Apology

My last post began with an apology as must this one.  Unfortunately when I was busy carping about this and that last time I hadn't given any thought to the people who had done all the hard work so that I could have a great day out touring round other folks gardens. Sadly my criticisms were very much taken to heart by one of the organisers and when I reread my piece I should  have worded it very differently.  I did email her to apologise and she was kind enough to accept my apologies but I thought I should at least share that with you.  The following are a couple of snippets from my two emails to her:

I am very sorry that what I said has upset you and that was certainly not my intention.  I reread what I wrote and realised it could have been phrased better.  With your permission I will copy this email to you as a post in my blog as a public apology for being so nit-picky.  I thought the trail was wonderful and I had a lovely day and it is all thanks to people like yourself and others who spend a huge amount of their time organising these things.  Without such folk all this sharing of our gardens would simply not happen and it is such a great thing to do.  I hope you are able to accept my apology and my huge thanks for all your hard work.

As for my not using the contact numbers I suppose I was doing the overly British thing of not liking to bother people.  As I said we found eight gardens out of fourteen in our bumbling fashion.  Please don't let minor carping discourage you from your endeavours.

Please don't get fed up with doing it because there are chumps like me whose mouths run away with their brains!

Edenfield Garden Trail

I think I'd better start with an apology to those of you who did the Edenfield Garden trail thanks to my recommending it.  Not that it wasn't absolutely great BUT the gardens were a pig to find!

I am sure the map and details in the leaflet were written by local people for other local people and perhaps they don't want all and sundry turning up (?) but for anyone who didn't know the area pretty well (like me and mine) it didn't help.  The numbers marking the gardens covered too big an area to easily locate the house and inside the leaflet we didn't have any actual addresses or post codes to use the GPS.  We spent a lot of time (two times) looking for number 14 for example but gave up on it eventually.  My only handy tip for next time (2014!) is to ask at each house for directions to the next one.

The upside of this (?) was that we and (at least) four other people managed to look round someone's very huge posh garden and they weren't even on the trail.  I haven't posted the photos I took there.  I was a good girl and deleted them.

We had a lovely day having a good old nose around other people's (legitimate) gardens.  I just love it. You get new ideas, compare how they and you do the same thing, discover new (to you) plants - I bought three mystery ones!  Good to be humbled when you think you know everything.  Satisfying though as the 'owner' didn't know what they were either.  I'll post a photo when I get a chance between the raindrops to actually take one.

That reminds me we were crazy-lucky with the weather - the sun managed to shine; it wasn't especially warm but it was dry all day.  What more could we ask for in these monsoon conditions.  I think Edenfield is noted as being a cold area.

We only managed eight of the fourteen houses; time and legs wore out.  I have suggested via one of the gardeners on the trail that maybe the committee might consider spreading it over two days.  I felt particularly sorry for the folks at the end of the numbering system as I think many people follow the recommended route and may not make it to them after all their hard work. I hope that's not the case.  I also hope their numbers got a bit of a boost from you two hundred or so readers.  If we don't support this stuff it will disappear and that would be so sad on so many levels.  I do notice that the majority of people who visit gardens are of a mature age.  This is perfectly logical , they have the time and less other commitments to free them up for doing it but we all need to keep it going for the next generation (and the next) to grow into it. 

For anyone however lightly interested in gardens it is a real pleasure to see garden designs and their planting and a huge variety of lifestyles from the very grand to the very small.  You meet lovely (like-minded) people full of enthusiasm if you want to talk to them and ask questions and share knowledge.  Best of all for the significant other who gets dragged around with you there is always the yummiest of cakes and a drink for just a few pennies.  For the plantaholic many people sell and even give away plants to pop in your own bit of heaven to remind you of a nice day out.  All of this will also be supporting a myriad of charities so you get to feel good about handing over your money.

We had lunch at the Eagle and Child.  Take a minute and click the link.  It was the first time for us there so we had no idea of the trade they do.  Being Sunday, it was very busy.  This did mean a 30 minute wait for a table (we hadn't booked) but it worked out well for us as we were waiting for a friend to join us.  The food was excellent, offering something different to the usual pub grub and at a good price.  You may be wondering why am I telling you this in a garden blog?  If you click on the link you'll see why.

I think their garden project is just brilliant and I will be going back in the week some time to take some cloches and a small greenhouse (and other  bits and bobs)  I won't be needing any more.

I have added just a handful of the photos of the day in its own album.  Edenfield Garden Trail.  So, if you went, they will remind you of happy places and if you didn't it will give you a flavour of the very different gardens you can see and encourage you to try it next time.

How to pick peas in the rain

Being totally cheesed off with the rain I decided this was the way to pick peas.  I went out and pulled up the plants and picked off the pods indoors.  Besides the obvious advantage of being in the dry I discovered another one - it was so easy to find the pods.   I pulled off stems and held them upside down and all the peas hung down like grapes on a vine.  Simple as a pimple! This led me to considering growing them from hanging baskets next year - seriously.


This method wasn't as drastic as it appears as the plants were ready for yanking out any way.  They've done their thing.  I got a couple of pounds off them - fine for us two.


Now if I could only do this for the rhubarb I want.....  on which note, this is supposed to be the last picking for rhubarb according to the 'experts' (from the South!).  I pick on for another month before letting it 'rest' up before the winter.  If I didn't it would be a very short season up here.


As I am giving up the veggie patch at the end of this year I am eyeing up the utility area for a few veggies.  The house wall is reasonably sunny but the pots would do better if they were lifted off the ground as it has the fence about 10 feet away which makes for a lot of ground shadow later in the day.  I am thinking of three foot high shelving and considering where I could  hang some baskets maybe - I'll let you know when plans gel.  The down side is that the bin collection would have to swap sides which puts them more in sight.... I hate them sooo much.  How I wish I could hide them cheaply.

Rain damage

I thought I would share a bit of the damage the rain has done to my garden so far this summer in hopes it might make you feel better about yours.

This is the worst basket ever!  I do one every year and by now it is pretty impressive.  This year the plants are just struggling to just stay alive never mind growing.  They haven't developed that much in a month of being planted.

This is the same north facing side of the house and all this border has been killed by simply being swamped with rain.  Like an idiot I have just replanted it.  Talk about optimist!

As for sweet peas!  If Monty Blooming Don reminds me one more time to remember to keep picking sweet peas so they keep flowering I swear we will be one television less.  I planted these in the greenhouse in March and moved them on in May (?) and outside in June.  They have barely changed since then.  Admittedly they are a small tumbling variety, but if these ever manage tumble I will be astounded.

This makes me so sad.  This is the little Noisette rose on the patio which I just love.  It is usually smothered in roses all summer and smells delicious.  Thanks to the rain the flowers are all rotting in bud.  I did cut them all off yesterday so it looks clean and tidy and there is a promise of a second flush but it won't be anything like as spectacular as it usually is.

Finally on the up side....

..... the lavender has done really well and looks and smells terrific.  Maybe the house protects it from a lot of the rain (?) and it is South facing and surrounded by brick and concrete slabs so does get whatever heat there is.

Nevertheless it does seem odd.  If there's one thing lavender doesn't like it is boggy ground.

I'm not sure if this photo shows clearly what I wanted it to show - maybe I'll do it again in another couple of months and see where its up to.  Meanwhile what I wanted you to see was the tomato plant outside the greenhouse (in the small pot) v. the plants inside the greenhouse.  The inside ones are four times bigger (so far!).  They are all the same tomato, planted at the same time.  I just decided to try one outside to see how it went.  Think I have my answer.  You need cover for decent tomatoes up here or at least a warm, sheltered, sunny spot - which I really don't have.  We seem to be high up in relation of the rest of the houses and catch every wind there is.  It is very nice on a really hot day.  Raucous laughter is heard.

There are some more general photos added to the web album  if you want to check them out.

Here comes the usual appeal....

I started this blog 30 June 2010.  I know that a couple of hundred (plus) people visit it each month.  Please use it to share thoughts, tips, moans.  Even more so if you live and garden in Bury it would be great if you would share anything Bury related - like where the bargains are, plants and places to avoid etc.  That was why I did it.

On that note, just to remind you that the garden trail is this weekend (see the previous post).  I'll be there if the weather is half way decent.

Details of the gardens to visit

I have further details of the Edenfield open gardens.  Talk about efficient - one phone call and a couple of days later I got a leaflet which I've copied here.


If you need each page larger so it is easier to read or you want to print it out, just click on the photo.


Tickets are available from the Edenfield Community Centre, off Exchange Street,  which is circled on the map. 


If we get the weather for it, it should be a great day out.

Remember the sunshine?

You probably won't be able to remember by now but a couple of Sundays ago (17th June) we actually had a fine day and husband, friend and I did a village NGS.  These are great ones to do as you get a full day out and lots of very different gardens.  On this occasion we visited Bretherton (Chorley(ish)) to see five gardens.  Our day included a good pub lunch and, later,  a delightful quintessentially English tea in the church hall.  We even had a trip round the church next door and a natter to some real characters.  A good day was had by all.  Apologies for not sharing this experience in advance with you but it was a last minute decision for us as the sun was actually shining!  Have a look at the web album and you'll get a flavour of the day.  They are open again on 15th July and 2nd September so you don't need to wait for next year to visit them.


Meanwhile to make up for keeping this one to myself let me give you a heads up for two really good ones.



The first one on the 15th July is:


Edenfield and District Horticultural Society
Garden Trail Sunday 15th July 10.30am to 4.00pm Tickets £3.00
 14 Gardens Edenfield Stubbins Chatterton Irwell Vale
Tickets Anne Partington 01706 827012 Lynne Longworth 01706 829062


I rang the Anne Partington number and he (!) is sending me a map which I'll share with you when I get it.  Meanwhile, for sure, one of my favourite gardens is on the trail and you can certainly pick up a ticket there.  I am pretty sure you will be able to start on any garden and do any and all as you like but one not to miss is Lavinia Tod's, 1 School Court, Ramsbottom.


Here's a link to some photos I took in 2010.


The second is on the  21st and 22nd July:


Jefferson and Susan's Open Garden 2012

Please find below information on this year's Open Garden
The wonderful Grace O'Malley has agreed to sing for us - not to be missed!
The garden has matured somewhat and we have done new things around the garden particularly the large pond area.
If you would like to help: we are short of all sorts of Homemade Cakes - and Staff to help our guests around the garden,
Please call Jefferson or Susan Conway on 01706 213934. Thanks

Jefferson & Susan’s
Open Garden for Charity
21 & 22 July 12 – 5pm
23 Dalesford Haslingden Rossendale BB4 6QH

We have a young but very interesting garden on many levels
English and Mediterranean Style, Long Borders and Interesting Features.
Japanese Garden, Outdoor Chess, Ponds.
Steel Sculptures and Art Studio.

Special  Singing  Sensation  Grace O’Malley

We are supporting:
Rochdale Hedgehog Rescue - Lancs Air Ambulance & The Smile Train
Please Donate £3.00 pp


Do NOT be fooled by the ordinary aspect at the front of the house when you arrive - the back garden is huge, astonishing and challenging and they have done a fantastic job. Can't wait to see it again this year.  


I have some photos from there taken in 2010, if you need a taster, in my web albums.  

Rain, rain go away....

Discovered a begonia in the hanging basket

I know it is the British disease - complaining about the weather, but really this is beyond a joke.  The rain is bad enough but it is freezing too.  So much for flaming June.


So, yes, not much to write as I haven't actually done any gardening.  I just thought I'd share a bargain, a reminder, some rogues and some photos with you so you know that I am still around.


The bargain -  Thompson and Morgan are offering 36 plug plants six each of six perrrenials for £4.90.  Basically, they promote them as free plants, you just pay the postage, hence the £4.90.  I have sent for them in hopes they will be OK.  I'll put them in the veg plot to grow on for next year and the new border.  That's the plan any way.

First Noisette rose of the year.

The reminder(s) - 15th today so it is my day for flinging (organic) slug pellets around.  I do it 15th of the month from February onwards come rain or shine.  Yes, I know its not so effective if it rains - though the organic ones are better for this - but when would they get done if we waited for sun?  This reminded me to remind you that the garden needs feeding here and there too if you want a good results.  I decided to simplify it by chucking chicken pellets around at the beginning of the season and then handfuls of 7-7-7 National Growmore at the end of every month.  It was far too confusing figuring out who needed what and when.  It is also pretty difficult in a small 'normal' garden to be feeding roses one way and the clematis another when they are planted cheek by jowl.  I need to remember it is a not-very-special garden and certainly not a show garden.  I also tied in my climbing roses - what a job that was.

One of the many ....

The rogues - every year I get a bundle of rogue poppies lifting their heads.  In year one of living here I planted some red oriental poppies in the bottom border (north facing).  Every year since I have pulled them up and even last year dug them up.  The next year they are back in an even bigger spread.  They are beautiful, tough and remarkable things.  The side borders have only ever had white or pink poppies planted.  This year I have the red ones there too.  I am certain oriental poppies are quite difficult to grow from seed and you generally propagate by root cuttings, so for this to have seeded itself somewhere else proves its durability.  I did read somewhere someone had weed killed for twelve years and still has poppies where she doesn't want them.  I will learn to live with them and not notice how the colours clash.  

Foxgloves from nowhere

My other rogues are the masses of foxgloves down the side of the patio which got there - heaven knows how.  Meanwhile in my borders I have just two survivors from many, many plantings each year.  Yup, just the two!


The photos - there are a few here and more in Garden 2012.  .... take a look at the two baskets on the trellis to help fill the space, a pretty little (beesianum) jasmine that's as tough as old boots and my lovely hanging basket, it is doing beautifully.