spells, fog, rain and dry spells. And it's still warmish, but the evenings, nights and early mornings are getting colder and colder. The weather man said with possible frosty patches. Eeeeeekkkkk.....

I hope this lovely creature called Red Admiral is able to hide and maybe with a little luck survive cold and frost during winter. It was chilly weather with a bit of wind, when I took that picture, and the cheeky thing opened its wings for a split second enough for me to see the specifics, then fluttered away. Oh well, see you next year in the spring Admiral. Best of luck. :) 

Took in these 3 beauties from the big greenhouse, somehow the cucs, chilies and aubergines are very reluctant to give up fight and still keep going cropping. Kudos to them and happiness and yummieness to me 😂😜😋🤤

15th of October

This morning I woke up to find that Jack Frost has been visiting my garden. He didn't bite too hard, this time, just nipped a bit leaving behind frozen magic. 

Some plants show signs of being nipped by the frost, some stay proud and face the elements. Made me giggle every time I look at them. 

I spite of this light frost chilies, aubergines, cucumbers are still keep cropping. Everything outside feels the change in the air, and desperately are looking for shelter, including this little, juvenile shieldbug, that looks for shelter in the folds of the sunflower head. 

25th of October 

Today was another warmish day, my Autumn raspberries, both yellow and red, are still cropping juicy, sweetish berries, which are a nice welcome to my snack or breakfast. Sprinkled with a little Stevia to add more sweetness to it, it's a real treat. A handful each morning is not such a bad way to start the day. There are some flowers still blooming, refusing to give in, clinging to every ray of sun and warmth. But as October slowly closes in, giving room to November they might not have much time to delight me with their beauty. 

27th of October

This morning was really like a late Autumn, beginning of Winter should be with thick, chilling fog. I had to walk today to work, so on my way I took a few pics. 

30th of October 

Today started nice and warmish as the sun came out pushing the chilling weather of the night away. 

If there's nothing else that would get mentioned  as showcasing the autumnal colours, acers would. Look at those colours, isn't that just fab? While the sun was shining, I could go out and do a bit of tidying up in the big greenhouse. Inside the greenhouse was nice and warm. Last of the cucs and one aubergine is the very last crop of the season. They are still blooming just like the chillies, I gave them a little trim and maybe, just maybe if the winter will be mild enough they'll crop again. 

Nature In My Garden 2023

SEPTEMBER

I was weeding and planting some spring flowers in pots when these 2 grasshoppers  jump on my garden shoes and decided to have some fun. Sheeeesh 😜😁😊

In July's post I've written about the Mason Wasp that found home in my greenhouse under a tray, so today I've checked under the tray, well not really under, because the tray is transparent (was chicken breast in it before, and now it's a tray for my pots) it showed the 2 Mason Wasp cells, where the larvae is feeding on caterpillars, growing big and strong. 

The top pics show the Mason Wasp cells, the other pics are just visiting other wildlife (hover flies, a very drunk on nectar bee, tortoiseshell butterfly). 

This is Charlotte, as I named her, she's a garden orb spider. Very useful little thing to have in one's garden. I spotted today a grey and a brown one. 

My Garden 2023

September

2nd of September

As Autumn draws in my garden is still producing amazing crops. Chillies will be strung up on a long twine and dried. Last year ones are going to be ground in chilli flakes.

I spite of foggy mornings and weeds my garden still looks amazing and produces delightful crops. 

Took those pics today (4th of Sept) just as the fog was lifting my hubby pointed out a spiderweb on his car mirror. Later on when got home managed to take the other ones. The toms are chocolate cherry and the cuc was one I've missed the other day. 

7th of September

Once summer crops like tomatoes are near finished for the season, there's plenty of empty space to fill up with some veg that we'd use during autumn and winter. Also it's still the time to sow some perennials. 

Today I sow winter cauliflower, cabbage, corn salad and perpetual spinach and some leftover onion sets. They'll grow on in the greenhouses along with some carrots, radishes, lettuce and onion sets. I've never grew these things in the greenhouses, but it seems to me such a waste to leave so much space empty during autumn and winter. Even better since our winters are still mild I'd be able to grow some veg and experiment with other. Of course I'd be covering thesmall greenhouse with bubble wrap and create a greenhouse in the greenhouse (more about this on a later date), which works amazingly well. Also my little wonder on a vine, as I call this lil fruit of lufa seems to be growing. 😁😊

9th September

Planting, sowing, harvesting continues inspire of the heat wave we are having (not complaining, it's great). Last of the tomatoes were harvested, the vines discarded, the green tomatoes will be ripening inside. Also had a "huge" crop of pop corn and sweet corn (see pic of the popcorn). 😂🌽🍿. I might get a handful of popcorn out of that cob. Sweetcorn did great this year, we had a few cobs of those too which were boiled and smothered with butter. I also harvested the last of my runner beans as I have enough in the freezer to last me through winter. Also harvested aubergines and made my usual summer curry with chicken. Also had some old runner beans that are good only for seeds, they'll be sowed into pots, they when strong enough into their final spot in the raised beds next year. 

Perennial seedling and seed sowing continues in the greenhouse with some frozen coke. That makes life a bit easier. 

The weather person says heatwave slowly getting to the end, and few showers will be possible in places. That's ok, I suppose, as long as we still get a bit of warmth. Let the cold creep in starting with November. Wishful thinking, we'll see. 

15th September 

Overcast was today and bit on the chilly side. I saw some sparrow fledglings perched on the fence, parents still feeding them. I wonder if they'd get strong and fat enough to survive the migration? Most of the sparrows are gone, I think. These must be the last round of that pair's chicks. Poor things... I hope Autumn will be kind and provide enough food for them to survive and get strong enough to endure their rough journey. 

However things noticeably are changing in my garden too. Tomatoes in the big greenhouse have finished cropping. Vines removed, leftover green toms, now, are ripening inside. In the small greenhouse there are still toms cropping their hearts out. 

The tomatoes shoots I cut from the toms in the big greenhouse have nice roots now. They'll be planted Monday, and with a bit of luck they'll give me a crop or 2, before the frost destroys them. Some of the winter veg seeds are up and growing happily. So are the green onion sets, and the autumn cropping raspberries are full of huge fruit. 

Some of the perennial seedlings got planted in their own pots, where they'll stay over winter. I noticed 2 strong, bushy basil plants, leftovers from the basil I planted with the toms, so I left them in situ, and I'll use the leaves when I need them. The little luffa and the aubergines still growing, especially the aubergines still producing fruit. 

Resin Art

So after a few years of break from this craft I've picked it up again. Can't wait to show my new creations to you.

I'm going to use some of my tatted creations, dried flowers, beads, coffee and seeds that way over their germination date. 

My creations for now are a bracelet with golden flakes, a coaster and 2 Christmas baubles with tatted lace and golden flakes. 

More to follow... 😜