happymarion

Peach tree

I had a peregrine peach tree as a Christmas present.  It had beautiful scented blossom on it so I got out my sable paint brush and hand pollinated it.  I lost count of the number of peaches after 20  they are now the size of gooseberries.  i put it in a big pot and in the conservatory as it is very tall.  My fig, Turkey Brown, fruits well in there.  I keep it well watered and eventually will feed it like i have the fig.  I expect to have to thin some of the fruit but will wait to see if they drop any fruit like apples and pears do. I expect your bargain tree will be fine.  mine came 14ft tall so the ones from nurseries are usually a bit older when sold.  keeping the young leaves from getting wet by rainwater is the way to stop them getting peach leaf curl which is a fungal disease spread by the spores being brought down by rain.

Today I feel so happy....

Yes, I decided if we are going to have dull days I need to clean the windows and mirrors and pictures that have glass fronts so the house now smells of vinegar and washing up liquid as that is what i use to clean glass. All except the kitchen which now smells of my lovely pasta ake for my lunch.  As I have a committee meeting in my lounge tonight i must not get tired in the garden .  Need all my wits about me.

One for the ladies...

I live off my garden mostly.  Lots of veg and fruit keep me healthy as well as the exercise and fresh air.  We have a Chinese Herbal garden at the Bristol Botanic Garden as well as a Western Herb Garden .  There are myriads of uses for the herbs that many people use.  My favourites are mint and Lemon balm tisane in the evening when you are overtired - too tired to sleep.  Knocks me out.  Lavender in my bath will do the same.  i tie a bunch of the flowers to the tap and the water washes the goodness into my bath.  Rosemary will do the opposite in the morning and wake me up.  But running my hands through herbs growing in the garden will always perk me up.  I could not be without herbs in my cooking, not just for flavour but for digestion.  Rosemary in lamb, sage in pork and onion dishes. basil in pasta. parsley in soup, are all good for your stomach.

Today I feel so happy....

Our drab, drear sky in Brietol is gradually brightening and i can feel my spirits lifting.  We did need the rain in Bristol for the gardens so that was a plus but it was so dark this morning i thought it might be another writing day and i had made up my mind when April came I would only write when it was too dark to garden.  I don't mind gardening in the rain as it makes the weeds easier to pull but the dark under my loads of trees is a no-no.  I surround myself with plants in the house during the winter, lots to eat like salads and herbs and flowers to remind me of what is to come.  Here is a corner of my kitchen right now.

Today I feel so happy....

I'll tell you a happy tale about what gardening does for you.  Fifteen years ago I had a slight stroke and was put on tablets to lower my blood pressure.  Two months ago I started having dizzy spells and went to see my doctor.  after a week of BP monitoring he took me off the tablets.  When I asked was it because of my age being nearly 85 now, he said no it was they were no longer appropriate because of my healthy lifestyle.  i garden every day either in my own hlf acre or doing voluntary gardening for others.  Bo problems - prescribe youself some gardening.

Today I feel so happy....

Well, you can tell from my name on this site I go in for happiness blogging, so justchoose the threads with happymarion as instigator when you feel low.  I'll always do my best to be upbeat.

Spring sweethearts

Yes, we have Brazen Hussy at the Bristol Botanic Garden at the front of the Hot Border.  It does spread a bit but not anything like the native one, but then they disappear so quickly too I would always welcome them in the spring - like Shakespeare.  i have the native one covering the soil in my wallflower bed at the moment and they look great with the russet brown shades of the wallflower.  must pick some wallflowers for the house and get more.

Our own A to Z of our Gardening

Oh, thank you, Salino.  Yes A for Arlington Court and their Azaleas.  Here they are last year on 10th May.

Spring sweethearts

Awww, I forgot about spring pansies that have survived the winter.  Here are yellow and blue ones on my friend's windowsill.  These do cheer you up o a cold spring day.

Spring sweethearts

Zoomer 40, Adam Pasco wrote a blog on multi-headed tulips in Sept 2011.  If you put "Muliheaded tulips" into the GW search engine you can read it and perhaps put a variety to yours from the colour.  i have the species Tulipa praestans in my garden and they do flower early.  The kaufmanniana tulips flower early as well.  I find doubles like angelique flower later but do so look forward to those.

Painting what you've grown

Summer has arrived

picture difficulties

Talkback: Gardening in Russia

Spring sweethearts

Spring Spectacular

Talkback: House sparrows

Gardeners World new season

Talkback: Blind daffodils

Talkback: Good things about February

Talkback: Waiting for the snow to thaw

Talkback: Learning from 2012

Winter wonders

Talkback: 2013 in the garden

Talkback: Winkworth Arboretum