Friday, December 31, 2010

End of Year 2010

The end of this year looms.  Tonight the magic happens, and we move into 2011.  Looking back through my blog it is exciting to see what adventures I have had in my garden.  All the recipes, the good, the bad, and the ho hum. 

Artichokes have featured well! 

We have not done so much "hard" work as in previous years.  Building of garden beds and paths were mostly in place, so it was nice to focus on the growing of plants. 

Now we are in Amberley and new gardening adventures await...I'll keep you posted. 

May 2011 bring you health, happiness and many happy gardening hours.

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

A Dilemma

So, we have moved to Amberley. All packed, all transported, mostly unpacked, well....almost mostly unpacked.   My garden is in the unknown hands of our well meaning tenants.  I have left the raspberries to their fate, and the boysenberry.  Please let them be kind to the roses, and tend to the compost, and remember to water the veges.

Amberley.  What is there here.  A large piece of lawn, and overgrown, grassed over flower garden and half a path.  I say "half a path" because when we first moved in there was no path, but a few paving stones visible at the back door, the rest was grass.  Or appeared to be grass.  A few slides of the shovel and more paving stones revealed themselves, then more, and then a whole half a path and a halfround of patio.  Like the Lost Gardens of Heligan, a path almost brought back to life.  I just need to spend a little more time.

The only other thing of any note is a large Grapefruit tree covered in glorious ripe grapefruits.  A small blessing amid such inauspicious beginnings.

First there was a school "fair" at Montana-Rose's school.  Tomato plants for $4.  I put in 6....Then I bought some of that basil "planted and ready to eat" which has been nurtured under lights and has only put it's roots down into hydroponic waters.    I stood fast and divided them up, and planted them into *gasp*, soil!  Their tops droop, and their insipid foliage looks very unhappy exposed to the elements.  But.....wait....I'll keep you updated.