Friday 22 June 2018

Returning to normality . . .


Well, I think I can tentatively say, the worst of the pollen problems are now behind me.  I checked the pollen count yesterday and whilst levels were V. High, they were for weeds, Plantain and Dock, and NOT grass any more.  Grass is the worst one for me.  I am allergic to Dock, but as long as it's not surrounding me I seem to be able to cope.  You cannot imagine the relief I am feeling.  Not 100% yet (and worried I may never be able to step back down a level with my Fostair inhaler now I am up to maximum dose on it) but I hope I will get there gradually.  I will plod on with the low histamine diet as best I can and see if that makes a real difference - on the days I get it right, it does appear to.  I can now enjoy the summer AND get back to tackling the garden, which is hopefully going to trim the half a stone off (and more) I put on whilst on the steroids.

Raubritter in my garden yesterday.  One of my favourite roses.  I saw it for the first time at Cothay Manor in Somerset, when we went to an Antiques Fair there (friends of ours were standing and gave us free tickets to get in).  Currently in a tub, but about to be planted in the Intake plot in what used to be the paddock, when she has finished blooming.  Next to Vielchenblau, below.  These are two roses I just HAVE to have in any garden in the future. I had intended to take them with us when we moved, hence them being in tubs, but now I shall plant them up and treat myself when we do finally move on from here.



Tuscany Superb below - another "must have" for any garden of mine.




Meanwhile, in the Intake plot, the path has disappeared (I cleared the front couple of feet yesterday afternoon and got my OH to mattock out the Potentilla which is where Raubritter is in this photo.  It was completely infested with a very fine grass and it had to go as it was impossible to eradicate the grass - though I have tried down the years.  Work continues there today.



Bulbs, Cowslips, Aquilegia, an Iris, Alkanet - established for years and always a blardy mess because I have to stay indoors in June.  It is SO frustrating.   Well, I have decided, they are ALL GOING.  Even the compost (which will be useful on the veg.  plot - hollow laugh!) and then swept clean (concrete base of old yard beneath it) and the tubs and planters of veg. are going in there.  Which is a laugh, as they AREN'T growing!  I can't win . . .


Looking better already . . .



This is the abandoned veg. plot - there are a few apple trees in there somewhere.  The bit bottom left hand corner is actually a planned planting of annuals, not weeds!  We have a chap coming to mow the paddock back to a lawn today and I am going to get him to give me an hour's weeding/digging in here so I can get some peas and things in the ground.

Later - the gardener's been.  The paddock lawn took 3 hours, but he managed to rotovate a little bit of the veg plot so I can get some peas in - I will extend it as best I can.  Peas are in soak as I speak . . .





The Under Gardener declared himself "too busy" to help with the ex veg. plot, but he HAS busied himself clearing the really overgrown area where we used to have soft fruit when we first came here.  It had been a . . . "wildlife area" for about 20 years now and needed clearing - and keeping clear.  Progress here and I even found two escapee Blackcurrant bushes which will be pruned back when we've cleared the Codlins and Cream beside them and the willow tree at their back . . .  There are 3 Ash trees with Ash Dieback along the boundary and we need to get a quote for a tree surgeon to come and take them down this summer.  Another expense . . . along with having the top gutters emptied (grass growing in them!), building work done, and p/p and expenses for the driveway relocation.  I think I am going to be working nights in the Crisp factory . . .

Anyway, onwards and upwards.  I am feeling better, the pollen season has now finished and my lungs feeling less besieged, I have just two days left on steroids and I can WALK AGAIN!!!



18 comments:

  1. Thank goodness you are through the worst of the pollen season. Hope you get out walking very soon.
    We need rain - preferably at night and lots of it

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  2. I got out today Sue. Just two miles and I made K drop me aat the top of the long hill so it was downward all the way till Igot to our hill - but I managed that far better than I expected! 20K steps today in total AND gardening at the end of it! Rain at night sounds like a good idea though we have had a cooler wetter few days until yesterday.

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  3. So pleased the pollen season for you seems past the worst and glad you are feeling a little better.

    The roses are stunning :)

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    1. I am feeling AMAZING today RR. The trouble is, the anti-histamine I'm on never worked when I had nose-streaming hayfever - but the only thing that DOES work, they aren't happy with me taking. It's an old-fashioned antihistamine (drowsy side effects). However, I DO take it when I absolutely have to. I need to try and find something that does work before next year though.

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  4. Glad you survived. Garden is enormous! But beautiful.

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    1. It didn't used to feel enormous - when I was younger - now it's definitely a challenge! I am glad I survived too, but boy, it's like having both hands tied behind your back as although the Montelukast seems to work up to a point, it doesn't last 24 hours . . .

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  5. I've been sneezing and coughing for ages!

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    1. I used to get the streaming nose/sore eyes - now it just affects my lungs/asthma, which is a pain. Have you tried anti-histamines?

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  6. Glad you are feeling better. I have been getting headaches by the afternoon here and just realized it is probably because of the poplars dropping their fuzz.

    God bless.

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    1. Gosh, there's always something isn't there?! Hope the poplars stop soon so your headaches go away.

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  7. Your roses are so lovely.
    So happy to hear your feeling better.

    cheers, parsnip

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    1. I was on a real high yesterday, and my peak flow is better today (for the walk, and probably as far fewer steroids going down my throat! Last one tomorrow.) Glad you love the roses.

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  8. That is good news, long may it continue.
    The roses are lovely, especially the Tuscany one, those blooms look huge. Ash Dieback is beginning to hit here, I think we have one or two which will need to be taken out - crisp factory for you, fish finger factory for me. :(

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    1. Onwards and upwards. Thank heavens we have a house which stays so cool, even on the hottest of summer days. Tuscany's blooms aren't so big, but the colour is intense. Smiling at the thought of you at the Fish Finger Factory!! Hopefully it won't come to that : )

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  9. Very glad to hear that you are feeling better! Love the way you show us your garden exactly as it is ( much like parts of mine!) ... so many blogs just show off the 'manicured' bits! Simply clearing a patch to put the peas in is a great idea & I'm sure you'll enjoy the harvest later on x

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    1. Well, we do all live a "warts and all" life. I know parts of my garden are a mess, but when you can't get out there (and K's frozen shoulder is agony, so he can't help much either). We thought long and hard about paying someone to come and help, but his morning here made a BIG difference and now I can get out there again, I should be able to get on top of it. Not to mention, burning a few calories whilst I'm at it!

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    2. Totally agree - sometimes paying someone to help you out is a really good option, even though it goes 'against the grain', so to speak! If it means you can actually get out there and enjoy planting/pruning, or whatever takes your fancy, then it's worth every penny! We were so worried about keeping on top of our garden, that we very rarely sat & enjoyed it- this year we've made a real effort to eat our meals outdoors, and not look at all the jobs still to do!

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    3. It was money well spent. I just wish he'd had longer on the veg plot but I think I can get to grips with that now. I know just what you mean about not enjoying your garden enough - I intend to do some sitting and reading in mine this summer - once I'm getting caught up.

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