We Have Had an Incredible Year So Far
THE VILLAGE GARDENER
We Have Had an Incredible Year So Far
We have had an incredible year so far. The way the gardens bloomed in September and October was amazing. The grass needed to be cut every week as it recovered from looking like shredded wheat and even the trees straightened themselves up. Everything seemed to go into overdrive. Slugs and snails came out in force, ladybirds were around but, sadly, not in enough numbers to help control the black fly on dahlias and runner beans. All your daffs should be in now and there is still time to plant tulips for a good show.
On the veg patch the broad beans and peas I planted, to give me an early crop next year, came up within 10 days due to the good weather and were then promptly scoffed by rabbits. The ones I thought were a bit behind had been eaten by the squirrels. I have now replanted under cloches with the ends boarded up.
The mild Autumn meant that runner beans were still being picked in October. Nicola, famous for her giant veg, is keen on making compost and had been collecting fallen leaves as early as August, then the weather changed and the leaves seem to stop falling until now. If you’re collecting leaves on lawns use the mower as a little grass mixed with the chopped-up leaves makes for a relatively quick compost
As gardeners we love to be outside pottering about, there’s always something to do. The weather may hold us back a bit, especially this past Summer, but being in the garden is the best therapy for staying well and as years pass it becomes even more so. When your family come round and catch you sitting in the chair having a well-earned nap because you’ve done loads in the garden, they don’t see a relaxed person taking a well-earned rest. What they see is Mum and Dad exhausted because they can’t cope with the garden and will want you to pave it over or cover it all in gravel in case they have to help. If you have any oomph left, keep going.
The village engagement day in October was enjoyable and well organised. The Village Gardener teamed up with the Environment Team to share a table with the emphasis on composting and soil improvers. It was there I met the infamous Shady, he is quite a character and proof if needed, that you can’t judge a book by its cover.
Take care and happy gardening.