Garden Diary - Page 2

13 September 2007
It is still raining every day. Some heavy thunders and rainfall came in the last few days. Some of my flowering shrubs look a bit tired, with droopy flowers. I hope they will pick up once the sun is out.

For a while now I have been wondering what to do to brighten the compound wall. It has pillars with a nice little ledge. Ideal for hanging plants. The trouble is I could not find a plant that would withstand the sun all day long. I have now potted two containers with asparagus and it looks very effective.

07 February 2008
A lot happened since my last entry. I have been away in UK and now the New Year celebrations are over, I am back to my website. I wish all a very happy New Year, lots of success with their plants.

My garden is growing! We are now in the dry season here in the Gambia. It is our "winter". The climate is not kind to plants at all. First, there was the Sahara wind, lots of it bringing dust and dry air. Lots of plants not happy. Now, things are starting to settle. It is very hot mid day, but cooling in the evenings and early mornings. My garden misses the humidity of the rain season. But all my efforts to create moisture pay up. The usual tasks in the garden are cutting the grass, keeping the edges trim and turning the soil to keep it moist.

I have managed to locate a fallen baobab tree. My good friend and expert gardener, Mr Bailo, has let me in on his best secret - baobab makes the best compost ever. Of course, it has to be weathered by one or even two rain seasons first! This one was perfectly ready.  I hired a lorry and couple of strong lads, and, pronto, the compost is ready to be used. I feel very happy for my plants. Nothing in nature goes to waste,: tree falls down, worms etc and rain work through it, humans use it in their garden.

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