I left Dubai on 12 June and ran the gauntlet of heat sensors, forms and four hour check-ins to make it back to Herefordshire in time for Jane's birthday. It has been 6 months since the whole family has been together so any guilt at abandoning my post in the Gulf is lost in that statistic. The works to the garden are not done any justice by photographs. The garden looks larger in many ways - opened up and stretched out by the lines of the paths. Equally the different areas and "rooms" create smaller spaces that draw you in and make more sense of the whole.
Jane has already begun planting in earnest so I thought I would start somewhere myself. I started with 6 silver grey Cardoons that should provide some architectural height at the back of the Demi-lunes that cap off the Potager. The Potager itself is enclosed by the espalier posts and wires, the new beds with their containing walls and now a row of currants along the border bed closer to the house.
I also planted the Globe Artichokes, Sweet Rocket and Salvias. The bubbly Sweet Rocket in particular looks good when looked through back to the house.
I then set about planting a raised bed. After an amount of internal debate I decided to just use the various Brassicas I had ready sow indoors (remotely with help of Sam my youngest son). I alternated rows of 3 or 4 plants about 30 cm. apart down the full length of the bed using Red Cabbage "Drumhead", Kale "Cavolo Nero", Caulifower "Early Romenesco" and Cabbage "Advantage". I puddled in each plant with a watering can and without netting, slug deterrant or any form of defence I have just crossed my fingers. A Partner at work told me a long timer ago that unless you spray you cannot expect to get any crops. I won't spray - so be it. I will learn what I can about natural defences, use netting or fleece, companion planting and ... cross my fingers. I sat outside today on the terrace and watched a succession of different hover flies come to enjoy a small vase of flowers picked by Jane. I'd rather have holes in my Brassicas and enjoy the throb of insects this Summer and all Summers.
Its a very satisfying feeling whether or not I manage to put any food on the table.
Comments