You know hanging about here at home with the sun shining and a light breeze gently tickling the leaves of the large trees…all I can think of is the allotment and Wisterias, the progress of the veggie patch ( the first weeding has begun around the Swiss chard ) ….and wondering how the greenhouse toms are doing. My Bride called from the lottie a few minutes ago to tell me another tom has been chewed by a cutworm. Cuffs were in place. The Bride removed the cuff, and scratched around like I showed her annnnnd…..she found the culprit and disposed of it ! Needless to say, I am waaaay proud of her. That was the second time she had called. The first time she called to give a report on how it went this morning with bringing away all the green badies that we have removed during the past two weeks of plot cleaning. There were several bushel containers of debris. This back thing really did come at a bad time. There were seven of those large containers to load onto the cart then pull it all the way back up to the composting terrein (a few hundred metres). I felt bad for her because I usually do the heavy stuff. This fortnightly task we normally do together. Anyway, she rang up to tell me how it went. Afterwards she got together with Hetty for tea and a natter… a two hour natter! I told her that she was not being paid to lolly-gag, she was being paid to work. “Niet lullen, maar werken”, I said. Haha. Ach, it was good to hear how things are looking and doing there. Well, after all her hard work, it is tea time here. Tea with a small piece of moist dark chocolate cake with white icing all sprinkled with coconut shavings. Yeah, I’e got to keep my strength up innit ?
Errr ... why are you not there if I may ask? You poor bride have to do everything by her lonely self. Oops! I am not judging but just wandering Those photos of your lottie are so beautiful and welcoming, just give me a call if you need an extra hands
Thank you for sharing that beauriful photo. I cannot get enough of the Wisterias, they are so breathtaking. I feel like I should be riding a unicorn under them. You must not be happy being laid up with that sore back. It will feel better soon! And....You Go Bride!!!! Way to get that cutworm! And muscling those big bins. I hope she is minding her back - two are not better than one in this regard. You two are having a terrible time with those cutworms. They are not a creature that I have to deal with, thankfully. I hope you can beat them. Maybe a different collar or a carefully joined one? Is it difficult to collar your toms with the roots laying down lengthwise?
Sjoerd .. your plot arch way full of blooming wisterias makes a beautiful entry to the garden . Takes a bit of hard pruning to get them to bloom so beautifully. So magical looking . What are all the other flowers around the front. It’s hard to tell. Rhody’s ? It’s a beautiful setting. Hope your back is better soon. It’s always something. I can definitely sympathize with ya.. take it easy .. Oh my goodness that cake is to die for… Yumm! Lovely plates. That design looks familiar . Do you know the name. I’m thinkin it’s called ‘Blue Danube’ ? Melody I agree with you . Wisterias do need a unicorn under them. Such fantasy type blooms. I can see the unicorn..! My wisteria’s are just starting to bloom in an area along with a dark purple clematis growing thru the wisteria vines.
KK— of course you are right to ask where the heck I was when all this hard graft was going on. Haha. Well, I am laid-up with a back injury. Ouch! No, but I like your teasing. That is fun and I can appreciate it so much…probably because I like to tease people too. It is a positive thing. Well extra hands are needed at this minute, with my back being on the fritz. Haha. Mel— on a unicorn! Would that be in a Godiva costume as well? ROFL. I shall keep my eyes peeled on YouTube for that vid. Cackle. The Bride liked your words and that Mighty Squirrel foto. I sometimes tell her she is squirrelly. Seriously though, it is odd that you mentioned unicorns because a red unicorn is one of the two symbols of our city. Our city colours are red and white. Pac— the Wisteria isn’t over the entrance arch to the lottie, it is on a pergola above where we sit to rest. The red flowers are Weigelia, the little blue ones are Myosotis. The white and purple are Aquilegias. The blue and white plate came from Czechoslovakia years ago. It was a gift. We call it, “blue onion”. There is an Japanese version called, “blue danube”; however. I believe that several countries have copied the zwiebelmuster design. I understand that the original design was Chinese. You have an eagle eye even if they do hang out on springs. Here is a foto of the underside of that plate:
Sjoerd thank you very much for answering my curious inquires. You have some very special flowers/plants in your garden and entry where you sit . We used to play cards at my garden luncheons. Of course not one guest had a moments peace from the horses peeking over the fence and beggin for food . Your China is beautiful my mother has a set very similar but from England. That print and color is very popular and for many years. Happy Gardening Everyone.. it’s Sunday sit back and enjoy your beautiful gardens.
You are most welcome, Pac. I have tried planting in such a way that there will be something in bloom all season long—a sort of succession of blooms, you could say. It was so amazing that you recognised the plate’s pattern. I agree that it is lovely. That sounds unique and entertaining. I am still trying to get my head around your luncheons with horses rubbing cheeks with your guests.
The cheek rubbing begins always when any people are around and especially if they have food . Horses turn into beggars.. just like dogs. They can smell food a mile away. If there are any sweets , bread or fruit they will sing the winny song and sort for attention. It’s quite entertaining .
Sjoerd sending another another quick chuckle.. I have used peanut butter pretzels to train the horses they will practically stand on their heads for a PB pretzel
Holy mackerel ! Hang on…no, that was holy pretzel. I would have never guessed that. Btw, remember how the Wisteria-covered sitting area looked back in december?
Sjoerd it’s actually fantastic how wisteria do their magic and turn a barren winter scene into a sight of beauty ,Fantasy and Adventure. I auto relax ever time I see the blooming wisteria and flowers in your sitting area. Just curious! Do you have yard/lotty contests for best bloomers and design?
Hey Pac, We no longer have contests here. We had a team that would go round with their clipboards and evaluate gardens. Prizes would be given to the best newbie’s garden, best veggie garden, best flower garden and best mixed gardens. I say “best”, but actually in each category, there were 1st ,2nd and 3rd places. At the end of each season there was a sort of harvest fest, a bit like fall fairs there where folks would display what they have grown. We would sometimes pimp-up what we showed but there were no prizes for that. At one point I was thinking of taking a judging course in Britain to learn how to do judging properly. Those Brits do it like no other. They do plant stuff as no others. Once I had acquired my papers I would have been willing to judge veg and flower displays. Judging is something that I would have been good at I believe. My Bride agreed saying, “you can be a pietje-precies” sod sometimes”. Eh-hem…pardón !?! Well, I never went through with it because we suddenly stopped having those days. Pity. BTW— I have posted piccies on here about these shows. You may be able to find them.
Sjoerd.. for many years I have been judging flower shows , fairs and festivals. You are well experienced and would be a fair and honest candidate for a judge course. It lays out a different way of thinking and helps to recognize excellent growing opportunities … Presentations …. and more …especially when it’s important to break a tie.
