Lyra is, of course, our son’ s dog. However, we find ourselves in loco parentis for the time being so dog walking is a new addition to the daily agenda. I like wandering around the countryside, but it is definitely better with a dog. For a start you have an alibi (wandering around on yourContinue reading “Walking the walk”
Category Archives: garden
Looking and not seeing
Sometimes something can be right in front of you, metaphorically making jazz hands, and you just don’t see it. I had a morning coffee by the top pond today and spent a happy hour admiring the water hawthorn and the hostas coming through. It was only later in the day that I was suddenly shockedContinue reading “Looking and not seeing”
Planning ahead
Friends and neighbours will know that this month is my last at work, and I am retiring at the end of the month to devote myself to a life of gardening, bizarre sewing and knitting projects, dodgy artwork and intermittent sloth. In these last few work days I have been mainly winding things down, handingContinue reading “Planning ahead”
It’s all bright and blowsy out there
As you come through the orchard you catch a glimpse of the orange, pink and yellow tulips in the rose garden and it is fabulous. I am coming to the conclusion that the bolder and bawdier the better for tulips. The bulbs are also out in spades in the library bed – and doing betterContinue reading “It’s all bright and blowsy out there”
You reap what you sow (I hope)
A duller day today so perhaps some hope of getting some indoor stuff done. First task is to order the annual flower seeds. It is probably a bit late but then I often get to them late and it turns out fine….. I love seed and bulb catalogues. They are one of life’s great goodContinue reading “You reap what you sow (I hope)”
Tomorrow was indeed another day
After a day in the doldrums on Tuesday, the sun came out yesterday and lifted everyone’s mood. The weather sage (Keith – he looks at the forecast rather than cat pictures on twitter) had predicted this and we had already planned to abandon all cooking and have a takeaway to maximise time outside. It wasContinue reading “Tomorrow was indeed another day”
When in a grump..
Yesterday was a scratchy day for everyone. It was chilly so gardening didn’t sound fun (though the tulips are nice at the front). There was a stack of ironing to do and I had to set up an iPad for my mum. Actually the ironing wasn’t so bad – once I had reset the NapsterContinue reading “When in a grump..”
Tempus Fugit
Yesterday saw the first barbecue of the season. To escape the smoke we repaired to the gin terrace for pre barbecue drinks and nibbles. (Lachlan had made vol-au-vents – lockdown is pushing his culinary efforts ever onwards). It was crystal clear (above the smoke level) and the Cheviot stood out sharply. Even Lyra admired theContinue reading “Tempus Fugit”
First dip of the season
Lyra has now dropped one real bone and one squeaky bone in the pond. She has shown no inclination to retrieve them. Accordingly, I was exhorted this afternoon to get into the pond and encourage the dog to swim. Having built up some serious heat by wrestling the 8 foot buttercups from the clay bedContinue reading “First dip of the season”
The Long Good Friday
It has been a well night perfect gardening day. Warm but not crazy hot and no wind to speak of. There was also no barrowing of compost to do – which I rather think may have been the clincher… My just in time weeding system required action at the top pond today. Some pink tulipsContinue reading “The Long Good Friday”