The Perils of Pests

DAY 19 - 11th May 2009

From this....

to a very sorry this...


Even the blue slug pellets didn't stop the sneaky slugs munching Raphael's Busy Lizzies!

I keep removing caterpillars from the other flower beds, they tend to stay in our garden once hatched, plenty of food for them, they love the beans. Humanly, I remove it far away to eat someone elses beans!

The bean and pea patch's seem unaffected by the slugs and are thriving well. Raffi helps to water all the adjoining patches to his garden.

Raphael's radishes look pretty impressive so far. They are still living under the giant cloche giving protection from the wind and wandering pests. Daily watering has meant quick sprouting, interesting leaves.

A few days later they looked like this..

The potted nasturtiums have germinated quickly and will hang outside the kitchen window from their hooks. I anticipate a cascade of orange and yellow flowers to burst from the pots within a few weeks.

Raphael has a tray of Sweet Peas germinating in the green house. They will nearly be ready to plant out into their final growing positions. We just have to keep an eye on the weather - frost is sometimes a problem, even in May.


I have to confess to forgetting WHAT these young seedlings are! I know they are flowers and I know that they are colourful and are waiting to be transplanted to Raphael's Garden. I wish I could remember, I bought many seeds, all of them looked nice so I have every faith they will be wonderful they shall also be renamed the 'surprising flowers'!

DECORATING MY PATCH

Day 8 - 30th April 2009

This last week the weather has been wet and soggy with little sunshine and lots of wind. Difficult to get out in the garden when the weather was so changeable. Time to go shopping and buy some interesting additions for the patch.

I found this fabulous scarecrow for Raffi to stick in the soil where ever he felt he wanted! It took alot of decisions before the scarecrow found its final home! Needless to say he was thrilled with his smiley face but a little concerned it might not frighten the birds!

I added this picture because I am so excited to see these fully grown. I have to admit to not having ever seen red Sunflowers before.

I discretely scattered a few across the back of the Eric's bean and pea patch, he will be surprised.

A nostalgic find at the local garden store...The Range. I adore watching these simple colourful windmills sitting anywhere. The gusty wind was just the trick to make it whizz with style.

We have a couple of friendly blackbirds who live high up in the tree next door. They often visit the garden when we have gone inside. I would love to see them eating from the nuts above Raphael's Garden....and even more importantly, be able to photograph them for our blog.

Raphael has been studying butterflies and finding out about their habitat at his nursery school. I thought it would be lovely to have a bright colourful butterfly, sitting proudly amongst the flowers. Bought again from The Range, very reasonably priced. She looks a little bare right now but in a few weeks nasturtiums and sweet peas will cascade over her wings.

One of my favourite bedding plants are Busy Lizzie's. They are reliable, colourful and easy to grow and maintain. Their long flowering period can even allow you to take cuttings for a second show of colour in early autumn. Raphael's sister is called Lizzy and we often think and talk of her when looking at these flowers. I bought these at The Range.

I bought this large cloche to grow a variety of herbs and additional hybrids for Raphael's Garden. It's very satisfying to see the condensation inside the cloche...it is an indication all is well. Underneath the seeds we misted daily, first thing in the morning before the sunshine or late afternoon again when the sun had gone.

The final positioning for all the new items. Raffi is happy.

Jobs and activities last week


Misting the new seeds

Keeping an eye for weeds, the rains make everything grow!

Chatting to Raphael about what a plant needs to grow, talking about the effect of pests in our garden including cats, slugs and snails and black/ green fly.