damesallsprint

..How long till Spring? It seems an age since it last came around...

I fear many UK gardeners..are going quietly mad...

..He says`no`..I am tempted to remove my hessian-work-habit..and switch alliances..or run through the streets of the UK wearing only my best chastity belt...

At the top end of the Cloister garden..lives the proof that dreams of a self-seeded woodland-habitat, with natural arbors...and rustic green woodwork.. were a little unrealistic...

It is very dark..and has finished off all growing things under it`s canopy of black cloud.

Last night, a friend and neighbour who owns a powerful chainsaw...came to our assistance...

Undaunted by his big-electric-tree-knife`s motor burning out within the first two minutes...

He climbed up into the overgrowth, and cut through thick branches with a handsaw.

With little to no thought given to health and safety, and only the occassional yell of `..TT-TIMMBERR..!
We are now the proud owners of a mountain of hedge and tree bits...

Next..to move the mountain(..I resisted a biblical pun there..It took great discipline..)

Nice-Neighbour has saved us much labour..and has given B-h`s greenhouse chilli and tomato plants a taste of sunlight..which might help them to grow...

Tonight..you may spy a busy nun, wearing her best hessian-work-habit..armed only with a small pruning saw..attacking a six and a half foot hill of thick branches...

We shall ply Nice neighbour with chilled wine and talk of promised food..He may, after-all..possess all sorts of exciting macho electrical equipment...







( The image is filched from the wonderful `Bath in Time` photographic resource, and shows shows two of Bath`s suffragettes..Click on the title link for more of the same.)

At last..Three weeks later than is the norm...

I have planted shallots, early carrots, parsnips and spring onions in a rather puny sized ,square raised-bed...

Though the Cloister garden has always been a potager-style clutter of vegetables and flowers..

B-h and I cannot clear the ever-growing weeds and rubbish fast enough.

The prolonged cold and wet has left many people playing `catch-up`..and most ( normally.. ) early Spring flowers are in bloom about two to three weeks late.

I lifted my eye-patch to allow the brief moment of sun-light in, and although the temperature could best be described as nippy...

Even our elderly cat ; `Spook` braved the weather..( most likely to dig-up my newly-sown seeds a bit later on..)

The gloom lifts...


( The image is filched from the Carrot Museum site..link above..)

500 varieties of flora and fauna..now lost to the UK..

Along with `a few success stories`...

Can I just add..though not really connected..that the Cloister-garden soil..IS STILL FROZEN..?

Interestingly..those neighbours who grow plants..rather than old furniture...

Have Autumn sown broad beans poking their noses through the icey-sods REGARDLESS...

Those of us who thought we would try waiting till Spring...

ARE NOT LAUGHING..or gardening properly..yet...

..Almost a month later than last year...

B-h is attempting her mass-sowing of many-more-varieties-than-are-sensible of chilli-pepper seeds...

I am trekking to the garden centre for supplies..and sowing a few broad beans in pots..as the ground has veered from frozen solid to..well..awash...

Tomorrow's forecast warns of gale force winds..and driving rain..and..more things to fore-stall that digging...

In the light of Chile`s terrible weather..and this morning's earthquake...

I should thank my lucky stars..and enjoy the beginnings of the growing season..PLUS...

I have my Lovely`s credit card..and am off to the local horticultural-supply-shop..where many other diggers with cabin-fever congregate to moan...

( The image is filched from the wonderful gardening blog that is `A Way To Garden`..and the illustration is by `Andre`..)

Lunaria..or `Honesty`..also known as `popes Money`..alluding to the fact that His Eminence..just like the Queen..( and others less fortunate..) doesn`t carry any..?



( This image was filched from `smallest smallholding` blog, with thanks.)

...Honestly..I really need some gardening weather...

Otherwise..I might get to peruse stories such as this...

..My cabin fever..blood pressure..and general credulity..have been stretched...

From my limited understanding..At a cost of ..well, a great deal..

The Pope has declared all gay people unnatural..discouraged the use of condoms ..AND,

..IS ARRIVING HERE IN THE UK..so that others who share these bizarre hatreds and misinformations...

..can feel justified in their bigotry..?

..Think I need to follow that old adage about steering clear of politics or religion...

Personally speaking..that makes B-h`s and my near 20 year dalliance at the Nunnery-cottage feel ..

well..a bit under-rated really...

I don`t suppose many Christians would recognise this version of a loving God..?

Now where`s that seed catalogue..before I spot the bill for the Holy Father`s visit again...