Global Warming Gripe!

............and while we're discussing the vicissitudes of the English weather: where exactly all those learned people who, not so long ago, earnestly extolled the virtues of drought resistant and drought tolerant plants?  The same people who advised us humble gardeners that we should be growing arrid Mediterranean loving plants??  The people who told us that, due to high levels of global warming, we would no longer need to worry about 'having' to grow hardy plants and shrubs. The very people who straight faced advised that the British climate was becoming hotter.  Not so very long ago, every T.V. gardening programme, periodical and magazine article lectured us all and actively promoted this style of gardening - in fact they positively preached until we were tired of hearing the same old drivel. I just have a couple of questions.

Did they heed their own advice?  If so...

                                  ..how exactly did their gardens grow???  

This link is definitely worth a second glance!    UK Plant Hardiness Map

Drive Work in Arctic Conditions

Chris at the helm

Mountains on the drive

Why did the weather have to take so many turns for the worse as soon as the digger arrived?  It was already far too cold.  The only reason snow can't be seen in these photos is because it has been all dug up!  Not that Chris or Nick were deterred by such meteorological downturns.  They set about scraping off several layers of old compacted gravel and mud, loading up Clarence and taking it up to Chris's wood.  The idea is to level the width of the drive for the first time and reduce the surface height so that the finished level of the 6 tons of new gravel (due to arrive tomorrow!) will lie at the original height and look smart and tidy.  Well that's the theory!

Hard at work

VERNAL EQUINOX

Frost on the Magnolia

Frost on the summerhouse roof

21st March and the first day of spring and what do we have?  A dusting of snow and freezing temperatures!!

More lighting.

The continuing freezing cold weather didn't put off the electricians and Owen and Roy finished wiring the trellis lanterns and also put in some uplighting for Chris's wall as well as moving the electric sockets in the greenhouse enabling the tank to fit snugly in the corner.

Pugh's Precarious Pondwork!

Testing the equipment!

Lowering the pump

The weather was freezing and the wind biting.  What was Chris doing?  Re-siting the pond pump by in the icy depths in middle of the pond!!  He was the hero of the moment by lying outstretched on a ladder placed over the water - wishing it could have been rather wider!  He managed to keep his balance despite the weight of a heavy pump attached to an even heavier concrete slab in one hand!  Instead of lying on its side with pipes on view, the pump now sits upright out of sight and, hopefully secure.  Excess watercress was cleared, repairs to the frog's pipework were carried out and dogwoods were pruned.  Hopefully, the king cups and water lilies will bloom and further work will wait until the autumn.

Success!!

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Plantings & Stonework

New ramp & Fernery path

Well, it was another busy Saturday with both Chris's.  Despite early heavy rain, dark clouds lifted and things dried up a little although it was still bitterly cold and soggy underfoot.  Chris P slaved away, clearing the veg patch of the plants which had been laid in prior to their move and along with all the turf which was used to repair the verge on the lane.  Although later than ideal, he planted the healthier of the standard roses in front of the chicken feed bins (as a disguise) and the other (less vigorous specimen) by a gatepost.  A Lonicera Fragrantissima replaced a Daphne - now deceased.  The Gleditzia was planted in the summerhouse border and a dead/dying Spirea was partially removed in readiness for further planting on Monday.  Of course, all these jobs were done far later than planned solely due to the awful weather.

Meanwhile.........Chris G and I (after replacing a window pane) made a ramp from the terrace to the top lawn where there is a height difference of about 5 - 6".  We used pieces of stone on edge to ensure a non-slip surface.  Having done that, we began laying the stepping stones along the Fernery path.

The pressure is still on for, as well as 2 Open Garden weekends, 2 local gardening clubs have now expressed an interest in making evening visits and some fund raiser from the NHS has requested another opening for their charity - gulp!  It's only a little fun/hobby garden after all! 

Avian Arrival

Mr. Brown

PTC garden has a new resident.  Mr. Brown has come to live in the garden. Cleverly made out of chicken mesh, he perches on an old garden fork.  His sculptor comes from Weymouth - some people just have too much talent!