A bit of this and that

Hi everyone, it's Gill,

I hope you have all had a lovely week. Last week and this believe it or not I haven't been to a garden centre - that has to be a record for me! I know that if I go, I will be tempted to buy plants that simply won't fit in the garden, there is no space left. There is so much to do in the garden at the moment, mainly weeding, the dreaded weeding is always there. However many you pull out, they still appear to be there the next day. I have stinging nettles and blackberry to pull up, at least with all the damp we have had it shouldn't be too hard (thats if I get round to it) hehe!!

If you haven't done it already, you should be planting up your strawberry runners ready for next years crop. We have a water barrel with holes drilled in the sides with some of our strawberries growing in, and a few in a small beds in front of the greenhouse.

My first cucumber is about 10 inches now, maybe it will be eaten by the time I do the next blog. I was given a few tomato plants by a friend that she had grown, they are large plum shaped ones. There are loads of fruit but so far when they have swollen the bottom of the fruit has rotted, does anyone know why please? My runnerbeans seem to be really plentiful this year. I have experimented with the common one with orange flowers and a white flowered one to see if there is any difference with yields. If there is I will let you know.

My buddleias continue to be the centre of attraction for the areas butterflies, I could watch them all day! These lovely shrubs are supposed to attract bees too but I haven't seen one on them yet, very very scary. If you dont like buddleias, I think you should try and put one in a corner because they do bring in all sorts of insects. I know they have a straggly persuasion, but they can be trimmed virtually to any shape you like. Also if you want to cover up an ugly bare corner, mine have grown about 10 feet in three years.

In today's Daily Mail they were saying that we should all be putting a sugar solution out to attract bees, 2 parts sugar to 1 part water, then place between the flowers. I will do this tomorrow and maybe you could all have a go too.

Don't forget to ask your neighbours to water for you should you go on holiday or for a weekend away, it's surprising how quickly they dry out, especially the greenhouse.
Still not getting many eggs from the girls, they had better sharpen up or they will end up on my table. I wonder if it is anything to do with the weather, the lack of eggs I mean. Maybe one or two of you might keep chickens and could give me the answer. We have 10 chickens and 2 cockerels and are getting 3 or 4 eggs a day, we were getting that through the winter. One day about 6 or 8 weeks ago we had 8, I nearly dropped them when I counted them!!!!

Okay all that's it for now, do take care and of course happy gardening. Bye for now, Gill

butterflies this year

Hi all its Gill,

Aren't you just sick and tired of this weather? Day after day of miserable damp and its warm which is awful!!!! The only bright news in all this is that I have more butterflies than I have had before since moving here over 3 years ago. On television last week they were saying that there is a shortage of peacock and red admiral butterflies this year. THEY ARE ALL IN MY GARDEN. What a wonderful sight, I have loved butterflies ever since learning about them in junior school. This year I have four buddleias and a huge hydrangea in flower in the front garden and they are smothered with these adorable creatures. Piccies to follow.

Last year we all heard of the plight of bees, scary but I saw about the same amount as usual and didnt think much more of it. This year however I have noticed that there are very few about. Its a very worrying situation.

My girls are laying less this summer and I am wondering if they are fair weather layers lol. From the 10 chickens I seem to average about 4 a day, lazy beasties!!!! I think they are spoilt too much and dont realise that they are here to lay eggs for me. In fact I am just about to collect the eggs, lets see how many there are.

That's it they are for the pot, 3 measly eggs.

Whilst I was outside I looked at the lavender, I have about 10 shrubs, and there were 2 bees on them, that used to be buzzing. That reminds me of the time I went round to my friend Lornas in Winnersh, Reading. She has a huge lavender hedge all the way from the road to her front door, probably about 70 foot, and ~I am not lying about this, she stands and strokes the backs of the bumble bees as they forage in the flowers. But then she is a special person. I have also seen her stand in her back garden, put her hand out and a robin flew to her and sat in her hand. He also used to tap on the lounge window, she would open the window and crumble up a digestive for him. One day whilst watching this, a little field mouse climbed up her cotoneaster and sat with the robin eating it together. I wish I had whatever she has.

To tell you the truth I havent dont any gardening this week, maybe a bit of dead heading but thats all. My runner beans are covered in flowers, and I have quite a few plum tomatoes in the greenhouse, but they arent anywhere near ready. I have a few cucumbers in there too, about 5 inches is my largest so they have a way to go yet.

That's it for now all, got to water the greenhouse. Take care and enjoy your gardens, Gill

Growing from Seed

Hi all, its Gill,

Many many years ago I remember walking past a garden and being gob smacked by a plant that I saw. I hadn't a clue what it was and have never seen one since until I opened my Thompson and Morgan catalogue last year and saw the seeds for sale. It was a melianthus, a honey bush.

Has anyone out there got one? It grows to about 6foot I think, and has huge fronds of brown and gold. I eagerly planted all the seeds in one pot and covered them in vermiculite and placed them in my greenhouse earlier this year. Eventually one plant emerged, then two and now I have four. They are about 8 inches tall so I guess no more will come through. They were all planted in the same pot, in the same conditions etc so I am a little disappointed that only 4 have come through.I must admit that I have bought loads of seeds from Thompson and Morgan and I think I have yet to get a full packet of seeds to grow!!!

I nevertheless go back to them because of their enormous variety of seeds that I dont see anywhere else. Last year I bought two packets of banana seeds and unfortunately not one seed grew. I have grown bananas in the past with no effort, such a shame I was looking forward to seeing them.

A couple of years or three ago I bought loads of lilies from T&Morgan, and I can highly recommend you to do so too. I open my back door and there is a heady aroma coming from my lilies, a spectacle to behold, they are stunning plants and the flowers are all much larger than my hand. I have taken some piccies and when I work out how to get them on here I will show you. Dont forget that if you buy lily bulbs to always plant them on their side on sand, then cover over in soil.

I have to tell you a story about my grandson James who was 4 at the time, but is now 7. We had just put down an indian sand stone path up the back garden. The slabs had fossils of ferns and trees etc on them. James walked up the path and on seeing a fossil for the first time, said "Look you have tattoos on your path". Isnt that wonderful!

I quite like gardens that are regimental but that's not for me, my garden just happens!!! I have tall flowers at the front of a border whilst the little ones at the back are struggling to survive. If a plant self seeds, then that is where it stays. My path that I mentioned earlier is smothered in thousands of foxgloves, poppies etc etc, I can hardly walk up it haha. Next year we wont be able to at all and will have to walk on the grass, defeting the object of having a path really! I have nowhere to replant these seedlings and I wont pull them up. My neighbour has had as many as he can take too. Nevertheless I can guarantee that a few packet of seeds will take my eye next spring, I will plant them and if they grow I will have the same dilemma I have every year - where to put them haha!!!

Gardening, Spain and England

Hello fellow gardeners its Gill again,

I was in Spain last week staying with my son and daughter in law. Phew it was hot!!! They have my favourite tree in their garden, a jacaranda, wish I could grow them here. The highlight of my week was going to a garden centre out there and seeing all the exotic things you can buy that you definitely dont see here in Hampshire. They bought a mango tree that had 6 fruits on before we forced it into the car along with several other plants, and had one fruit by the time it got home! Also they bought a paw paw tree for €5.75 what an absolute bargain, thats what the mango cost too, and guess what else, something I thought I would never see, my favourite nut, a macadamia tree also that price. By the next day they werent looking too happy being planted out in all that heat but I have my fingers crossed for their survival. It was a wonderful experience going there.

What a shock to come home to half of that temperature at Gatwick and rain. When I drew up into the drive though, my hydrangea had bloomed whilst I was away. I have a piccy for you, but dont know how to get it onto here, something else I have to learn hehehe! All this technology is fairly new to me, I take a long time to learn.

As soon as I dumped my luggage my first port of call was my girls (chickens), then the greenhouse. Woohoo I have some baby tomatoes, thank goodness for my neighbours watering and looking after for me.

Yesterday I went to Frensham garden centre. I like that place, they make the most delicious shortbreads for only £1 for a huge one. Their plants are healthy and the prices are similar to most centres. There is so much to see there its well worth a visit. They have a good range of acers my second favourite trees (I think I have about 8 in my garden).

I go to a garden centre every Wednesday with two friends of mine, and we always eat out there too, there must be about 18 that we go to regularly. If any have any bargains I will let you know of them although I know that most of you are in Spain. Hopefully we have some English readers too. Guess what, yes its raining again, thank goodness its summer else it would be worse!!!

Okay peeps Im going to love you and leave you, enjoy your gardens, catch you again soon, take care, Gill.

New Campo Girls Author

Hi all,

Just thought I would introduce myself, my name is Gill and I am Campo Girls mother in law. I love plants and over the years have gathered a little knowledge about some of them, emphasis on little haha! I live in Hampshire on the eastern side and about half an hour from the coast. My garden is a typical size for a semi detached 1930s house, maybe slightly longer. I have a large patch for my chickens, a small greenhouse, a couple of lawns, loads of flowers and the rest looks like a bomb site. I would like to be one of those people who potter about outside every day, but unfortunately I border on lazy! I want my garden to be lovely with as little effort as possible. I adore flowers and trees but rarely pick them, they should be outside but am not aversed to someone giving me some from a shop, they have been grown for the purpose. Come to think of it, other than Mothers Day and my birthday, I never get any given to me now.

I am widowed and have been for over 15 years, my husband died young of cancer, and he would pick me meadow flowers sometimes, which of course these days I wouldnt encourage, as there arent enough meadows left. Every year he would stop his car when he saw the very first pussy willows and bring me a couple of sprays home, their lovely fluffy yellow heads always reminded me that spring was round the corner. Then when sticky buds were about to burst open, he never failed to bring me some home, something he also did for his Mum when he was a little boy.At Xmas he used to stop in a small lay-by just outside Four Marks where we lived to collect me a few teasles to spray gold and silver for the festive season. I have never picked any of these things since myself, then it makes it more magical that he did.

Okay folks, I have given you a very small insight of my love for flowers and hope to write to you all a lot more in the future. In fact next time I just have to tell you about my trip to a garden centre in Spain last week, the exotic things you can buy there that obviously wont grow at home. Take care all, see you soon, Gill.

Red Weevil Update

We wrote about the Red Weevil in 2008 and we wanted to give a quick update along with details where you can contact the Junta to have your palm trees checked and looked after for the future

Red Weevil in Spanish Palm Trees



Unfortunately the Red Weevil is now very common locally with the main victim of palm tree being the Canary Date Palm (Phoenix Canariensis), the Red Weevil has now spread to other varieties of tree which includes the Fan Palm (Whashingtonia Robusta).



If you find an infestation of the Red Weevil it is generally too late to save the palm tree, infected palms must be quickly treated if you are to save your beloved tree.

Death is caused by the larvae which burrow into and feed on the soft leaf tissue of the terminal bud, the tree's growing point. In many cases the tree is often beyond help but you can act now and help protect the palm trees that you do have left.

There are rumours that in ten years there could be no palm trees left in Spain but with assistance from the Junta de Andalucia you can have your palm trees treated every month to help protect against this nasty little bug!

Top Palm Tree Tips
Do not cut or trim your palm tree
Only purchase new trees from a licensed garden centre or grower, insist on a passport for the trees which is passed by the Junta de Andalucia, Conserjería de Agricultura y Pesca.

Have you had any Red Weevils in your palm trees? Please share your photos and stories with us!

Gardening in Spain: The Fruit and Vegetables

Well it has been a while since we managed to blog, sorry about that but life has been hectic with the web business and then we started another business selling portable power products including portable solar panels, our feet haven't touched the ground yet!

I decided I needed to take some time out of my busy schedule and tell you about the gardens of the campo girls just recently, I know I can speak on behalf of Gina also as she has been really busy planting and eating!


The last couple of weeks we have had a right good going over the garden, we have been organically weeding the vegetable area that we have allocated for growing fruits and vegetables, we have also learnt from our mistakes last year and have now organised it slightly better, a few things are still growing a little haphazardly but we are getting there.

Our vegetable patch now consists of:
Lettuce
Cabbage
Carrots
Broccoli
Lettuce
Tomatoes
Cucumbers
Peppers
Leeks
Raspberries (red and yellow)
Blackberries
Melons
Kiwis
Onions
Nectarines
Garlic
Mint
Pears
Pomegranates

Organically weeding the vegetable patch is keeping the soil really nice, fortunately the area of garden we chose to grow the vegetables and fruit housed 2 horses for many years so the soil is basically all passed through horses - great for growing!

Due to the weeding by hand all the soil is being turned over regularly and also we have different plants that pop up and continue to grow, some we have never seen before so we always leave them to see what is going to happen.


We planted small mint plants near where the septic tank lives (next to the shed), the plan was to get this to cover a whole area so when you come up the drive you don't see the tank or smell the tank you see and smell mint instead, this plan has gone really well and the mint is having a great time, the plants have already grown really big and they are very healthy! Bring on the Mojitos this summer ;)


We also have lovely hanging baskets on the terrace by the front door, I love the whole feeling in Spain at this time of year, the smells from the garden are gorgeous and all the blooms are wonderful to look at, in my opinion, very calming!