I was so pleased today to be able to pick the first of the Gourds, the ones that I picked today are the fig leaf ones that I grew in the soil, they got a lot less water than the others but have done so well, they are all a little different and look great on the window sill in the Solor, it will be a little longer till the others are ready.
My talk yesterday went well for the Gardens Illustrated readers, they were an interesting group of people who were easy to talk to, the thing about these days is that I enjoy the most is that I learn new things when people ask questions and we talk things over. I now have to get ready for the next one on Monday.
My two dogs do seem to be very happy to be in bed tonight, I hosted the Dachshund day today and we must have had 120 dogs here for it, I was a little shocked to say the least when they kept arriving, it was a fun day had by most I think, Conifer got first in agility and Miscanthus only third, we did get other prizes in a few sections but I did not give myself best in show prize, maybe next year.
I have to say I was stocked when I walked out of the gym tonight just before seven and saw how low the light was, we really are coming into Autumn and maybe some rain at some point, it reminded me that I should put some leather cream into my blundstone boots, the only other time I remember to do it is when my friend Charlie telephones me from New Zealand in the morning, before work to say hello, as he is the one who brings them over for me and I feel bad that I am not looking after them better, I do wear them almost year round.
I remember how happy I was when the Pumpkins and Gourds touched the ground, now the plants have run along the ground and have started to climb up the yew hedge, it is very funny to see from the High Garden side, you can see the shoots standing up looking over the hedge like a nosey neighbour.
I was over joyed to open the October issue of Gardens Illustrated and see an article on Historic tulip, these paintings are so special, I would marry for money just so could fill my bed room with these paintings and wake up to them everyday. There is a readers offer to get a selection of the bulbs, I am going to send a cheque today and have each one in its own pots by the kitchen door. It was made go out and look at the cornflowers that have ‘self sown’ in with the Leeks and Artichokes, the seed was free with Gardens Illustrated.
If I was going to die I would have by now so all that we ate for lunch was fine, we had a lunch of those interesting vegetables that we have grown in pots in the shop garden. The table looked great, all those bright colours together. John and Kim had put the lunch together, some of the nightshades I was a little worried about and I left most of the chilies for Thomas to eat, I am not man enough for such things, and the effects the day after………
Our second crop of Fennel ‘Victoria’ is ready and what a great crop we have, there was a study day here at Dixter yesterday so as part of their lunch I cooked some of this Fennel, I parboiled it and then roasted it in the oven with butter, salt and pepper. A lot more of it is going to be used next Monday when I an giving my vegetable study day. The seed of the Fennel was sown on the 26/06/14, direct into the ground.
Well this weekend has given us some rain and now taken us into autumn, I was not sure how long summer was going to last, I am pleased to have some cooler weather, maybe it will slow the winter vegetables down, I am very worried that we are going to have no vegetables left by winter, the Broccoli has budded for the last month, I have already sold so much of it, there maybe none for the winter, another thing to worry about.
We had two lunch guests today from Japan, and with them they had gifts, always a good start to a lunch, the giving of such special gifts. One was a scarf, I have a thing for cotton scarfs from Japan, I do like to keep the sun off and they add a little bit extra to my work style, they show I care how I look in the garden. I also go two new pairs of secateurs, these are very special, hand made tools, they do seem to be very sharp, I had better be careful, I cut the end of my little finger yesterday, these will take it off.
Great Dixter Vegetable Garden 