This week, we tested out a "soil tesing meter" to measure the pH of our soil. Happily it was mostly around 7 which according to the chart virtually all the vegetables like. We noticed that potatoes tent to err towards 5 and leeks prefer nearer to 8 which is interesting.
"Mmm, how doe's it turn on?!" Lewis digs a hole to clear the top soil to a depth of 10cm. Charlotte is ready to take down the measurements.
Meanwhile the water butt was overflowing again so Danielle decanted some "highland spring" into bottles in the greenhouse. We really need to get the butt on the other side of the shed connected too!
On Thursday, Rob returned to the garden. Here you can see him continuing to build the tool storage box ready for classes in August. Keep up the good work Rob (and watch your thumb!!)
That afternoon, we all took a walk over to the "Greenhouse" - not our own, but the community shop with the same name in the High Street!
We ate our packed lunch there...
...checked out their produce which was growing in the raised beds and pots...and after a slide show about the River Peffery and non-native invasive plants in the area...
...we headed off with a guided walk to see some of them.
Grasses and reeds growing on the banks of the Peffery. On the right hand side, the bank is where the river has silted up - the remains of a harbour wall runs near the top right of the picture. Small ships used to come up this far from the sea!
Nettles and rosebay willowherb (yet to come into flower) These are native of course, we just enjoyed noticing all the different plants on our route.
Meryl tells us about Japanses knotweed - on the opposite bank. Other invasive species include Himalayan balsam and Giant Hogweed.
The Japanse knotweed plants are all female - they reproduce "vegetatively" - that means they spread by putting out rhysomes under the ground. The worse thing to do is strim them or try to cut them as this just helps them spread! They are being treated with chemical spray to reduce dominance and give other native species a fighting chance.
Up by the estuary, there were fabulous orchids...
...lots of them!
Catriona really liked the elderflower trees which are in full blossom just now.
Miss Swallow and Mr MacFarlane...this is what happens when Danielle gets hold of the camera!
There were some big rain drops in the air when we started, but the weather was actually lovely for us.
Meanwhile, back in the garden our own "wild flowers" are happily growing. We need to learn to identify them so we can decide which ones to weed! Certainly not this cheerful poppy!
Another poppy ready to flower soon - I wonder what colour it will be.
There are several courgettes now.
A few strawberries,
and the pansies are still flowering wonderfully!
This week, we tested out a "soil tesing meter" to measure the pH of our soil. Happily it was mostly around 7 which according to the chart virtually all the vegetables like. We noticed that potatoes tent to err towards 5 and leeks prefer nearer to 8 which is interesting.
"Mmm, how doe's it turn on?!" Lewis digs a hole to clear the top soil to a depth of 10cm. Charlotte is ready to take down the measurements.
Meanwhile the water butt was overflowing again so Danielle decanted some "highland spring" into bottles in the greenhouse. We really need to get the butt on the other side of the shed connected too!
On Thursday, Rob returned to the garden. Here you can see him continuing to build the tool storage box ready for classes in August. Keep up the good work Rob (and watch your thumb!!)
That afternoon, we all took a walk over to the "Greenhouse" - not our own, but the community shop with the same name in the High Street! 
We ate our packed lunch there...
...checked out their produce which was growing in the raised beds and pots...and after a slide show about the River Peffery and non-native invasive plants in the area...
...we headed off with a guided walk to see some of them. 
Grasses and reeds growing on the banks of the Peffery. On the right hand side, the bank is where the river has silted up - the remains of a harbour wall runs near the top right of the picture. Small ships used to come up this far from the sea!
Nettles and rosebay willowherb (yet to come into flower) These are native of course, we just enjoyed noticing all the different plants on our route.
Meryl tells us about Japanses knotweed - on the opposite bank. Other invasive species include Himalayan balsam and Giant Hogweed.
The Japanse knotweed plants are all female - they reproduce "vegetatively" - that means they spread by putting out rhysomes under the ground. The worse thing to do is strim them or try to cut them as this just helps them spread! They are being treated with chemical spray to reduce dominance and give other native species a fighting chance.
Up by the estuary, there were fabulous orchids...
...lots of them!
Catriona really liked the elderflower trees which are in full blossom just now.
Miss Swallow and Mr MacFarlane...this is what happens when Danielle gets hold of the camera!
There were some big rain drops in the air when we started, but the weather was actually lovely for us.
Meanwhile, back in the garden our own "wild flowers" are happily growing. We need to learn to identify them so we can decide which ones to weed! Certainly not this cheerful poppy!
Another poppy ready to flower soon - I wonder what colour it will be.
There are several courgettes now.
A few strawberries,
and the pansies are still flowering wonderfully!
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