Further observations...
Day 89: 10-Oct
We have
a hedgehog leaf pile nest in a corner by our house bay window - I spotted a
small hedgehog with leaves in its mouth (11pm), it triggered our outside light
on and I took great pleasure watching the hedgehog enter the leaf pile.
Day 90: 11-Oct
Found
an advert for a 'syringe' like tool for pointing in brick work and paving slabs
- pointmaster could be useful to
re-point some patio slabs and window sills.
Day 91: 12-Oct
On Flog
it; showed an electrostatic generator, known as the Wimshurst machine: Wimshurst machine
Day 92: 13-Oct
Euphorbiacharacias subsp. wulfenii propagate by division early
spring or basal cuttings in spring / early summer.
Day 93: 14-Oct
Read
about Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew - Joseph Hooker (1817-1911). He
identified in 1871 that gardeners nor foremen know anything about
plants(nomenclature, soil, techniques, geography and climate) - this
represents an insurmountable obstacle to progress (The Garden - RHS magazine
Sept 2014).
[seems we are facing similar challenges today]
Day 94: 15-Oct
Transplanting
Globe Artichokes - rejuvenate by removing side shoots & roots, to make new
plants. Attempting to move the whole plant is difficult due to large tap
roots.
Day 95: 16-Oct
At the
Snowshill Manor (NT) apple festival preparations, discovered some new to me
apple varieties; Tremlett's Bitter, Knotted Kernel, Lord Burghley &
Sweeny Nonpareil.
Day 96: 17-Oct
Watched
a bee search out the final flower on a lavender plant; it's important not to be
too eager to tidy up plants as wildlife needs all the help it can get to
live/survive.
Day 97: 18-Oct
The
spire of Salisbury Cathedral is the highest in the UK. The tower has no bells
for fear that the vibration would lead to structural damage.
Day 98: 19-Oct
The
collective noun for ladybirds is a 'loveliness of ladybirds'.
Day 99: 20-Oct
Quince
pruning (trained): Quinces fruit mostly on the tips of the shoots made the
previous year. They do not form many fruiting spurs. Prune and train in
the dormant season between late autumn and early spring. The branch
framework is developed along the same lines as for an apple. After the
fourth year, only light pruning is necessary apart from the occasional removal
of crowding or low-lying branches.
Day 100: 21-Oct
Noticed
in a garden today, an ant 'hill' in the lawn, height about 3 inches & 1
inch diameter, made of very fine damp soil. Never seen one like that
before.
Day 101: 22-Oct
Rosemary plant noted flowering in a client's garden. Apparently this can often happen
(September through to the winter).
Day 102: 23-Oct
Metastatic
cancer; is a cancer that has spread from the part of the body where it started,
to other parts of the body.
Day 103: 24-Oct
The 6
acre garden at Great Dixter in East Sussex, from
1910, was set out by architect Edwin Lutyens & the then owner
Nathaniel Lloyd.
Day 104: 25-Oct
Started
filling my leaf 'basket' on the allotment. Last year's 'heap' has broken down
to lovely leaf mould. It never ceases to amaze how leaves change to
produce 'black gold'.
Day 105: 26-Oct
After a
period of consideration, I decided to make a donation to 'Toilet
Twinning' organisation to support provision of sanitation - I twinned
one of my toilets with one in Sierra Leone. I hope to provide more donations
and 'twinning' in the future.
Day 106: 27-Oct
Climbing
rose care; reduce tall stems to minimise winter damage; prune flowered
sideshoots back to 2/3rds of length, remove dead, dying & diseased
branches, tie-in new shoots to supports, remove old/congested branches
from the base.
Day 107: 28-Oct
In
client's garden, Aubretia starting to flower unusual as flowering should be March to May.
Day 108: 29-Oct
Needed
to find out how & when to prune Fig tree (small specimen in a pot). In
March, remove a proportion (1/4 to 1/3rd) of older branches.
