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Post by Moonlight on Jan 2, 2013 11:11:06 GMT
Diary of a bizarre erratic gardener.
Since I have discovered this site I've done a lot of thinking. Mulling over things that have happened in recent past and my childhood memories. I've been dreaming, hoping and generally getting too excited about the year ahead, hopes and possibilities.
I've got into the habit of staying up late (too late, way after midnight) reading here, researching varieties including my Dad's varieties, dahlias, sweet peas and chrysanthemums. I read something here which leads me to search for more information and search engines are too much of a temptation in the quest to find out more.
Not sure if I should confess my sins in the gardening department but suffice to say that when my daughter asked me what my New Years Resolution would be I told her:
To try and grow more 'plant' plants than weeds this year. With emphasis on the word try.
My dream this year is to go for the Novice Cup at my local 3 shows (please don't ask where.)
What I don't want to do is to mean well. Lots of ideas and good intentions and nothing planted. I want to achieve, have some sort of personal pride in my garden and no longer be embarrassed. Anything that I plant and it grows will be something of pride and to me, will be a success (even if it was one thing)
PS You can roll your eyes a bit when I do something daft but not when I'm looking. 
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Post by Cherry on Jan 2, 2013 15:00:05 GMT
It sounds like you are up late thinking now Moonlight instead of looking at posts, etc.
On the last forum one member laid down the challenge for sweet pea growing and Sweetpea took us all the way from sowing to showing. We did not manage to save this thread unfortunately, but it was superb. It was a masterclass, and I went all the way with good results, but was pipped at the post by a national exhibitor.
I am sure you must have read about Wildlife Friendly's introduction into dahlia growing for exhibition. Her dahlias were so good, a couple from the show committee arrived at her place to see for themselves if she really did grow them. What cheek! She did this with a masterclass from Tel.
Derek is a mine of information on showing and he shows many varieties. He would be a help if you feel you need it.
Some of our number grow superb crops and flowers, without showing them. Is that right Steve? Others have show gardens which take knowledge and a lot of work. Geranium and Esther are two. I hope Lou's dahlias will be good this year, because it was a bad season for these last year.
Please keep us informed about your progress because we are interested. I love your diary.
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 2, 2013 16:10:47 GMT
Read an update from the company that I ordered dahlias from in the US, so I had a look at their website and some of their dahlias have sold out but all the ones that we have ordered are still in stock. Maybe they shouldn't have put the prices up. 
I asked my Dad about when was the best time of the year to start your tubers off because I had read that quite a few people have started. Our US dahlias are not due for dispatch until beginning of March  I understand now that it is a good idea to start off early because the tubers are fresher / less time in their dormant state and that the longer they are kept before starting them off, there is an increased risk of the tubers not growing. I also understand that if you don't have the right temp. requirements in greenhouse the higher the risk to the plant.
In addition to the travelling such a long distance the US tubers are split tubers 'with at least one viable eye' rather than the whole tuber that we would buy here. Bit more of a risk but seen some varieties that are not yet available and look good.
Dad tried to get a dahlia for me last year but it was the wrong variety sent. I have found it in 2 other places which if I can I am going to order. These are UK companies and I hope that I am going to be luckier than Dad who was disappointed by the quality of stock / wrong varieties sent (by error rather than posted alternative to stock sold out) sent by different companies rather than the ones that I have been looking at.
Finally bit the bullet and sent off for membership of county dahlia society. Well if I am going to grow dahlias I might as well try and do it properly. My husband made the mistake of saying that I could as it was part of my Christmas present wish list.
Roll on March I say! Can't wait! ;D
PS Whenever I say 'I understand that...' it means that I think that I have understood something that someone else has tried to explain to me. 
My current attempts of non dahlia growing I need to save for another time. I've got 2 little girls who I need to start talking wooden spoon monsters.... (another tale for another time in itself )
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 2, 2013 16:28:41 GMT
It sounds like you are up late thinking now Moonlight instead of looking at posts, etc. On the last forum one member laid down the challenge for sweet pea growing and Sweetpea took us all the way from sowing to showing. We did not manage to save this thread unfortunately, but it was superb. It was a masterclass, and I went all the way with good results, but was pipped at the post by a national exhibitor. I am sure you must have read about Wildlife Friendly's introduction into dahlia growing for exhibition. Her dahlias were so good, a couple from the show committee arrived at her place to see for themselves if she really did grow them. What cheek! She did this with a masterclass from Tel. Derek is a mine of information on showing and he shows many varieties. He would be a help if you feel you need it. Some of our number grow superb crops and flowers, without showing them. Is that right Steve? Others have show gardens which take knowledge and a lot of work. Geranium and Esther are two. I hope Lou's dahlias will be good this year, because it was a bad season for these last year. Please keep us informed about your progress because we are interested. I love your diary. |
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Post by Tel on Jan 2, 2013 16:38:18 GMT
Love the Blog Moonlight, 3 shows 3 novice classes to win is that correct?
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 2, 2013 22:25:01 GMT
Yes Tel there are 3 shows Spring, Summer and Autumn.
There are Novice classes in each with points awarded toward the Novice Cup.
Spring Show: Novice classes:
1 vase – 3 stems mixed Daffodils
1 stem any division Daffodil
1 vase – 1 single tulip
1 pot plant of any kind
1 vase of mixed flowers / shrubs
Summer Show: Novice classes:
1 vase of mixed flowers
Roses 1 bloom
1 plant in any size container
1 hanging basket any size
Vegetables 1 variety (from a list)
Fruit 1 variety (from a list)
Autumn Show: Novice classes
Vegetables 1 variety (from a list)
Vase of mixed flowers may include shrubs
1 stem of Dahlia or Chrysanthemum
1 plant in any sized container
1 hanging basket any size
Fruit 1 variety (from a list)
Potatoes 4 of any 1 variety
So much more to add including the spoon monsters!
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 3, 2013 0:10:11 GMT
Girls have been to the shows a couple of times now and they want to have a go  .
Children’s Cup classes:
Autumn:
Make and Decorate 4 cupcakes
Make a picture out of pasta shapes, dried peas, lentils etc. and stick down on a background
Decorate a wooden spoon to look like a monster.
Open Class Make 3 Paper Daffodils and leaves from tissue or crepe paper and arrange in vase supplied
Summer:
Make a paper kite
Take a photograph of your pet or other animal
Make 4 scones fruit / cheese – own recipe
Open class Children’s Potato Challenge
Autumn:
Make a Christmas Cracker and decorate it
Make an edible necklace
Make a nature picture (my words)
Grow a vegetable (from list)
Open Class Largest Sunflower Head
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 3, 2013 1:26:51 GMT
Whatever else happens dahlias will always be my favourite because I grew up with them. Dad has only been showing again the last couple of years and going to the shows and seeing his dahlias turns me into this big child of excitement. I know that my husband finds shows boring for him, 1 vase of flowers might look nice but so do the 20 to its left and the same goes for the 49 vases on the right. I thought that the girls would find them boring but was told very emphatically that “it is cool finding Grandad’s dahlias.” The girls are excited finding winning tickets next to Grandad’s dahlias but it is a bit difficult sustaining this level of enthusiasm when you are 5 years old and can’t yet read the winning tickets written in joined up handwriting.
They are both keen to enter the children’s classes: making and decorating cupcakes, edible necklaces, cooking scones, making paper daffodils and growing the heaviest potatoes sounds a lot more fun than just flowers.
Dad wanted me to order some dahlias online for him which got me looking myself. This led me to add a couple of my own to the shopping list (nb which we paid for not Dad).
I was also very interested in the sweetpea thread 'Was ready to sow my sweetpeas this morning' which got me asking questions and thinking... (always dangerous  ) Sweetpea gave some recommendations and suggestions and so I put them on my Christmas present wish list. I got lovely presents but nothing associated with the garden. It's my birthday soon and I still have my fingers crossed for a purple wheelbarrow. I didn't think that I could legitimise spending money on sweetpea seeds on myself what with Christmas and January birthdays in the family but I had decided that I wanted to have a go at a show, not the Novice cup but a couple of the Novice classes.
With this in mind, we went into a local garden centre and the seeds were on sale at half price and for every 2 packets you got a free pack. Told girls that they could choose a packet. Daughter no.2 aka 'pirate yellow wellies' chose some yellow poppies and daughter no.1 chose - sweetpeas.
After they had gone to bed I went back to Sweetpeas list and the company he suggested and read through the lists of varieties and there was another variety which is the exact pet name that I use for daughter no.1, not a family nickname. Well that was it. I've posted the inevitable sweetpea order tonight. and daughter no.1 is very excited.
I am very lucky to have such a supportive and loving husband, who has said yes to the seeds but only on the grounds that I actually grow them...
I've more to add but it is now 1.25am and I am trying to get to bed earlier.
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Post by Cherry on Jan 3, 2013 9:13:34 GMT
I have to say it again. Fabulous blog and one which involves us and has us supporting you every step of the way. May I ask where you live Moonlight?
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 3, 2013 13:03:54 GMT
I've only gone and found a pirate! Don't think I'll be very popular with 'Little Yellow Pirate Wellies' now that I've bought the sweetpeas because of her sister but I don't think her Daddy will be impressed if I order it, even if we have family links to Weston.
www.jrg-dahlias.co.uk/cactus.htm
At least it is not yellow her favourite colour but then it is purple but then that's my favourite
Might mention it to Grandad though........
Mind you if I mention it to Grandad, I might be in Nanny's bad book because knowing Grandad, he'll probably end up adding to the list
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 3, 2013 14:50:55 GMT
Does not look purple in other photos more a dark red and it looks very nice exhibit in shows.
www.jrg-dahlias.co.uk/displaying_flowers.htm
Been out in the garden with girls, they were in charge of the broom and shovel scraping up leaves that have accumulated on the driveway, whilst I had 'fun' picking up rubbish that has been left by the dustmen when they drop the bins and anyone else walking by. Next doors garden continues to invade ours the worst culprit being ivy but it is nothing like as bad as in our back garden. Can't wait until March.
Poor neglected garden but tiny steps forward and I need to get it ready for my dahlia babies. There I cheered myself up.
Better crack on dishwasher to load and I've promised to make a trifle with girls before Daddy gets home.
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 3, 2013 22:55:07 GMT
I called this Purple wellies tiny steps... Diary of a bizarre erratic gardener because it is what I am. I want to drop the 'erratic' bit and I hope that by adding updates here I will become consistent and grow a garden where I can enjoy being in and most importantly my family will to.
The people we bought our house off of had moved out months before we bought it and it was beginning to show. The garden slopes downwards and when we came to view the property the owners were there hacking at the lower part which had begun to get overgrown with shears because the lawnmower could not cut through.
One of the reasons why I liked this house was the garden bigger than before and more rural. We used to be able to see across to horses grazing from the side of our garden but big houses have been built that block the view. We moved here when our daughter no.1 (and I've been told to refer to her as 'fairy pink wellies' if I am going to refer to her sister as 'pirate yellow wellies') was 1. What I had intended on doing was using the time when our daughter was asleep to do some gardening. What actually happened was I felt stressed out even with baby monitor to the patio. My therapeutic haven made me frustrated, I did not like hearing the trains pass (not beside a railway line but quite near) and I resented the neighbours garden blocking out light from the garden. I went back to work part time and I just could not cope with the garden. So it became neglected and unloved.
Still work part time but the girls are older now and very keen to make it beautiful again. Won't notice the noise of the trains when they are in the garden ;)They love Nanny and Grandad's garden and fingers crossed we can make our garden loved as well.
I'll explain the bizarre bit another time
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Post by Cherry on Jan 4, 2013 8:36:44 GMT
I don't think a railway line is an invasive noise, but rather a comforting one. I would be annoyed at next door's garden blocking out the light and you may have to allow for this in your choice of plants. In my last place my neighbour had a Leylandii hedge, which meant I never saw a sunset, and the roots lifted my pond. I now hate Leylandii. There is a fair bit around here, but this is the kind of farm where it can be used as a windbreak. As you are inspired, you naturally inspire some of us on the forum who need it. Me, for instance.
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Post by Lou78W on Jan 4, 2013 16:18:08 GMT
Do you really???....I'm a huge fan of the Westons mini cactus varieties....I have Pirate - I have Bucanneer too....its more of a dark burgundy with an irridescent purple haze overlaid; also Spanish Dancer and Sunup...... PS: you still haven't told us where you live? are you UK or further afield? |
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Post by Moonlight on Jan 4, 2013 19:11:56 GMT
Ill try and reply later it is my birthday today and we are having a take away for a treat. Did not get a purple wheel barrow but apparently I have a present ordered that is being delivered on Monday...
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I understand now that it is a good idea to start off early because the tubers are fresher / less time in their dormant state and that the longer they are kept before starting them off, there is an increased risk of the tubers not growing. I also understand that if you don't have the right temp. requirements in greenhouse the higher the risk to the plant.
.
) Sweetpea gave some recommendations and suggestions and so I put them on my Christmas present wish list. I got lovely presents but nothing associated with the garden. It's my birthday soon and I still have my fingers crossed for a purple wheelbarrow. I didn't think that I could legitimise spending money on sweetpea seeds on myself what with Christmas and January birthdays in the family but I had decided that I wanted to have a go at a show, not the Novice cup but a couple of the Novice classes.
