pond overhaul

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September 17, 2020

16:31

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Garden

An extremely muddy afternoon trying to sort out the overgrown pond. Really, I should do 1/3rd of the plants every year … but didn’t manage it last year or the year before, so well overdue. Hopefully, it’s in the magic spot between tadpoles leaving the pond, and frogs returning to the pond to spend the winter in the mud at the bottom – though there was certainly one fairly annoyed frog in residence!
There are more plants than appear, as there’s lots of Canadian pondweed etc below the surface, and there’s the brick “escape ramp” for things to get in and out, and make it easy for wildlife to get down to water level to drink.
It did rather take me back to my youth, where for several years we had a tradition of sorting out the pond every year on May Morning!
pond before
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pond after

Deacons Pear

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September 3, 2020

19:27

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Food, Garden

My first pear of the season! Actually, it’s only the second pear I’ve ever had from this tree, which is “Deacons Pear”. A reasonable dessert pear, but mainly an excellent pollinator for the Worcester Black Pear.

It was glowing in the afternoon sunshine – the change from green to gold happens pretty much overnight, and signals full ripeness.

Deacons pear

sedum

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September 1, 2020

15:25

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Garden

The plant that I know as “sedum spectabile” (though botanists have irritatingly re-named it something unmemorable and unpronounceable) is now in full glory. It’s the last thing to have proper flowers opening in my garden, and signals “autumn” with a vengeance, though the cosmos and roses will continue blooming until around October.

sedum spectabile

Autumnal feeling

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August 31, 2020

15:25

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Out and about

A stroll of a couple of miles, mainly along the canal, as an afternoon’s “constitutional” on this Bank Holiday Monday. It feels like autumn – the hips and haws are brightly coloured (though not yet attacked by mould or birds), and the acorns are starting to fall.

hips

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haws

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acorn cluster, with one empty cup

Fan – part one

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August 29, 2020

19:57

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House & domestic

My (recirculating) cooker hood has given up the ghost – not that it was much good to start with. So I’m about to try an extractor fan. I’m starting with a small (4-inch) fan on the opposite side of the kitchen – if that doesn’t work, I’ll fit ducting to extract from directly over the cooker.
 
All of which means knocking a hole through the solid 9″ brick wall of the kitchen, carefully avoiding the downpipe on the outside and the water pipes on the inside … Everything got covered in brick dust, of course, but the hole is now there. I think I’ve made a reasonable job of it …
in progress - outside
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hole - from outside
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hole - from inside

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It’s chutney time !

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August 21, 2020

15:07

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Food, Garden

Normally, I reckon on making chutney at the end of the season, to use up green tomatoes that are never going to ripen. this year, I’ve got too much of a glut of red tomatoes, as both Latah and Urbikany are in full flow at the same time. Fortunately, there was a pint of pickling vinegar in the cupboard …

I made 2/3rds of the recipe (I think I usually make half), which was enough for five jars of chutney and a “taster”. Recipe says to simmer for 90-120 minutes, but it actually took closer to three hours before it was done.  The chutney now goes into a cupboard to mature, until at least Christmas – I have several jars of last year’s still, so won’t be tempted to raid them early, though there’s a couple of spoonfuls as a “taster jar” to try out with the tail-end of pot-roast beef currently in the fridge.

tomatoes, apples, onions, sultanas, vinegar

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5 jars of chutney, and a "taster"

water!

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August 12, 2020

20:42

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Uncategorized

We’ve had the best part of a month with no significant rain, and for the past week daytime temperatures have been over 30C. I’ve been spending part of every afternoon in a cool bath!

It’s now still very hot, but thunderstorms are becoming “a thing”. They finally hit us here last night. The initial deluge only lasted about fifteen minutes, but was most welcome, and an hour later there was a long period of more gentle rain.

Click the link for a short video: 20200812 P1010684

garden bits

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August 12, 2020

12:05

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Garden

Today’s theme in the garden is pale pinky-lilac. Flowers on the lemon-scented geranium (which smells lovely, but not especially lemony!), the Prairie Gayfeather (liatris spicata), and the lovely naked flowers of the cyclamen.
I’m especially fond of these latter – originally taken from my Grandfather’s garden in Windsor Great Park to my flat in London, thence to my first house in Worcester, and now to my current home: a pleasing continuity.

lemon-scented geranium flower

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gayfeather flower

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cyclamen flowers

garden bits

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August 10, 2020

10:54

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Garden

The first sunflower is now flowering, and very splendid it is too. Down the side of the house (grown in a container to prevent the escape of these invasive plants) the Chinese Lanterns are ready to cut and finish drying.

sunflower

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Chinese lantern