Ian
@concordat.bsky.social
I love (most) people. I want us to help heal each other and love our world. We must overcome racism, misogyny and hate. We get just one blip on this little rocky planet make it a positive one folks. Love gardening, volunteering, art, music of all genres.
More for your enjoyment including a 'fluffy' one.
May 15, 2025 at 3:36 PM
More for your enjoyment including a 'fluffy' one.
Some aquilegias for you.
May 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Some aquilegias for you.
Very beautiful. Here a couple from our school garden.
February 15, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Very beautiful. Here a couple from our school garden.
So, first gardening session of this calendar year done and dusted. We sowed Nasturtiums, Helichrysum, Sweet pea, Cape Gooseberry, Cosmos and Pineapple. What we sow for school we also sow a pot of the same for the children to take home so that they can see the progress and be responsible for them.
February 14, 2025 at 4:27 PM
So, first gardening session of this calendar year done and dusted. We sowed Nasturtiums, Helichrysum, Sweet pea, Cape Gooseberry, Cosmos and Pineapple. What we sow for school we also sow a pot of the same for the children to take home so that they can see the progress and be responsible for them.
I am lucky to have a heated propagator. It cost about £100 over 10 years ago. You can set the heat range between 10c - 30c I think. It has been a great investment.
February 13, 2025 at 7:16 PM
I am lucky to have a heated propagator. It cost about £100 over 10 years ago. You can set the heat range between 10c - 30c I think. It has been a great investment.
Small chinks of spring are on the horizon. Tomorrow is our first school gardening Friday of 2025. We will continue right through the seasons until mid November. Tomorrow we will sow the early seeds such as nasturtium, rudbeckia, aster and pot up some dahlias and lilies. Here are the signs of spring.
February 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Small chinks of spring are on the horizon. Tomorrow is our first school gardening Friday of 2025. We will continue right through the seasons until mid November. Tomorrow we will sow the early seeds such as nasturtium, rudbeckia, aster and pot up some dahlias and lilies. Here are the signs of spring.
Visited school for the Friday birdwatching session. Many wood pigeons, sparrows, jackdaws and magpies, a few robins and blue tits plus a bonus sparrow hawk. No pictures of birds but some strong evidence of Spring long awaited arrival. 3 minutes and 16 seconds more daylight in Berkshire today!
January 31, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Visited school for the Friday birdwatching session. Many wood pigeons, sparrows, jackdaws and magpies, a few robins and blue tits plus a bonus sparrow hawk. No pictures of birds but some strong evidence of Spring long awaited arrival. 3 minutes and 16 seconds more daylight in Berkshire today!
These are the seeds for sowing in the school garden in Feb.
January 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM
These are the seeds for sowing in the school garden in Feb.
Here is some I am growing at school, in an unheated greenhouse. We got -7c in early January on two nights.
January 29, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Here is some I am growing at school, in an unheated greenhouse. We got -7c in early January on two nights.
Here are our school garden ones
January 29, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Here are our school garden ones
A bit more done in the special garden at school this afternoon.
January 20, 2025 at 8:25 PM
A bit more done in the special garden at school this afternoon.
These were our garlic plants today. We planted 35 in October but only about 31 have come up.
January 15, 2025 at 7:32 PM
These were our garlic plants today. We planted 35 in October but only about 31 have come up.
A sarracenia pitcher plant, fully hardy but kept in greenhouse during the winter to stop it getting covered in leaves and rotting. Some hyacinths for early flowering.
January 15, 2025 at 7:29 PM
A sarracenia pitcher plant, fully hardy but kept in greenhouse during the winter to stop it getting covered in leaves and rotting. Some hyacinths for early flowering.
In our unheated greenhouse we have date palm, tangerine, lemon and avocado. Last week we had -7c on two nights but everything is looking good. I keep it on the dry side, as wet kills more than cold does if it can be frost free.
January 15, 2025 at 7:26 PM
In our unheated greenhouse we have date palm, tangerine, lemon and avocado. Last week we had -7c on two nights but everything is looking good. I keep it on the dry side, as wet kills more than cold does if it can be frost free.
So I had my first gardening session of the year. Renovating a commemorative garden at school. I planted the last of 50+ tulips today, a month late but they will catch up. I was in 2 minds as it was misty and cold but I persuaded myself to do it. Pleased I did and will crack on next week too.
January 15, 2025 at 7:20 PM
So I had my first gardening session of the year. Renovating a commemorative garden at school. I planted the last of 50+ tulips today, a month late but they will catch up. I was in 2 minds as it was misty and cold but I persuaded myself to do it. Pleased I did and will crack on next week too.
Southern England. The varieties we grow are normally French/Central European. They require about 7-8 months and must have at least 1 month sub 10c in order to bulb up. Here is a harvest from last year.
January 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Southern England. The varieties we grow are normally French/Central European. They require about 7-8 months and must have at least 1 month sub 10c in order to bulb up. Here is a harvest from last year.
My Sunday morning was spent doing a bit of baking. A wholemeal loaf, a banana bread as we had some overripe 'nanas and finally some granola. Mostly healthy but banana bread is the domain of our youngest who adores it. Granola made with oats, crushed nuts, oil, honey and golden syrup.
January 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
My Sunday morning was spent doing a bit of baking. A wholemeal loaf, a banana bread as we had some overripe 'nanas and finally some granola. Mostly healthy but banana bread is the domain of our youngest who adores it. Granola made with oats, crushed nuts, oil, honey and golden syrup.
If you need any help or advice do not be too shy to ask. I love helping others and no question is too stupid, we all have to learn. In 30 years time you could be saying this to another novice!
January 4, 2025 at 8:28 PM
If you need any help or advice do not be too shy to ask. I love helping others and no question is too stupid, we all have to learn. In 30 years time you could be saying this to another novice!
I run a school garden, been doing it 10 years. I have gardened for 60 years. I still have failures, the trick is to have some successes and that will encourage you. I will enclose some pictures from our garden. Don't worry about lack of experience, I am still learning.
January 4, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I run a school garden, been doing it 10 years. I have gardened for 60 years. I still have failures, the trick is to have some successes and that will encourage you. I will enclose some pictures from our garden. Don't worry about lack of experience, I am still learning.
Done all that for the last 3 years and no joy. Life is too short to be bothered by stuff like this. I do not quit easily, hence my pursuit of this goal but I realise I have better things to do finally.
January 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Done all that for the last 3 years and no joy. Life is too short to be bothered by stuff like this. I do not quit easily, hence my pursuit of this goal but I realise I have better things to do finally.
Nor me. I do all that the textbooks say. Rest them at the right time. Feed them a high potash feed at the right time. Induce dormancy. Bring back into warm and commence watering. All I get is a load of leaves. Seriously thinking of throwing out. Much work, no payback. Mine today!!
January 3, 2025 at 4:47 PM
Nor me. I do all that the textbooks say. Rest them at the right time. Feed them a high potash feed at the right time. Induce dormancy. Bring back into warm and commence watering. All I get is a load of leaves. Seriously thinking of throwing out. Much work, no payback. Mine today!!
Happy new year from me and a few friends.
January 1, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Happy new year from me and a few friends.
Here are some from our school garden.
December 24, 2024 at 9:19 AM
Here are some from our school garden.