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Summer pruning fruit trees
It was time to prune my cherry and plum trees as the weather has warmed and their appearance was unruly to say the least. Stone fruit trees should be pruned in the warmer summer months as they are prone to infection in the winter when they can’t heal the cut wounds so well. This can…
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A tired brain, a hyper dog, confused weather and other ramblings
My brain can’t settle at the moment. I feel like I have 1001 thoughts whizzing through my head like a train that doesn’t stop at a station. I’m more tired than usual which explains my tired but over-active brain. The reason for this, I believe, is partly because of the house next door. I have…
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You can’t trust ants (they are in cahoots with the aphids!)
When I saw an aphid infestation on my willow tree, I thought to myself ‘don’t panic, there will be a biological control along soon enough’. When I saw the ants I thought the problem was solved. I was wrong. It turns out when you see something like this: It is a beautiful example of a…
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Making a fairy garden (part 1)
If you listened to this weeks episode of my podcast, you will know I have decided to turn part of the front garden into a fairy garden. There is a patch at the side which just has a lilac and bits and bobs and doesn’t look particularly pleasant. So, I got my thinking cap on…
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How am I supposed to grow with this?
I can’t stress enough how desperately I need to get my tomatoes and courgettes etc planted out – but – the weather, oh the weather. Ok, I know it’s a cliche that us Brits go on about the weather but if you’re not from here there are 2 things (probably more) that you need to…
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A Weekend of Garden Work
How can I work in the garden all weekend and still not be done? I ask myself that question as I sit, with tired arms and bits of dirt still in my eyes. I mean, I tidied the front as much as I could by cutting the grass, going round the edges a bit and…
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I don’t think I’m cut out for this
I think I’m designed for the country but I’m stuck in a town and some days it suffocates me. All I want is to hear natural sounds, smell the air around me as it should be. I love nothing more than being in the garden listening – it’s a whole different world and I yearn…
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Just Give Me Peace
I’m in the sunshine Finally. Surrounded by the daily battles of all my feathered friends. The sparrows fight for food, the crows squawk their daily news, the seagulls add to the natural orchestra. Just enjoying the peace. Then the music starts, the lawn mowers and that loud car that needs to be revved more than…
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Laziness or Divine Intervention?
If you’re a regular reader of this blog you’ll be aware of the issues I’ve had at the allotment this year. Of all the things I thought were problems caused by something I’d done, one that constantly niggled at the back of my brain, was the fact I hadn’t finished sewing a new zip onto…
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Why Didn’t I See It Before?
Our garden isn’t big – front or back. Our allotment is 10m x 20m – mental note to self to show you more photos of it. However, in the garden, I have planted several pots of herbs, veg and have tried to sow flower seeds wherever I can find a gap. What I’m finding though,…
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When Every Week Is A Rollercoaster!
Is it meant to be like this? One minute you’re up, the next you’ve been smacked in the face with a smelly dead fish – metaphorically speaking of course. We’re back to homeschool or Smarticus as we call it now as anything with the word ‘school’ in it has been banned by dear son. We’re…