Posts Tagged ‘butterfly’

1 July 2009 DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman TROUBLE WITH THE GARLIC

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

1 July 2009 TROUBLE WITH THE GARLIC I lifted the garlic late this afternoon. It’s the second big harvest of the season to come in, after shallots on the Solstice, and I’m more than a little worried. Usually ripe garlic is firm of bulb and deliciously aromatic. Alas, not this year. The bulbs are all [...]

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22 June 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman GARDEN MOTHS COUNTDOWN

Monday, June 22nd, 2009

22 June 2009 GARDEN MOTHS COUNTDOWN Marion from Gillingham & Shaftesbury U3A came over this evening and set up a moth trap in the back garden. Don’t panic! It’s a harmless illuminated box which attracts night flying moths and retains them hidden amongst empty egg boxes. We then come along in the morning when most [...]

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13 June 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman CAULIFLOWER HEAVEN

Saturday, June 13th, 2009

13 June 2009 CAULIFLOWER HEAVEN Now size isn’t everything but tonight I’ve given myself a little thrill. Even Mrs Nails can’t believe it. Out of the garden has been produced an Andes cauliflower which I have to say is the best I’ve ever grown. It’s vital statistics, and this is only the pure white curd* [...]

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11 June 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman CABBAGES & CAULIFLOWERS, THE TROUBLE WITH HUMANS

Thursday, June 11th, 2009

11 June 2009 CABBAGES & CAULIFLOWERS Great excitement at Orchard Park today: the first round of harvesting occurred. The demo garden donated four of the best Hispi F1 cabbages I’ve grown – ever! – plus two beautiful and blemish free Andes cauliflowers as big as my splayed hand. Shona in the kitchen was very pleased [...]

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28 May 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman A MORNING AFTER RAIN, PAINTED LADY SUMMER

Thursday, May 28th, 2009

28 May 2009 A MORNING AFTER RAIN What a lovely change from recent weeks to rise and shine on the morning after a day of rain. Plants are looking better for it; greener, lusher, more full of the sap that flows and translocates the stuff of life. The air feels fresher. Activity on the plot [...]

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25 May 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman RAIN GETTING CLOSER?, SWARM LATEST, RAMBLERS & RHUBARB RUSTLERS

Monday, May 25th, 2009

25 May 2009 RAIN GETTING CLOSER? Yesterday was the hottest day of the year so far. I heard talk of nigh on 25 or 26 degrees. The weather watchers amongst us were speaking of thunder storms this afternoon. It’s gone three o’clock and as yet we’ve had none. But it is close, or humid, and [...]

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2 May 2009: DIRTY NAILS’ BLOG by Joe Hashman MUCH MALIGNED SHARKS OF THE VEG PATCH, STALL AT THE FOOD FESTIVAL

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

2 May 2009 MUCH MALIGNED SHARKS OF THE VEG PATCH I’ve seen my first wasp of the year this morning. Whilst sitting up the end amongst my fruit trees, in a pocket set aside for nature, the golden-yellow predator was moving with precise deliberation amongst a thick fringe of nettles which soften the junction of [...]

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