To kill a maple tree…

Today is cold and damp but not so cold that I can’t get outside. There are – as per normal – hundreds of jobs to do and knowing where to start is a nightmare. I decided first of all to move the Japanese maple (Acer palmatum atropurpureum). We’ve had it for several years now and it was planted in a pot. Last year, or maybe the year before, I went to move it to weed around it and found that it was stuck solid. Obviously the roots had grown through the pot. I kept meaning to move it but didn’t get around to it. Then, in October 2007, my elderly neighbour had her shed taken down. In the process the roots of the maple were damaged; the leaves went brown and curled up. So, as it’s already been damaged, I’ve taken  the bull by the horns - or bush by the branches - and tried to dig it out. As you can see by the photo’s the roots were quite substantial and I had to cut some to get it out. It’s now in it’s new pot on a paving slab in case it decides to try it again! I’m keeping my fingers crossed that it lives to do so.

I didn’t really know where to put it and the deciding factor ended up being unable to move the pot! So, I had to move the rose that was in the way. I’m not really a rose person as I hate the thorns and I never really did very well with them but this one is different. I love it! It’s a hybrid tea called “Fragrant cloud” and it flowers its socks off all year. In fact I’ve cut yet another bud off it today to try and save it some energy. Here is one person (amongst many) singing it’s praises!I do hate the thorns on it though but the scent is brilliant. Often the scent wafting across the path stops me in my tracks as I walk down the garden and I have to go back and get closer! I really hope I don’t lose this rose. Hmm, I wonder if I can take a cutting now? Anyway, this has now been put into the pot that the maple came out of.

Also today I’ve potted up the raspberry canes (Rubus ideaus) that came from ebay ages ago. I’m not sure if they’re alive or not. There are three Autumn Bliss which have little green shoots at the base (crown?) of the plant but the two Glen Moy have nothing at all.

I’ve also potted up the common Elder (Sambucus nigra) that I want to grow to try the flowers! I might also try making some more wine but the problem with wine-making, although I enjoy it – is that none of us drink very often or very much. My last wine making phase was 4 years ago and all of that is still in demi-johns in the garage. I can’t even remember what they were and I’m sure the labels have gone. There was elderberry, pumpkin or was it marrow? I really can’t remember!

Back to today and I’ve cleared out the side of the greenhouse. In the rush to clear an area for the impromptu shed, everything was piled there and I wanted to clear it again. I’ve had to move the outdoor table and chairs and under neath it I found the outdoor broom I’ve been looking for for weeks! I also found that we’ve broke the plastic lid of the coldframe I’ll need to fix that. I have some old greenhouse glass but I can’t cut it – anyone got any advice on how?

You’ll like it, not a lot (ment…)!

As I said before, I was going to apply for an allotment and I did on the 29th October 2007. The run down site is going to be checked now I’ve told them, although they did say that they were aware of the state of the site. They are writing to the tenants and if they no longer want the plots they will be offered to the next person on the list.

As I hadn’t had any contact from the council (they’re fast enough with a late rent payment!) I rang today to confirm that I was on the list and get an estimate of the waiting times now that they’ve had time to look – they couldn’t say before. I was told that yes, I was on the list and that I was 98th and not likely to be going up any time soon! According to the council website, they have 45 plots at 4 sites in this area (though if the dilapidated site is anything to go by the plots aren’t very big) all of which are taken. The nice site I visited was well maintained and they maintain each others so that no one loses their plot. Some of them are owned by more than one member of the same family and I know to one where the tenant isn’t in the country half the time. So I’m not likely to be getting one for as far ahead as I can see. Who would want to give up their plot now they have one? I know I wouldn’t. But if I’m honest, I don’t think it’s fair that some people have more than one or have someone else maintain their site. Sometimes circumstances mean that you can’t get to your plot for a while I know but if you aren’t even in the country for the majority of the time, it doesn’t seem fair.