Planting Preparation in the Vegetable Patch.

 

Today was the annual most noteworthy day in our gardening calendar here at PTC!  Vegetable patch preparation! It was also Andrew's first time as Head of Operations!  We cleared it of weeds, lifted the remaining Autumn King carrots and Andrew set to work.

Starting at the studio end and working off a plank to ensure zero compaction, Andrew dug away removing all roots from a nearby wild cherry tree.  He dug in chicken manure pellets, bonemeal and NPK.  

He did a spectacularly thorough job and left it looking immaculate - the best ever!  Now it's all ready for planting up with Arran Pilots (1st early potatoes) and Aquadulce broad bean plants which I've been given.  

Guess what I'll be dong tomorrow!!!

More cold feet!

 

Well, I did say it was a dangerous addiction!!  Despite a return to freezing cold weather and a biting wind, I braved the elements - and the cold water again.  This time it was seriously ambititous as I decided to power wash the creosote yard.  A much larger area than the previously done 3 garden paths.  I started in the middle and went round in circles spiralling outwards.  Unlike garden paths, it was horrendously messy working so closely to exterior walls.  Not just any colour either!!  White painted brick walls.  All the sludge and muddy debris splattered everywhere.  My fingers ached from the constant pressure on the trigger which doesn't lock!  Persistance paid off and no more green, slipper algae to be seen anywhere - not even on the galvanised Hosta planters! Furthermore, it looks much better in reality. than in either photograph.

Dangerous New Addiction!

 Who knew that power washing could be so addictive??

  

Having transformed the Arbour Path in absolutely no time at all, I moved on to the Conifer Path.  Another transformation!!  Gone was the darkgreen/black and slippery algae as the glittering granite setts sparkled in the sunlight.  Even the entrance to Noah the Mower's house was transformed.

  

There was no stopping me as I moved on to the Swing Seat path - yet another transformation.  The colours of the lovely old recycled bricks are now fully restored.  Even my freezing cold feet (due to the constant flow of icy water) seemed a small price to pay.  As well as looking so cosmetically pleasing all 3 paths have now lost their slippery surfaces and are so much safer to walk on. 

It was all so effortless!  Now......what to power wash next......?   

New King!

We have a new KING of Compost!!  Andrew has done an amazing job of sorting old from new!  Our two compost bays were in chaos with new on top of old and newest on top of oldest.  He patiently moved new across to new to make the old accessible then carted it around the garden to neatly mulch borders.  Not a spec was dropped anywhere in the garden and not a tyre mark did he leave! 

                            

 Having done all that, he patiently forked the new off the top of the one bay into the bottom of the bay now in use leaving the right bay silently turn into beautiful useable mulch next season!  Well done and thank you Andrew!

Wisteria Additions

 

PTC garden is home to two more Japanese Wisterias.  Somewhat potbound as they were less than half price but they were just tempting!  One is Violacea plena - AKA Black Dragon.  The other is a Jissai. Another hybrid from Japan but  naturallyhybridised.  It has bicolour flowers.  They've been planted at either end of the trellis so wil hopefully meet in the middle over the arch!

Other news: the Acacia dealbata is blooming beneath is protective veil and looks as if it's made it through the winter.  Hopefully I'm not tempting fate by saying that!!

The snowdrops have been a real show this year but are just beginning to go over now. Cyclamens and narcissus are also a fabulous show, The newest Camellia from Ashwoods: Lavinia Maggi has its first flower along the Fernery Path.  We've enjoyed such clear sunny weather for several days, the garden looks an absolute treat!  It's worth having a look here:  Winter Flowers!

The Folly Project.

 When the cupola on the garage roof became unstable and leaks were occuring in the ceiling beneath, it was time for big decisions.  Following a conference around the kitchen table it was decided to err on the side of economy but still retain beautifully hand made oak construction as a feature in the garden.  When down on the ground, I realised it was a much larger construction than it appeared when up on the garage roof and MUCH hevier than imagined!

Bricks were acquired and what begain as a small base grew into a mini tower! Of course Chris Genever masterminded all the clever stuff but I was OIC mortar recessing!  Hey presto a folly was born with Desmond the Dragon laying claim to it as his new new home.

NEW GARDEN ERA!

This week saw the beginning of a new era as we welcomed Andrew to PTC Garden. After 20 years he has replaced Chris who left last September. Andrew lives locally and is a countryman.  He comes with planty of experience and even brought sunshine on his first day.  His garden favourites are the early flowering plants  - snowdrops and Hellebores and so has arrived at the perfect time of year. 

However, it was straight in at the deep as he got stuck in to organising the compoast bays.  Last spring was so wet, we hadn't completely emptied the one bay and I had compost of differing vintages in both bays!  In no time at all, it was all sorted and much mulching of  borders completed.  He took great care of the lawn by laying down boards to avoid wheelbarrow ruts. 

As if that wasn't enough, we had a huge bonfire and disposed of the montains of tulip tree brash plus lots of other trimmings.