As I said in my last Six on Saturday post we have a new garden. I also said that for various reasons – rampant weeds to clear and too much wet weather from winter to spring – I was all behind come growing time; things got sown or planted out wherever there was space at that particular moment.
This has since made protecting cabbages, purple sprouting, kale and cauliflowers, first from pigeons, and more recently from hoards of cabbage white butterflies intent on laying their eggs, somewhat problematical, not to say given rise to a mishmash of netting and other protective devices rather too reminiscent of my former allotment contrivances.
So number 1, since it is preying on both my mind and on my brassicas: CABBAGE WHITE BUTTERFLIES…
Caterpillar damage on Tuscan kale
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I actually quite like this photo. The more so as the target of interest is my SoS 2: agastache or Vietnamese Mint. The butterfly is calling in for an energy fix, which I suppose I should mind. (Enough procreation, thank you!)
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I love the agastache. It smells of aniseed and its leaves are edible. It’s a perennial (I grew lots of it from seed this spring), though I’m not sure how hardy it will prove in a Bishop’s Castle winter. Anyway, it is a very tidy plant, growing beautifully upwards with lots of purple-mauve spires – not easy to photograph well.
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SoS 3 is one of this week’s very pleasing finds: a nice young toad lurking by the outside tap.
We’d already found a much bigger toad hiding under an old tile by Graham’s new garden shed creation. I’m wondering if there may be more, because so far there has been very little slug damage along the vegetable rows – so little in fact, I can’t quite believe it. (Lull before storm?) We were besieged with molluscs in Much Wenlock. We do have the odd big snail however.
Talking of the new garden shed, this is number 4. I’ve mentioned elsewhere that it’s being built from scratch, incorporating recycled parts from our April roof makeover and other assorted materials, the whole inspired by a Great Western Railway goods wagon. I’ve had to sacrifice what might otherwise have been a large and useful garden border, but never mind. I’m liking the shed. It’s presently having its rubber roof applied.
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SoS 5 is the front garden sweet corn. It’s growing tall and starting to tassel. Possibly planted rather tightly, but so far the plants don’t seem to mind.
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As seen a couple of weeks ago:
I also have a neighbouring raised bed with cabbages and spring onions. On the farther side of the front garden there is now a row of purple sprouting growing where the potatoes were, netted of course.
The two raised beds seen here were made from building work off-cuts, and I’m hoping for more to be made when the shed is done, and eventually I’ll move these to the back garden.
Or maybe not. The front garden does seem a good growing spot.
There’s also some good growing going on at the bottom of garden. I’m pleased that back in the winter I managed to make a good compost filled trench for the runner beans. It brings me to no. 6 – last night’s first meal of the season. Always a gardening landmark in Farrell household.
The trench of garden waste and hot bin compost certainly seems to be working well for runner beans Emergo and Painted Lady
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Up, up and away…
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Please visit Jim’s lovely garden at Garden Ruminations
Love the shed
I will pass that on, Sharon. He’ll be pleased 🙂
Wow Tish, you are very busy and are seeing positive results. Enjoy all the produce from your garden.
Thank you, Anne. Your encouragement along the way is much appreciated.
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Goodness, you don’t hang about, either of you! Love that shed!
Thanks, Sue. G. will be v. pleased to hear it’s ‘a hit’.
In a year when butterflies are at a premium (well here anyway) the sight of hordes of Large, Small and Green-veined Whites should be encouraged, sadly your dinners will suffer.
Very nice shed Tish and one day your garden will be just as you want it.
You’re right, Brian. I should be pleased to see the butterflies. I am really. More cross that my protection arrangements aren’t up to snuff. After all, I’ve left them the nasturtiums to go at.
love the whole view of the garden Tish – it already looks so inviting and yes the shed is one of the piece de resistances not least because I’ve always had a soft spot for railway carriages plus its a masterly creation of upcycling from Mr F . Your beans are way ahead of mine!
Thanks, Laura. Your shed appreciation will be much appreciated.
Am v. pleased with the beans. I think I chose a good sheltered spot for them by the greenhouse (ie thinking of all the terrific winds we’ve had this year). My erstwhile allotment beans were ever at risk of blowing away no matter how many bracing sticks I added to the support system.
Those beans sure look good. As for the bugs..well they need to eat too but not at our expense. Lol
Yes, the shed is quite nice and I always enjoy all the garden shots, so very different from here. So satisfying to eat from your own garden!
Yes, it’s hard to beat – eating one’s own produce, and now I don’t have to carry it home across a field 🙂
Always a plus.
I love that shed too. And the way you have pressed the garden into service despite having so very much else to do. And you may well be far too busy, in which case – quite understood. But we are about to house-sit for friends in Shropshire over the next fortnight or so (basically to eat their produce so they don’t come home to prize marrows and North Country style leeks), and will be having time to explore. Any chance of meeting whilst exploring your little corner? We’ll be near Dorrington.
Hello, Margaret. Staying near Dorrington, eh. A meet up would be lovely, but at our end might need some juggling round tradesmen in the next week or so. Unless a visit to BC is a possibility for you? My email address: tishfarrellwriter at gmail dot com.
This garden appears to be much more convenient than the allotment. Might be smaller though. Is my memory right on that? We have no garden this year. We chose a new puppy instead.
You’re dead right, Thom. The garden IS small, but then it has good soil and is both sheltered and sunny. Whereas the allotment plots were v. large and the soil was heavy and cold. So definitely more convenient.
A new puppy sounds like fun. And much activity involved with same. Happy days.
TMWBS has done a cracking job. Such a shame he lives so far away as I am in desperate need of a new shed.
Indeed a shame he isn’t closer, Jude. Sorry you’re in need though. Ready made sheds can be a bit dull or not quite what you want.
And expensive too! Plus I need someone to dismantle the old one and build the new one. My DIY days are well and truly past now.
You are a master gardener. Love the shed.
Thank you, Jennie. Praise indeed.
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That is very impressive, Tish. A bounty is ahead of you. I am liking your shed too.
Thanks, Tracy. Bounty, yes, and the caterpillars are having a good munch too.
A riot of critters, blooms, vegetals … all sorts of excitement! I love it!
There is so much life in your garden.
There is, Lakshmi. And that moment, too, there’s also an awful lot of caterpillars eating my kale 😉