Reticent about rhubarb

It's that time of year again when I notice the glamour of the glorious red stalks emerging from the cold ground, adding some much needed colour and cheer on a day like today.

As we progress into spring and the early flowering plants such as crocus, snowdrops, hellebores (you get the idea) become more noticable I soon forget the glorious rhubarb stalks and another year passes.

After many years in the ground I now realize that it is time for me to give it some TLC. This year I am actually going to lift and divide it and place some near the pond (in the hope that it's huge leaves are a magnet for the frogs and a good photo opportunity!)

It's at this stage of the decision process that I realize I know nothing about rhubarb! Well that's not strictly true, as, I know it is very hardy and survives our extreme winters very well. The stalks are also edible as well as attractive. You can compost it too as the poisonous oxalic acid breaks down and causes no harm. It is very easy to grow and thrives in any soil type.

Our rhubarb however isn't in full sun, which is what is recommended by the experts, but it does thrive. Now that it needs to be divided I will have the added benefit of comparing that grown in full sun to the mother plant which is in part shade.

Looks like today I am going to have to bite the bullet, get those wellies on and get digging. I need to dig a large hole and put lots of organic matter in it - in my case I am going to used some well rotted donkey manure. I also have to make sure that there are no perennial weeds in the area where the new plant is going to go, not a two minute job but worth the effort. Then with the help of my trusty spade and fork I'm going to divide the mother plant and transplant it immediately. I have to say that I have chosen now to do it because of those red stalks catching my attention and also if I leave it much longer it will be too big for me to tackle! Here I go, wish me luck...

www.penstemonsandherbs.com

Bites and stings - a gardener's peril!

Even at this time of year the garden can be perilous for me as the stinging and biting insects, of which there seem to be an inordinate amount, make a beeline for me. This injury was last summer and caused a lot of pain and a visit to the doctor. Thankfully, that seems to have been a one-off, I didn't even feel a sting or bite, but after treatment my knee is back to normal. My head on the other hand is crazed by the thought of this happening again!

Wherever I go I am watchful of the insects that I know to be cautious about. I where long trousers, usually wellies, and long sleeves. I habitually prefer to wear black, which is also off putting to the little critters, or so I believe.

The insect that cause the problem above was never identified but the general concensus from my friends is that it was possibly a spider - if it was it must have been microscopic as I didn't see anything.

I now wear gardening gloves most of the time and these help protect from the spikey plants but only the other day I felt a bite on my little finger whilst wedding - again I saw nothing but I felt it - ouch!

The gardening gloves too can be a hazard, especially as I tend to leave mine lying around in the polytunnel. Last year was a bumper year for hornets and their nests in there and I had the misfortune to feel one sting me as it was trying to exit the finger of the glove that I was pulling on - another ouch! I now keep at least one pair of gloves in the home (resulting on me not actually wearing any of the others, an oversight!)

Rambling I may be but there is a point to me telling you this. I now have my trusty remedies and repellents in place. The two which I find most useful are completely natural, cheap and effective. Number 1 is white vinegar. I love the stuff and it has so many useful properties for health and hygiene, no home should be without at least a bottle of it handy.

Dab it on bites and stings immediately and the pain is instantly reduced or stopped altogether. This is also ideal for children as it causes them no pain.

My number 2 is a repellent or deterrent if you like.

I shall tell you more about this bag of water (no it's not white vinegar!) in due course.

Are you susceptible to insects bites too? What are your favoured remedies?

Climate change or just lucky?

Winter, the time for indoor work and catching up or so I thought! We have been here in France for our tenth winter now and this year we have never known anything like it. Ok so I know that we are in the early days and things could change and very quickly but oh my are we having it good so far.

Yesterday we were invited to our friends and neighbours for lunch. We were met outside on the terrace, in the sunshine and the thermometer was showing 29 degrees C in the sun. Unbelievable.

As a result of this extra mild weather I have done more gardening than I would normally at this time of year. We have tackled the hedge down the side of our property in the hope that we can manage it better from now on and keep it looking good.

I've even started weeding as the ground isn't cold so they come out easily and I get to see all of the bulbs and seedlings that are emerging.

On reflection though it could all be the calm before the storm and we could yet having the freezing temperatures that we usually get. I'm taking precautions just in case - lots of growth left on for insulation and fallen leaves left for the worms to compost. Only time will tell how the garden will be this year and I just can't wait.

It's a mystery

As we head towards winter I'm looking forwards to spring and first things first I have a puzzle to solve.
I've been trying to identify this tree for 6 months now to no avail.  
These pictures were taken in the first week of May. It is a deciduous tree and the bark can be described as reddish brown and a little ridged.

Shape of tree

Flower formation

Flowers opening

Close up

Do you know what this is?