Puutarhapäivitys ja musiikillinen huomautus
Garden update and a musical observation
Lokakuun puutarhapäivitys: kasvimaa laitettu (satunnainen valikoima kukkia, mansikoita, punasipulia, yrttejä, meksikolainen chili ja kaksi tomaatin tainta). Ruoho ja kaikki muutkin kasvit kärsivät kuivuudesta. Fredin vuokra-asunto purettu ja vapautunut komposti käytetty kasvimaan teossa.
Kevään puutarhaprojekti on istuttaa takapihan terassikiveyksen reunoja kiertävään upouuteen penkkiin matalakasvuisia perennoja, kivikkokasveja ja yrttejä. Puuha piti aloittaa tappamalla nurmikko ko. alueelta, sillä kohdassa kasvoi rönsyilevää kikuju-ruohoa, joka valtaa kukkapenkit silmänräpäyksessä. Uuden kukkapenkin suunnittelu ja alueen merkitseminen käy muuten kätevästi puutarhaletkulla. Tänään vietin pari kuumaa aamutuntia kääntämällä maata ja kaivamalla ylös ruohonjuuria. Seuraavaksi katetta, muutama litteä kivi askelmaksi pariin kohtaan ja sitten sopivat kasvit. Luultavasti lisää yrttejä, vähän laventelia ja matalia, kukkivia perennoja.
Musiikillinen sivuhuomautus: John Williams oli taatusti kuunnellut Elgarin ensimmäisen sinfonian toista osaa ennen kuin sävelsi Tähtien sota -musiikkinsa.
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Garden update: Fred's lodgings have been dismantled (by brave me), and the vegetable patch has been planted with a rather random selection of things: some herbs, tomatoes, a chilli plant, flowers and a new bed of strawberries. Tioga is the best strawberry variety I have been able to find here, rather mild but at least it is sweeter than the usual cool climate variety on offer, Red Gauntlet. My strawberry farming uncle tried Red Gauntlet in the 1970s and we all agreed it was disappointing.
This spring's little garden project is a new bed surrounding our also relatively new 'outdoor entertainment area'. I started by marking the shape with a garden hose - a great way to find the right curves - and by spraying the grass (lots of Kikuyu grass which invades new beds overnight) and, after a few weeks, digging out and removing all the grass roots. Next step is mulching, adding a few natural stone slabs for stepping stones, and finding suitable plants. I am thinking of some low-growing perennials, maybe some lavender, possibly more herbs and some rockery plants. All water-wise, of course.
I think John Williams knew Elgar's 1st Symphony and its second movement when he composed his Star Wars music.
Comments - Kommentit
I've just read your garden plans after coming in from having spent the afternoon (and yesterday and tomorrow no doubt)cutting down all manner of plants and bagging them ready to go to the tip because there is such a mountain of it I couldn't possibly compost it. The bins are already full but happily without anything worse than spiders and woodlice living there. I would much rather be at your end of the gardening year than mine! Hope you have lots of opportunities to sit in your entertainment area. Must listen to the Elgar some time.
Posted by: Marford | October 13, 2006 03:08 AM
John Williams is a shameless plagiarist - I heard 16 bars of Dvorak almost note for note (and orchestrated the same way) in one of his more obscure film scores once.
I like your pansy - we have little hearts-ease in various strategic points, and for a small, sweet flower, it seems to be intent on global domination very rapidly!
Posted by: Angharad | October 13, 2006 11:52 AM
Yes, it's nice when it is finally warm enough to do some serious planting - but unfortunately it looks like the drought is only getting worse here, so it doesn't look like it is going to be a good growing season for anyone around here.
Anghaharad, that was a bit daring - but then how likely is it for John to surf this way?
I never know whether I should talk about pansies or violets. In Finnish there is only one word 'orvokki'.
Posted by: Anni | October 13, 2006 12:07 PM
Yes, I was reading only the other day about someone getting into hot water for internet-related libel. Oh, dear. Who was it that said when other people borrow things it's plagiarism, and when you do it yourself it's research?
Posted by: Angharad | October 14, 2006 05:16 PM
Hi Anni
Pansies or Violas - I agree they are confusing, or rather confused. Generally speaking, Pansies have little faces on them, and Violas have single colours, or maybe two tones of the one colour (dark and light blue, for example). However, they have been hybridised so much that the distinctions are lost.
Also, Pansies are mostly summer flowered, with larger flowers. Violas are usually grown over the winter.
Violets are a different species (same genus) with a definite hood in the flower, (not the flat face), and good ones are perfumed. But you probably realise that, by now.
They are all members of the Viola genus. We have nice little native ones, with no perfume, but pretty. Some of them which grow in the local forests, are miniscule. Interesting novelties, but not much use in a garden - not for a splash of colour. For that, stick to Pansies and Violas.
Posted by: Denis | October 15, 2006 07:33 PM
I am a bit wiser, but not much. Thanks Denis!
Posted by: Anni | October 16, 2006 01:15 PM