homeschooling... and of course the spring garden update

I wrote this a couple of weeks ago:

Proposed Weekday Timetable Number oh, I have no idea as it seems to be in constant evolution, which I am sure is not the idea of a timetable.

alarm 7.30 yoga
hugs with Ivor 7.50 to 8am
breakfast, wash bowls, brush teeth, hang clothes and ready to go by 9am
2 hours school work with 10 year old whilst trying to telework - with breaks then at 11am 1  hour in the garden together.
Get lunch ready, eat and clean. Phone calls, Ivor to read alone.
2.30 wash on (cheap electricity) and back to school work 20 minutes to half an hour sessions with breaks, until 5.30.
Go for walk for about an hour.
Cook, eat, clean, read to ten year old - nightly ritual, then fall asleep exhausted myself after an hour's reading.

A couple of weeks later - I am 'on holiday' from being a teacher, and Ivor has been away for a week to his dad's.

The above failed majestically, so here is my broad outline for the coming week of school holiday:

Try to re-instil in my ten year old, the desire to learn, and not just to colour in, or cook, or dig holes in the lawn, or make parachutes - which he did for two days!
Try not to lose my temper with him. No shouting.


Meanwhile back at the ranch:

During my moments in the garden, which over the weekend are more abundant, I have been weeding. Lots and lots of weeding. Slowly I am making my way round the garden, preparing for the plants that have been sown and are busy


germinating and growing in the greenhouse.

The fledgling orchard is starting to look a bit less like a field with a few twigs sticking up in the air, some of the trees are looking good, others are struggling, for one reason or another. On the left you have Elizabeth, a tree sponsored by the Williams, she is a cherry 'Noir de Meched', a sweet black eating cherry - mmmm - patience!

 On the right here is a general view of the South West orchard, looking at mainly apple trees (one of which is a special Rosa sponsored and one a Gaby), the above-mentioned cherry and two almonds, one of which is sponsored by Jim.

  To the left a general view of the South East orchard, showing apple trees including the sponsored Andrew and Michael.

The garden looks truly fantastic, every possible corner is bursting with life and smells and colour. We have been given a new hen, who is supposed to be a sitter - she is a bantam with beautiful grey white feathers. She has been disturbed so doesn't seem to want to sit yet - we shall see.

Here are the reed beds, which will hopefully keep the water in the natural pool clear. Nigel is busy building the structure for the shade, and a rose named Mozart is to be planted there. This is a very exciting project, the fish have survived the winter and Charlie, our biggest fish, is looking lovely. And big. The lily-pads are growing and it looks like they are already producing buds so will flower soon!

 Hey mum, this is one of the apricots you planted! Looking good.

 Another tree planted today, - apple, Elstar variety, click here if you want to know more about the variety.

And another, apple again, Jonagold, click here for information about the variety.










If you are squeamish, look no further, as the following may offend - warning, worms and bugs below!

 Here is the worm farm, coming back to life as the weather warms up - they are doing fine!

People may wonder why I have planted nettles in the middle of the garden, yes, that's right, I planted them there. To the right you can see the caterpillars of several butterflies, probably the Small Tortoiseshell, and possibly the Peacock butterfly. There is another one on the left hand side of the photo that I haven't identified yet. Click here for an amazing array of caterpillars to find, identify and possibly raise yourself! There are four butterflies that will only lay their eggs in nettles! Our garden is bursting with buddleia and other butterfly plants.