Lynne Allbutt

Hiking beats Housework

I am not happy; I have been forced into doing housework.  Not my favourite pastime and even though it is said that ‘God gives us rain so that gardeners can do the housework’, personally I’d rather get wet!  Nonetheless, I have been forced to dust off the dusters and ferret around at the back of the cupboard under the sink for that awful feather duster on a stick that moults more than Tippy in August and all because of the bloomin’ cobwebs.  I only left the computer for a couple for hours and there were even silky strands between the keyboard and the screen – it had hardly cooled down!  But, I’m not alone.  It is apparently, a bumper year for spiders and there are all heading indoors at this time of year.  I wouldn’t mind so much but why then do I still have so many flies smashing themselves against the inside of my windows. 
And yes, I have put conkers in the corner of every room, (they are supposed to give off a gas that sends spiders packing).  Oh, the irony when hubby picked one up and asked if it wasn’t time I did a little housework! 

As you can see by the photo above - I ditched the feather duster for fresh air and Tippy and I hiked over Llangynidr Moors to find the Chartist's cave.  Well worth a visit ....... and a housework free zone!  Woo Hoo!

Taken from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene column in the Western Mail 10.10.09

Life's a Beach ... Seaside Gardening

I spent a lovely day in Pembrokeshire last week, advising a couple on a planting scheme for their beautiful cliff top garden.   Although the benefits are usually stunning views, seaside gardening has challenges of its own with strong winds and salt air.  Although being careful not to block any views, establishing good boundaries to provide shelter for your site is a good place to start.  Escallonia macrantha will provide a good, tough, evergreen hedge with the bonus of red summer flowers.  It’s a tall growing variety but is happy being clipped back to suit.  Hippophae rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) also makes a great seaside hedge as its as tough as old boots.  The sharp thorns make it a good choice for added security and if you plant male and female plants you will get fabulous orange berries throughout the winter months.  Pyracantha and elaeagnus will also provide thorny barriers; pyracantha has berry interest and elaeagnus will provide a dense evergreen screen.   Shrubs that will tolerate salty air and sandy soils include Hebes,  Lavender, Rosemary, Senecio,  Cordylines, Euonymus and Spiraea.  If you’re still stuck for ideas, follow Dad’s advice, ‘have a good look around the area to see what’s growing well (note what’s growing wild as well as what’s in other peoples gardens) and simply plant lots of them.’
I made the most of my ‘west day’, by taking Tippy down to Barafundle Bay for the afternoon.  One of our favourite beaches of all time, it was as beautiful as ever in the late summer sun.  We really do have some of the most spectacular scenery in the World, right here in Wales.

Taken from Lynne Allbutt's Green Scene Column in the Western Mail (Media Wales) 19.09.09

Please support ....

“What’s the fastest vegetable in the garden?  A runner bean.”
I have heard this joke several times this week as a result of committing to a bit of a Run-athon next month.  It all starts with the Cardiff HSBC 10K on the 6th September where I’ll be running to raise money for the Kidney Wales Foundation; then on the 20th I’ll be joining the Great North Runners for ‘the most famous half marathon in the world’ and raising funds for Marie Curie Cancer Care.  Just a week later it’s off to London for the Sony Ericsson Run to the Beat half marathon where I’ll be joining the Banana Army raising money for Leukaemia Research.  And the final run of the autumn will be back on home turf for the Cardiff half marathon on the 18th October.
All support and encouragement will be very gratefully received and if you pop into www.lynneallbutt.com you will find the JustGiving links to enable you to make a donation to the Charity of your choice.   It might be my feet pounding the pavements but it’s putting your hands in your pockets that makes the real difference.  Thank you x
And the strongest vegetable in the garden?  The muscle sprout of course!

Bloomin' Marvellous

Most of the week was spent judging Blaenau Gwent in Bloom.  A fabulous honour and lovely to meet so many enthusiastic and clever gardeners but not an easy task, I can assure you.  I saw all sorts of wonderful planting schemes and landscaped gardens as well as incredible veg patches and allotments and it is really encouraging to see so many people getting so much pleasure (and produce) from their plots – no matter what their size or location.  The paradox was that most of these green fingered gurus claimed “I am not a gardener, I just  enjoy being in the garden.” 
I believe that when you work in the garden then you are gardening, and I think that’s good enough to qualify you as a gardener, even if it is just for the time you are actually gardening!   And anyway, I really don’t think titles or ‘labels’ are anywhere as near as important as the pleasure that these ‘gardeners’ are giving and receiving.   Thank you all for the pleasure you gave me last week.
My own veg is being harvested at a rate of knots now as are several of the flowers that I planted in between, with nasturtium and little marigold flowers (Tagetes signata) add a bit of spice to salads.  I’m finding great recipes for cauliflower in an attempt to utilise them all and will probably have to pickle some of the beetroot.  I have found it ‘challenging’ to remember to sow new crops in the spaces released by harvesting but it’s important to do so to keep the crops coming and avoid ‘empty bed syndrome’.
We have an amazing display of self seeded Evening Primroses and poppies in the bed in front of the cottage.  I worked my socks off through the winter, clearing the bed and then filling it with plants from my brother’s garden, whereas these beautiful, elegant, yellow flowers have all simply seeded themselves.  Nature’s way of reminding me who’s in charge, for sure.

Taken from Lynne Allbutt's 'Green Scene' for the Western Mail (Media Wales) 25 July 09

My Gardening Week - 13.06.09 - Extreme Rain

I know gardeners wanted rain but it’s been a bit extreme, especially for the taller herbaceous stock in beds and borders. If your perennials have been pounded then inserting twiggy hazel sticks into the clumps will give a more natural look than just tying string around the fallen foliage. Image left (Feltham First peas) source: Marshalls Seeds

Prevention is better than cure so endeavour to tie in plants that haven’t yet been affected and also new growth of climbers where necessary. Removing the soggy, rain-spoiled flowers from bedding plants will encourage new blooms.