Tuesday 5 March 2013

How Green is My Valley - Not Very


Yesterday, I intended to put one of my garden-y posts up. The sun shone for most of the day and I spent the afternoon, weeding and pottering about in the poly tunnel. Not that anything has started to move much yet. To be quite honest, I've hardly been out in the garden at all this year.


It's just on the intersection between winter and spring and most of my garden looks a bit like the picture of the artichoke above, although the green spiky leaves are starting to shoot out from the base.


I planted some broccoli out in October last year and it's looking a bit promising - so might have a mini crop in about a month's time.


Those are the tail end of the leeks - still tender as yet but will have to be used before the end of the month - besides I could do with the ground to  plant lettuce and salad crops. I should do a plan really, but being a bit idle I just take photos and hope for the best.


I sowed some spring cabbage, caulies and Kohl Rabbi last October too.  Planted them out at the end of December. They have survived the frost, snow and the slugs  as yet so maybe another crop there end of April, beginning of May.
Got some carrot seeds in buckets. What you do, is make holes in the bottom of either an old plastic or metal bucket. Fill it compost mixed with a free draining soil (a few pebbles or broken clay bits at the bottom to provide a good soak-away). Sow a pinch of  seed and cover them with a little bit of compost. They're usually susceptible to the carrot fly - little white maggots that bore through the carrots and make them inedible. This way, you can move them on to a bench or somewhere a bit higher where the fly can't reach. I did this last year and it worked quite well.


I took this picture, across the field, last night. This morning it was all thick over with freezing fog. What a game. I had to have a CT scan today with that purple dye they inject into your arm to see where any knobbly bits might or might not be lurking. The radiographer set me up on the machine. You have to lie on a bed with your arms up in the air while you pass through a sort of hoop. A dis-embodied voice gives you instructions - like hold your breath, while the camera flashes and the bed moves through the tunnel. The young man (not may years older than my granddaughter) who set me up was great. He told me that I would start to feel very hot and might even feel as though I was wetting myself (charming).  When it was all over, he said that he'd never actually had a CT scan although he'd operated the machine loads of times and asked me what it was like. I thought for a moment or two and then said, 'Well, it's a bit like sitting on a hot water bottle.' And you couldn't have a better day for it.

28 comments:

  1. I can just see him rushing home to fill up a hot watter bottle and have the experience for himself lol. Hope they don't find any "knobby bits".

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    1. With all this cold weather, you can see the hot water sales going up :)

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  2. We've another 6 weeks before things start to grow here. You must be so excited to see the shoots peeping through.

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    1. Yes,it's lovely when the seeds just start to germinate. I've got some tomato seeds in a little tub on the window which have just started to poke their heads through. we've got more cold weather forecast for next week.

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  3. That last image is lovely Molly. I have had more CT scans than I can number and they are not fun. I have had one MRI and the machine sounds as if a train is about to run right over you and you are immobilized. I hope all is well with you.

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    1. I've not had an MRI, but O/H has - don't think I would fancy that one much. Hope you are going on alright too. It will take a few weeks for the results to come through, but I feel absolutely fine.

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  4. The last photo is beautiful. I love the trees' stark and strong old frames in winter. Three cheers for all the lovely young people who smile at us while they man that big equipment.

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    1. One of the other patients complained about him chewing gum while he was working, but I thought he was brilliant - he just put me completely at my ease and had the time in the world for me - so yes - a gold star from me.

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  5. How very well organised you are Molly. I can't get past the 'Sow in Spring, harvest in Summer/Autumn' style of gardening. I really must try harder!

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    1. Organised - I wish. I think Haddocks is wonderful. When you look back over the last year, you've had some fantastic crops - I love fresh veg in season.

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  6. Your veggies look like they are doing so well!

    My seeds are still in packets....there's nowhere to plant them. Front porch is too small and too hot, totally exposed to sun, back porch gets no sun but still gets hot, garden area near my flat is crowded with prickly and thorny things.
    Much thought is required....

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    1. Your weather is on the opposite end of the scale from ours - not enough rain is worse than too much.

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  7. What a brilliant gardener you are, Molly! You almost make me want to get out there and get my hands dirty!

    Very best wishes for a good outcome from the CT scan. And also for some sunshine and warm rays...

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    1. The truth is - I'm a bit of a hit and miss gardener - but it's nice when things actually grow. Thank you for your good wishes.

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  8. It's foggy here, Molly, and it hasn't shifted all day. It makes one want to stay indoors. Yesterday my husband went down to the allotment at our daughter's house, but I haven't been there myself. He brought back some baby leeks and parsnips. He's not very successful with carrots no matter what he does although he grows them in pots now rather than the open ground. This time last year I was having scans - not the CT tunnel kind, though, and I'm much improved this year with check-ups. I hope your results are good.

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    1. So glad you're feeling better again. The weather has been cold and foggy here too. Carrots need a light sandy, soil which ours is not.

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  9. I learn something with each visit here. Good to know about the carrots in buckets. I'm loving that photo of the dried artichoke. Initially I thought it a sunflower head! it's lovely. you have quite a lot growing in your garden/valley. we're covered in snow here still - another 6 inches yesterday. it may put an end to last summer's drought, so good thing for that. Is that Fadger in the header photo? Adorable. happy week to you Molly. hope all is well with the CT results.

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    1. The winter seems to have gone on and on this year - the weather forecast is predicting -5 and snow for us next week. And yes that's Fadger soaking up the sun (one rare day when it was sunny). Will be seeing the consultant in a few weeks time - can't think that it can be anything major. Hope you are well. Have a brilliant week xxx

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  10. Love that header pic of Fadger or is it Little Fadger ? - wow you are organised with your poly tunnel - that carrot tip sounds good I think I will try that one and see if I can match OH with his carrots - although he is not very good with carrots! - we went to the potato day at Harper Adams college last weekend and bought a few bits mainly peas and beans - I haven't has a CT Scan but I have had an ultrasound where you have to drink 2 litres of water before they start on you - where you think that you will explode at any minute - take care you two - Jane xx

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    1. Big Fadger. Hope your ultrasound results were good. Enjoy your new course - sounds interesting, BTW I think both your photos are brilliant. I love the one you took of Whittington Bridge. xxx

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  11. But much greener than our hillside, Molly. Your future crops are looking rather impressive. Thick fog here today too, followed by light rain. Where's the sun gone again?

    Sending good vibes for the CT scan results. I've never had one, but your description is just what a friend told me.

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    1. Isn't it so cold out. I loved your last blog - hope all the little problems are solved ( septic tank) - what a pain. Thank you (and everyone else) for your good wishes

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  12. All that green!! So pretty. We don't have any here yet :)

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  13. I hope your scan comes back negative so that you can have many happy gardening days in the weeks ahead. Ahem, have you heard that it’s going to be cold again?

    No gardening for this cowardly fair-weather gardener in the near future.

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  14. Not very green here at the moment, we've just had a fall of snow!

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  15. Hope your scan doesn't show anything nasty.
    merle..........

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