Mike & Sue's Garden Diary

Cherries!!!

2009-07-07T12:12:00.000+01:00

Surprise!!!

2007-04-02T23:35:00.000+01:00

If you poke your nose in here every now and then you might find one or two posts to keep you up with what is going on in the garden!!!

2005-11-28T22:22:00.000Z

We had a sprinkling of snow this morning so obviously I had to rush out and catch it before it disappeared.

2005-11-21T21:45:00.000Z

Things are really looking rather murky this morning.

2005-11-21T21:44:00.000Z

The shed nestles beneath a blanket of Paul's Himalayan Musk.

2005-11-19T22:12:00.000Z

There was the thickest covering of ice yet on the pond this morning. The goldfish seems to be doing fine underneath it all!

2005-11-19T22:11:00.000Z

Who left their toy in the garden last night???

2005-11-19T22:10:00.000Z

The frost really brings out the delicate structure of the ferns.

2005-11-19T22:09:00.001Z

Here is another frosted frond.

2005-11-19T22:09:00.000Z

Delicate but very beautiful.

2005-11-19T22:08:00.000Z

These perished in the night after only one day of frosted glory.

2005-11-17T22:39:00.000Z

The Bizzie Lizzies were fringed with frost as I went down the garden to check the pond this morning.

2005-11-17T22:38:00.001Z

Here is a close up.

2005-11-17T22:38:00.000Z

The teasel heads are exploding with frost.

2005-11-17T22:37:00.000Z

The pond is full of water again at last. I didn't get any netting over in time and already one pear has made it to the bottom. It was refreshing to see the reflections - most of the summer there has been very little visible water surface due to the fairy fern.

2005-11-15T22:46:00.000Z

The pear (Doyenne de Comice) is full of fruit and ready for picking. We haven't had a lot of success with pears. Last year's were lovely and juicy and ripe but up 'til then they have had a habit of withering rather than ripening....any advice anyone???

2005-11-15T22:44:00.000Z

You can see how much rain there has been lately....

2005-11-15T22:42:00.000Z

...but the sole surviving goldfish is making itself at home with some of the relocated plants in a container.

2005-11-15T22:41:00.000Z

...and I have got the stepping stones back in place at last. As of the time of writing they feel rock solid.

2005-11-01T23:24:00.000Z

Re below, above the waterline some of the plants are still getting on with being evergreen and brightening the place up a bit.

2005-11-01T23:00:00.000Z

The pond is now completely empty and I've sortedout the plants temporarily. I split the irises into several clumps and got rid of the invasive stuff I got from a pond at school. It was in everything.

2005-11-01T22:58:00.000Z

I got the mortar off the top of the supports ready to have another go with the stepping stones, but.....

2005-11-01T22:56:00.000Z

I made up a bag of ready-mix mortar I had in the shed but I couldn't use it as I put too much water in it.

2005-10-31T15:24:00.000Z

The pond has turned into a disaster zone whilst we've been away. I took this a few days ago but when I went to have a look this morning it was a smelly mess with a thin oily fim coating the water. I can't see any Rudd and thewre is one comet goldfish sniffing about on the surface. The pond needs draining and cleaning. I will replace the missing paving stones at the same time all being well.

2005-10-31T15:21:00.000Z

The job is well under way!

2005-10-31T15:20:00.000Z

How sad to see such a beautiful creature in such a condition.

2005-10-22T13:58:00.000+01:00

Sometimes you just gotta stop & smell the roses!

2005-10-22T13:57:00.001+01:00

Here is the usual view for comparison.

2005-10-22T13:57:00.000+01:00

The seed heads of the 'Bear's Britches' are making it a bit difficult to walk down the garden at the moment but are adding a bit of a sculptural aspect to that end of the bed. The new foliage is coming up lovely and freah at the moment - unlike the slug -molested stuff we have been tolerating all Summer.

2005-10-22T13:53:00.000+01:00

We are very pleased with our new back gate.

2005-10-22T13:52:00.000+01:00

The baskets are still giving Sue a lot of satisfaction toward the end of October. A lot of them have had a real growth spurt since we cut down the huge Berberis and gave them a lot more light. (I knew we should have done it years ago!)

2005-10-22T13:50:00.000+01:00

The Rudbeckia are soldiering on.

2005-10-22T13:49:00.000+01:00

We cut back this Verbascum hard a few weeks ago - it looked over but it is covered in flowers now.

2005-10-22T13:48:00.000+01:00

The seed heads of Clematis (?will look it upo I've forgotten!) add a lot of Autumnal interest.

2005-10-22T13:45:00.000+01:00

Sorry this one is a bit 'arty' but the reds were already quite saturated so I just went for it!

Penstemon

2005-10-19T00:43:00.000+01:00

The Penstemon Mum a s id florishinf at the moment.

2005-09-04T20:35:00.001+01:00

The Rudbeckia 'Goldsturm' make a real splash of colour at this time of year.

2005-09-04T20:35:00.000+01:00

We have a lot of lovely looking pears again this year (Doyenne Du Comice). We always seem to have a bit of trouble getting them to ripen rather than wrinkle so if anyone out there has any advice please let us know!

Bloomin' Buddlia

2005-07-19T01:06:00.000+01:00

The Buddlia is in full bloom but so far there haven't been many butterflies this year.

2005-07-18T23:31:00.000+01:00

Well you couldn't call it barren...

2005-06-27T21:39:00.000+01:00

This little rose in a container is making a real comeback this year.

2005-06-18T21:19:00.000+01:00

Thats my girl!

2005-06-18T21:18:00.000+01:00

That view again!

2005-06-18T21:15:00.000+01:00

This is Sue's faveourite.

2005-06-18T21:14:00.000+01:00

Roses and ferns aren't a bad combination!

2005-06-11T20:19:00.000+01:00

Paul's Himalayan Musk is coming out now so watch this space...

2005-06-06T23:58:00.000+01:00

This view is definaely improving.

2005-05-19T20:16:00.000+01:00

... a

2005-05-17T23:37:00.000+01:00

This Clematis as never produced quite such beautiful flowers before.

2005-05-17T23:35:00.000+01:00

Another lovely fern...

More Montana

2005-05-16T23:50:00.000+01:00

I couldn't resist posting this one as well!

Who is That Strange Man?

2005-05-15T20:24:00.000+01:00

Do you ever get the feeling people have forgotten who you are and are wondering what you're doing in their garden? Actually we've done some great work potting up today. The compost from the compost bin is scrumptious.

Montana Alba

2005-05-14T23:09:00.000+01:00

The white flowers of Clematis Montana Alba are perhaps the most exquisite of all.

Rose Disaster

2005-05-14T23:08:00.000+01:00

The rose by the back door (Mme Alfred Carriere, I believe) blew over today and swamped the back of the house....

Wonder Woman

2005-05-14T23:06:00.000+01:00

Sue did a brilliant job of sorting it out....

Roses Everywhere!

2005-05-14T23:05:00.000+01:00

...and there are compensations such as bowls and vases of beautiful roses all over the house.

Marigolds & Ferns etc

2005-05-14T09:40:00.000+01:00

Things are still looking good down the bottom end. The Marsh Marigolds just seem to be going on and on this year.

Montana Rubens

2005-05-11T23:26:00.000+01:00

The Clematis flowers are as beautiful individually as they are in large numbers.

Ravishing Rhododendron

2005-05-09T23:21:00.000+01:00

This is my favourits Rhododendron. If I can find the label I'll let you know what its name is. As far as I remember it was something along the lines of "Fairy's Petticoats" or something similarly revolting. Sad to say I've just made that one up off the top of me 'ead which is pretty disturbing really.....

Montana Update

2005-05-09T23:16:00.000+01:00

The pink Montana at the bottom end is still going strong.

Pond Progress

2005-05-01T22:21:00.000+01:00

The pond has sprung to life with the Marsh Marigolds the best they have ever been. Must fill in that space by the 'toadstools. It did have the bronze fronded fern but it looks a bit out of sorts at thre moment.

Ferns & Marsh Marigolds

2005-05-01T22:20:00.000+01:00

The ferns are unfurling gloriously!

Apple Blossom

2005-05-01T22:19:00.000+01:00

The apple blossom is breathtaking individually or en masse.

Pink Montana

2005-05-01T22:18:00.000+01:00

The pink Montana is coming into its own now.

2005-05-01T22:17:00.000+01:00

This view is definately improving as time goes on.

2005-04-23T14:40:00.000+01:00

The ferns ire really getting going now.

Tadpole Haiku

2005-04-10T23:51:00.000+01:00

Today tadpoles irrupted

Into the dark pond.

As hungry goldfish circled.

Dog DIY

2005-04-10T01:31:00.000+01:00

Cora was a big help with the Pergola!

Frond Cutting

2005-04-07T00:47:00.000+01:00

This is the time when I cut back all the tatty fronds from the evegreen ferns and expose the tight russet crown rich with promise for the coming year. Seriously, I do find the unpacking of the fronds each spring to be one of the most awe-inspiring aspects of the garden (or indeed countryside).

Initial View Revisited (1)

2005-04-07T00:20:00.000+01:00

Is this an improvement from the same view in January?

Crozier Unfurling

2005-04-07T00:19:00.000+01:00

This is a marvellous time of year for ferns with the croziers unfurling majestically in the Spring sunshine.

Perennial Splitting

2005-04-07T00:17:00.000+01:00

I've done bit more on the splitting and replanting perennials front this year.

Blackbird R.I.P.

2005-03-30T02:01:00.000+01:00

We were all very sad about the Blackbird. They were building a nest in the Clematis.

Frog Action

2005-03-22T00:16:00.000Z

The frogs have been much in evidence in the pond today. They are croaking throatily. We think they are Marsh Frogs rather than Common Frogs.

Frogspawn

2005-03-22T00:14:00.000Z

There is plenty of spawn as well.

Vinca Major

2005-03-02T22:52:00.000Z

The Periwinkle (Vinca Major) is flowering well this year for the first time. (This and the Christmas Rose image were taken toward the end of February.)

Christmas Rose Update

2005-03-02T22:50:00.000Z

The Christmas Rose has been in flower constantly since the last post, and as you can see it is still going strong.

The Christmas Rose

2005-01-27T00:57:00.000Z

The Christmas Rose in the front garden is covered in buds & flowers.

2005-01-21T06:37:00.000Z

(14.1.05) Things look bleak now but will get better......

20th Jan 2005:Pebble Patch & Ferns (Image)

2005-01-20T21:58:00.000Z

The ferns are still in pretty reasonable condition due to the relatively wet Summer and mild Winter. I'll cut all the fronds back when the new croziers begin to develop in the Spring.

20th Jan 2005: Pond border with Grasses & Ferns. (Image)

2005-01-20T21:55:00.000Z

The Fairy Fern in the pond hasn't died back yet, though it has turned ruddy as it should when exposed to low temperatures.

20th Jan 2005: Why is it so darn wet?

2005-01-20T21:20:00.000Z

The rain it raineth every day at the moment and no-one is singing about it. The garden is Wet Wet Wet with no immediate respite on the horizon.

As luck would have it we're away Youth Hostelling in Eskdale this weekend so we wouldn't have got anything done anyway. (Not that there are many jobs at the moment but I really should have cut down the remnants of the catmint by now.)

Nearly every post from me (Mike) will include a photograph but as this is the beginning I thought I'd just get on with it. I am intending to give Sue co-authorship of this blog (how very generous) so be prepared for the sound of ideologies clashing on the subject of pruning amongst other things. Happily, we do seem to have common goals - it's just the route which is under 'discussion' on occasion!