Finished Kiosk!

Tony and his colleagues at Unicorn Kiosks (http://www.unicornkiosks.com/) have finished our kiosk and look at the floor!  How perfect for a garden setting. Its very own dandelion and, we have plenty more so it won't feel too isolated.  Now we just have to organise its collection and installation - nervous shiver!

Fighting with giants!

Chris and his friend Kyle have been making brilliant progress topping out a row of Cuprocyparis Leylandii.  Both lads are, needless to say, very experienced and expert in their field and have all the tree surgery/chainsawing qualifications meaning that they are happiest swinging around treetops in harnesses.  This row of 38 non-native conifers are 60 feet plus and in the years we have lived here have grown into giants.  Many have numerous leaders so it's far more work that cutting down a single trunk and then moving on to the next tree.  Just to add to their difficulties; Kyle has to ensure that falling timber doesn't damage the neighbouring apple trees or their surrounding fence which is virtually beneath the conifers!  To succeed, they have to top them out in short sections - making even more work!  They don't look so big from a distant 1st floor window but down on the ground and up close, it's a whole different ball game as their sheer enormity is realised!

In our climate, this variety typically grows 3 feet in a single year and we are super lucky to have such amazingly understanding neighbours.  We will regain our view of Hillside and be able to see longer sunsets, particularly at this time of year when the sun is so low in the sky and in any case, sets behind the conifers.  (We also have - not so secret plans to build a little retreat at the back of the Woodland Border with some of the timber.)  The laneside hedge will have more light, the apple trees will have twice as much sunlight and maintenance at their reduced height will much easier so,  it's a win win situation!

These villians of the tree world suck up all the nutrients and water from the soil will beak through tarmac and damage foundations so it's both shocking and very worrying to see how growers of these non-native thugs promote their sale as fast growing hedges.  Who in their right mind wants an 80 foot hedge?

Frosty Ferns

     

On a rare day without rain I tip toed out with the camera to take a few snaps of Jack Frost. As they were covered in rime, the ferns caught my eye but actually, everything looked altogether more cheerful!  After so many dark and wet days - a touch of hoar frost and a hint of mist brings out the artist in us all!

Miniature Fragrance Bombs!

Sarcococca flowers

Hamamellis Mollis

Lonicera Fragrantissima

Despite the vicious squalls and never ending rain, we have had a couple of frosts so it's all the more amazing to find shrubs exuding heady perfumes so early in the year.  One wonders what insects they are hoping to attract so early in the season.  Although a photo can't portray the scent, it can demonstrate the relatively tiny and insignificant size of these winter flowers.  Their tiny sizes make the the strength of their perfume all the more amazing!  In fact; this amount of Sarcococca Confusa

Sarcococca Confusa

fills the entire garden with perfume - NO exaggeration, promise!

Bark Larks

When the days are wild and wet and the skies leaden it's nice to enjoy the skeletal forms of trees with their different bark textures and colours.  In a rare moment of sunshine, I photographed a few examples - all of which are very different from each other.  The dry papery bark of the Paper Bark Maple (Acer Griseum), the frosted silver white bark of the Silver Birches (in this case: a Betula Silver Queen and a Jaquemontii) and lastly; the highly polished and peeling bark of a Tibetan Cherry (Prunus Serrula).  It looks as if someone has been round it with a tin of Kiwi Parade Gloss dark tan boot polish!  The Birches photographed are still relatively young trees and were planted about 5 years ago.  Other varieties of Birch don't show their silver bark until much older remaining brown for their young life.  Although it can't be seen in the photograph, the 2 trees between the silver Birches are snake bark maples (Acer Davidii).  They too have striking bark which will become more apparent as they mature.

Many hands..................

One empty compost bay

After pruning a shrub rose, a Viburnum Tinus and his favourite conifer, Chris had extra pairs of hands this week - courtesy of Matt and Sarah.  This meant that a whole compost bay was emptied in a single session despite inclement weather. Amazing! The contents were used to mulch borders all round the garden beginning with the lower border and ending with the raspberries.  Because the ground was so very sodden and the compost was heavy, our team of workers carefully laid planks on the grass thus avoiding making damaging ruts on the lawned areas.  This wasn't as straight forward as it sounds as some of the planks were very narrow and as the rain began to fall, they became very slippery.  Despite failing light and worsening weather my team of stalwarts worked on determined to finish the job.  Due to planning commitments involving the other Chris, Head Gardener rather abandoned her team and only appeared on the compost scene towards the end of operations!  Surprisingly the compost was of a good light texture despite all the rain.  We can't wait for better weather and to see the results of all this hard work!

Sarah & Matt

Victory Cottage Pie!

Shed of the Year 2014

Pear Tree Cottage has a New Entry

This year, we have a new entry for the annual Shed of the Year competition. Although voting doesn't commence until May we're getting ahead of the game by sorting out a few photos in readiness.  Don't worry: voting reminders will be posted.  Competition is tough and last year's winner was straight out of Local Hero with an amazing shed using an upturned boat as its roof.

Shed of the Year Winner 2013

New Year Kiosk Progress Report

Our kiosk (by Unicorn Kiosks!!)

Tony has just sent us these progress photos on our kiosk.  It's been glazed and he's waiting for delivery of some gold leaf for the crowns. In the meantime: just how smart is this???

Five Minute Frost

Clear and crisp with sunshine - surprise!  This was the scene that greeted the inhabitants of P.T.C. this morning and, having got our hopes up, it lasted all of 5 minutes, the rain clouds rolled back in and down came more rain!  As if we need any more!

Oh well it was nice while it lasted and this rose looks as if it's been dusted with icing sugar!

Woodland Path Beginnings and The Merest Hint of Spring.

New woodchip path

After much deadheading of Sedums, Peonies and Lychnis in the Lower Border (it now looks much tidier!), it was time to help Chris to barrow the rest of the woodchip off the drive to various garden destinations.  We topped up the service path at the back of the Lower Border, mulched the bottom of the Sofa Border and left a couple of piles in the Aspen Grove (ready for when we move the Michaelmas Daisies).  We also laid some as a new Woodland Border path.  The plan is to edge it with logs (to prevent the woodchip creeping) and have a little 'retreat' seating area at the back beneath the Silver Birches with a narrow winding woodchip path between Snowdrops, Hellebores and Chris's wooden mushrooms to this secluded shady seating area at the back.  We'll probably end up having to move various clumps as it's tricky seeing them at this time of year.  Heaven forbid that we should inadvertently bury or worse; tread on brave little Snowdrops!  There is much to do in this spot but, at least we've made a beginning!  We also have a drive free of woodchip and tarpaulins for the first time in over 3 weeks!

Jasmine under the dining room window

Jasminum Nudiflorum

It was actually a 'rain-free, dry and sunny day with just the suggestion of things to come as the Jasminum Nudiflorum beneath the dining room window is in full flower.  After the appalling recent weather it is quite an optimistic sight with even a hint of (dare I say?) spring in the air.

Actually this wasn't the only hint of Spring!  Scent from the Sarcococcas was wafting around the garden  hanging heavy in the cold air and much more to my surprise: Chris found flowers on all 3 Loniceras! Despite anosmic deficiencies due to a recent cold, I can still vouch for their incredible perfume!  This is their 3rd season as they are relatively immature shrubs and therefore the first time they have bloomed.  Chris has been raving about their perfume for AGES and now I see that he wasn't exaggerating in the least.  These somewhat leggy shrubs should feature in every garden preferably by a door or a much used path. Their bloom and perfume is evident at a time of year when there is very little else to commend and it'll knock your socks off - promise!

Water water.............

What a pity we've just had far too many of these!

Even though we're on slope, this garden is just sodden, the ground is singing and saturation point was reached last week...........

Still...........it could be worse!!!

Getting back to normal

Back home again

Well Christmas is over and we're back from our Irish travels. The girls are back from their Hen Hotel where they went to stay with Sarah over at Newland Grange (http://www.newlandpoultry.com/)  Despite all the rain, Sarah really does run a 5 star facility over there.  The girls came back with 15 eggs all laid in our absence and boxed awaiting collection.  

Newland Grange 'Hen Hotel'

After a few days in one of Sarah's egglu's, they are now re-installed in their own wood chip carpeted Bamboo garden having had their quarters thoroughly disinfected and cleaned in their absence. Sarah's guests are always inspected for lice - ours were completely lice free. Obviously for them, hygiene has to be a priority. Let's hope we can keep ours lice free despite the attentions of a pair of Magpies which have recently moved in to their area.  In case any followers are wondering - hens catch lice from wild birds! It will be interesting to see if egg production dips following their change of routine.

Meanwhile, we still have half a ton of woodchip on the drive so no prizes for predicting the next garden job! With all the recent rainfall, it's a priority.