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I think all 23 mint varieties have survived the winter and I am going to start drying them and the thyme and sage varieties, and lemon verbena, lemon balm.
Also planing for pickles, relishes, chutneys, ketchups and sauces using tomatoes and the herbs in the garden.
A sparrow hawk landed on a plant pot by the kitchen window with a dead blackbird and then spent a good 5 minutes plucking and nibbling.
Nice one Banwell Garden Centre.
It is quite cold at night still so most plants taking their time – but that’s ok! Tomato plants planted first doing well – time to transplant in a couple of days – but I need to create some space by giving stuff away! I have also transplanted some of the wild flower seeds into the front. Sweet basil on kitchen window sill with a tomato (if I clip it it should stay smallish), greek basil not showing yet. Dill growing well as are marigolds, mustard and Californian poppies.
We are punishing the poor and the dispossessed – they should be grateful to suffer, especially at Easter. Please ignore the leader of the Church of England as he does not understand the fundamentals of region. Sleaze-Dogg reaching the bottom of the septic tank that represents this government.
Flowers like dandelion being scythed and decapitated. Insects and bird suffer collateral damage. Put the mower in the bin, pour a glass of wine and listen to the buzz of the bees and the songs of the birds. So much pleasanter than the hum of the exterminator.
Should I report this?
Weather looks like being changeable – which is ok. I might put my wild flower plugs out? Sunflowers are doing great in greenhouse and I will keep them there for another week before putting them out. But where? the ones last year did not do great by the kitchen window, maybe by the garage? Also time to fill empty pots with plants from the greenhouse, and to plant the odd veg seeds I have been given.
I was wondering what impact a cold spell would have on wildlife? It is not predicted to be frosty which is something, but early nesting birds/broods could suffer? Butterflies? Blossom is out on many trees but they will need the bees to fertilise, yesterday there were lots of insects around. My bird feeders have gone strangely quiet in the last 3 days or so. Have they found a better source?
Plenty of Brimstone Butterflies in last week
Temperatures beginning to fall with possibility of snow at lower levels in South-West! So I think it is steady as it goes in the garden. No more planting for 2 weeks. Sunflowers are racing ahead. I need to get the ‘different’ vegetables in pots ninth greenhouse, but have no space until I can give some tomato plants away, and plant some up – 8 in greenhouse, maybe 10, and 4 in front by kitchen window.
Then put sunflowers in pots next to them. I need another grow bag for repotting flowers in troughs and bigger pots. Then herbs to kitchen windowsill, and maybe bedrooms. Maybe buy a couple of plants for hanging baskets.
Then out to Draycott towards end of week for strawberries and jam making.
Making rum garibaldis later.