Daydream thread continues.....

lostinrates

It's amazing the regional differences maggie.

We have had snowdrops for a little while, and heelbores, and the sweet box is going over. The japenese quince I noticed the firt flower had opened yesterday. We have primroses out, and a couple of days ago I saw three daisies!


When the garden is 'awake' and the days not too grim we start our weekend (either first thing when dh gets home (a landmark in the year for us, when it's light enough or too dark to) or first thing Saturday with what we call 'garden tour'. We walk round just enjoying everything squealing at new things opening, doing a little dead heading as we go, and just taking time to enjoy it. It's after all why we have it. We usually take a glass of wine or a cuppa tea with us, and the pets.

Davesnave

Nothing has stopped growing here this winter and I'll have the strimmer/mower out within days now. We had primroses around Christmas Day, I think.

Not that I'm rushing. Last year, early sowings were attacked by greenfly and the later ones I did soon caught up. So, although the first tomatoes are up, I've only just done the seed orders.

This is my second day of rest. On Monday I picked up a thorn whilst clearing stuff in the stream and my finger was very sore through yesterday. Today it's better, but I've enjoyed watching the wind drying everything out and plotting a double bonfire for tomorrow. There's a rehearsal tonight, so I have to make sure I have enough energy to be totally overbearing and fierce.

Head work hurts, CTC, but it often pays dividends later. We did the final tweaks to the design for the bungalow today and sent them over to the architect so that he can get on with submitting them. I expect he's relieved to have us 'neutralised' at last!:rotfl:

rhiwfield

Blackthorn is nasty stuff!

Actually went out briefly and bought/planted a rosemary to replace one lost last winter. Lamb on the menu tonight and I didnt vanish in a puff of smoke

Although we are sheltered from N-E winds here we are exposed to westerlies and our aspect is not ideal, so we dont expect to be first when things start flowering.

Rummer

Itismehonest wrote: »

Some others I used to have in my herb garden were:

Bay (OK - expensive but should last for years)
Bergamot
Borage (be careful it self seeds like mad)
Chamomile
Chervil
Coriander
Dill
Fennel
Hyssop
Lemon balm
Lovage (grows to an enormous height so put it somewhere you can provide support)
Oregano
Parsley (flat & curly)
Rue (careful, it can be a skin irritant)
Salad burnet
Winter & summer savory
Sorrel

& the stuff with the furry leaves used for coughs :rotfl: The name escapes me at the moment but it will surface eventually

Edit: Horehound! Knew it was in the old memory somewhere.
Don't go for wormwood (absinthe) a) it stinks & b) is another one that is invasive.
There were others (I had over 50 sorts) but I can't remember any more at the moment. If I do I'll let you know.

Oh you are so wonderful thank you! There are a few things there I had been meaning to plant like chamomile, dill and fennel. Just to pick your brains a bit further when it comes to herbs should I buy seeds or plants and if plants do you have a recommended supplier?
Most here have been grown from seed or bought at the local garden centre for pennies at the end of the season.

Some good news here today, we are one step closer to achieving our dream life

Itismehonest

Rummer wrote: »

Oh you are so wonderful thank you! There are a few things there I had been meaning to plant like chamomile, dill and fennel. Just to pick your brains a bit further when it comes to herbs should I buy seeds or plants and if plants do you have a recommended supplier?
Most here have been grown from seed or bought at the local garden centre for pennies at the end of the season.

Some good news here today, we are one step closer to achieving our dream life

Great to hear your good news, Rummer.

I have always done some of each - seeds & plants.
Some things are easy to grow from seed but others are less so.
A lot of the time I waited until local garden centres, DIY stores or supermarkets had offers on their herb plants. Personally, I preferred to plan out a herb garden with actual plants & then replace as necessary by growing from seed or taking cuttings.
Some herbs are harder to find than others so, for them, it was a case of what I could find & where I could get them.
It's really all down to personal choice.

Where once I had large areas devoted to herbs, nowadays practically all my herbs are in pots not too far from my back door - easier to maintain. With the wet weather of recent years I'm pleased I went that route. Most herbs (particularly the mediterranean types) like free draining soil & not too much water. It's really only the ones that escaped & self-seeded that are around the land now. For instance, the soapwort looks a picture when it's all out in bloom but would be a problem if competing with other herbs in a more confined area.

Rummer

Thank you Itisme I will have a good look and see what my local garden centre will supply and see what things will grow from seed. I really want a large herb garden

alfie_1

alexie.......... do you like looking at car boot sales ??? if on ....:cool:

and are you allergic to dust ???:o
the answer will determine what i spend tomorow evening doing !:D

Alexelisey

alfie_1 wrote: »

alexie.......... do you like looking at car boot sales ??? if on ....:cool:

and are you allergic to dust ???:o
the answer will determine what i spend tomorow evening doing !:D

YES to the first question, no to the second - do NOT put yourself out for me, my house is full of cat fluff and usually has plaster dust all over the place. I've had to sleep in a mouldy bedroom before (here very recently) so PLEASE don't go to any trouble!

I am very excited now! :j:j

Oh by the way this visit is my early birthday present (it's the 14th) so boot sale would be somewhere for me to find myself something cheap!

COOLTRIKERCHICK

Alex my youngest has the same birthday as you:beer::beer:

I wish i could meet up with you too this weekend, maybe in a few months if Alfie doesnt mind we could all meet up at Alfie's place.

stitching_witch

COOLTRIKERCHICK wrote: »

Alex my youngest has the same birthday as you:beer::beer:

I wish i could meet up with you too this weekend, maybe in a few months if Alfie doesnt mind we could all meet up at Alfie's place.

I'd come too; she's not far from me. I'm pretty sure I'm half way between Alfie and LIR