Warm hello from London!

[LillyRoseGarden]

Hi,

I was happy to discover this wonderful site and decided to join it. I am still finding my way around it, so few mistakes are ought to happen.

I am not a specialist, but have a good experience in growing vegetables and fruits and rearing small animals (rabbits, goats, chicken and etc.), all thanks to my grandmother who had a small self-sufficient holding back in rural Russia (weather conditions similar to Scotland, though in summer we get +42 sometimes) and my love for Biology lessons at school.

I moved to a house with a garden not long ago and going mad developing my garden at the expense of house improvements. I just find it so relaxing and satisfying to see new plants growing and doing well after working hours and hours in London. Unfortunately, my dog thinks otherwise. She has eaten my bay tree, gooseberry bush and edible ferns. Now I have to encase almost any new plant in a wired circle until she (Huge black lab) gets used to it and is no longer interested.

So far, I have got apple trees, pear tree, cherry tree, almond and plum tree; goji berry, honeyberry, blackcurrant, red currant, gooseberry, blueberries, edible ferns, grape vines, tea tree, bay tree, citronella lemon, roses and lots more to come.

I dream of moving in several years somewhere rural and have acres of land to rear animals, grow herbs for potions and lotions and enjoy home crafts (knitting and sewing). Scotland and Wales seem appealing, but I hate cold winters!

I will be glad to make new friends and exchange tips on gardening.

[Darwin.]

Hey there,

you're growing a lot of stuff there, I've never even heard of edible ferns before. You must have a huge garden.

I had two pure bred German Shepherds and had to choose between them and the garden, the garden won so I gave them away. They ruined thousands worth of stuff around the house. I'll never have a dog again even though I love them.

[veggiechicken]

Hello Lilly and welcome. Your garden sounds delightful with all those fruit trees. Lets hope we have a good summer so that you can enjoy your fruits

[LillyRoseGarden]

Let's hope for the best. Winter was patchy and cold, so hopefully summer will have few hot spells!

[LillyRoseGarden]

Ah, my favourite breed of dogs! I am hoping to have a German Shepherd eventually too and somehow manage a garden and naughty dogs.

[Verinda]

Hello Lilly, welcome to the forum. I think your dog will loose interest eventually. Your garden sounds wonderful, you will be very healthy with all that lovely fruit to eat!

[Farmer_Gyles]

Ah, my favourite breed of dogs! I am hoping to have a German Shepherd eventually too and somehow manage a garden and naughty dogs.

I've got 4 dogs .... HUGE yellow lab, japanese shiba inu, short haired jack russel, and a patterdale terrier ... the patterdale is a very naughty puppy, keeps going on my veggie patch .... she's only after the fox that lives under my shed, but she tramples veggies ....

[Bigmallly]

I moved to a house with a garden not long ago and going mad developing my garden at the expense of house improvements.

Welcome to the vine Lilly, so glad to see you have got your priorities right...........

[Two_Sheds]

Welcome, I'm sure you'll fit right in

my dog ... has eaten my bay tree, gooseberry bush and edible ferns.

What are you doing in the way of training her? Or are you just protecting the plants, and not training her?

[kathycam]

Welcome from another Londoner! Sounds like you're growing a lot of fruit. What were they the ferns, was it the fiddlehead ferns that James wong talks about in his book?

[out in the cold]

Welcome to the vine

I can vouch for it being friendly here, as I have been made to feel welcome, having joined the forum only recently myself

[LillyRoseGarden]

Funny enough, we have an urban fox coming to rest on neighbour's shed, my dog goes mad barking, but fox just ignores her. Lucky you, 4 dogs are probably handful, but so joyful!

[LillyRoseGarden]

Thank you, Verinda! We are all trying hard to create something wonderful in our own ways.

[LillyRoseGarden]

She is much better now, only new plants with no leaves need to be protected as she still thinks it's a wooden stick to play. She is 2 years old, so still in training.

[LillyRoseGarden]

I assume he wrote about ostrich ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris). I was going to post some salad recipes in my blog.