More Pot Pourri

Many of my daffodils had been in the garden for decades and were past their best and I wanted new ones in some areas too. I went to a large Lincolnshire  supplier and ordered a couple of small sacks of tulips and one of assorted daffodils and narcissi too. It hadn't occurred to me that there might me some 'fancy' ones included because I've never had anything but the 'ordinary' single trumpet daffodil. So the one on the right was a surprise. I have discovered that they have a very big disadvantage in our windy climate - they are top heavy, blow over and break. The fact that I'm not keen on their looks either isn't really important in the circumstances.

I've discovered that the polycarb can easily get into the high 30ºCs during the day and into single figures at night so I decided that to give some of my germinating seeds the best chance I'd try and keep them in a warm but not extreme environment until I've sussed things out. I've not grown much from seed for many years. So this germinator is living on my electrically underfloor heated bathroom for the time being. The rest are scattered around in experimental places. 

The results have been astounding and since I took that picture the seedlings have germinated.

My latest completion - 1000 piece jigsaw. One of the more enjoyable - not too hard and not too easy.

Whilst I was clearing the raised beds which I used to use for vegetables I found all these beauties. They had grown from an unsuccessful trial using a black sack which I had emptied onto the area last year. I obviously left some potatoes in it. They are beauties. 

Another Walk in The Woods

It was a beautiful morning: sunny (almost), mild (almost), dry (for the next two hours). I decided that I wouldn't need to don my waterproofs and could enjoy my walk in the woods with just a light windproof jacket over my shirt and light fleece (not really midsummer attire). So off I set on a walk through the Castle Grounds. I have a great choice of routes depending on the weather and the direction of the wind and, possibly, the driven rain. The trees can be a great source of protection and one doesn't want to be tramping across a wide open stretch or along the waterfront in the rain with the gale in your face driving the rain under one's hood and hat and down one's neck.

A number of people have commented on the lack of trees on Lewis and some have asked what my walks are like. I've posted some photos from my walks in the past but I decided today that with the trees in full leaf I'd give you the full works just to show that I really can walk in the woods.

The walk. Clockwise.

The following photos are shown in the order of the walk

Speedwell (I think)

A few rhododendrons are still out 

The Ninth Hole

Monkey Flower, Mimulus guttatas (?)

Across the golf course going North

Along the Willow Glen

Leaving the Willow Glen and returning South

Add caption

Looking North across the course

Along the river towards the harbour

An alternative path that I didn't take.

Along the harbour side

The Woodlands

The Water Soldier Grows

In August I posted a picture of a large Water Soldier in my pond.  Over the last few months the plant has grown huge. 

I have great hopes that it will survive the winter and parent a veritable army next year.

Water Soldier - A Post For Helen

Stratiotes is a genus of submerged aquatic plant commonly known as water soldiers. A characteristic of the genus is the habit of the plants rising to the surface at flowering time.  I bought a couple a year or two ago when I was in Exeter.  They seemed to like each other and lots of new ones ensued.  This year I arrived back from New Zealand and they seemed to have disappeared.  But one seems to have survived and become larger and more splendid than its forebears.  I'm excited that next year it may even bear a flower.

Dianthus

Despite the wind the Pinks or Dianthus are really thriving in the rockery and have been giving a lovely display for a few weeks already. The 'ordinary' ones were planted late last summer but the miniatures were planted only when CJ was here earlier this summer so have a long way to go but are showing great promise.