May 2021 - Week 4

 Hiding the Compost

This week's pressing task is constructing a screen to hide the business end of compost making, leaf collecting etc.

At the moment this goes on at the bottom of the garden just outside the woodlot that we back onto, it's not very pretty as it mainly consists of old car tires, a big carpenter's cloth cage and recycled pallet.

Nice isn't it.  Definitely not the focal point I was looking for from my deck lol

My plan is to put up 4 posts about 3' 6" apart and construct some sort of fence between them (probably involving a pallet or 2) up which I will grow blackberries and maybe a rambling rose if I can find one that is reliable in part shade.

I should have got this started much earlier for 2 reasons:

• I've already bought the blackberries and they're sitting looking miserable in pots
• The stack of old tires is currently full of composting materials from last year that could really use turning
• I need another bin so I can start composting again this year

I've already made a start and bought a drain spade to dig post holes with and I've converted an old plastic bin with a broken wheel into a new compost bin; it's particularly scratty looking and definitely needs hiding so I've got to get a move on so I can put it out.

So for this week I will aim to get the following done:

• Do some more research into how to secure the posts
• Order materials
• Dig 4 post holes

If I get anymore than that done I'll be pleased, to be honest I'll be pretty chuffed if I get all that done as the ground is pretty hard and clayey so post hole digging will not be fun.

What's poppin' in the garden?

Mahonia, I moved this a few weeks ago and it is really loving it's new location in the woodland bed, all these leaves are new.

Look at those lovely glaucous chartreuse leaves, now that's 2 great words in one sentence 😁 

Wild geraniums and perennial cornflowers in the front yard are looking the business.

Borrowing next doors alliums and white fluffy stuff nicely there to extend the view

Wild geranium looking fabulous

Bloody cranesbill is beginning to do it's stuff.

Jacob's sunflowers are popping up all over.

The Little Blue Stem I sowed last week has germinated.

So pleased with last years butterfly weed, there are 4 now.

Although you can't see them all on this shot

Orange and Pink dahlias from last year are showing little bits of foliage.

White aquilegia and one of Rose's seed grown aquilegia are coming into flower.

Chamomile has germinated outside.

Jobs for this week

Screen/fence work - see above

Sow the rest of the grasses for this year May 26

Visit Sheridan's and buy: May 31.

• Cushions They have nice patterns but on closer inspection are a bit cheap so back to trying to find some outdoor fabric and making my own
• Basil and lemon balm plants
• Bush bean seeds found some of these while looking for the foxglove seeds so scratch that.  Maybe I'll buy another packet of foxglove seeds instead. lol
• Top soil - 2 bags bought potting soil instead for planting up summer pots, see June - Week 1
• pond plant They don't seem to be selling them right now so I'll have to look elsewhere

Plant raspberries May 24.  Planted them against the south facing garage wall.  Lots of sun but it's quite dry so I think it could be a bit of a gamble.

Sow biennials, foxgloves and lupins for next year OMG, I've lost the foxglove seeds.  No idea where I've put them, I'll no doubt find them in September when it's too late. May 27.  Sowed 16 lupins in 8 newspaper plugs.

Extra bits and bobs

May 26.  Lots of seeds sown in newspaper plugs...

• 10 x Little blue stem
• 5 x Panicum
• 5 x Pennisetum Hameln

Pricked out:

• 16 x asters
• 2 x Joe Pye Weed - disappointing, I wanted loads of these

Potted on all 9 of Anise Hyssops, they've really grown and have great root structure already.  All the beans I sowed last week have germinated now.

May 27.  Sowed climbing nasturtiums, moonflowers and morning glory in plugs.  All these seeds are fairly old so I've put at lease 2 per plug and I guess we'll see what the germination rate is like.