Monday, August 28, 2006

away from the garden

I am spending a weekend away from the garden. It's Beatles Weekend in Liverpool so that's definitely the place to be. The excellent free concert, at the Pier Head, on Friday night by the Liverpool Philharmonic was wicked not to mention the fireworks to the Gates of Kiev at the end - excellent stuff - so well done Liverpool Culture Company for giving us such a good show for nothing.

There is little you get for nothing these days and this event was worthy of support. Pity about the weather but everyone didn't seem to mind and just huddled under their umbrellas. A great start to the convention weekend which hopefully will be repeated next year.

Sunday, August 20, 2006

no manolo blahniks

Well there is no point wearing my Manolo Blahniks in the garden today or anywhere else for that matter. We have prayed for it and longed for it and now we have got it in bucketfuls - rain! I'm not complaining mind you, we need it and we have to have it and I know my plants are as happy as little seedlings because at last they have something to drink. So its on with the heavy boot thingies (specially used for the garden) and out with the cutters to keep on getting rid of all the old foilage.

I had to send for another wheelie bin - shame on you I hear you say - you don't compost yourself! No not personally, but the kind local authority does it for me so why bother, I can then go and get a really useful sackful of lovely compost from them when I want it. They have all the hassle of the composting and I just have the joy of seeing the contents of my green wheelie bins disappear every fortnight. Its really good for the soul - if you don't you should try it.

Anyway back to the Manolo Blahniks - we all have favourite gardening shoes - ones we can wear, get dirty and full of mud and not turn a hair. Mine are a sensible pair of brogues that would look fitting on Queen Victotria but who cares - they are comfortable and easy to slip on and off. So come forth the rain, we are ready, suitably shod and keen to get on with the weeding. And Manolo should you be reading this, have you ever thought of designer garden shoes!

Friday, August 18, 2006

end of season

It's the end of the show season for us at Reckless but the start of the footy season so at least there is something to do during the winter months!

Southport is a friendly, family show and its always a joy to go there. As someone famous said today - "They look you in the eye" .... I know what they mean. Northerners always make you welcome. Can also vouch for terrific bacon butties in the press tent! Don't get them at Chelsea.

If those giant greenfly have gone away I'll try and sneak out - glad I haven't got them in my garden! Having been dazzled all season with such lovely colours and blooms I think I've now got colour blindness - so taking sore feet home after another heavenly day spent among the flowers.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

stuck for words

I have never known Diarmuid Gavin stuck for words but he was really non-plussed when I asked him about the turf at White Hart Lane! They always say journalists get things wrong - well I can now vouch for that fact because obviously the website I got that tidbit of info. off was having a laugh - poor Diarmuid admitted he didn't know the first thing about football but - breath sigh of relief all Tottenham fans - he did know White Hart lane was a football ground! Bless.

Anyway, straight from the horse's mouth - rather gardener's mouth - he is not relaying the turf at White Hart lane. He did say he was hoping to continue riding though ..... so that's OK.

good northern hospitality

Southport Flower Show is good northern hospitality - just ran into Jean Alexander (aka Hilda Ogden and Auntie Wainwright) she lives in Southport so when she is not filming - always takes in the show. She didn't try and sell me anything thank goodness!

Its the one show where I notice genteel laidies in exotic summer attire - rather 1930s - which I actually like - floating around. Southport still has its Edwardian feel about it and of course there is all that good fresh sea air.

The skies are going a little darker and I am hoping not to have to take cover - weather forecast not good for the next couple of days sadly.

There is plenty for all the family, everyone seems to be enjoying themselves particularly the three giant cavorting greenfly which have just assaulted me. However, I'm off to find bargains in the show tent - always get a bargain or two at Southport - and then try to smuggle them in when I get back home before husband finds out!

Southport Flower Show and Sweetie Diarmuid

Well today it's Southport Flower Show and a big sigh of relief because the rain has held off most of the day. We can only hope for the best.
Managed to have a chat with Diarmuid Gavin, he really is a sweetie - a very nice person. You'll be able to read all about the interview in the next couple of days, on the main reckless website, so don't miss it!

Saturday, August 12, 2006

pleasant gardening

The last week has been very pleasant. Not only have the temperatures been more temperate, gardening has been enjoyable and we have had short periods of rain which has helped. Not so the bites - I don't know where the midges and beasties have come from this year but we have had them aplenty in Cumbria. I am bitten to death. This is probably in retaliation for my war on the slime balls which is still in progress.

Once again Gardener's World has brought us a superb one hour special with Sarah Raven's programme on Friday evening. Really enjoyable and very educational - it has stimulated me to go and buy some herbs and medicinal plants myself and I am certainly going to try that special cream she made from marigolds for the bites! Very topical I thought at the time. Jekka McVicar had a sensational display at Chelsea exploring the centuries old heritage of using herbs for all kinds of culinary and medicinal purposes. So I know where to go to get my plants. Well done Sarah for bringing us this interesting programme.

So next week its off to Southport for the flower show. For us it kind of marks the end of the season which is always very hectic from April through to August. So my next blog will doubtless bring you up to date with all the news from Southport - what is in and what is not and of course any gossip I pick up on the way!

Sunday, August 06, 2006

autumnal mode, roses & Rino

The garden is in autumnal mode - despite the rain much has had to be cut back and sadly I am about to say goodbye to many colourful plants. As I muse on the coming autumn and dare I say winter I realise there are two things dear to my heart, one is gardening and the joy of caring for plants - facing the challenges of wind, rain, hot sun and hail and the other is food - always guaranteed to find my better side.

So Rino if you are out there reading this - this is just to say I think you are the best chef in the whole of the UK and your bright smile lights up even the dullest day! Your roast potatoes are to die for and in my opinion no one else makes Yorkshire pudding like you.

They say August will have some hot spells too, but we shall wait and see - the pleasant temperatures of the last few days have made gardening a joy even if this has meant cutting back so much that has gone.

I thought Rachel de Thame's programme for BBC Gardender's World on Roses was absolutely wonderful. As a rose lover I couldn't have asked for a more absorbing programme and as always with Rachel very well done. Happy gardening.

Wednesday, August 02, 2006

at last the rain cometh

Joy of joys - not one shower of rain but two - it fairly danced down yesterday and you could hear all the plants going - ahhhh! It was just in the nick of time to save several really nice plants. I knew that the rain dance would do it!

However, now I expect a re-emergence of the slimeballs but will be on lookout duty - the hostas are looking particularly fresh after the downpour so it will be a shame if they are attacked again.

After the last four week drought I have made a promise to myself to increase my waterbutts as it is clear that two are not enough.