All Quiet on the Western Front

Five settle down to a life together 

After all the running battles and skirmishes, it's a relief to find little Lulu sharing a perch with two of her attackers! The lives of Lulu & Priscilla were made an absolute misery - so much so, they had to be separated until things settled down.  Yesterday, we had the first egg from one of the new girls - Priscilla, we think.  What's more - there was another one today.  Looks like 'Zach's Story' really will come true after all.  You can also read his book on-line at http://www.photobox.co.uk/my/creation?creation_id=15652740  (It's worth reading full screen)

Napping

Amelia, Bluebelle, Lulu & Priscilla. 

Lulu

I don't think we're far away from the ending in Zach's book!!

In case you're wondering, Black Betty skulked around behind the Bamboos when these shots were taken.  My mission is to get a decent shot of all five but, it's a tall order.

Rain at long last

Hurrah!  It rained all day!  The much needed rain arrived at last!  Only the 2nd day's rain we've had since March.  We have been filling the water butts from the well as well as watering the resat of the garden this way.  It really is a luxury to have well water on tap (ahem!)

No excuses for not repainting the house sign too!  The letters had all faded so, I retreated to the studio

The Studio - again!

(still time to cast your vote at http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=3515 ) and picked out all the letters in two coats of gold paint.  In the meantime, Al was busy sorting out the new electric fence to keep Monsieur Le Reynard out of the Hen Pen.  Of course, the rain meant that not all of the wood chip got raked out and instead, a batch of scrummy home made scones was popped in the Aga  and eaten with Jan's lemon curd and afternoon tea.

There's always tomorrow..............................!

Peckingham Palais V Songbird Slum

Chris completed Bernadette's new bird table in solid English oak, and Welsh slate with a  (?) lead roof!  It's like an ornate avian activity centre!  It's such a shame she likes it as it looks so good in this garden!

Peckingham Palais

It's a bit of an improvement on the old one!!

Songbird Slum

Moving Mountains!

We've been moving wood chip - a lot of wood chip - 3 tons in fact.  Whilst most of it was used as mulch around the garden, there was plenty left for the chickens and they LOVED it!  We had lots of help from Ian and Chris but it was all hands on deck all day - phew!  As always, it was fun but exhausting work!  The raking out starts tomorrow!

Chris gets ideas above his station!

Ian, Chris & 3 tons of wood chip

As usual; it looks as if I wasn't doing anything!  One of the drawbacks of always being behind the camera!  There were in fact 4 barrows on the go - Ian was filling them all faster than 3 of us could empty them.

Since writing this post , Priscilla has laid her first 2 eggs!

https://picasaweb.google.com/peartree.pam/MovingMountains#

Shed of The Year Competition 2011

HELP!  The Studio needs your votes!!

You only have until noon on Sunday 5th June 2011.  Click on the link below and cast your vote

http://www.readersheds.co.uk/share.cfm?SHARESHED=3515

 A BIG thank you to all who have voted already

Chicken Wars

AND ALL ROUND BIRD CHANGES

Lulu (and Al)

Priscilla

After collecting our 3 hens from their  luxury hotel at Sarah's (http://www.newlandgrange.com ) following our short trip, it seemed a very good time to introduce a couple of newcomers to our mini flock.  

Well, that's what I thought.  However, the resident three thugs thought otherwise.  Despite having stayed away from their own territory for nearly a week, they are just too territorial for the continued safety of the new girls.  Poor Lulu (a Sussex cross) and Priscilla (a Blacktail) have had their lives made total misery and so they are now separated and have the Hennery to themselves whilst the other 3 have the Hen Pen. The girls also have a new pin-up on their gate.  We moved Chanticleer to a more fitting position.  Maybe he will distract the older girls from their persistent aggression?

Wol also has a new home - up in the pear tree.  It's been a while since we cut these out of an old oil tank and they have rusted perfectly.  There is an owl box in the same tree but no residents - until now!  Hopefully, Wol will discourage any more buzzard attacks on our hens!  Amelia was too heavy for the last buzzard to carry off.

Wol (looking quite thuggish!)

Chanticlere

The weather has been atrocious. Gale force winds have meant that the lawns are covered in leaves and, with the absence of rain, the ground is drier than ever.  With everything in full leaf; the wind is immensely damaging.  Not quite as damaging as dropping a can of water on one of the Genever tomatoes - GRRR!  The new Beech hedge around the Hen Pen requires constant watering as does the veg plot but, the young lavender hedge around the summerhouse is doing really well and putting on lots of growth.  If I'd known that the weather was going to be this cold, I'd never have planted Runner beans.  They are coming up looking pinched and cold! 

I've saved loads with the success rate of my Pink cuttings - much smugness!  I planted out just over 30 really healthy plants around the terrace wall and, if we ever have any seasonal weather, we might enjoy their perfume later.

FLOP OR CHOP?

The next question is to (Chelsea) chop or not to chop?  With the Open Gardens Weekend creeping ever closer, exactly how brave am I?  Last year, I had few doubts and, to Chris's utter disbelief, was proved right - even more smugness!  Plants were sturdier and bloomed later but just as floriferously. Certainly, far less need for staking. Maybe just the hardy Geraniums and the Lysimachia's this year?  After all, it's better than 'flop'.  Somehow, I never seem to get around to staking when it should be done.

Or, shall I chop more........................................?  

Back from Latvia

Latvian Relic

Not much evidence of any gardening happening in or around Riga and this forgotten and overgrown temple right on the Baltic coast was the nearest I found!  The corporation bedding in the city was impressive but I didn't count that as real gardening.

On returning to PTC, following Sir's successful lecture debut in Riga, the peas, beetroot, and carrots are all up but - what a pity about these cold winds!  I know we need the rain but the wind is so damaging when everything is in full leaf.

Yes!  I know all my Hazel spars look funny in the veg patch BUT, with the addition of some trusty binder twine, they will prevent the haulms and the broad beans from flopping everywhere.  The runner beans are just emerging but it's much too cold for them.

   

Hazel Spars

Papaver Orientale Patty's Plum

I just had to post this poppy photo - not because I like the colour (which is a complete washout!) but, because it's JUST exactly like tissue paper.

Why exactly did the watering can have to fall on to the first tomato plant and break the top out of it???  !

Genever Tomato Plants

Anyway - after all the late/last minute/11th hour/rush/stress/changes/amendments on Powerpoint with The Lecture, I can now return to some serious horticulture - phew!  Oh dear - I just remembered: Open Garden preparations!

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