Last Post

This is going to be my last post.  I have not posted here since April and I seem to be instead posting on Facebook.  A lot has been happening. 

Been busy in the garden and still not got all my seeds planted out.  Everything is so late this year.  The Tulips are just finishing flowering and although Shetland is usually later than the mainland of Scotland we were even later this  year.  The weather came warm but it was too early to plant out and when it was time to plant out it was too cold!  I have planted several bags of Tatties - 2 rows of peas, Onions, Shallots and Garlic (summer) and also beetroot.  I have a Raspberry Cane and a Gojinberry too.(they are in pots).  The over wintering Onions Shallots and Garlic have all done well and will soon be ready for harvesting.

 

Some of my pots of bulbs were not very good this year so have been consigned to a little area behind the fuschia bush.   Threw in 2 packets of wild seeds in that area too so will see what happens.   Its a bit that is next to the vegetable plot.   Have planted lots of pots and bought lots of plants from retailers and from Plant Sales.

 

Some Photos from April to June

 

 

 

 Tatties a bit better than this now - earthed up -  had a bit of rain so that has given them a new lease of sprouting.

 Note the difference a month makes in the pots of shallots and onions and Garlic - these are the winter ones.

 Sweet Peas

 Sea Pinks growing in the wall at Sumburgh Head

 This was a photo taken at the  International Market - brightened up the street.  Did buy some plants but was careful as some will not grow in Shetland.  ThePlants and bulbs were from Holland.  Got 3 Amaryllis which are already sprouting in pots.

 2 Baby Herring Gulls - born last week

 The Yachts in the harbour with the Accommodation Barge in the background.

Snowy watching a Nature programme.

 

My parents are doing well.   Hoping to go and see them next month for a few days.

 

Thnks to all my followers and if you are a friend on Facebook or you wish to follow my garden please request me as your friend wherever you are in the world.   I post generally on Facebook and a couple of Garden Sites.

 

I bid you farewell on the Blog!

 

Elaine

xxxxxxx

Ooh it has gone cool again!

Its been a busy few weeks.  Just before we went to go south to clear out Mum & Dads house - the word was that Dad could not go in as the Council still had to look at funding him and also re-assess.   Anyway to cut a long story short - whilst visiting Mum on our first day South, Dad had a fall - ended up in A & E and  in Balhousie in Respite Care.  Unfortunately we could not clear out the house fully . I am glad that they have good neighbours and friends keeping a watch over them. My Aunt Euna was a great help.

 

I took some plants back with me including Mum's, 2 Clematis which were beautiful in her garden so hopefully they will bed in here too.  Weather was mixed whilst we were south - lovely weather, rain, wind, but certainly a lot warmer than it was the last time we were south.  

 

Things never go smoothly - our overflow pipe in the loft came apart and luckily our neighbour was in feeding Snowy at the time and heard the drip coming through the ceiling in our sitting room.   Quick thinking averted an utter disaster. Awaiting a new ceiling and for the loft insulation to be sorted out.

 

Not been gardening weather but finally the daffodils are beginning to bloom, as are some other spring flowers.  I went for a walk around the Flower Park this week - gorgeous but they are also late.  Our Wedding Photos 30 years ago were taken in the park with a huge show of Daffodils and Tulips.

 

Did buy some gardening bits and pieces when I was south including new lights and a string of lights for the fence - they look really lovely. Even took some photos of Huntly and Rhynie.

 

Planted the bits and pieces from Mums garden.  Bought my Tomato Plant  - Tumbling Tom Red for the Kitchen window.

 

The seeds planted in the growhouse are popping through and the Garlic has fairly grown.  The Garlic in the pots outside all winter is growing at speed. Need to get more seeds done and plant some flowering bulbs at the weekend if it ever warms up.

 

The Larks are singing in the hill and I even tripped over a hedgehog in the garden the other night.  (It was dark).    Birds busy at feeders.

 

The new Camera is trial and error but here are some photos.

 

 Pot looking good at last

 The Lark (or laverick) comes in to feed too.

 Looking through the trees over the Clickimin Loch

 The Ajax - Victors winning Darts Team.  (Front row at end)

 The Blackbird grubbing for worms.

 My plants in the office.

 The little boat in the noost at Clickimin Loch.

 Squills?

 Garlic & Onions (winter)

 The Flotel for the workers at Total building the new Gas Plant(taken from the boat)

 This is the power Station SBS - Shetland Catch - photo taken from house!

 Snowy - I dont like getting my photo taken!

 Aberdeen Harbour - SEPA Aberdeen Offices

My Daffodils in a pot.

 Huntly Castle

The Gordon Schools Huntly (the original schools)

 

 The Square in Rhynie with the Tap of Noth in the background

 Irises

 King George V Flower Park

 Cant remember what this is called but flowers at this time of year

 Mums Clematis in a temporary pot



The King George the V Flower Park.

 

Chuffed with new camera - operator needs to get better

 

Love

Elaine

xxxxx

 

 

 

 

Lovely spell of weather

Since I last wrote there has been a whole lot of stuff happening.  Victor and I were South seeing Mum and Dad.  It was extremely cold and a fair bit of snow.   I don't think I have been south for a while when it has been so cold. Aberdeenshire & Aberdeen have had lots of snow and a cold winter.  Unfortunately my hands seemed to be in my pockets all the time and I did not take any Photos.   We had a long journey back to Shetland as the boat could not get in to Aberdeen Harbour due to the Easterly winds.  Finally got on Board at 11:30 pm - Saturday night and arrived in Shetland at 3pm on the Sunday.  The journey was fine as far as we were concerned but tiring.  Surprisingly we came up the other side of Fair Isle and were very close so I did take some photos - it was covered in snow.  Home in Shetland there was none.

Mum is doing fine and since we were south Dad is also going into the home so we are off shortly to move and empty the house - that is going to be probably sad and happy too as I know that they are both being cared for.

Easter weekend brought the most beautiful weather.  So tempting to just plant but  past has taught me to be patient.   Tonight it is freezing!

I did however, plant out my Wallflower and Sweet William from the Growhouse and also put some summer bulbs in the ground.  The earth is so dry had to water in.   We have had some rain today so that will help the earth.  I also took the chance and have sown some seeds in the growhouse - covered in fleece of course.  Will set my tatties to chit this weekend indoors as I like to plant them at the end of April.   Spring flowers are very slow this year even with the good weather.  I have given the garden a bit of a tidy emptying pots and clearing some dried material away into the compost bin - its full again.    I also fed the ground again so hopefully the rain will help with the feeding process.   Please to see that my black Hellebore is also flowering.

The following pictures were taken with my small camera.  Today I got a new camera - it was a good deal a Fujifinepix SLR so will have to practice a bit in the use of it and remember to sling it around my neck on my walks etc. Saw my first Bumble Bee on Wednesday and heard the Lark on Monday 1 April.  The blackbirds are busy feeding in the garden.

 Passing Fair Isle

 Sumburgh Head

 

 

 Bressay Lighthouse

 New houses being built up past Hoofields - near to the Shetland Marts

Snowy with his new fleece blanket - a Christmas Present from Canada much appreciated!

 

Looking from the North Ness across to the Power Station - such a lovely sky

Outside the Shetland Museum

 The new flotel for the workmen at Total the new Gas Plant at Sullom Voe.

 A duck that lives in the peerie dock

 The King George the V Gardens - love the crocuses under the trees.

 Only Daffodils in flower in the corner.  In 1983 on the 22nd April we had our wedding photos taken in the park with everything in full bloom.  I intend to visit and take photos on the same day.  It is our 30th wedding anniversary.

 A frog in the ditching beside the path at Clickimin Loch - lots of frog spawn

 Primroses in my garden

 A very bare garden but lots of signs of life

 

This pot is better  - the crocuses are now all blooming.

I am going to attempt a blog on a fortnightly basis and be more consistent buts its difficult when busy in the garden but fingers crossed.

Have a lovely weekend

 

Elaine