January 2012
02/03/2012
We started of the New Year and the month writing up our seed sowing calendar for 2012. We included the usual staples; onions, leeks, tomatoes etc and we will also try a few new ideas; button and oyster mushrooms and sweet corn … and I am happy to say that we have completed all seed sowing for the month of January!
January was also the right month for us to harvest our crop of willow, and with it being year 2 we obtained a better harvest than the previous year. The willow has been cut and graded into lengths and it will now take approximately 3 months to dry out in preparation for weaving, after which we hope to learn how to weave our own plant supports, containers and baskets.
While it was quiet in the garden we also took the opportunity to tidy up our pot store area. We hope to make better use of this space and one of the local veterans has already come up with a design for storage, so watch this space!
After a very kind donation from poppy Scotland (www.poppyscotland.org.uk), we have now commenced renovations to the formal pond within the ornamental gardens at Auchincruive. The pond has been cleared; all the old cement has been removed with a view to relining the pond and stocking it with fish.
We have also been busy in the building this month; windows have been cleaned inside and out! We have changed the seats in the rest room and we have enjoyed some lovely home made soups from the kitchen.
In the garden, winter blooms continue with our Camellia, Sarcococca, Primulas and Hellebores in flower … spring is just around the corner!
Pamela.
For more photos see gallery for Auchincruive
