Wisteria

We have a lovely native wisteria, Wisteria americana, which is much more well-behaved than its Asian cousin.

Chinese Wisteria, although fragrant and lovely, is rampant and invasive, when not carefully confined on an arbor or fence.  It's a memory plant for me;  when my sister and I took piano lessons through our teens (she's now a music teacher and musician), we alternated being at the library, which was just down the street from a tremendous wisteria vine, filled with fragrance in the spring.

Wisteria sinesis, now, is a nemesis, something that we remove from strangling native trees and shrubs, and other plantings.

So I was quick to recognize and root out these wisteria seedlings--volunteers from some delivered mulch.

It may have been a single pod full of seeds, as they were all near each other!

Yikes, a vine that not only spreads through underground rhizomes, but also through seeds.  No wonder it's so 'successful'!

T-Shirt Art.

Cold , wet and windy today, I was quite happy to be working all day at school as working outside at home would not have been a lot of fun. My poor class spent the day doing a practice maths SATs paper in the morning and then going through the questions in the afternoon before 45mins of golden time. Having started to move towards Topic based teaching, seem to remember that when I first started teaching, everything is now on hold because if the Conservatives win the election they want to return to even more formal strictly segregated subject teaching. None of this namby pamby making education fun and exciting.New Acer leaves emerging like weird claws.

I got quite excited when I was down in the reception class earlier in the week because they were using fabric dyes to paint batik (using flour and water paste instead of wax) banners. I took the opportunity to bring in a couple of white t-shirts to have a little bit of an experiment.
For this experiment I simply flicked dye at a dry t-shirt. I like it a lot but I almost think it is too restrained and maybe could have been a bit more random.

For this one I wet the t-shirt first and then dropped blobs of dye onto it so that they ran together. If I had been able to let it dry flat and maybe not had it so wet, the dye wouldn't have run together so much. I do like it like this though the red does seem to have taken over. Never mind, this will satisfy my Bohemian streak. We are fairly sure that once it is dry the dye will be permanent and I might even run the iron over the t-shirts to make sure before I wash them by hand (don't want a machine load of pink clothes). Previously my t-shirt experiments have been done using extra thick bleach randomly squirted onto the fabric which can produce interesting results especially with black t-shirts as you never know what the base colour is going to be. One t-shirt turned out to be orange under the black.

A lovely spring day

Much cooler than normal, we had another fabulous spring day here in the Carolinas. I was whining about our exceptionally cold and rainy winter weather through late February, but March and April have been quite nice. 

We've had only a few hot spells, along with lower than normal temperatures.  Now, if rainfall amounts get back up to 'normal' - we're still three inches short for the year - that would be great!

Rain, Rain, Rain.

Today was a lie-in day but I was still up reasonably early and got in an hour's work in the garden before the rain settled in for the day. I rebuilt the stonework wall at the end of the grass bed and was able to tidy stuff up so that soon I can start building the steps. Both boys have had a try but the job has sat uncompleted for a long time and has been getting on my nerves, especially after all the years of hard work to make the scree garden. An ornamental tree at school.

Teaching in the afternoon and then back home again in the pouring rain. I have been forced to do some housework and even get the hoover out.

Night hikes and a luminous moon

I wish I'd been able to capture an image of the moon as it appeared above the horizon, following my Garden night hike.

We didn't see the moon before the program ended, but saw Mars, remarkably luminous in the night sky. The cool, clear evening meant that not many insects or frogs were singing, but stars and planets were clearly visible.

New Arrivals On The Lake.

It was raining for a short while this morning when I woke before dawn. Looking out of the window I could see a little pipistrelle bat flitting about in the half light. (Apparently they have different winter and summer roosts both of which are protected by law.) Having to get up early one or two mornings a week makes me appreciate all the other mornings when I can chose to have a lie-in if I want. I taught the older children in the morning, poor things they are already practising for their SATs tests, our government is obsessed with facts and figures and the children are tested at 7, 11 and 13. The results are simply used to judge if a school has reached expectations and has improved on previous years. In the afternoon it was the youngest children. It was nice and sunny so we went out on the field for playtime, (most of the year the field is too muddy). There was a lovely scene when about a dozen children were chasing a pair of butterflies that were too engrossed in their courtship dance to fly more than 5ft above the ground. Back home I was met by my neighbours' boy who usually comes visiting with the 2 dogs as soon as I get home. He came with the news that the geese had hatched themselves 3 little goslings. Fred the dalmation got a good telling off from me when he chased poor old Smudge who needed lots of cuddles when I eventually went indoors. The forecast is for the weather to become colder, wetter and windier so I dug dandelions and mowed & strimmed the last bank. Bowling Green the lawns are definitely not but at least they look tidy.

Growing vegetables in containers

I like to think the soil in my garden beds is excellent (hmm), but often lettuce, greens, and mustards grown in flats or containers filled with planting mix and organic fertilizer do far better than when directly sown.

I'm quite sure it's because of extra nutrients and 'fluffier' soil; it does question the idea that healthy soil webs and organic-rich soil is the only way to grow vegetables, at least in my mind.  There's a reason that vegetables grown hydroponically flourish in solutions of water-soluble major- and micro-nutrients.  But remember my challenges in the fertilizer department, too!

Even' star mustards

So, I wasn't surprised to have a lovely harvest of mustards from this small container recently.  Quite tasty!

Better Weather.

It has been a beautiful day today, back to real summer weather. My morning was spent digging out dandelions from the lawns, 370 of them! and there are still more to go. The grass was dry enough in the evening for me to cut all the grass that can be done with the mower. I even managed to do some strimming as well though I had forgotten that it's not a good idea to strim while wearing shorts. Small stones and twig bits sting when they are spun into bare legs. I intend to try and keep on top of the mowing this year as I haven't got Romas here to do my mowing. The blossom is out on the 2 big pear trees. They have never produced any fruit even though they always have plenty of blossom. The people who planted them probably didn't check if they were self pollinating or if they needed another variety nearby to set fruit. I did plant a 3rd pear tree (a conference I think) which the books said would be a universal pollinator but still no fruit.
It is good to see the new leaves appearing on the beech trees. There is a definite progression according to the age of the plants. First are the youngest, the regularly pruned hedges. Then the smaller trees and finally the stately mature trees. We're still waiting for them to wake from their long winter sleep.

Beech trees and hedge on the garden boundary.

First hummingbird of the season

Hummingbirds have been seen for weeks around us, but not one had stopped by our feeder until today.

Perhaps we missed early scouts simply by being at work or elsewhere, but it was great to hear the familiar chhirring-chip of a hummingbird this evening.

It almost seemed like he/she (I didn't get a good look) was looking for the feeder that normally hangs on the crepe myrtle near the potting bench, but that's probably fanciful thinking.

Shortly thereafter, I saw him/her visiting the porch feeder, just before flying up to perch in the big oak, a favorite hummingbird circuit.

The photo posted above was taken last summer at the venerable Campsis radicans-covered arbor that overlooks the terrace at Biltmore House, in Asheville, NC.

Back To The Dentist.

For most of the day there has been 100% cloud cover though obviously not too thick as it was relatively bright. It was only towards the end of the day that a few blue patches appeared and then for a short while we returned to blue skies dotted with fluffy clouds. Before starting my gravel washing I dug out dandelions from the lawn and removed some weeds from the rain softened flower beds. I did a little gravel washing in the evening and spotted about 5 tiny trout fry close by me in the stream.

I worked an extra hour at school this afternoon which tied in nicely with a dentist appointment. This was a relatively pain free visit as all that needed doing was a little more adjustment to the height of one crown and a replacement filling. The filling didn't actually need replacing but I had finally got fed up with having a grey patch showing through one of my front teeth. It had been filled from behind in the days when NHS patients only got amalgam filings (you still do unless it's a front tooth). My previous (private) dentist kept suggesting that it wouldn't cost too much to replace it with a white filling but in my mind £50 is a sizable sum and I stuck with the grey filling. Finally vanity overcame prudence especially when I found out I could have it done on the NHS. It was even better than that, because I had asked when I was having my 2 crowns replaced everything was covered by the one fee of £200. So at least I got my money's worth even if I did have to suffer at the hands of a not so excellent dentist.

With a bit of a struggle another 2lbs lost this week. This weekly weigh in is a great motivator, it took me a year to finally get down to weighing myself each day and watching what I eat. This is the only way that works for me. I do need the thought in my mind that some one else; diet club, practice nurse or you my dear reader, will be noting my weight loss each week and that kicks in my desire not to fail.

Plant combinations

I never imagined a sedum bed would be such a nice addition to the front of our small mountain house.

Practically care-free, it was planted in a curved area defined by the previous owner's landscape (but left mulched). It glows with different colors and textures. We planted it in June, 2009, and it's sailed through a harsh winter and is looking great.

Sedum bed with raised stone vegetable beds beyond

Early in the morning, the view out the staircase window is pleasing. Exactly what you want from a window view.

And a happy combination of striped tulips (also from the previous owner) is combining nicely with a coppery Heuchera and vigorous Celadine poppy.

It's not a color combination that I'd normally plan, but with the vibrant colors of the cedar shake siding, it's striking.

(Click on the photos for a larger image.)

Back To Normal.

We're back into typical British weather. Plenty of rain in the night means that I don't have to water my transplanted plants but also that the mowing I put off doing yesterday afternoon will now have to wait till the grass dries off. Grey skies and cloud sitting low on the hill and blowing along the valley. I hung out some sheets on the line hoping the wind would blow them dry but the air was too damp. I could have gone out and done some gardening but my back is a little stiff after yesterday's long drive.
Both foals and their mothers are now in the same field. They look quite similar but Doris is much quieter and stays close to her mother. Ben is full of beans and spends most of his time cantering around Belle. Doris looks bigger than Ben but still has a curly foal coat. Her teeth however are at the same stage as Ben's despite him being 2 1/2 weeks older than her. When he was first born his top teeth were only just visible and it was fun to let him suck your finger. Now he has a good cm of top teeth and has to be reminded not to nip. Doris' teeth are also a cm long and she was busy trying to chew my trousers today.

Yesterday there were half a dozen swallows flying around. They are probably the ones that were hatched out in the scree garden shed last year. I'm hoping that the missing house martins might be back this year.

Back To Keele.

We left at 6.30 as the sun was rising for the long drive north up to Keele. Leaving early meant the roads were fairly clear and we got there in 3 1/2 hours. Romas couldn't return to his university accommodation as it won't be open till the 1st May so our first stop was to Morrisons (large supermarket) to have coffee (me) and a large breakfast (Romas), do some shopping and fill up with diesel. Romas was in touch with his girlfriend Vicky who had finally returned from an extended holiday in Jamaica but she wouldn't be back at her flat for a few more hours. Instead we dropped all Romas' belongings off at a friend's house and then I drove Romas up to the campus as he had work to do. Before going our separate ways Romas took me on a walk around the lakes and woods in the campus.

The landscaped grounds around the Hall are full of magnificent specimen trees and there are many paths through the semi-wild woods. While we were there we passed several people who had come there to walk their dogs.

The paths meander around a number of small man made lakes with a few ducks and geese on them.

As well as the landscaped woods there are more wild wooded areas beyond the university buildings. Romas tells me that there is plenty of dead wood around so he has been building his own barbecues.

Leading up to the Hall are large lawns which in term time become covered with students studying? and relaxing.

Many of the large bushes are rhododendrons only some of which have started to flower but are obviously going to make a magnificent display in a few weeks time.

There are more formal lawns and gardens in front of the Hall which besides being used as a conference centre is also a wedding venue.

The whole combination of formal landscaping, woods and the many trees around all the buildings make the campus a very pleasant environment to live and work in.

Keel Hall itself is a listed building, it was built in the 19thC to replace the Tudor house that was built in 1580.

Having had a good stretch of the legs walking around the grounds I drove back home down to Devon. The roads were a bit busier and with the several miles of roadworks around Birmingham it took me 4 hours. At home I had discovered that there was a virus on my pc (thanks Romas) and it has taken until this morning to scan the system and clear all unwanted stuff.

Frosty Morning.

Ndebele art.

It felt really cold this morning, 2C on the outdoor thermometer. I had to clear the frost from the car window before I could drive to work and in the shade there was frost on the ground. At school my classroom (hut) was in the sun and so was nice and warm but other parts of the school were quite cold. I had a good day with my Year 2 class. They didn't have much to finish off from the week so we spent the morning creating designs in the style of Ndebele. This is an area in southern Africa where the women create the most amazing geometric designs on the outside walls of their houses. In the afternoon it was Golden Time (free choice activities) and we had an extra long play down on our playing field. For most of the year the field is too wet to use and we are very happy with our NoMow (artificial grass) area but you can't beat running around on real grass. I had thought that with all the bad weather in February, spring would be delayed but the sunshine of the last few weeks has pushed things along. Normally the first beech leaves appear around the 1st of May but they are already emerging over a week earlier than usual. Little patches of lime green are appearing in all the hedgerows and soon the dismal grey/brown of the hedges and trees will blaze into life with that vibrant green of new leaves.

Imperceptibly the garden plants have been increasing in size. I wouldn't mind if these particular sedums (ice plants) stayed this size but once the flower stems shoot up they will cover most of their circle. The aubretia suffered a bit from being shaded last year so I may do a little cutting back. I will also try to remember to cut back the flowering spikes of the central grass as the seeds germinate while they are still on the stalks and just look messy.

A bluebird family

I've enjoyed monitoring bluebird houses over the last few years, but it's been a thrill to be able to spy on a bluebird family this spring, thanks to an Eagle Scout project last year installing a bluebird box with a webcam adjacent to the Bob Campbell Geology Museum (part of the Garden where I work).

 
Click here to see what's happening now. 

You might enjoy a couple of related posts on What's Happening at the Garden?   This is the latest news.

Phlox, Penstemon, and shared plants

Gail, of Clay and Limestone, kindly sent me some Penstemon X last year, which included a bonus Phlox (I'm assuming it's the PPP that is a standout in her garden).

Both are flourishing and the phlox is flowering now, after a season heeled into a rich potting mix in a container.

I'll be transplanting both to suitable permanent spaces this spring, which will be a lovely passalong plant to think about.

Fun With Smart Boards.

Another sunny day, lovely and warm out in the sun but decidedly chilly in the shade. Cherry blossom at school.

I worked all day at school. In the morning I taught a class that I don't know too well and boy were there a few lively ones in that class. We had an African dance session and after 20 mins some of them were complaining they were tired! More art in the afternoon, various types of printing and collage work.

Fresh spring leaves.

After school we had an informal session on the new Smart Boards. They are a lot easier than our old boards and there are so many tools there is hardly any need to add in other programs. Needless to say our favourite was the writing tool that produces a line of flowers or smiley faces.

Creating a natural garden

I like to do some short classes and programs for our local Osher Lifelong Learning Institute.

A volunteer-led organization, the classes are taught by volunteers and organized by paid staff members (based in Clemson University's Parks, Recreation, and Tourism Dept.) who are supported through program revenues and endowment income, provided by Bernard Osher, who has provided support for lifelong institutes throughout the U.S. through his foundation.

I offered up a program last fall about creating a natural garden that was well-received, so I did so again.

Yikes, 25 people have signed up (the limit), and one of them recently mentioned to me that the draw for her was visiting my garden. Who knew? Hmm, I was planning to skip that part. But maybe that's a good addition to my presentation about transforming lawns to an interesting mix of native trees, shrubs, and wildflowers, with patches of vegetables?

So, I'm enlisting my gardening companion to tidy up a bit before then.

But, it's a natural garden, after all.

At Last.

I was woken early this morning by the sheer cacophony of bird song. There were whistles , chirrups, twittering, warbling, trills, chattering and musical phrases. I was up by 6.00 and after some time on the pc I was back out in the garden washing gravel once more. The sun was shining but it was quite cold in the shade and the stream was freezing. Not surprised to hear that there is still snow in parts of Scotland.I was just taking a coffee break when I spotted Sarah bringing out Coral and her filly foal. Doris had only been born a few hours before and her curly coat was still not completely dry.
Back to school in the afternoon for me, the youngest children this time. We were cautiously painting fabric with fabric dyes, I say cautiously because the dye stains and unlike other years when the children wore their old clothes for arts' weeks this year they are still in their uniforms and even with their painting aprons usually made from their dads' shirts, there is great potential for mess.
Flight restrictions over the UK were lifted this morning to the great relief of many stranded people who were running out of money. As I drove to school the sky was criss crossed with com trails. Hopefully it is truly safe to fly and not just the plane companies putting pressure on the safety authorities.

Modern design chairs