Irene Brazier Memorial Garden

Irene Brazier Memorial Garden - news

The Irene Brazier Memorial Garden is no longer in use. Irene's rose will be moved to another location. Colin is working on another allotment on Nun's Moor, associated with the People's Kitchen, on Saturdays. Gardening together offers companionship - sangha in action, a therapeutic space, as well as fresh air and exercise, not to mention the fruits (and vegetables) of one's labours! Colin would welcome your involvement either regularly or now and again - do contact him on:
Mobile: 077173321
(Updated January 2008) Phone: 0191 263 2146 this landline is no longer in use

Summer Sun

Firstly I would like to give my gratitude to Sujatan for the use of this site. Also may I wish Sally well as she continues with her work in France.

Here in Newcastle, the sunshine, apart from the odd shower, has been almost relentless. The long hot month of july reminding me of my childhood. Many hours spent playing football in the local park. The annual family holiday, which was more often than not spent in Blackpool. The six week school holiday period always ending too soon.

As for the allotment the veg' has been growing rapidly. Cabbage, Sprouts, Broad Beans, Leeks, Cauliflower, and Potatoes have been ''enjoying'' the sun. However,the Sprouts have been infested by aphids. The lavender plants that Sally planted last season have been revealing their scent as the warm summer breeze has attracted the bees that dance from plant to plant. Hovering above the sweet scented flowers for a while before landing gently.

Irene's rose is in ''full bloom''. The deep red flowers are in abundance. The lady birds making regular visits ensuring that the aphids are kept at bay. The imasge of Irene with her secateurs reminding me that the bush will need pruning in a few months time.

Rachel and myself have planted two rows of marigolds along the side of the red path. Underneath Irene's rose, we have planted another three heathers that have given some much needed ground cover. Namo Amida Bu. colin

Memorial

The P.L.G will be meeting this weekend at the I.B.M.G. In harmony with the Amida Core Community we will be paying our respects to the life of Irene. To mark the occasion we will be planting a bush/shrub as a symbol of rembrance. A reminder of the love, friendship, and heart felt warmth that Irene gave to those who had the good fortune to have known her. Namo Amida Bu. colin.

That time of year again

It feels good to be back on the allotment. The warmer weather has finally returned.

Sally and myself have began the gardening season by planting potatoes, Home Guard and Nadine are the varieties we have decided to try for this season. In the coming weeks we shall be planting peas, broad beans, cabbage, and  leeks. Although the soil has improved it will  require a lot of hard work to improve its quality. A vast amount of stones have surfaced during the winter, this clearly not helping the soils overall condition.

Irene's rose has made it through the winter months. The buds are appearing, preparing to release their hidden secrets. No doubt  revealing an abundance of beautiful colour that will show through the summer months.  Namo Amida Bu colin      

Seeing through the gardener's eyes

During this time of the year, Irene, like myself admired the beauty of the frost covered garden but also felt slightly frustrated at not been able to spend time actively working the soil and tending to the young plants born to the earth once again. Waiting patiently for the time to begin the pruning and planting of the seeds that signaled the warmer brighter days of spring after a long and at times depressing winter.

Winter beauty

It's seems to have been a very long time since the warmer day's of summer. When the allotment was bathed in the sunshine revealing all of its glory. The plants and vegetables growing rapidly taking in the sun's rays. Since then the soil has only been showing its weeds, the weeds just surviving through the damp soil battling against the cold and frosty nights of winter. However, although the allotment plant life has been still the ground from where those plants grow has continued to show its beauty. The crisp white frost that has covered the site has been picturesque when the sun has managed to penetrate the gray winter clouds that have hung over Tyneside during these winter months.  Even though the day's remain cold the allotment still offers its beauty as the north east wind blows, the light snow flakes falling adding to the allotments offer of beauty.

Namo Amida Bu. colin

Lovely to see you Rachel.

Last Sunday morning Rachel and myself lifted some of the few remaining  potatoes from the allotment. It is lovely seeing  Rachel back here in Newcastle.

The garden is now looking  fairly bare given that the winter and its long dark nights are almost upon us.

However, dispite my slightly gloomy thoughts, about the rapidly approaching winter, the happy memories also continue when remembering the laughter and also the sharing that we, The Pure Land  Gardeners, have shared throughout our gardening endevours. Those memories which are a joy to hold. Namo Amida Bu. colin.

A welcome splash of colour

The 'scent' of winter is rapidly approaching as the day light hours become shorter.The main growing season is coming to a close. The memories of planting the young plants are begining to fade as most of the potatoes and all of the leeks have been lifted from the soil. Taken straight to the kitchen to be cooked and then served straight from the pan.

Irene's rose bush has flowered again. The bush revealing two beautiful deep red roses.' The rose bush sitting in the middle of the richly coloured heathers that have grown well since having been planted during the early summer months.

The insects are less visible in number now as the cold autum breeze drifts around the area. The leaves from the trees that hang high at the rear of the garden russtle in the breeze loosening the leaves that glide to the ground, gently falling, finally resting on to the soil below. This process feeding the 'hungry' soil that has given so much during the season allowing mother nature to be able to provide such wonderful plants. Namo Amida Bu. colin

 

Potatoes

Last Sunday Sally and myself lifted some potatoes from the allotment. Overall the potatoes, if a little small, are fine. In the true spirit of community we have shared the potatoes with other Amida Newcastle members.

At this period of the gardening year it is pleasing to see that the soil has contninued to improve. Where the vegatables have been the heavy clumps of clay have been broken down. This process leaving the soil richer and easier to turn. Irene's rose has blossomed throughout the summer adding much needed colour to the area. The heathers and the rockery plants have continued to spread as they have sprang into colour. Red, white, and yellow sprigs flowing in the breeze.

This week we are having ten bags of soil improver delivered  to the allotment this hopefuly helping the soil throughout the winter.   

Look at these beauties!

Here are Sally and Colin with some wonderful leeks - the first harvest from the garden - and part of my lunch tomorrow, I'm delighted to say.