Awake at 6:20, the latest yet. Overcast and misty when I left for the bus. Glad I had my raincoat at the gardens because when I started to work it was a very heavy mist that would have soaked me without it. This morning I removed a ½ “ soaker hose that Jim had installed with the hedge 18 years ago and it had only been used once. I hauled it out by hand, removing large ground staples in the process. I cut it into manageable pieces about 30 feet long, using Clary’s knife. It was good to be reminded of him. I coiled it up and then tied it with twine, loading it in a large hand wagon and disposing of it in the works yard. By the time I was done at about 10:30, my pants were soaked but I was dry on top thanks to my raincoat. I also removed a dead cotoneaster for Tim, a quick job.
Then I was off to the glass houses, thankful for a roof and learned how to espalier grapes. In one house they have 6 older vines that are planted at the inner wall of the glass house, four feet apart. They then have been trained to grow up the inside glass to a point at the roof and are about 12 feet in length. At one foot intervals a wire has been stretched horizontally and attached to the interior walls. On each side of each vine on each one of the wires, you select two shoots that have grapes forming on them. One shoot is attached to the wire using a twist tie and if longer than two feet in length is trimmed at the 2 foot mark. The second shoot is kept in reserve in case something goes wrong with the first shoot. You continue this process on both sides of the vine all the way to the roof, using stools and ladders for varying heights. Then you cut back all other shoots right back to one leaf. I got my instruction from Will but final approval on the job by Jim. I had started out with another weekly volunteer but completed the job in the afternoon by myself at 3:30.
This weekend will be big from a visitor perspective. So I helped to clean up the boot scrapers which are placed throughout the walled vegetable garden. I also picked some rhubarb that they are forcing in huge cloches. It looks lovely. It is the Easter weekend followed by a bank holiday. Imagine that banks taking holidays. That means we will be closed four days. I haven’t decided what to do yet, am toying with taking the ferry to France to visit Bayeux, but may stay around here as there is a lot to see and do. The weather looks fine and I may go for a walk on the South Downs. Sarah gave us all tickets to the Weale and Downe Open Air Museum which is a display of houses (like Sherbrooke Village) and sounds very interesting. I may save more adventurous travel for when Carol arrives. Caught a ride home with Tim so was home by 4:15 and wrote up yesterday and today. I’ll post them tonight.
Pictures today show the grapes in the glass house as well as a fig tree dating from the 1800’s in a glass house. Figs are in evidence now. Also a display of bulbs.
Then I was off to the glass houses, thankful for a roof and learned how to espalier grapes. In one house they have 6 older vines that are planted at the inner wall of the glass house, four feet apart. They then have been trained to grow up the inside glass to a point at the roof and are about 12 feet in length. At one foot intervals a wire has been stretched horizontally and attached to the interior walls. On each side of each vine on each one of the wires, you select two shoots that have grapes forming on them. One shoot is attached to the wire using a twist tie and if longer than two feet in length is trimmed at the 2 foot mark. The second shoot is kept in reserve in case something goes wrong with the first shoot. You continue this process on both sides of the vine all the way to the roof, using stools and ladders for varying heights. Then you cut back all other shoots right back to one leaf. I got my instruction from Will but final approval on the job by Jim. I had started out with another weekly volunteer but completed the job in the afternoon by myself at 3:30.
This weekend will be big from a visitor perspective. So I helped to clean up the boot scrapers which are placed throughout the walled vegetable garden. I also picked some rhubarb that they are forcing in huge cloches. It looks lovely. It is the Easter weekend followed by a bank holiday. Imagine that banks taking holidays. That means we will be closed four days. I haven’t decided what to do yet, am toying with taking the ferry to France to visit Bayeux, but may stay around here as there is a lot to see and do. The weather looks fine and I may go for a walk on the South Downs. Sarah gave us all tickets to the Weale and Downe Open Air Museum which is a display of houses (like Sherbrooke Village) and sounds very interesting. I may save more adventurous travel for when Carol arrives. Caught a ride home with Tim so was home by 4:15 and wrote up yesterday and today. I’ll post them tonight.
Pictures today show the grapes in the glass house as well as a fig tree dating from the 1800’s in a glass house. Figs are in evidence now. Also a display of bulbs.
Brian, a pleasure to read your posts. Most of us are rooting for you although most of us ( if a vote was taken around the Tuesday table, for instance) would admit that we don't have the slightest understanding of WHY you are doing this except for the fact that you must be a very silly bugger indeed. However, I am following your adventures ( whilst also following the Masters and the World Men's Curling). If you have made any contribution to society it is that you have driven me with guilt to work on my own garden. It can't be as back-breaking as what you describe.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Alan M.
Thanks Alan. After being sore for the first week I am feeling sort of normal now. As for the guys around the Tuesday table, I never understood what most of them did either. That's the advantage of being a free spirit. Tell them they have been golfing here for a while, spring comes earlier etc. etc,
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