An escape to the coast that sort of worked; an update on working life right now; looking beyond the drought; bee holes galore; allotment toms and more – it’s all in here and more besides.

Hi and welcome to my garden journal, a personal record of my place right now where gardens, gardening and nature are concerned. [ Note: Due to a malfunction this is a delayed posting of this journal entry from August – edition No.8 to follow tomorrow! Bonus back to back editions! ]

Generally Speaking

Escape to the coast… In my last garden journal I looked forward to a summer break ‘swooshing around delightful gardens, gallivanting around the countryside and lying back on a sunny beach’. Well, that plan mostly worked, although not before a bout of illness swept me off my feet, followed swiftly by Storm Floris which delivered a less-than-ideal start to the holidays.

It wasn’t all bad however, although during the break I did chose not to visit any gardens, which ordinarily should give cause for concern; especially considering some quality heritage gardens were in the area visited, including Bodnant no less. (Maybe next time eh…) It was a family holiday though, and whilst the lure was undoubtedly there, this time I felt a need for a complete break, sweeping both cobwebs and gardens away. An explanation for this might be gleaned as I write on, but if not do not concern yourself, you’ll never keep me away from gardens for too long!

I must say that the much-anticipated week away in north Wales did settle down swiftly after the storm, and all turned out well in the end. Okay, so some of the days may not have gone entirely to plan, but the weather turned out well, and we were blessed to have some much-needed time away from the treadmill. Crisp sea air filled my lungs, the eyes bathed in some incredibly beautiful landscape, and my spirit was indeed refreshed.

On the work front… I can’t be drawn on the details, but I have some quite involved stuff to deal with in the coming weeks, a process that’s already forced a good deal of reflection on my career journey thus far. Suffice to say that like many others, my career’s had its twists and turns, and whilst at times I’ve taken an unusual route, each turn has brought valuable experience. Needless to say, my horticultural journey is far from done yet.

Taking the helicopter view of where I’m currently positioned, I can see that it’s good sometimes when change comes unexpectedly, otherwise there can be a tendency to plod along and accept the hand we’re dealt. Right now, though, with my cards scattered across the floor, I realise that I might have been guilty of accepting my path in recent years, feeling somewhat powerless to challenge a system I knew to be flawed.

Time waits for no one of course, and whilst I’m a little at sea with it all right now, those recent years have certainly not been for nothing, I know that for sure. Looking ahead, change is unavoidable, and however things work out, I shall continue to adapt and grow just like I always have. To mention this at all is partly to capture where I’m placed right now, but also as affirmation of how I wish to move forward. More on this anon.

In the Garden

A touch on the dry side – Don’t worry, I’m not going to harp-on again about how dry the garden still is, as I sufficiently covered this last month. I was of course hoping back then to tempt fate, and whilst some liquid refreshment came during the stormy period, this is now a fortnight gone, and the ground again is fissured.

I’m resigned to the fact that as tough as gardening is just now, that’s just the way it is, and whilst extreme weather does cause significant issues in some locations, adapt to the circumstance we must. (Adapt seems to be my word of the moment!) The conditions I describe aren’t just local to me here in Warwickshire but are widespread, so we’re all facing the same challenges to one extent or another, and as gardeners we must learn from it and rise to the challenge.

So here’s my simple strategy: Firstly, a key focus for the cooler months ahead is to boost my water harvesting capacity, both in my home garden and for the allotment. Then secondly, I shall ramp-up again my autumn and winter soil care by introducing organic mulch that will feed the soil whilst helping both with moisture retention and drainage. There’s a lot of science to it but trust me, the soil and I will figure it out for ourselves.

Both tasks aren’t going to fix things in one season alone, but incrementally, I’m looking to make a difference.

Wildlife – On the face of it, wildlife must be having a tough time of things just now, and some species couldn’t be blamed for keeping a low profile. In my own garden, aside from the odd peacock butterfly or pigeons who regularly arrive to quench their thirst, there’s little to shout about. Even my beloved swifts have upped and left.

If I zoom in a little closer though the garden is still full of activity, and to the fore jumps the flying specialists such as hoverflies, wasps and bees. The wasps I have noticed have developed a particular interest in my box shrubs, visiting throughout the day now for the last three weeks or more. I can only assume they’re either searching for food, such as aphids, or they’re hooked on the liquid feed I’ve been using on the foliage – if you have the definitive answer I’d love to find out for sure.

As for the bees, we fixed a second bee hotel to the fence back at the beginning of summer, one of those little boxes filled with hollow bamboo canes that some solitary bees are drawn to. Due to its newness, I didn’t expect to see any guests this year at all but have been surprised to see rooms in the hotel already pressed into use.

The hollow tubes attract female bees who construct a series of little chambers to deposit eggs and food, before neatly capping the end of each pipe with a moulded leafy plug. It really is a work of art, and if that wasn’t incredible enough, the leaf sections used to plug the tubes in the hotel have been nibbled from nearby Wisteria and rose leaves, which now resemble pieces of Swiss Cheese!

If it’s not too cheesy to say, it’s worth adding that we’re considering listing the accommodation next year on Air Bee-n-Bee… (Sorry not sorry!)

@AllotofPotential allotment – Aside from watering, the last input the allotment received was a flying visit just before we headed for the holiday hills, and that occasion was mostly restricted to giving key areas a thorough soaking – notably the glasshouse.

I’m glad to say that whilst it’s a pain to program, the solar powered watering system has again worked like a trooper this year, sucking up water from a tank inside the glasshouse and delivering it to the base of each tomato or courgette plant. I’ve dealt with feeding separately, and water the beds more thoroughly once a week if I can, but otherwise they’re left to themselves (I do use a shade net on the glasshouse).

Around three weeks ago the first tomatoes ripened for picking, albeit not from a purposely grown plant, but a self-seeded one. It popped up in a convenient place, so I went with it, and it’s now delivering some incredibly tasty cherry-sized fruits. Plants are good at figuring things out for themselves I find…

Elsewhere on the plot I just about managed to drop in some leeks before leaving the plot to its own devices, but having visited since, I’m happy to report they’ve settled in okay. Recent re-sowings of carrots and beetroot are up and away, as too are radishes that are always quick off the mark. The less said about parsnip seed the better, but if it’s not showing itself by my next visit, it may well have missed its chance this year!

Looking Ahead

Right now, I’m enjoying a sweet scented second flush of roses and the brightest red honeysuckle berries in my home garden. Out and about though, you can rest assured I’ll be looking to enjoy every drop of juice the summer season has left in its tank; I do hope you’re able to do the same.

I’m not wishing the summer away of course, but as the season cycles, I always anticipate the delights the ever-shortening days will bring. Whether it is golden seed heads catching an afternoon breeze, leaf silhouettes dancing across the fence or the last of the fiery red pelargoniums cascading from pots at the allotment.

Now the home lavender trimming is safely in the rear-view mirror, I’m also looking ahead to tasks that’ll need doing across both home the garden and allotment. I’ve still to plant some brassicas for winter/spring harvest, compost desperately needs turning, and onions, potatoes, tomatoes, courgettes and cornichons need regular harvesting.

As if all that isn’t enough, whilst the no-dig approach appears to be working well, couch grass is quietly creeping in from the side paths, so that will need rooting out soon too. It may not be the most productive plot at the allotments, yet, but its care does demand focus and energy, which is what makes allotmenteering so appealing!

~

I shall sign off for now, by wishing you all the very best.

Until next time, Gary, Gardening ways.