Monday 19 September 2011

Blog is on the move


For those of you who perhaps haven't seen my last post:

I’ve decided to move the blog to wordpress… Why? Well I’m tired of having problems logging into blogger, and replying to posts… it’s been months now that they’ve had issues with certain users having difficulty and I think it’s about time it was sorted.

So instead I’ve decided to up sticks and move, also because wordpress allows users to reply directly to comments… it makes it much easier to reply to someone personally rather than just making a general reply.

The entire blog is moving, I’ve imported all my old posts and comments; so everything is still there to be seen. The blog is different, as yet I haven't worked out how to customise the coding for myself; it looks like you have to pay just to be able to edit html/CSS, so that is one negative.

To those of you following me, please update your favourites to http://gwirrel.wordpress.com

Thanks! And I’ll see you on the other side :)

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Tuesday 13 September 2011

It’s time to say adieu…


Nah, only kidding!

Actually, I’ve decided to move the blog to wordpress… Why? Well I’m tired of having problems logging into blogger, and replying to posts… it’s been months now that they’ve had issues with certain users having difficulty and I think it’s about time it was sorted.

So instead I’ve decided to up sticks and move, also because wordpress allows users to reply directly to comments… it makes it much easier to reply to someone personally rather than just making a general reply.

The entire blog is moving, I’ve imported all my old posts and comments; so everything is still there to be seen. The blog is different, as yet I haven't worked out how to customise the coding for myself; it looks like you have to pay just to be able to edit html/CSS, so that is one negative.

To those of you following me, please update your favourites to http://gwirrel.wordpress.com

Thanks! And I’ll see you on the other side :)

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Saturday 10 September 2011

Sunny Saturday

After some rather windy and wet weather for a few days, the sun finally shone and I attempted some more photos. Although they’re nothing new; you’ve all seen them before, it was nice just to get outside.



A young Sea Holly plant, waiting to be planted into its final home






Tiny Forget-me-not blooms; rather late but welcome anyway

Thursday was spent power hosing the decking and walls. It’s amazing! You’d never realise just how much dirt gathers in only a year. I had planned to seal it too but Pete being lazy didn’t want to go to B&Q to get some. I’m quite annoyed actually because jobs he was meant to do have been ignored and with the anticipated winds, rain etc from Hurricane Katia I know we won’t be able to do it over the weekend and into next week.
Asters given to me by my neighbour are almost ready to bloom… The flutters and other insects love them






Friday again we could’ve sealed the decking and once again he didn’t want to go to B&Q. Instead I moved the Monkshood from the new border and planted it on the upper tier. I then planted Miscanthus ‘pink flamingo’ in its place and a few Burnetts.
I’m on a mission to get as many of the plants in pots into the ground before winter not only to clear the decking but also to allow room for the many Tulip bulbs I need to plant. Then it’ll be a case of waiting for the crocus, iris etc to come and I can plant them around the garden.



Flat-topped Aster is beginning to seed. It seems too early for it to be finishing already.

Only one Gladioli is blooming, the rest all seem to be blind…

Saturday morning we set off early to the shops, spent way too much at B&Q on hedge trimmers, lamps, and all manner of other things. However I have now managed to oil the decking at last. The house smells of a chemical factory now so all windows are open to help get rid of the smell (next time I'll try to find some 'friendly' oil, as this stuff I discovered is really bad for the environment... I've never done this type of thing before and didn't realise).
Some small Hellebore plants arrived today and I really want to get them settled before winter - very much looking forward to their blooms in a few months!
It's Pete's birthday tomorrow so hopefully the weather will be ok and we'll get out somewhere.

Harlow Carr’s blooms have been damaged by the rain, not to worry as there are plenty of buds waiting.



Crocosmia are almost finished too, few blooms are left.


Comma chrysalis shows little changes; there seems to be a strange silver-ness on the right. Is this the chrysalis breaking open and revealing the first signs of the butterfly within?

There are lots of these small yellow and black ladybirds around at the moment. They’re always on this geranium.







Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Thursday 8 September 2011

Small Copper


Since the weather’s been so grim over the past few days I have no new photos to show… This morning I managed to get the decking and walls powerwashed; just hoping now that I’ll be able to seal/paint tomorrow or over the weekend.

These are old photos, but a while ago the Small Copper finally arrived, although I do hope they appear again before Summer is definitely over.

I was glad to see the Sea Holly attracting yet another visitor




So of course I had to stalk it and it was surprisingly friendly and I had no problems getting really close on a number of occasions.












Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.

Saturday 3 September 2011

Saturday Safari


The flutters are still with us… Albeit in much lower numbers… I haven’t seen a Gatekeeper for a few days now so am afraid they’ve left us… I have seen a Red Admiral hanging around the Buddlejas though, taking advantage of the very last blooms. I just hope now, that the Asters in my and next door’s garden begin blooming soon; they often attract Commas, Red Admirals and Small Tortoiseshells.

Today I saw a Small Tortoiseshell, it’s looking very tatty indeed and I fear it’s not long for this world.






Sedum is slowly getting its colour…

And an update on the caterpillar
Sadly I didn’t get to see it turning; last time I checked it was exactly the same as before, just hanging in situ and then today it’s finally in its chrysalis. I can’t see any more in the nettles, but I don’t want to disturb them too much in case I damage one, but I’m hopeful there are another couple at least.


I’ve handed in my dissertation now; and was all set for some celebrating and a bit of a break relaxing for the next week or so… But then I began to panic about getting a job so I’ve started writing my CV and cover letters. I didn’t even manage 24 hours just relaxing! Haha. Typical of me.
I don’t actually know what to do with myself any more… All this spare time… I was sat very bored yesterday trying to work out what to do, eventually I remembered I have a pile of books that I had to put off reading. I also find myself regularly walking into the kitchen to sit at the table to do my work… Then realise I don’t need to be in there anymore! Disoriented, oh yes.

Copyright 2011 Liz.
All rights reserved. Content created by Liz for Gwirrel’s Garden.