Dumped Stump

OK so it's not quite Highgrove but it is the most beautiful oak stump on the bend along the Fernery Path and it weighs a TON! The trailing ivy is already making it look at home but; just wait 'til the ferns around it start unfurling.

Oak stump

Fair & Square!

Bare squares!

Preserving pallets

A dry weekend meant lots of garden work although Saturday was F-R-E-E-Z-I-N-G and standing around creosoting old pallets, posts and planks for compost heap restoration is very definitely not the way to keep warm. Whilst I was doing that, Chris was busy squaring up fruit trees - that is the areas at their bases which are now lined up squares instead of circles.  My theory is that mowing will be a whole lot easier as I'll be able to go straight down the orchard instead of mowing round in circles at the base of each tree.  They all looked so neat compared with lawn edges elsewhere, I was shamed into edging the top lawn, fernery path and the Woodland Border.  Considering it's only February, the garden is looking surprisingly tidy.........well, for now.

Greenhouse or Glasshouse?.

One of the deadly doors!

Other garden news involves a major decision!  Our faithful old wooden greenhouse has a real mean streak.  A low door with a specialist greenhouse heater hung in the roof above the entrance.  Bear in mind the fact that Al and both Chris's are VERY tall!  Now, if a tall person ducks to avoid being rendered unconscious by the door frame and then stands up, they are still rendered unconscious but this time by the heater.  If they manage to enter unscathed by both, the inner door frame is guaranteed to catch them out.  Every single time with certainty and definitely without fail! 

Last week was just once too many times and (after he picked himself up) 'Sir' spoke out. Not only spoke out but spoke out masterfully! He meant business! 

Something like this but without the high wall behind.

  

The man came down from Lancashire with a long tape measure, Chris came over to meet him, glossy brochures of amazingly wonderful crystal palace-like structures were duly drooled over.  If you've heard of Joseph Paxton, think on!! Chris produced a slide rule and the man from Lancashire provided graph paper. Chris drew proper scale plans!  Yes, I know - impressive!  A decision was made.  

If you should spot a glint in the sky later this year, it just could be the sun's reflection on a new glass edifice!  If you haven't already guessed, this particular gardener is pretty excited. Even with just a conservatory, I've made 14 jars of lemon marmalade from home grown (yes, HOME grown) lemons.  Think what I can do with a new and even taller greenhouse!  

By the way: who knows the difference between a glasshouse and a greenhouse?

Chicken Chat

Fiona, Cicely, Marigold & Winifred

Fiona emerging from the Hennery

We haven't mentioned the girls for a few weeks and as they've been laying so well during these winter months, they deserve a mention. Their day shelter has been boarded up as a couple of them have been roosting in it instead of roosting their pole house. I'm not at all keen for 2 reasons. Firstly if anything ever did get in (ie Monsieur Le Reynard) they'd be sitting ducks and secondly, 4 chickens roosting all together  will be much warmer than 2 during long and cold winter nights.

Fruit spikes

Chaos reigned the other day as one of the perches on which the nest box rests had become detached. Their nest box was overturned on the floor with hay everywhere and covered in droppings. One egg was outside on the wood chip and 2 more had been laid in the Hennery (their conservatory) house nest box.  All four were looking most indignant at this break from their routine security! Remember these girls are the WORLD'S most spoilt . How lucky they are to be have such luxurious alternative accommodation! Today's treat was half a box of lawn clippings and a fresh apple on the fruit spikes. We do believe in a varied diet for our girls. As well as layers' pellets in their hopper, each morning their breakfast consists of layers' mash, meal worms and any household treats. As well as this, they have a couple of handfuls of mixed corn. If it's raining, they dine in their conservatory - I did say the world's most spoilt!!

NB The fruit spike was an idea I had and is made using 4" nails in a block of wood and screwed to one of the Henclosure posts. It's perfect for all types of fruit treats.

Compost Complete!

Edged & topped grass.

More wild and stormy Saturday weather but..........at long last, the compost heap is now empty and its contents are busy enriching all borders.  Following yet more rain, we had to put boards down on the top lawn in order to avoid making ruts with heavy loads of wet compost.  As it was we were wheeling the barrows out through the gate, up the lane and in through the drive gate to avoid lawn damage. We even managed to weed the top lawn border first.  We don't like to feed weeds!

Preservation in progress!

Today the weather was just very windy and so we left it as late as possible for the grass to thoroughly dry and topped all the lawns.  I even managed to do some edging around the Aspen Grove and the Henclosure.  Even the new piece of ply had a coat of creosote.  The compost heap is now in need of restoration.  Seven years ago it was made from posts, pallets and ply.  Over time the wood has rotted and is now need of replacement. C'est la vie!

The Great Witton Hill Bake Off

ROUND II - Ciabatta Bread

Artisan loaves!

Joan fighting with a very wet dough

After a successful bake off last week at Joan's house, we decided to do the same at PTC. This week we tried Paul Hollywood's ciabatta bread. Now - he said that the dough has to be really wet and it very definitely WAS!  He didn't tell us how we should handle it, he merely says use plenty of flour. As soon as we saw the large proportion of water we were very suspicious! Our suspicions were more than well founded!  The dough was impossible to handle.  Having dragged it onto baking trays and, after leaving it to prove for about 15 minutes, we popped it in the oven. Now Joan had had a very clever plan and baked 3 of her loaves on a baton tray which has 3 concave channels.  It was just as well  as the the dough was prevented from running. Luckily, my dough was not quite as runny and the loaves were baked flat.

Quality control!

Hey Presto! Perfect ciabatta bread!  Joan is definitely a very bad influence as she nearly climbed into the oven to taste it.  We ate half of one of her loaves on the spot and then Al ate most of a whole one with home made soup for lunch. We all agreed that it was also the perfect accompaniment to the home grown lemon marmalade. Both batches were equally good. In a word: RESULT!! See the Bakers at Work!

Yes, I know this is a garden blog!  Sometimes on a cold and dull winter's day, it's nice to get creative in the kitchen and I did arrange some flowers!

3 for the freezer.

Enjoying some sunshine in February

Midwinter Fire

Colour in the old stone sink

Following on from all the gales and storms - how lovely it is to have a really clear and sunny day! The snowdrops, Hellebores seem to have survived the few really sharp frosts as well as the really wild weather.  AND, it's not just colourful flowers popping up.  Oh no!  We mustn't forget the Dogwoods.

Stinking Hellebore - Hellebore Foetidus

The Midwinter Fire is the firm favourite with stems of bright orange & yellow, it really lives up to its name.  even the few Gillies (Wallflowers) in the old stone sink look so cheerful on a winter's day - not to mention their scent.  These should have been planted out in a larger pot although,  I'm quite enjoying them where they are.  Here are a few more photos:   Pear Tree Cottage Garden in February