Dorset lifestyle
William and Toby keen to go out into the paddock, just waiting for the gate to be opened, they’re wearing their masks to stop the flies settling round their eyes. The ground has puddled after overnight rain, so no watering required. Tied up the tomatoes and cucumbers in the greenhouse and have been given some leek seedlings, still have room in a raised bed so they can go straight in. A cloudy sunny day with a chilly wind.
Ready to be planted out, the first of the carrots and radishes are poking through the soil in the raised bed, it rained most of the morning which saved watering. Sowed land cress, spinach and peas, tied up the tomatoes and cucumber in the greenhouse. Stacked wood and sharpened the chainsaw. A sunny end to a wet cloudy day with blustery winds.
Head in the hedge, he likes to eat hawthorn, blackthorn, brambles and wild roses, his favourite on this occasion was the field maple, it doesn’t ever have to be trimmed from the paddock side. He’s eating his fibre mash with the balancer, he’s just a bit slow, so Toby has to have some as well. Potted on the cucumbers and tied more runner bean canes, fixed another plank of wood to the end of the sheep shelter in the small paddock, the last gale loosened the roof. A sunny, cloudy day with a chilly breeze.
Lots about, including this Common Blue and the Orange Tipped, the blackbirds have nested in the hedge and make a real racket when one of the cats walks past, especially if it’s Coby. A pair of Greater Spotted Woodpeckers were in the garden, both had bright red flashes. Fixed more of the runner bean sticks, planted a few rows of Adelaide carrots and put the lemon trees out on the terrace. Lunch in Stur. A warm, sunny, day with a chilly breeze.
A little bigger than the average, one that escaped the harvest last year, it’ll keep the donkeys happy for a week or two. The garlic in the raised bed is looking ok but the strawberry beds need tidying up, brown leaves and more runners are spreading everywhere, a job for a sunny day. Moved a load of compost. A cloudy, col, sunny day with light winds.
Planted a couple of months ago, the elephant garlic was planted a few inches deeper and has made the same thick top growth as last year. Need a few days of frost to make the clove’s split, expect January and February will be cold enough. Still have some bulbs from the last crop, they dried out ok and are hanging in the garage. Moved logs nearer the house to dry out under cover, getting through a basket full every day. A foggy start to a rainy day.
They don’t last long with the donkeys, a few scrunched mouthfuls and they’ve gone. Walked down the lane to cut hazel and beech branches, the paddock was too wet for the donkeys to go out today after last night’s torrential rain, so they needed something to keep them occupied. The courgette plants are finally wilting, the result of cooler nights and mildew, moved the bunches of garlic and onions from the greenhouse into the garage. A breezy, sunny day with the occasional downpour.
Carrots and a courgette, the carrots had a couple of small holes in them and no carrot fly, which was good. The courgette is more like a marrow, still tasted ok with lamb mince, the donkeys ate the carrot tops. Filled some of the holes in the edges of the mudmats, they’re staying level even with the weight of the donkeys, William likes to stand on them for a few minutes when he comes back up to the stable. A sunny warm day with light winds and the occasional downpour.
A wet start to the day, the rain gave way to cloud and a mackerel sky followed by a glorious fireball sunset. Rubble to help widen the driveway arrived on a trailer, a dumpy bagful doesn’t go far, but it helps. The donkeys were curious, running away and then coming back to see what was going on. Harvested the onions and put them in the greenhouse to dry off, left the two leeks growing in the raised bed. The last of the runner beans taste ok but don’t have the flavour of the earlier pickings, and they smell different when being cooked, must have less sugar. No need to light the woodburner.
Toby and the lambs made contact through the fence, they like to touch noses at some point during the day, Elton had a tug at Toby’s fringe as sheep like to chew everything, William wandered over to see what was going on but didn’t get as close. Started building a sheep shelter in Willow paddock, time the sheep moved out of Fallen Oak. A sunny cloudy day with the odd shower but not enough rain for the vegetables, so more watering, picked runner beans, mange tout and courgettes.
A very misty start to a humid day, with no wind, the sun took a few hours to break through and then the temperature rose steadily until falling again at sunset. The donkeys came up from the paddock for salt lick and water several times and the sheep lay against the fence, panting in the sun, despite various areas of shade being available. Watered the vegetables and the hedge, picked mange-tout, runner beans, courgettes and most of the tomatoes.
Looking much better, bright eyed and happy to sit in a warm greenhouse on the stool. She ventured onto the hard standing to have a look around before the donkeys came too close and she went back under the fence. The tomatoes are ripening quickly although the plants are looking a bit ragged. Moved the electric fence further down laneside so that the donkeys can graze more of the hedge. Picked runner beans, tomatoes plums and a few mange-tout. A cloudy sunny day with light winds.
Chewing the cud by the fence and ready to rejoin the rest of the flock in willow paddock. Once the gate was opened he needed a bit of encouragement to roam around, and then matriarch Winnie gave him an occasional head butt to remind him of the pecking order. They ended the day grazing together and will hopefully settle down for a quiet night chewing the cud in their arcs. Picked apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, runner beans, carrots and courgettes. A cloudy start to a sunny and warm day.
Balloons would have drifted across the vale tonight, but the wind rose mid afternoon and the forecast is for even stronger winds overnight. Jago is coming to terms with his new flock, he chews the cud a yard or so away from Ivy and Elton, and although Ivy butts him he’s able to run away and keep a yard or so ahead of her so she soon loses interest. The heavy rain has flattened a lot of the taller grasses in the paddocks. Picked a few mange tout, runner beans and tomatoes. Chilly start to the day, warm in the sun.
Cloud rolling towards Hambledon Hill, could hear the thunder and see the lightening, but no rain until much later. Moved the sheep and their arcs into Willow paddock and gave the donkeys a larger area to graze for the next few days. Picked runner beans, carrots, lettuce, cucumbers and tomatoes, planted out a few more runner beans to replace those eaten by the snails. Took Poppy to the vet as she’s off her food, blood test results may mean an increase in thyroid medication. A warm, humid day.
Good sized bulbs, and tall stalks with pale purple flowers, possibly harvested them too soon, could have picked off the flowers as soon as they appeared and left them in the ground longer then perhaps the bulbs would have been even bigger, will find out next year! Mange tout are now growing in their place which should produce a good crop before the night time temperature starts to drop. Pulled thistles from the rose bed for the donkeys, they enjoyed spending the afternoon next to the sheep in the laneside paddock. A warm cloudy day with the odd shower and light winds.
William and Bianca communicating through the hurdles that separate their paddocks, they each lower their heads to the ground and William snuffles quietly. Lovely cycle from Child Okeford to Sturminster Newton and Shillingstone, tasty lunch at The Baker Arms. Seventeen miles in 27* is challenging but the route was relatively flat for North Dorset! Arranged sticks around the new pea plants, tied up the wayward runner beans, watered everything, picked tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce and mange tout. A very hot day, cooler at dusk, promise of thunderstorms tomorrow night.
Picked thirteen Mini Munch cucumbers from a couple of plants in the greenhouse and pulled a helping of Early Nantes carrots which have successfully escaped the carrot fly in the raised bed. Temperatures are soaring so the donkeys stayed in the shade of the stable before being let out onto the grass, the sheep choose to lie in half sun half shade and quietly pant. Wheelbarrow handles and the tops of the metal gates are too hot to handle, watering everything, the strawberry runners are rooting hopefully!
The first of the year, the plants don’t look strong enough to hold them but they have survived the snails, must use hedgehog friendly deterrents next year, still have a few plants to put in the ground next to empty canes. Cycle ride in 30* from Moreton to Athelhampton House for coffee, coming back across the heath was the hottest part of the ride and a bit dusty, had to walk the sandiest stretch. Everything in the garden needs watering, the mange tout have sprouted so will soon need sticks. A very hot day with occasional cloud and light winds.
In the foreground, head down and grazing happily with the rest of the flock, her fleece looks grey compared with the black sheep. The paddock is being divided by their trot tracks which is helping with poo picking, finding smartie size poo in the long grass is tricky. Strawberries are over, picked raspberries, mange tout and cucumbers, tomatoes have reached the top of the greenhouse. A sunny day with a cool wind.
Walking into one of the arcs, with Winnie on the left and Walter at the back; he managed to stay inside for a minute or so before being butted by Winnie. He tried again later with the same result so gave up and started moving around the paddock grazing before settling down to chew the cud. Ivy and Elton returned to their own paddock for the night with a shelter to themselves. Picked mange tout and strawberries, topped up the compost in the tomato plant pots. A very hot day with light winds and low level mist developing in the vale.
A good harvest from the crowns planted earlier in the year, will make a lovely crumble. The cos lettuce and mange tout peas are crisp and tasty and the first strawberries and raspberries are sweet, the runner beans are still not looking very healthy although there are some flowers on a few of them. Walter spent some time with Ivy and Elton in their paddock before they all ran to the rest of the flock, separated them again after a couple of hours and some bleating. A hot sunny day with the threat of thunderstorms, light until after ten o’clock, with a pale pink sunset.
Delivered to the fallen oak paddock today, a third arc for the sheep to share, Walter was the first to have a look, but Bianca wasn’t far behind. Mowed the avenue so the donkeys can graze there in a week or so when the square paddock needs resting, they had a trot round when the arc arrived, the horses in the field opposite whinnied their support. Tied up the tomatoes, cavalo nero and runner beans and picked roses and peonies before the promised rain flattens them. A hot sunny day with some late cloud.
Halfway through a rollover, it’s one of the first things the donkeys do when they are let into the paddock, always in the same place and now there’s a small depression of bare earth in which to roll. Went to the tip with three dumpy bags of hedge cuttings and weeds, the hedge is now higher than the buttercups and grasses so perhaps they can be left instead of weeded out. Collected four bales of straw, the hay making is well underway in the fields and the yield is ‘ok’, so better than last year. Watered the vegetables, a very hot day with light winds.
Nestling near a pub car park, would make a good restoration project, next to lots of other rusting vehicles that have been left there over the years. Replaced a few slats on one of the garden benches, hope it will last a it longer as it’s very comfortable, next job will be to reinforce the legs. The donkeys are looking a lot smarter, their winter coat has almost gone to reveal a shiny, shorter version. Watered the hedge and the vegetables. A very hot day with increasing winds and a pale pink sunset.
William and Toby both tried to eat the same short length of willow although there were two branches waiting for them when they came up for their vitamins, I guess it’s more fun to have a competition for a few minutes, eventually William wandered off to start nibbling at the other piece. Watered the raised beds and the runner beans and snipped off the tomato sideshoots. A warm sunny cloudy day with a few spots of rain, pint at The Baker Arms.
Sitting in her favourite place, which is a bench warmed by the sun, Poppy will stay there all evening, sleeping and trying to get the forget-me-not seeds out of her fur. Mowed the lawn and strimmed the edges, planted more runner bean plants. Tomatoes have set the first fruit and there could be a glut of mini cucumbers in a week or two. Thinned out some of the apple clusters, could be a bumper year for the Ellison’s Orange. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Mizuna salad leaves and rocket, both sown before a cold wet April and now really tall and setting seed, the mange tout peas are yet to flower, the cos lettuce and carrots in the raised bed behind are doing well. Let the sheep into laneside paddock but they sat in the sun next to the fence instead of lying in the shade of the hedgerow, had to let them back into willow paddock and the shelter of their arcs. Saddlebacks are available locally, managed to negotiate half a pig for the freezer, it will have travelled less than 10 miles in it’s whole life, hope it tastes good. A warm sunny day with light winds.
Looking bright green in the morning sunshine, there are a couple of rows of carrots (sown sparingly to avoid thinning), with a stray lettuce, land cress, cos lettuce, radish and more Nantes carrots. With the last few days of warm weather it’s been watered twice a day to stop the veg going to seed. Tied the bean sticks together and linked them to the trellis which is the other side of the path, the first beans are winding up the canes despite the attentions of the slugs and snails. A lovely warm and sunny day with light winds, the cats have been lolling about in the shade.
Let out into the paddock they grazed right up to the electric fence, nibbling the fresh spring grass, they’re not looking any slimmer so will have to give them a longer, narrower strip to increase the ground they cover walking uphill and downhill. Watered the tomatoes in the greenhouse, the cucumbers are struggling with some slug damage. Eating radish, rocket and nasturtium leaves, most of the runner beans are winding round the canes and the mangetout peas are starting to cling on to the willow whips, hoping some may root. A cool start to a sunnier day with light winds.
The sheep are enjoying their new paddock, they nip the tops off the buttercups and leave the rest of the plant. The donkeys started their day playing tog-of-war with one of the collars, I think Toby won as he was banging it on the ground. A lone deer was in field, have finished the fence and gate around the raised beds and beans so it doesn’t matter if he/she comes in the garden. A damsel fly was circling the pond, not affected by the low temperatures. A sunny cloudy day with light winds.
Lovely calm spring morning across the vale, may have had a frost, not sure. The sun was up early and shone all day, a breeze at lunchtime cooled the temperature but late afternoon was glorious. Watered the seedlings in the greenhouse, the automatic openers were working so opened the side vents. Dug up two buckets of dandelions and planted three new azaleas, snowdrops and bluebells. The first carrots are showing, sowed land cress and cos lettuce in the raised bed and runner beans in pots. The animals were happy in the paddock. Beer and crisps on the terrace at dusk.
There are clouds of blossom all over the branches, should be a bumper crop of sloes in the autumn but in the meantime the bees are making the most of the nectar and pollen, the foliage appears later. A lovely sunny afternoon after a cold start, the sheep and donkeys chased about in the paddocks. Herds of cows have been let out onto the grass in adjoining fields, they’ve been kept inside since before Christmas so will be enjoying their freedom. Sowed French Bean and Runner Bean seeds, the tomato plants are doing ok and the cucumbers look good as well. Repotted a few parsley plants, would be good if it self seeded. A warm end to the day.
The tomato seeds are an inch or so high, using the mole hill soil mixed with vermiculite didn’t work out very well, the soil had too high a proportion of clay and stayed too wet so the plants have been repotted in compost. the sunflowers are just poking through the compost. Sowed Blue Lake climbing beans and green courgettes, the beans are in the greenhouse, everything else is cluttering up the utility room. The donkeys and sheep spent their day grazing the paddocks. A sunny day with a cold wind and a lovely sunset.
A mixture of varieties, mostly runner beans with some french beans. These are drying on a couple of sheets of paper towel placed on a tray, they’ll be moved backwards and forwards each day as half the towel dries out and sucks the moisture from the beans. In a month or so they can be stored ready for use next year. Cycled from Moreton along quiet lanes and the rhododendron mile, past the watercress beds. Stopped for courgette fruit cake and a can of coffee. Cloudy with some sunshine and a cool wind.
Pretty much on their last legs, picked the last beans and will leave the rest to fatten up for seed for next year, they’ve more than earned their place in the veg patch, and they definitely smell different when they’re cooking. The tomatoes in the greenhouse are over as well, one last cucumber to pick, and the courgettes have turned into marrows. Cleaned the donkey stable and water trough and planted the freshly rooted strawberry plants in the filled beds. Picked apples, all stewed and in the freezer. A sunny day with light winds. Lunch at the pub.
A chilly start to the day with the valley bathed in rolling pink mist. Moved the green oak logs to the old stone crate ready for use in a couple of years time, they will be well seasoned by then. The nasturtium on top will give seeds for next year’s plants. Heard the green woodpecker when poo picking in the paddock, he appeared on the lawn early evening to eat the ants but no swallows today, maybe they have moved on. Trimmed the new growth off the rampent pumpkins and cut back some of the larger leaves to encourage ripening of the fruits. The runner beans are not quite as green as last month and the tomatoes are paler as well despite regular feeding, day length is shortening and the nights are cooler, it feels like Autumn is on it’s way.
This pair of Ecco shoes were so very comfortable after years of use, they’ve walked many miles and as they looked so tatty have lately been the preferred option when painting, gardening and poo picking. The stitches have disintegrated and the soles have very thin patches – spiky bits of straw find their way in to my socks, so it’s time to recycle them, have saved the laces for tying up plants as the ends won’t fray. The replacement footware is the black Wrangler boots, more appropriate I guess. A surprisingly hot day with light winds, picked Ribston Pippin apples, Conference pears, runner beans, courgettes, runner beans and tomatoes.
Moved the Ouessants into the square paddock for a change of scenery and greener grass, it was fine until it started raining and then they all ran under the sheep shelter, it’s smaller than the one in their usual paddock so a couple of them moved outside and were dripped on. Before the storm arrived the donkeys moved alongside the shelter and then they all got very wet. Tucked them up for the night during the thunder and lightening downpour and then half an hour later the rain stopped! Picked courgettes, runner beans, blueberries, windfall bramleys and sloes.
Planted six new plants in the freshly weeded border, I hope they do as well as the one in the pot, will need to feed them with an ericaceous mulch, the daisies have been trimmed so there’s enough space for them to stretch. The runner beans are still doing well despite being buffeted by the strong winds, it’s difficult to walk between the rows as the frame has developed a bit of a lean. The all shapes and sizes mediterranean carrots are tasty, they’re being overrun by the courgettes in the adjacent bed but I don’t think it’ll make any difference. The trees in the lane are starting to lose their leaves, the hot weather combined with not enough rain has dried out the tops. A cloudy day with a few showers and late sunshine.
Should have taken a photo before I picked today’s crop, this bush will be full of berries for another month at least if kept watered, probably 30 every day so enough for a fresh topping to deserts and breakfast cereal. The runner beans are also cropping well, lots more flowers, need to keep them well watered. Cucumbers and tomatoes are suffering in the greenhouse and need watering several times a day. The donkeys enjoyed an apple lolly, they made short work of the frozen disc. A very hot day with a few drops of rain at dusk.
38km along Dorset lanes and up and down a few hills we crossed Ackling Dyke, the old roman road which stretched 22 miles from Badbury Rings to Old Sarum. The road provided a rapid transit route for the soldiers to cross Cranborne Chase in full view of the local population and when extended it joined the coast at Hamworthy with London. The White Nettle Leaf Mullein grows in the verge alongside the road, a tall perennial herb which has various benefits if correctly administered, it’s also an extreme irritant if the hairy leaves are handled in the wrong way. The day dawned with a thick bank of fog in the valley that gave way to warm winds and sunshine, watered the vegetables.
The sheep are looking more like a flock, moving around the paddock as one when they’re grazing, Tatty Bianca likes talking with the Texels through the fence with Walter not far behind. Digby and Pixie definitely have round worms, they’re very obvious in their poo so the Vet gave them an injection. It’s likely they’re all going to get worms from grazing the same paddock even though we’re poo picking, so we’ll have to gather a representative sample for testing in a months time. Worming will probably become routine for them without bothering with the test. A warm sunny day with gentle winds, picked courgettes and runner beans.
The yellow Tumbler tomatoes are growing in the same pot as the sunflower and a few red Outdoor Girl have ripened in the border, all different shapes and sizes. The sun and wind has been so hot today that some tomato plants have shriveled in the greenhouse, I hope they recover, will let a sideshoot develop if not. Picked more runner beans, they’ve been thrashed by the high winds so tied a few back to their poles. There’s been a real variety of weather conditions that the plants have to withstand – both varieties of courgettes are doing OK, the drop in the level of compost in the raised bed means they’re protected. A few drops of rain evaporated as soon as they touched the ground so more watering.
This black beetle was swimming in the rainwater bucket, guess it must be a stag? Released onto the damp woody area close by. The tiny newt was in one of the water buckets by the greenhouse, I moved him to the nearby wildlife pond where the water was a bit low so I topped it up with rainwater. Hope they both survive. The Ouessants have moved about a lot today, nose to the ground. Have the vet visiting tomorrow, donkey teeth need to be checked and the lambs need worming, moved hurdles into the small paddock so that the Ouessants can be corralled. A sunny and warm day, watered the vegetables.
In one of the square beds the pumpkins are starting to overwhelm the french beans; the early purple sprouting plants are doing ok although the butterfly’s are laying a lot of eggs that need removing regularly. The intermediate beds need filling with donkey poo ready for the strawberry plants Which need planting out ready for next year. A pair of wrens were hopping about on the bench by the ceanothis tonight, they amused Poppy for a while, fortunately they’re too quick for her. The ouessants are all grazing in the paddock, they sat together chewing the cud in the shelter, a lot calmer today. A sunny windy day, watered the vegetables.
Starting above Pimperne we admired the view from the top of the longest Long Barrow in Dorset – 107 meters long and 27 meters wide in places. Full of wild flowers including Orchids, Ladies Bedstraw and Yellow Goatsbeard, also known as Johnny-go-to-bed-at-noon because the flowers open at dawn and close by lunchtime; this seed head was the size of a tennis ball. Stopped for coffee and a sausage roll at Rawston Farm where there was a good display of plants, rawstonfarmbutchery.co.uk. A hot day to ride up the hills, great coming down! Watered the vegetables, the compost in the raised beds is disappearing, the level has dropped by a third.
Lovely speckled tummy with knobby skin, cool to hold on a warm day, they wriggle constantly. This one is big so must be a female, they come out late in the day to feed around the greenhouse. There are lots of damp places to relax in the shade under the hedge and to paddle in the water in the outdoor tomato plant trays. Runner beans and French beans today with roast beef and Yorkshire pudding. Assembled the raised beds for the strawberry’s, they just fit in the space between the tree and the hedge, will put weed proof fabric in the bottom and then grass cuttings and donkey poo. A cool start to the day with a brisk wind, hot sunshine later so watered the vegetables and the greenhouse.
William and Toby are getting the hang of these now, especially as there’s more carrot and less ice. Toby especially likes to crunch the ice to get to the carrot, William is happy to wait for the ice to melt. The fish in the pond want feeding every time I walk past and there was a very young newt sitting on top of a lily leaf. Picked beans and almost have a ripe tomato, cucumbers doing really well. Tried to sort out the compost heap so that I can plant something on the top, need more raised beds….. A hot day with the promise of rain later, watered everything.
A decent picking of runner beans and one cucumber today, the cucumber tastes very different home grown and one of my favourite meals is well seasoned runner beans with lots of butter and two soft fried eggs on top, absolutely delicious. The new sheep are settling in and like their daily cereal mix, not eating out of my hand yet is Pixie, I’m sure she will in a week or two. They’ve explored Willow paddock and grazed closer to the donkeys who stared at them through the fence. A really warm day at first following overnight rain, it clouded over later and there was a really cold wind.
In the roof void at the highest point in the upstairs hall. There was a brown stain on the ceiling that looked like a water leak, and a pitter patter noise. Turned out to be a bad idea to touch the paper thin ceiling (wasps eat plasterboard) and they quickly emerged through the hole, very angry. The cats made a run for it, unscathed, and a few moments later the hall was full of wasps. Pest control arrived within the hour, dealt with the nest and taped over the hole. A check outside revealed no other activity, but this morning wasps were emerging from around the wisteria, so another nest has been treated today. A hot day that ended with cloud and some light rain, more expected overnight. Watered the vegetables, the runner beans have reached the top of the sticks so rain may not reach all of the roots.
Grown from a seed taken from a ‘help yourself’ pot that was in Ledbury Church. It had been kicking around in my purse for a couple of years before I finally planted the last remaining seed last month. Hope to be able to grow lots more next year – and share the seeds with friends. The Gardeners Delight tomato plants in the greenhouse are sprouting new stems from under the soil as well as further up the plant, and they’ve really thick and strong stems which must be the result of being wind damaged in the spring. Picked the first cucumber and courgettes. Fixed the stock netting to protect the vegetables, sunnier and hotter today than yesterday, no rain, so watered the veg and the hedging.
The deer managed to get through my temporary barricade into the vegetable plot so I must fix stock netting to the rails that separate the flower border from the vegetables or there’ll be nothing left for us to eat. Tasted a Beauty of Bath Apple, the earliest to mature, it’s not ripe yet as the pips are still white and it’s a bit hard to cut. The swallows have been flying into the stable to feed all day and the donkeys finally discovered the hedgerow, I still think they prefer the grass. Toby looks really spotty without his winter coat and William much whiter. A sunny cloudy day, and a bit windy.
Model 2 Mk1 work in progress, made from pallets, reclaimed wood, and old fence panels, bought the tarpaulin that’s on the roof and the boards lining the inside. It’ll be ready for the weekend when the new sheep arrive. Two Deer were in the garden this morning, must have found a new route through the hedge, one had antlers a few inches long, they browsed the lavateria flowers, leaves from the plum tree and plants in the border before moving on to the apple trees. The barricade round the runner beans and the vegetables in the raised bed was sufficient, which I’m pleased about. A calm and sunny start to the day with increasing winds and cloud later, there may be rain overnight so will leave watering until the morning.
First pods, Poppy standing guard, picked and eaten within the hour, crisp and delicious, hope there’s more to come, runners maybe next week, although the strong winds of the last few days have broken some of the higher stems. Tomatoes and cucumbers growing fast, and have two water melon plants with tiny fruit that I’ve never grown before. Bike ride to Sturminster Newton for coffee and sausage roll, was mainly ‘wind against’ which is a bit odd for a circular route. A sunny day with no rain so watered the vegetables, found a few thistles in the border so the donkeys had a late tasty treat.
William and Toby were both up close to the sheep in the shelter in the square paddock, they touch noses and set each other off running when they’re excited. A very windy day, need to put the roof on the new shelter when the wind drops. Mowed the grassy area by the stable, almost looks like a lawn, the lawn by the house has bare patches despite the rain so this ad-hoc grassy area looks much better. The tomatoes in the greenhouse are growing at last, removed the side shoots and gave them a feed. Hope to pick the first cucumber later this week. Late sunshine, still windy, no rain so watered the vegetables.
Growing in the hedgerow, the Greater Musk is also known as Hollyhock Mallow, all parts of the plant are edible. Growing in the herbaceous border is Great Willowherb, it has a very hairy stem and the Elephant Hawkmoth likes to eat the leaves. More work on the sheep shelter today, watered the vegetables and thinned out a few of the apples. Trying to remove the docks in the paddock, the roots are very deep so may have to resort to a selective herbicide in the autumn. A mainly sunny day with a few spots of rain.
The six borrowed sheep are ewes that didn’t lamb this year, after a few weeks of grazing the paddocks they now come when you call, and creep up behind you when you’re fiddling with the electric fence. They were shorn before they arrived and are growing a new fleece. Weeded a patch of the border and fixed another camera to the stable to view the new paddock. One runner bean that the deer missed is 8 inches long, the second set are an inch or two. A very squally day, heavy rain and strong winds for at times, much cooler.
The shrubs, flowers and vegetables needed the steady rain overnight, although the wind has been too strong – the wisteria has lost some leaves and the sunflower needs a taller cane! The tomatoes and the cucumbers in the greenhouse are growing at last because of the higher night-time temperatures and the courgettes in the raised bed are four inches long so soon there’ll be a glut to enjoy. The Birds are busy, buzzards call to each other as they sit on the thermals facing the wind and the sparrow hawk is constantly harassed by the crows. The chaffinch outside the back door is taking a chance with the cats….
Flew into the window, bounced off and sat in the grass a little stunned. Put him in a tree to recover, hope he flew off ok. Over 30* degrees today, started poo-picking early, finished mowing the bottom paddock, sprayed the donkeys legs with Deet, and gave them another carrot lolly. Fixed stock wire to one of the new gates. Vegetables all needed watering, some of the runner beans have reached the top of the sticks, the Veitch’s Climbing are being attacked by slugs, they must like them.
Lovely white hooves after trimming and rasping, the green wellies didn’t get any attention. William’s seedy toe has improved and there’s no sign of laminitis which is good, the hooves will be brown again by tomorrow. Foggy start to the day and very hot first thing, cooler later with a little rain but no thunderstorm, watered the veg. Regular straw delivery arrived, 24 bales stacked at the end of the workshop should last a month. Raspberries and blackcurrants very tasty. Fencer expected tomorrow.
Finished mowing the buttercups in the paddock and moved on to the fallow field with the muck heap (which needs to be moved) and cut the very tall grass with the hedge trimmer. Collected the stalks and will dry them for winter forage for the sheep but not the donkeys as it’ll be too high in sugar. Moved the electric fence as the donkeys managed to reach the branches of the new willow tree. Planted out the French beans and fed the tomatoes and cucumbers which still aren’t doing much. Hot and sunny, watered the runner beans, think the barricade has deterred the deer. Thunderstorms tomorrow?
A mixture of hawthorn and beech with a small amount of willow. Foraging animals will self medicate with willow as it’s the equivalent of aspirin. Moved more of the muck heap today and walked the local circuit to go to the postbox and get eggs. The rooks are mobbing the buzzard who just flops around taking no notice. No rain, watered the veg, picked raspberries and blackcurrants. Sowed Mizuna seeds, a good addition to any salad. Moved the parsley and purple sprouting seedlings to the cold frame to protect them from the slugs. Promise of thunder storms tomorrow.
Love my new greenhouse, already filling up with young plants, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, beans and marigolds. Warms up really quickly, hope it stands up to the high winds. Have a couple of cold frames to assemble as well, not had those before. Hot yesterday so maximum ventilation.
Stenner runner bean seeds sown on 7th April, planted out today before they started winding up and around each other. Sticks have been up a month or so, secured with lengths of bailer twine to cope with the strong winds. Poppy was briefly interested in the chives! Good that the deer didn’t eat the young plants, hope that’s true of the flowers as well. Not sure about the rabbits. Ordered more raised beds for the strawberry plants, still chilly in the evening so lit the woodburner, hope we don’t get a late frost.
