#1 |
Moved to this incredible gardening area from California (I am now on the Isle of Mull in Scotland). WHAT A MIRACLE!! Brown/black/wet dirt REALLY EXISTS! I lived in a little town called Ramona (halfway up the mountains of San Diego) and one needed dynamite, several pickaxes, one or 2 chisel digging bars, 4-5 shovels/spades... all because the decomposed and not granite is IMPOSSIBLE to dig in. I have REVELED in my garden in Tobermory since I arrived... and the holidays were over.
Evidently I am an inclement weather gardener as the 6 weeks of STELLAR, Southern California style weather had be despondent and not wanting to garden. I really thought I would NEVER have to water another garden once I moved here.. but after 3 weeks of zero rain, I had to start watering... which is a challenge as I live in an upstairs flat and there are no outside taps. Yep, buckets and buckets from my bathtub to the garden! All for a good cause though!
I do have to say... I find Scottish weeds VERY annoying. Seems EVERYTHING that ISN'T supposed to grow in a garden does so and with VIGOR and replicates via the most VILE AND INSIDIOUS route of runners. Often running almost a foot underground. Most satisfying though when one can gently tease up a runnier of a foot or more in length with a bunch of budding babies on it! Currently n my garden, and the bane of my existence are (in order of my abject dislike of them): Ground Elder (yes, I know it is edible but I still have to clear my entire back garden and I could feed ALL of Tobermory with what is growing back there!), Couch Grass (I'm Ok with it settling into my lawn as it is indestructible and hard for the dog to destroy), Bind Weed (I actually really LIKE this one... and I do mean ONE or 2 as they remind me of Morning Glories when they bloom. However, when they try to choke my roses, I have a few choice Military style vernacular for them!), and Sorrel, which I just researched and found that it is indeed edible (my neighbor said it isn't) and so I will save a bit for a pot now! It is a very pretty ground cover and I might get around to planting it once I get to the remveal of my front lawn and put in hand made Gunnera leaf stepping stones!
Ok, enough diarrhea of the fingers... I am just so excited... my garden ideas actually kept me awake and plotting for 30 hours straight a couple of weeks ago. Cured that by drawing on photos of what I am planning.
TTFN!
Evidently I am an inclement weather gardener as the 6 weeks of STELLAR, Southern California style weather had be despondent and not wanting to garden. I really thought I would NEVER have to water another garden once I moved here.. but after 3 weeks of zero rain, I had to start watering... which is a challenge as I live in an upstairs flat and there are no outside taps. Yep, buckets and buckets from my bathtub to the garden! All for a good cause though!
I do have to say... I find Scottish weeds VERY annoying. Seems EVERYTHING that ISN'T supposed to grow in a garden does so and with VIGOR and replicates via the most VILE AND INSIDIOUS route of runners. Often running almost a foot underground. Most satisfying though when one can gently tease up a runnier of a foot or more in length with a bunch of budding babies on it! Currently n my garden, and the bane of my existence are (in order of my abject dislike of them): Ground Elder (yes, I know it is edible but I still have to clear my entire back garden and I could feed ALL of Tobermory with what is growing back there!), Couch Grass (I'm Ok with it settling into my lawn as it is indestructible and hard for the dog to destroy), Bind Weed (I actually really LIKE this one... and I do mean ONE or 2 as they remind me of Morning Glories when they bloom. However, when they try to choke my roses, I have a few choice Military style vernacular for them!), and Sorrel, which I just researched and found that it is indeed edible (my neighbor said it isn't) and so I will save a bit for a pot now! It is a very pretty ground cover and I might get around to planting it once I get to the remveal of my front lawn and put in hand made Gunnera leaf stepping stones!
Ok, enough diarrhea of the fingers... I am just so excited... my garden ideas actually kept me awake and plotting for 30 hours straight a couple of weeks ago. Cured that by drawing on photos of what I am planning.
TTFN!
Thanks for reading, Lady Karina Benish, MSEd, RVT, CW2 (US Army ret.)