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" Frosts, Gardens and the Paddock"

Date & start time:    Last two weeks in March 2018.

Location of Start :   By the red phone box, Loweswater, Cumbria, Uk. ( NY 143 211 )

Places visited :         Not travelled far for these photos ... but into town for some plants.

Walk details :             Round and about, up and down, pushing a wheelbarrow.

Worked with :             Whoever was available and willing.

Weather :                    A mixed two weeks, but some nice weather and fairly dry.

The chart of the paddock now has a few more scribbles on it !

 

A compilation of photos from recent weeks, on the days of more unusual weather or when I finished being busy in the garden. 

First a few photos from recent walks and several views from the front and back doors before breakfast one day.

In the paddock the heavy work is done, now follows the technical bits

and then we wait for nature to do its thing . . . hope we've got it right !

Trying out an iPhone 5s camera down by the side of Crummock, on a less sunny day . . .

a better photo than on my old Samsung . . . which is getting rather old but it still works okay so mustn't grumble !

- - - o o o - - -

The recent lovely weather following the snow was proceeded on one particular day by a very heavy frost.

The morning sun was shining almost horizontally down the valley

so it kept the foreground field in shadow but made Foulsyke House shine in the bright sun light.

A close up of the big house . . . now you can notice the sheep in the field who had almost blended into the previous picture.

Likewise here . . . the church was in bright sun but the field in deep shadow.

It is going to be a lovely day . . .

A short time later the rising sun had spread its light right across the field.

Add half an hour and most of the frost was gone.

- - - o o o - - -

After many years of life and many Christmas and birthdays for the dogs, there is a realisation that the toy box is full to overflowing.

Anyone volunteering to throw any away ?      Not these two by the look on their faces !

- - - o o o - - -

 

With the fine weather come the chance

to continue with the paddock

and think about re-stocking the garden vegetable beds.

 

The plan to the left has more words on it since you last saw it !

It is my "aide-memoir" mainly for the names of the trees.

- - - o o o - - -

   

The level patch at the head of the paddock area had been (roughly) levelled.

It has now been edged in spare turf and grass-seeded.

The corner of the plot with the blackberries and reeds (sieves is a local name too).

I have treated myself to some new autumn fruiting raspberries for the fruit cage so have transplanted the summer fruiting raspberries here.

The brown soil is compost from the heap and the sieves have been dug out by hand in preparation.

I searched for ideas on how to ret rid of them but it is either hard spade work, "Round-up" herbicide, regular strimming or goats !

I've added a few key plants to the hedge . . .
. . . and planted a golden weeping willow tree by the pond.

With more than a passing nod to our excellent local vegetarian restaurant I've planted two specials . . .

Quince . . . the larger tree up towards the pond . . . an apple-pear like fruit.

Medlar . . . the larger sapling (3rd along) . . . more of a hedgerow fruit . . . best eaten after it appears to be going off !

We are proud to announce the arrival of some new season frog spawn . . . our first new species for the paddock.

Then I realised that the pool (seen here when first created ) did not have any vegetation for them to eat !

- - - o o o - - -

 

In exchange for clearing my neighbour's stream

in his garden (with permission)

I've acquired a few extra plants for myself.

 

This was the start of some waterside planting

of iris, marsh marigold and meadow sweet

at various places round the pond.

 

Well it's a start and cost nothing but time.

 

- - - o o o - - -

Reminds me of a song . . . " Down by the river side "

Hope the tadpoles will be happier !

- - - o o o - - -

 

On this side of the stream

and just catching the late afternoon sun

I've planted a European Cornus Mas cherry tree.

 

It should produce edible wild cherries.

 

( Thanks to Helmut for the suggestion.)

 

- - - o o o - - -

Hopefully (or I've been assured by my landscape guy) the grass in the paddock will grow back once everything warms up !

To help things along I have scattered a little grass seed and wild flower seed on key areas.

Time now to think about the rest of the garden.

- - - o o o - - -

My "Lingholm" octagonal walled garden has been dug over and early planted onion sets on the left are sprouting well.

There are a few flowers in the centre for colour this year.

" Find of the week " . . .

Whilst digging-in some new rhubarb plants

I came across a teaspoon about six inches down in the soil.

It turns out that we lost this spoon about five or six years ago.

It was an old, correctly sized teaspoon that Ann bought

for catering college 5 years ago (or did I leave out an extra 5 there !)

( The photo above is a reconstruction of the crime scene )

 

It must have fallen into the compost bin, spent a year in the compost heap

and the rest of the time deep in this patch as I haven't

composted or dug it over it for quite some time.

 

The new-season rhubarb is starting to show
The hallmark on the back says "Firth Staybright" . . . It certainly has !
   

- - - o o o - - -

 

I've invested in a little colour (laburnum) for the top garden

which will need planting out soon.

 

- - - o o o - - -

 

The haze on the picture turned out to be

condensation on the lens from walking from the cold

into the lovely, warm, moist greenhouse.

 

There's a moral here to learn . . .

but then I can't afford to cover the whole garden in glass !

 

- - - o o o - - -

These start of the season veg will be planted out once the forecasted Easter cold weather shows signs of warming up.

Must leave you now . . . the veg patch need digging . . . any offers of help ?

- - - o o o - - -

 

Technical note: Pictures taken with my Panasonic Lumix Gx8 Camera.

Resized in Photoshop, and built up on a Dreamweaver web builder.

This site best viewed with . . . a plan in your head for where everything could go.

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Previous walk - 24th March 2018 - Sunshine at Crummock, Dee & John

A previous time up here - 20th - 26th February 2018 - The Paddock Transformed

Next walk - 2nd April 2018 - A Wet Bank Holiday Monday