All About Herbs

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Vegetables
As the soil warms up, plant out some of the more tender crops. Some can be sown directly.
Use last year’s compost to mulch on top of the soil around plants; always add mulch after rain to help keep moisture in.
Hoe regularly to keep down weeds. Chickweed will produce 2000 seeds per plant per season if left untouched.
Fill any empty gaps awaiting vegetables with a fast-growing cover crop of green manures. Buckwheat, mustard, phacelia or trefoil can all be sown in May if the ground is moist enough.
Slug control - use all available methods to protect your new young plants. It is often worth starting new plants in pots or modules, and planting out only vigorous transplants.
Carrot fly – create a fleece barrier from sowing until mid or late June.
Blackfly - check broad bean plants regularly and squash any blackfly seen. If the plants are flowering, pinch out the top couple of inches, blackfly and all, and bury them in the compost heap.
Protect leek seedlings from the allium leaf miner or leek moth where either of these pests are endemic.
When planting brassicas, use a collar on the ground to protect stems. Also erect a mesh barrier to cover plants completely to keep cabbage white butterflies from laying their eggs on leaves. Squash or pick off any you see.
Flea beetles are also pests of brassicas (the cabbage family), and radish, rocket, mustard and other related plants. They are particularly damaging to young seedlings, especially during dry weather.
Check very carefully before either squashing or spraying. There will be beneficial creatures around, munching happily on pests on the undersides of leaves. Insecticidal soap is just as damaging to them as it is to the pests.
Hoverfly larvae can be mistaken for pests. If in doubt, leave well alone. They are voracious aphid eaters, so will be found in the middle of an aphid cluster.

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Fruit
Keep fleece handy to protect blossoms from late frost. Including strawberry plants. Remove during the day to let pollinating insects in.
Keep at least 1 square metre of ground weed-free around all fruit trees and bushes - particularly young ones. This prevents grass and weeds competing for nutrients. However, established fruit trees on vigorous rootstocks will not be affected by grass growing right up to the trunk.
Water all recently planted fruit trees - thoroughly once or twice a week rather than little and often; varieties on dwarfing rootstocks and wall-trained fruit may continue to need watering in dry weather for several years.
Use a mulch (straw, grass cuttings etc) on moist soil round trees and soft fruit to retain moisture and deter weeds.
Net strawberries to deter birds, once fruits start swelling and ripening. Ensure netting is pegged down to prevent birds getting trapped or tangled up.
Inspect fruit bushes and plants regularly for aphids. Where possible, squish off with your fingers.
Grow plants nearby such as Limnanthes douglasii (poached egg plant) or fennel, to attract beneficial aphid-eating insects such as ladybirds, lacewings and hoverflies.
If you use an insecticidal soap spray, it must be sprayed directly on to the aphids to be effective.
Pick off and destroy emerging larvae of apple and plum sawfly at petal fall. You need to catch them before they start tunnelling into fruit. Look for creamy white larvae, about 15mm long, around the fruiting spurs.
inspect gooseberry bushes twice-weekly for gooseberry sawfly larvae. Eggs are laid under leaves in the centre of the bush, and pinprick sized holes are the very first signs of larval damage. Pick off and destroy the tiny larvae.
Check very carefully before either squashing or spraying. There will be beneficial creatures around, munching happily on pests on the undersides of leaves. Insecticidal soap is just as damaging to them as it is to the pests.
Hoverfly larvae can be mistaken for pests. If in doubt, leave well alone. They are voracious aphid eaters, so will be found in the middle of an aphid cluster.
When choosing a new mower, why not go for a 'mulching' or 'recycling' mower? These machines chop up mowings very finely, then spread them evenly over the lawn. This will provide around 70% of the lawn's nitrogen needs.
Remember, grass is a drought survivor. Even a lawn that has turned brown, and looks wrecked, will revive once temperatures drop and rain returns in autumn.
As birds will be nesting in hedges now, wait until later in the year before undertaking any major hedge trimming.

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
General Maintenance
Keep your soil in good heart at all times and see the difference. Garden compost or well-rotted manure helps soil structure. It improves drainage in heavy clay soils, and retains moisture and nutrients in free-draining sandy or stony soils. Now is a good time to apply it. The organic material breaks down slowly over months, releasing nourishment for the plants.
Vine weevil adults will be rampant now, and laying eggs. Use nematode biological control. Use non-drying grease round the legs of greenhouse staging to prevent adult weevils crawling up.
Remove and dispose of any dying foliage on sight. Disease prevention in a greenhouse relies on good hygiene.
Tadpoles and baby newts (efts) should be maturing and leaving the pond soon. Make sure there is a sloping side so they can get out.
Provide plenty of sheltering, moist plants around the perimeter especially if your pond is surrounded by slabs or gravel. Newly-emerged froglets will fry on sunbaked surfaces.
Ensure that your pond has two-thirds of its surface covered by plants to keep algae at bay as light levels increase and temperatures rise.

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Flowers and Herbs
As temperatures rise, this is your last chance to sow any annuals or spring flowering biennials. Plant comfrey (Russian cultivar 'Bocking 14' is best). The leaves can be used as a compost activator, a mulch to feed the soil, as well as making an excellent liquid feed.
Use last year’s compost to mulch on top of the soil around plants; always add mulch after rain to help keep moisture in.
Hoe regularly to keep down weeds. Chickweed will produce 2000 seeds per plant per season if left untouched.
Slug control - use all available methods to protect your new young plants. It is often worth starting new plants in pots or modules, and planting out only vigorous transplants.
Allow herbs to flower, for pollinating bees.
Top dress herbs growing in containers. Scrape off the top 4cm/2” of compost, and replace with a 50/50 mixture of fresh potting compost (peat-free and organic) and garden compost.
Mulch warm soil after rain to retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Hoe off any weeds before they can seed.
Handpick Solomon's Seal sawfly off on sight. If left, they will de-foliate plants, then drop to the soil to pupate and overwinter. Break the cycle by clearing off the larvae.
Lily beetles will make holes in leaves and damage flowering shoots. Pick off the bright red beetle adults, and wipe off their larvae, again to break the cycle. Check daily until the end of the month to be sure that all these beetles have been dealt with.
Viburnum beetle larvae will be active now, feeding on new foliage. Pick off any larvae (creamy yellow with black markings), and trim back damaged foliage.
Check for box blight. Symptoms include wispy grey fungus on the underside of the leaves and black streaky staining on the woody parts of the plant. (This is different to wind scorch, which just looks brown and scorched.) Affected sections should be cut out and all contaminated material disposed of.
Check very carefully before either squashing or spraying. There will be beneficial creatures around, munching happily on pests on the undersides of leaves. Insecticidal soap is just as damaging to them as it is to the pests.
Continue to feed houseplants from now until autumn. Large leafy plants will need a high nitrogen feed, while flowering plants need something like a tomato feed, high in potash.

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Herbs and Flowers
Check your pots and container plants aren’t drying out - the warmer weather will quickly affect soil moisture levels. Lift and divide perennial plants now, to improve vigour and create new plants for your garden. Divide hostas before they come into leaf, pinch out the tips of fuchsia shoots and sweet pea plants, if you want to encourage bushy plants this summer. Divide primroses once they have finished flowering. Tie in climbing and rambling roses. Prune your penstemons now - cut back all the old shoots to the base, provided there is new growth at the bottom of the plant. If there are no new shoots at the base, cut just above the lowest set of leaves. Finish cutting back any dead foliage on perennials and ornamental grasses (if you haven't done so already), to make way for new growth. Prune forsythia as soon as they have finished flowering, cutting back to strong, young shoots. Tie in new honeysuckle and clematis stems. These plants will be putting on growth now, and you’ll need to train them along their supports.
Sow sunflowers in pots indoors or direct sow into garden borders. Sow nasturtiums in pots and modules now. Once all risk of frost has passed, plant them out into poor soil for the best flowers - richer soil will produce more foliage and less blooms! Finish sowing petunia seeds under cover this month, to ensure the plants reach a good size in time for the summer. Sow scabiosa seed under cover now. They’ll attract bees and butterflies to your garden and will also make great cut flowers Sow marigolds in warmth to brighten up your summer bedding. Plant up summer hanging baskets with plug plants and keep them under cover in a heated greenhouse until all risk of frost has passed. such as salvia, ageratum and zinnia this month, to ensure a vibrant display this summer. Continue to sow half hardy annual seeds under cover - take care not to expose them to frost. Sow marigolds in warmth to brighten up your summer bedding. Plant up summer hanging baskets with plug plants and keep them under cover in a heated greenhouse until all risk of frost has passed. Finish sowing summer bedding plants such as salvia, ageratum and zinnia this month, to ensure a vibrant display this summer. Sow basil seeds in warmth to protect them from April frosts. Sow perennial herbs - such as rosemary, sage, thyme and lemon balm - in the greenhouse. Sow chicory seeds directly into seedbeds now. Sow herbs such as chives, coriander, dill and parsley directly into the ground or in containers indoors.

Right now is a very good time to start (if you haven't already) doing the tidying and maintenance for your garden. Sweeping the detritus from pathways and under outdoor mats and pots. Before starting your seeds or plugs.

I went to the Harrogate flower show today, can you tell?

Wow

Exoskeleton

You know how you forget how many seed packets you have until it's time to count them? Yeah.......

Yep....

There Isn't A Single Person On This Planet There isn't a single person on this planet who is entitled to treat you like crap, remember that.

This! So much this!!

Good advice....

Everyone

To all my loved ones…

Post from a local Beekeeper 🐝
“Its late, and maybe in the morning I'll delete this post, but I've just got home and for now I need to write this down.
Earlier this evening I received a message from a home owner to say they had a swarm of bees in their hedge, but they were worried about them because children had been throwing water at them.
By the time my fellow beekeeper and I arrived, what had been a beautiful prime swarm was reduced to a few hundred drenched bees, huddling limply around their queen.
I've already deleted the photos of the puddles of water, the dripping wet hedge, and the many, many dead and dying bees that hadn't been able to escape the attack; sharing those pictures serves no purpose.
We gently placed the bees that had survived into a collection box, and hopefully tomorrow, when they've had chance to dry out and settle, we'll check on them and if necessary feed them; they'll be exhausted and possibly (understandably) defensive. They've been through a lot.
Please, please, help me to educate your children, your grandchildren, your neices and nephews, your neighbours, your colleagues and your friends that a swarm of bees isn't dangerous - they're amazing creatures that are just looking for a new home.
Please don't let anyone harm them. Just call a beekeeper who will gladly rehome them.
Please help me to spread this message and hopefully save any more bees from being unnecessarily harmed” 😢
- A Sad and unhappy Beekeeper
Copied

Sooner than you think....

Twice this week, I have watched an elderly individual, fade into the busy life in which we all live. One man just needed Panadol for his wife but the shop assistant simply said it’s in ‘6’. But he struggled to navigate the supermarket and as I watched him go in the wrong direction, I left all my groceries and took him where he needed to go. Today, I watched an elderly man struggle in the heat, who had obviously had a fall with a huge scrape and blood on his leg. He walked past people in the cafe, while he slowly made his way to his car. Not one person stopped. Or looked. Or acknowledged him. I took him to his car and checked he was ok. He told me he had a fall and wasn’t sure how the air con worked in his car so he just didn’t use it. I sat with him, until his air con kicked in and heard him talk about the old frail body that he is in, that fails him now, every single day.
When you see an elderly person walking down the street, searching in the supermarket or struggling to their car, take a minute out of your busy schedule and ask them if they need a hand. Think about your grand parents and your parents and how pi**ed you would be if someone didn’t stop to help them. But more, think of them as you.
Once upon a time they were you. They were busy, they had work, they had children, they were able... Today, they are just in an older body that is not going as fast as it used to and this busy life is confusing. They deserve our utmost respect and consideration. One day it will be you, it will be us. I wish more people gave a sh*t about them and acknowledged them for their admirable existence and geez I hope someday, not that far away, someone does it for me.

Credits goes to the respective owner ~
Follow us

Unfortunately I seem to have lost my phone. Yesterday, so, brilliant start to the year for me! However, that does mean that currently I am only contactable via email [email protected] or here on Facebook.

Erm....

😁

Shared by Paul R of EarthMagick Group

It's not wrong...

💯

Worth reading

Hoping you have had a fine weekend. Thought I would share this to take into next week. You might try giving some time to your notice how you process your feelings...rarely a straightforward process. Which part of your body might you hold your feelings and how do you prevent holding on to them?

******TALK REMINDER******
My next talk in clinic is today at 1pm Costing £5.00 as usual
The talk covers joint disease, mostly focused on arthritis, osteo and rheumatoid. Because as autumn is approaching the cold and damp seems to make the use of those anti-inflammatories much more frequent!!
Get information on diet and lifestyle changes that can help to reduce inflammation and flare up incidences. Herbal information about what you can take to help and all kinds of other information about arthritis.

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Herbs and flowers
Parsley, rocket and coriander can still be sowed this month, save the seeds from your organically grown herbs, making sure they are dry then put in an airtight container until next year. Cut herbs for drying to use throughout the winter.
Remove any dead and dying flower heads daily to reduce the chance of disease. Don’t cut back perennials too hard in the autumn ‘clear up.’ Hollow stems, tussocky plants and piles of leaves swept under a hedge make perfect over wintering sites for a number of beneficial creatures.

******TALK REMINDER******
My next talk in clinic is tomorrow Tuesday 26th September at 1pm Costing £5.00 as
usual
The talk covers joint disease, mostly focused on arthritis, osteo and rheumatoid. Because as autumn is approaching the cold and damp seems to make the use of those anti-inflammatories much more frequent!!
Get information on diet and lifestyle changes that can help to reduce inflammation and flare up incidences. Herbal information about what you can take to help and all kinds of other information about arthritis.

******TALK REMINDER******
My next talk in clinic is on Tuesday 26th September at 1pm Costing £5.00 as usual
The talk covers joint disease, mostly focused on arthritis, osteo and rheumatoid. Because as autumn is approaching the cold and damp seems to make the use of those anti-inflammatories much more frequent!!
Get information on diet and lifestyle changes that can help to reduce inflammation and flare up incidences. Herbal information about what you can take to help and all kinds of other information about arthritis.

Gardening Post - With the usual disclaimer as follows:
I am in no way a professional gardener and the list below isn't exhaustive, it just covers a few things that can be done to various parts of the garden within that particular month. Enjoy anyway, and I hope it encourages you to get out and play in your space; whatever that space might actually consist of.
Fruit and Vegetables
Clear away diseased plant material i.e. blotched or mildewed leaves. Most can be composted but if in doubt dispose of through the green waste system. Brassica whitefly can survive the winter on Brussel sprouts, broccoli, winter cabbage and kale. These tiny, white creatures fly up in clouds when the plants are disturbed. Their sticky honeydew often encourages black ‘sooty’ moulds to grow on leaves. Pick off infested lower leaves; the young whitefly scales live on the underside of these. Spray both sides of the remaining leaves with insecticidal soap if the infestation is bad, repeating two or three times if necessary. Pick off any cabbage white caterpillars.
Leek rust, a fungal disease with red/orange pustules on the leaves, turns leaves yellow and stunts plants growth. There is little you can do to counter it but the good news is they are still safe to eat, just remove the affected outer growth.
Keep weeding to prevent them seeding. Slugs can be a real problem in a warm, wet autumn, check slug traps daily, especially after damp weather.
Scatter wind fall fruit around the garden for the wildlife. Plums are a favourite for butterflies – they adore the sugary juice. Remove nets from soft fruit bushes to allow birds to clear up pests over winter, cultivate the ground around fruit bushes lightly to expose pests. After pick autumn fruiting raspberries do not prune. Wait until late winter/early spring to cut all the canes down to ground level. However, you can remove any weak or damaged canes of summer fruiting raspberries. Complete pruning of stone fruit trees including cherries and plums by the middle of September to avoid silver leaf disease, cut out all diseased areas and any dead wood. Prune elderberry trees after they have finished fruiting.
Brown rot is an air borne fungal disease affecting pears, apples and plums. It produces concentric rings or white spots on the fruit and is spread by contact. Remove and destroy all infected fruit regardless of it being on the tree or on the ground.
Fix a sticky band of grease or glue around the trunk of a fruit tree trunk to stop the wingless adult winter moths getting up the tree to lay eggs in the bark. Winter moth caterpillars will feed on the leaves, blossoms and fruitlets during spring.