When looking at my Tuesday Views, it is clear that we have a large expanse to mow…
However, it is not just grass. In fact, in places there is barely any grass, and in winter a lot of it is actually moss… here are some pictures of what’s really down there!
(Click on any picture to open the gallery)
The Moon Daisies are just starting to flower too!
What’s in YOUR lawn?
As you can also see from my new header, on Friday the first Peony finally opened!
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And now for the Strawberry Pot…
I have had this beautiful strawberry pot for about 10 years now, yet have never had much success growing anything in it.
The problem is that the little pockets just don’t soak up any water in dry weather, so the plants dry up while the top flourishes… I didn’t plant it at all last year – such a shame.
The solution? I googled strawberry pots and found a great way to deal with this watering problem. If you have a similar pot this may be useful for you too.
This is what you need:
A strawberry pot, and a piece of pipe the same height has your pot (30cm in my case) and about 5cm in diameter…
(If, like me, you are not adept with drills yourself) A man of many talents to drill some holes in the pipe (sorry, not available for the photo!).
A nylon stocking/sock(!) and a little adhesive tape…
Some potting compost…
And some plants (not necessarily strawberries!). I used some bacopa and blue lobelia, and a pink geranium for the top.
First, mark where the holes in the pipe should be, as in the pictures above – they don’t need to be very big. For a 30cm pipe I have four rows of four holes.
Put a piece of nylon stocking over the top of the pipe and pull it down to almost the bottom. Cut off the excess and tape it in place. This stops soil from entering the pipe and clogging it up.
Put a little compost in the base of the pot and press the pipe into the centre, then fill the pot lightly with soil to hold the pipe in place. Now push the plants into the pockets and fill up compost all around them, pressing firmly. When the pockets are finished you can then fill the pot to the top and add a plant to the top too. Don’t worry if the pipe/stocking is still visible – the plants will soon cover it. Water through the stocking covered pipe! It will seep slowly into the lower end of the pot and (hopefully!) keep all the pockets supplied with moisture.
This photo is two weeks later, and it seems to be working very well…
I also bought some smaller pieces of pipe to bury next to my tomato plants to aid watering. And some smaller watering cans to relieve my wrists. It means walking to the outdoor water supply more often, but seeing as my legs are fine I think this is the only solution!
Have you got any tips for watering?
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“Beneath the sun I dance and play, in April and in merry May”
(from The Song of the Cowslip Fairy by Cicely Mary Barker)
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That’s the name of this Viridiflora tulip: “Eye Catcher” – and it certainly is! It’s definitely one of my favourites at the moment, as it stands tall…
… and glows even when the sun goes behind a cloud.
The raspberry ripple looking tulips on the left are ‘Estella Rijnveld’, a parrot tulip. Here’s a closer look…
Mmm, looks good enough to eat!
Another pretty one flowering at the moment is this pinky red one – I haven’t adjusted the colours at all, it really is that vivid!
What’s providing colour in your garden right now?
“The Secrets of Wildflowers: A delightful Feast of Little-Known Facts, Folklore, and History”
This was a Christmas gift and I’ve been losing myself in it on and off through the spring. The word “Feast” in the title is very appropriate – and “delightful” it is too!
Although the focus is on North American flowers, many are also prevalent in Germany and Europe, some even native. In the introduction the author states that his book covers both “natives and immigrants, friends or foes, because both kinds are here and both are interesting”. I like this attitude, as I find so many non-native plants growing wild, and think they are just as valuable as the native ones.
Divided into Spring, Summer, Late Summer and Fall, it is easy to find what is flowering now. Each flower has its own chapter, which gives some botanical information and tells you a little about the plant’s history, the common names given, uses (medicinal, culinary etc) and myths or traditions surrounding it. The chapters are broken up nicely into little chunks – very readable. The botanical details are also fed to the reader in a clear way, without getting too complicated and without being patronizing. I am learning so much and in such an enjoyable tone.
I was immediately impressed because it is the first source I have found that upholds my belief that Hepatica nobilis sometimes gives off a wonderful scent… I was beginning to think it was my imagination, but Sanders quotes the naturalist John Burroughs: “Group after group may be inspected, ranging through all shades of purple and blue, with some perfectly white, and no odor to be detected, when presently you will happen upon a little brood of them that have a most delicate and delicious fragrance.”
Occasionally a poem or quotes are included, even a recipe or two, and the little lesser known details and legends are so fascinating! Did you know, for example, that gypsies used to smoke Coltsfoot leaves (Tussilago) for pleasure? Or that spring violet leaves are extremely high in vitamin C? Or that a German scientist counted 93 species of insect that visited the dandelion flower?…
I shall be reading each chapter as the flower appears here, learning new and interesting facts and enjoying the feast daily. This book gets top marks for writing style AND content. I thoroughly recommend it to anyone who loves wild flowers!
