Margaret's Garden Journal for January 2004

January 2004

Round and About the Garden

Harvesting

Thumbnail to this month's viewpoint picture taken on January 29th.

I went round the garden on New Year's Day noting the jobs I need to get on top of this year.
The pond has to be a priority. Apart from a leak, somewghere 12" below the desired pond level, the irises need to be culled but I am not sure how to do that. Their roots have grown into the protection material on top of the pond liner and I can't pull them out. My best chance of dealing with the problem may be to empty the pond completely, put in a new liner and lay another row of bricks on top, but when to do it is a problem. It is too cold a job for winter. From March onwards I will disturb the frogs, newts, toads and their spawn and by the time the tadpoles have made their exit in summer I don't want to disturb the water lily.

I bought this winter jasmine last year because I hoped it would be a better flowerer than the one I already owned. It looks as if it will be. I hope now that it will begin to climb the arch The hebe cutting goes well with the heathers. I hope this hebe will flower in winter. Its parent did the first year, but I guess I got the pruning wrong. It flowered in autumn this year instead This daphne is worth this position for its winter bloom although it looks rather out of place in summer

The birds seem to leave these berries alone so they are still giving colour This daphne took ages to flower. I had to wait for a very damp year before it got going but now it gives me a good view from my bedroom window I wish I could remember what this plant is called. It doesn't grow leggy like cordylines and although looking exotic has stuck out many frosts. It doesn't flower every year though

Harvesting

Mostly Brussels and leeks again.

I wish I could remember whether I deliberately planted brussels to produce the small knobs I prefer or whether it just happened because of the long summer The leeks are still coming. I shall have to change my method of blanching them now manufacterers have taken to producing tins with bottoms you can't cut with a can opener

Sowing
3^rd Jan Sowed my Kelsae onions in trays. Have wrapped the trays in clingfilm and am germinating the seeds on a work surface in the ktchen


I bought this winter jasmine last year because I hoped it would be a better flowerer than the one I already owned. It looks as if it will be. I hope now that it will begin to climb the arch	The hebe cutting goes well with the heathers. I hope this hebe will flower in winter. Its parent did the first year, but I guess I got the pruning wrong. It flowered in autumn this year instead	This daphne is worth this position for its winter bloom although it looks rather out of place in summer

The birds seem to leave these berries alone so they are still giving colour	This daphne took ages to flower. I had to wait for a very damp year before it got going but now it gives me a good view from my bedroom window	I wish I could remember what this plant is called. It doesn't grow leggy like cordylines and although looking exotic has stuck out many frosts. It doesn't flower every year though


I wish I could remember whether I deliberately planted brussels to produce the small knobs I prefer or whether it just happened because of the long summer	The leeks are still coming. I shall have to change my method of blanching them now manufacterers have taken to producing tins with bottoms you can't cut with a can opener