GARDEN GLIMPSES 2

The pond also requires some attention. I have been spending a day each week scooping off the algae, removing leaves and fallen twigs along with gunky smelly stuff in a bucket scoop, and replacing lost water by can. however, this does not appear to be sufficient. I may either have to do a complete turnout or do these actions more often than once a week to ensure the water is no longer smelly.

In the middle of August, I did a major pond maintenance session. I scooped out about two dozen buckets of filthy murky water and wrenched out half the pond-plant and 9/10ths the pond grass. The pond had not had any serious maintenance done for many years and both plants were severely overgrown. 

I ended up somewhat splashed and muddy from my efforts, but spotted a couple of frogs whose heads popped up during my pond-work, to investigate what I was doing to their home. Hopefully they will appreciate my spring cleaning!

A few days later, I scooped the algae off from the surface and hopefully have now ended any major pond maintenance for the year.

 

GARDEN GLIMPSES 1

 

As you can see from the photograph of the rose arch, there is plenty of foliage - but not all of it is rose bush. I have purposefully allowed the bindweed to grow surrounding the 2 rose plants which are both doing well and making plenty of growth below. I have no objection to pretty, large, white flowers and nor do the bees, despite bindweed being classed as a weed in this country.

The poly tunnel - now just over half way emptied - is still visible behind the overhang of tumbled tree. There is a mix of next door's holly tree and elderberry tree along with blackberry brambles overhanging the yard that I have left. I hope to clear and dispose of the poly tunnel at some point during the remainder of this year and use the ground for a veg plot in 2015. for now, the birds may benefit from extra berries, however.

Here is one collection of stuff from inside the poly tunnel, awaiting a trip to the tip. The dartboard is too warped to donate or sell, the plastic stool-table too broken and fragile to use, the broken shade also has no stand...

Alas, the patio leaves something to be desired at present. I need to sell/donate the plastic chairs and to de-foliate the area as well as take the white former cupboard to the tip and locate a new home for the dustpan and brush I use on the bird table and 2 stone jars.

SUMMER SLOSHING 7

It is summer... That is my main excuse for not doing very much around the house and yard recently. I have tinkered with this and that, but not really made any major advancement. The freezer is well-stocked, as are the pantry and wine closet, but...very little has actually been 'done' in the way of gardening, painting, redecorating, or even turning out/selling. 

 

The latter not being my fault, I may add - I do have an online garage sale and am TRYING to dispose of unwanted items, but as yet have only had 2 people interested in actual purchases. Maybe YOU would like to buy something? Take a look and see...

HERE

One of the few projects I have begun over the warm sunny months (ok, this IS England, warm sunny WEEKS might be a better sentence) is wine making. I originally intended to use excess apples and attempt to make 2 wine-making jars worth of cider. The thought of having gooseberry crumble twice+ in one week and how nice gooseberry wine might be led me to use one of the two glass wine making jars I kept from my father's stock in an attempt to create a batch of 'Sande's 2014 gooseberry & ginger wine' though.

I originally had to suffice with a funnel and cotton wool stopper - as I could NOT locate any wine-making suppliers to buy what I called a 'air-stopper thingy you put vodka in' but which I have since learned is supposed to be called 'bung with bubbler airlock'. I am hoping to locate and purchase a pair of such items in 2 days time from writing. For now....

I have since succeeded in purchasing the appropriate equipment and replaced the makeshift funnel... photos in an upcoming post.