Well, where do I start.
Sheffield is a total disaster area after the floods of the last few days.
I'd say we got off fairly lightly, with rain water pouring down the path from another garden. It was a positive river, and the grids couldn't cope so we ended up with water lapping over the back step into what we call, with a touch of irony, the "Sun Porch".
The grids kept blocking with debris and so I had to literally wade out and unblock them. The first time was when I discovered that there was a crack in the top of my wellies. Three pairs of wet socks later, I decided that when the storms abate I would buy some Crocs Wellies. This I have now done. They are fuschia pink. I dare say I loook ridiculous in them, but what they hell, they keep my bone dry and are comfortable, although they did feel a bit odd at first as they are so light. I got a free bag with them too. Good oh.
We have been threatened with more flooding this weekend so have taken evasive action this time.
I spent yesterday afternoon digging trenches to help the standing water drain away. It worked well, but I am as stiff as a board today!.
I also cleared all the debris left behind last time off the paths and unblocked all the grids.
Am wondering if it is reasonable to ask the bloke whose garden is at right angles to the bottom of ours to do something about the pond which overflows into mine and causes the problems.
The poor hens got flooded at the lower ends of their runs, but they did have dry ground to stand and look at the rain from.
Might get some sandbags and try to stop it running into my garden (and house!)
Very public spiritedly I unblocked the drain on the road so that water will flow away apres le deluge.
Crops wise I have picked about a dozen strawberries, a carrot and an onion. The last 2 just to see how they were going on. The strawbs and carrot were delicious.
Oh my word....the rain!!!!
Unrelenting for 24 hours.....and raining stair rods!
The garden is awash, with lakes and puddles everywhere......and we can look forward to another 24 hours of it!
Went to the garden centre yesterday intending to buy a saw to get rid of a very old Cotoneaster (sp?) which is pushing a wall over and I hate the sight of it anyway, and an ancient rose bush which has gone back to root stock, is hideous and attacks anyone who ventures past it.
Came out with some loppers and two chilli pepper plants which they were selling off at a quid apiece.
Anyway the loppers are brilliant and am pleased I got them instead.
Keep looking at the wall and thinking I might have a go at rebuilding it myself, especially as I was watching the gardener at work rebuild a smallish one. She said it was like doing a jigsaw puzzle on a grander scale so I might have a bash. It can't look any worse than it does now.
Rang Green Thumb today for a quote. The lawns are desperate.......in fact they are best described as weed patches. My pal Angela uses Green Thumb and hers looks fab so I thought I'd see what they have to say.
There is so much I want to tackle out there.......but this rain is horendous.....and I left my wellies outside and they now have at least an inch of water in them. Drat.
My peas and potatoes are flowering!!
Well to be exact, there is one flower on a pea plant but quite a few on the spuds.
Wasted an hour of my day yesterday "rethreading" the strimmer, which does an adequate job but I have to stop literally every 7 mins to sort it out. Grrr. I have so much more tidying to do that I am going to get a new one. Life is to short to have to keep stopping to rethread a strimmer.
Miracle of miracles....the lawn mower started first time yesterday!. The severe talking to it received last week must have made an impression!
Have used the Mantis Tiller on one of the weed choked borders. It does a good job but I have to keep stopping as it rattles your bones a bit.
Don't want to crock myself up.
Fab weather today. Plan to spend it pottering in the garden.
It's a bit early to be disturbing the neighbours so I thought I'd upload a few pics
2nd left shows Grow Bag thingy with 3 different types of Tomato plants and 2 Marigolds as I thought I'd give the companion planting idea a try. Must remember to tie the structure to the fence as I don't want it to blow over.
Pics 3 & 4 left are to show my containers by the front door. They are very pretty and I am rather pleased with them.
The last 2 pics show 2 of my Link-a-bord raised beds which just have Peas and Dwarf French Beans so far.
I have 2 Butternut Squash plants to put in today.
Weather fab this weekend.
Got lots of tidying up type jobs done.
The peas and dwarf beans are coming on a treat. Have to protect them from those bloomin' collared doves though!
Spuds doing nicely too, with the earlies beginning to flower. Noticed some nibbled leaves and a tell tale silver trail in one of the bags. Knowing my luck the spuds will be eaten and holey when it comes to unveiling them!
Harvested my first crop on Sunday...half a dozen radishes. Forgot to take a picture though! They were lovely and peppery. Will plant some more.
Just thought I'd post an image of Madeleine and her beautiful distinctive eyes and to ask any readers to click on the link to the website dedicated to the search for her. Look here
The Bank Holiday Weekend was a complete washout! Grrrr. Had planned to do so much in the garden.
Managed to plant out some peas and dwarf french beans but that's all. My poor hens are miserable although I did let them play out yesterday whilst I pottered.
Found the Nemaslug in the end.....on a bookshelf in the sitting room. Can't imagine how I came to put them there! Strictly speaking they should have been stored in the fridge. I made them up and administered them as per the instructions so I'll just have to hope for the best.
Spuds are coming on a treat. Have stopped earthing them up as there is no more room in the bags.
Spent most of Tuesday sorting out the bare patches on what we laughingly call the lawn! It is in fact a large area of moss, clover, buttercups and dandelions...but when you've got 2 strapping lads who still want to play footie on it with their mates from time to time is their any point re-turfing?
Had to go to B&Q first as we didn't have a rake. The Mantis Tiller had made a very good job of rotovating the soil into a very fine tilth, but it needed raking smooth.....and that took absolutely ages, especially in the bigger patch, which was criss crossed with tree roots, which I have snipped out.....well....they were in the way.
I sprinkled the seed and watered it in and rigged up a bird scaring arrangement with old CD's....I knew the Gary Glitter compilation would come in useful one day! .......and so far so good!
Am still reeling with dizziness and had to come away from the garden centre as all the visual thingies were making it worse. I came away with some slug tape and 2 lupins so not a completely wasted journey.
I ordered some nematodes and they came a few days ago but am buggered if I can remember where I put them. Damn. I'm convinced that I've got a brain tumour but Him Indoors comforted me with the words "you can't have a tumour in an organ you haven't got".
Gary the builder is back...lovely bloke but his singing! Am glad to be out in the garden let's put it like that.
Spent most of yesterday in the garden....which I have neglected for the last few days.....have had labyrinthitis and have been reeling and lurching about the place like a sit com drunk. Absolutely horrible. Still feel a bit weird.
Update on the Mantis Tiller.....It's very good but takes a bit of practice. the first time I used it I overdid it massively and got tremors so badly that I couldn't hold a cup of tea for about an hour....and the next day my arms and shoulders were so stiff....I couldn't hoover! What a shame.
It does a very good job, and reduces the soil to a very fine tilth. The secret is to do 15 mins or so at a time......and build up your strength. It's amazing how much you can achieve in 15 mins though.
Re the green house disaster....I rescued as many plants as I can, and have re sown more. Interestingly....because I've been laid up with the labyrinthitis....I didn't get chance to clear up the pile of mud and seeds that resulted......and lots of determined little plants have continued to grow, uncovered and higgledy piggledy in the heap.....must give them a chance and will transplant them.
Vis a Vis the rat.....I bought lots of bait boxes off Ebay and set them strategically, and there has been no sign of digging around the Eglu's for over a week......so fingers crossed.
Disaster has struck!!!!!
My poor little greenhouse thingy has been blown over by really gusty wind.
I had weighed it down with 3 heavy boulders but the wind was so strong that it made no difference whatsoever. Most of my seedlings have been lost or damaged. Have managed to rescue some, but they mostly have come out of their pots or lost their label sticks, so even if they do survive, I won't know what they are. Buggeration.
Have re-sewn runner beans, mange tout, dwarf french and french climbing beans in some of those little peat sack whatsits that look like tea bags. Will just have to hope for the best. Am Sooooo disappointed.
Am so hopeless at keeping this blog up to date.
Spent all yesterday working in the garden....most of it clearing an path so overgrown you'd have been hard pressed to tell it was there if you didn't already know. Have done a good job...am pleased. Only two thirds clear though...will need a couple more hours work. Shoulders and arms veeeerrrry stiff and sore today!
Mowed the lawns yesterday too. Have two mowers....a petrol one with which I have a love hate relationship. I find it very hard to start and usually have to ask one of my sons to pull the cord thingy. I also have an electric mower, which starts easily, but I have to unravel miles of cable as the lawns are fairly big, and wind them up again afterwards which is a pain, and last year I mowed over the cable (accidentley of course) whilst mowing the grass verge outside the property. I was so engrossed with observing a full scale argument between two star crossed lovers over the road that I wasn't paying attention and cut the cable. Even though we have one of those cut out thingy's, it still threw me over the road practically and I had a distinctly funny feeling in my hands, arms and chest. Consequently I'm now very nervous about using it!
Bought an AZADA last week.It is VERY good.Cost £26. Much easier to use than a spade, and nothing like as hard on your back. Just the blade was wrapped in brown paper and covered with stamps. The Postman rang the bell and said "I feel like the bloody Grim Reaper stood standing here with this in my hand!" I cleared (roughly) all the front borders in about a hour with it (would have taken a day with a spade) and a largish area in the back. It will need fine tuning with a hoe, but has made the job much easier.
Have also ordered a MANTIS TILLER . I really want to get the garden organised. I absolutely love it when it looks neat and tidy and cared for, but I have neither the time nor the strength to achieve what I want without "assistance".
Veges are coming along nicely in the little plastic greenhouse thingy. Have also now got a cold frame too.
One tray of seedlings has lost its label and I cant for the life of me remember what it is!. Shall enjoy the surprise at harvest time!
Will try harder to keep this up to date....although I suspect that I only have one reader....Me!
