What have you done today in the Garden?

Got the last of the lettuces and sugar peas planted and the three raised beds manured (thank heavens for steers!). Now it's time to start cleaning up the flower beds, which should keep me entertained until Christmas!

 

I can't even begin to contemplate planting lettuce at this time of year. Oh Jane, I do so envy you.

 

Sojerd, let's talk "envy" in July when everything here is brown, dry, and possibly dead. We all have good seasons and no-grow seasons. I envy you your tidy gardens, lovely amended soils, and variety of crops.

 

Ditto hear re planting lettuce now!

Although I have thrown down some kind of pea cover crop for the winter. It is up 3-4" now.

 

We went to the lottie to do some more work in-between the rain...and found this minus the white jerrycan and the black bib liner full of leaves:


The in-breaker had removed the wooden strips that kept the glass pane in place, set the glass pane over to the side, out of the way...then climbed inside. There were some things out of place and over the ground, but not much. There were only candy bars stolen and nothing else. These people were looking for honey and/or a container with money in it. There was no vandalism. The criminals took care in their work. It was nonetheless infuriating. There was nothing there for them to steal though, as we never leave things in the garden house.

I am guessing that it was a man and a child that did this...it must have been a small person that squeezed into the open window. plus only candy bars were taken. A sort of "gentleman" thief, if you will.

Well, once we got everything cleaned up and put back in its place there were the strawberry beds that still needing to be done. Here is one of them done:


You can see that one of the new plants has died. What a shame. Just as we were finishing this bed, the rain returned. We had tea...and it continued to drizzle, so we hopped on the bikes and peddled back home.

 

Theft, stealing, break-ins and vandalism are really on the rise here (Police say 253% since Nov last year when 170 addicted homeless were brought in to this area and basically 'given' homes/food/TVs (all stolen from their rooms within first week then replaced), clothing - anything they need.

Property crime is now so prevalent here the Police are no longer investigating it, Crown Counsel is no longer prosecuting it and the Courts no longer hearing it - hence all outside garden ornaments if not already stolen have now been removed from yards and gardens. It is very sad to hear of neighbourhood thefts like yours where really nothing of value has been stolen but trees broken in half, plants ripped out, garden decorations stolen or broken. Such senseless actions.

It is infuriating to have to feel the violation of somebody trespassing into and onto what is not theirs.

 

Sjoerd sorry to hear about this..criminal activity is getting worse every where, they want their hands chopping off

 

So sorry SJ. I am glad it was not worse! I am glad your garden beds and soil are all still as friable and fertile as ever. That is where the true riches are, honestly.
But I do know how it feels to have your property broken into. It happened to us shortly after we were married. It still bugs me sometimes.

Yesterday my daughter came and helped me plant 200 flowering bulbs from Van Engelen's:. Daffodils, blue scilla, erythroniums (dog toothed violets). I still have the fritillaria meleagris alba to plant but there are only 20 of them! My eyes were bigger than my planting stamina when I ordered all those bulbs. I have been tired lately so I am so so grateful to my daughter for her help. I also am so looking forward to the blooms in the spring!! Life springs eternal.

 

Thanks for your empathy, ISLAND.

Thank you GAIL.

Cheers CAYU-- You are too right that it could have been much worse--that was the odd thing, how tidy (relatively speaking) the in-breaker was. I have seen other break-ins by other people and I can tell you it was a huge mess...sometimes with arson attempts. Yeah and the idea that someone has been handling my things is creepy, but infuriating as well. It is nothing like what happened some twenty years ago--all the glass panes of my greenhouse were broken out by vandals. I almost lost it on that occasion. I have pics in our garden book and look at it sometimes and it always calls-up and sort of angry gut-wrench.

BTW-- the name, van Engelen is a Dutch name, it translates to "from (or 'belonging to') Angels". Well, you made some very nice choices and I too will be looking forward to seeing your bulbs in bloom come spring.

 

So sorry Sjored. I do know how that feels...remember when all of my plants were stolen at the apartment 3 years ago, trying to make it look nice? I did loose it on that occasion!!!

 

Nothing but I am thinking about putting fleece on my fern soon. I think it will be a very cold winter. Slight frost this morning.
K

 

how disgusting and disheartening. sorry S. I hate it when people who work hard to have nice things or at least take good care of their things get robbed or vandalized.

 

Sjoerd, so sorry to hear about your vandal attack, get either a Rottie dog, or fix up some razor wire with a warning.
K

 

@Sjoerd our area as been alerted for breaking in of sheds...it's always the same issue when christmas is coming on us all.

 

Given the cold pouring down rain and that I'm starting to sneeze my plan is to do nothing today