'Sitting on the fence!'

Reclaimed oak seat

This is a seat that Chris and I made one rainy winter's day a few years ago. The materials used were bits of old oak fencing.  We reclaimed it from the hedge behind the Woodland Border.  We used the posts for legs and the rails for the seat and back.  It has that driftwood look even though none of the wood drifted anywhere! It sits outside the studio on old crocks to ensure the feet don't stand in water (thus preventing further rot) with a pair of home produced standard Fucshias (Winston Churchill) on either side.  I grew them from cuttings taken about 4 years ago.  Yes you guessed, it's another HDR image!

More HDR Photography in the Garden

Dahlia Bishop of York

 

The HDR photography addiction is far from cured and I couldn't resist posting this piccie of a Dahlia in the top lawn border taken just after a vicious squall.  This was a plant purchased from David Austin roses (of all places) last year.  It survived the winter stored perfectly dry in the cart shed and not in sand or peat.  In fact not following Monty's advice at all.

HDR Photography in the Garden

'Kay's Arbour'

One of Al's Costco Dahlias!

Since our recent Swiss invasion, I have been trying my hand at some HDR photography.  As well as being utterly addictive, some of the results are very interesting.  HDR is High Dynamic Range and several shots taken on differing settings are merged together by very clever software.  I couldn't have chosen worse weather for my photographic experiments as we've been having gale force winds and ferocious squalls in August!  I ask you!  It looks like autumn out on the lawns!  It was a little more sheltered up in the top lawn border where the Dahlias were not waving madly in the gales!  The winds did have quite an effect on cloud formations and the ghosting effects on the rose hips as they were swaying violently almost looks like an impressionist painting.  Anyway, do have a look and see what you think - bearing in mind these are novice attempts in difficult conditions!  HDR Garden Photos  The strange thing is that when you view these photos,all appears serene and still!!  Oh well, maybe the camera really does lie after all.

Martley Hillside from the terrace

Five Free Fowls go Foraging

Five go out on slug patrol and find a whole new world to explore.  As well as any slugs, they enjoyed some time grazing in the orchard.  The more greens they have; the more yellow their egg yokes.   Some times they have a few grass clippings to scratch around and peck at or an old lettuce, cabbage leaves, carrot tops, pea pods - they love them all.  The new three have really settled in and have just started laying.  Fiona Fenton (on the 2nd lowest step) lays a lovely bluey grey egg.   Each one lays a different coloured agg, that way, we know who's laying and who isn't!

It's curtains for the Wisteria!

Who needs 'em?  This is better than the real thing.  The dining room is filled with a fresh green filtered/dappled light. This second flush of  flowers isn't being decimated by the sparrows.

Miracle Avocado

This is the avocado that spent an entire English winter in a compost heap in the coldest part of the garden.  It came to light last spring when the compost was being used to top dress borders. It just proves just how much warmth is generated during the decomposition process. I know it can never grow to anywhere near its full size but we'll see how we go.  It's main trouble has been constant attacks by woolly aphids and lots of them!  It's just been potted up and sprayed and future winters will be spent in the conservatory!

Herb Harvesting!

This year, I decided to dry some herbs under the verandah.  Hopefully, they won't get wet or blown away!  I know in an ideal world it should be cool, dark and dry but hey, what have I got to lose?  I'm drying bunches of Bay (no surprise there), Lavender, Sage, Rosemary, Marjoram and just to pretty things up a bit; I picked some mop head Hydrangeas and some Achellias.  These are the common dull  off white Achillias which I always spray in some brighter and livelier colours.  Lavender is used in shortbread as it's a bit of a favourite  here at PTC and I can't make soups, stews or casseroles without Bay.   It's also nice to have herbs ready to give to friends and they both practical and pretty bottled in those little jars with hand written labels.  Bay is nice tied in small bunches using raffia, jute twine or even coloured   ribbon.  I only hope they don't rained on or blown....... ...away!