Pear Repair

Also on the list was to repair and repaint the pear which lives on the 'Pear Arch'. The original leaf was broken ages ago and it needed some TLC.  We cut a new pear leaf from some old lead and, believing it was a metal pear, we set about attaching the lead leaf. Little did we know the pear is actually ceramic and the stalk broke off leaving a hole in the top. Chris came up with the bright idea of filling it with a quick setting concrete, attaching the leaf to a nail and embedding the nail in the concrete. Hey presto a pear with a new leaf that now weighs a ton! A quick clean up and respray and it was put back in position. Well; Worcester is known for its famous Black Pear!

Fine Thyme Sign!

Chris realigning the sign!

The old slate sign restored

This Saturday was mainly maintenance jobs.  As the small wooden uprights kept rotting, we repaired the old Thyme Square sign.  Something more durable was called for so James at Lanes made some new metal posts for it. We'll have to wait for them to acquire a more pleasing patina of rust. We changed the wooden backrest for some Victorian path edgers. Hard to believe that 11 years have elapsed since we ripped out the old hedge, replanted and built this area of the garden!

The Great Azorean Experiment.

When in the Azores just before Christmas, the Head Gardener in charge of pineapple cultivation explained how; once a year, they light small fires in the greenhouses. Dead pineapple leaves are burned to create lots of smoke which kills all pests. I figure if it works commercially, it might work on the countless zillions of whitefly in our greenhouse which decimate crops.  

Having had a good tidy and clean up, I lit a small fire and placed a pile of damp leaves and let it smoke away for half an hour before removing it. I figure it's kinder than buying chemical fumigators some of which kill plants too! However, it's a first and it'll be interesting to see if it works. Whitefly make it impossible for us to grow cucumbers and it's a constant battle with tomatoes so...fingers crossed!

Going Solo

The main lawn 

Hellebores in the Woodland Border

With Chris still in Tobago, it was solo gardening on an unusually mild Saturday.  All roses were pruned and produced 5 barrowfuls of clippings, the top lawn trellis border was tidied and edged and all lawns were topped - by that I mean cut very high. It's more hoovered that cut. The girls enjoyed a box of grass clippings and Esmeralda is laying again so it's lovely to see her blue eggs in the nest box.  The 'Under Gardener' had a bonfire and disposed of all the roses clippings.

We've had some wonderful sunny days with frosty nights and misty mornings. More and more Hellebores and Snow drops are popping up with Pulmonarias showing more colour. Funny thing is; the Snowdrops in the Aspen Grove are WAY behind and only just peeping through. Meanwhile, I'm hoping that the Camelia buds which are all showing colour will wait until the frosts are over before daring to open!!

Losing those long dark days!

The garden continues to slowly awaken from its long winter slumber. Already in flower we have Primroses, Snowdrops, Cyclamen, Aconites, Hellebores and even the odd Pulmonaria is showing a little colour! 

A Poinsettia bought in 2017 is flowering its heart out in the conservatory and down in the greenhouse, Geraniums, Pelargoniums and Chrysanthemums are all stirring! Noticeably, birdsong is increasing as our song birds begin to enjoy the extra daylight. Even the chickens are laying more eggs!

Here's a taste of what's happening! 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/XhMN1hE59YYdDtCM9

Sunny Winter Work!

A freezing cold but sunny Saturday meant time to sharpen secateurs and prune the apple trees! We started with the Bramley first then did Katy and Lord Hindlip.  After that we did the pillar rose taking out much of the old woody stems to encourage new growth. 

Then on to a much bigger job.  Moving peonies and splitting and moving a BIG tree peony.  I know that in general, peonies aren't over keen on moving house but, Chris gets as much soil around roots as possible.  We don't know if the tree peony will survive but it's got 2 chances and 'we done our best, Gov'!  It had grown far too big for its spot by the Lion Steps.  In fact, one lion was completely obscured.  Not so now. We also moved a Berberis in the Sofa Border which has reduced overcrowding beneath a Dogwood and now looks much better.  We took another couple of barrowfuls of compost for distribution and mulching before the usual tidy up and bonfire. Whilst doing all this, there was time to spot Snowdrops and Cyclamen popping up everywhere. All in all, a god day's work! 

Yes! Sun & blue skies!

First Hoar Frost of 2019

How different the garden looked from the window this morning!!!