Icelandic volcanoes and harsh winters have threatened to scupper my springtime / summertime plans. Mother Nature isn’t short of surprises and and also keen to remind us who is in charge.
Let’s talk about the meadow, because that is of course what you are reading this for.
Firstly, it’s coming along. I cannot yet say what is coming or whether it will be a success, but looking at the the marvellous display on offer from the Dandelion, I am hopeful.
Sure dandelions are an annoying weed, and I have been actively trying to rid “the meadow” of it, but who can argue with it’s perfect yellowness. I think if I were a bee I would exclusively harvest dandelions. They are mesmerising. The joke of it all is that I’ve been busting my balls to cultivate a wild flower meadow, it seems the garden has other plans!!
Anyway, the meadow itself survived the winter, and as you will see (below), there is life; although not exactly how I planned it!! In the meadow only one species established itself over the wicked winter. Although there are other signs of life, and many other little shoots appearing, 95% of what is growing is (what I now believe to be) Corncockle. Not ideal, but not terrible either. These plants germinated last October, literally days after we sowed the meadow, and I am amazed that they survived days upon days of thick frost and some brutal -10C temperatures.
Corncockle!?!
A couple weeks ago, a bit disheartened by the lack of variety I thought I’ld chuck some money at the problem and ordered some plugs (young plants that you just plug into the ground). So last weekend we planted:
- 30 ox-eye daisy
- 10 red campion
- 10 ragged robin
- 10 lesser knapweed
On later inspection I reaslised that the ragged robin and lesser knapweed may not flower for 2 years, so that wasn’t very smart, but watch this space 2011!!
So here it is as I captured it today. This includes the plugs that we planted over last weekend. I also ordered some more wild-flower seed, and am tempted to throw some more seed down, but I have so far resisted. We also added some rocks so that the boys can walk through the flowers… if they ever get going.
Posted on April 22, 2010
0