Daydream thread continues.....

RAS

alfie_1 wrote: »

i have seen a few bees around where last years "nested"....do i need to do anything ??? i would love to have them back.:D

Not a lot you can do given their location alfie. They really needed varroa treatment but you would have to dismantle the house to do that.

If you can get hold of some old hives, then I would be tempted to assemble a bait hive in the garden and see if you can persuade them or a swarm from them to take up residence there. They like something that has a previously used comb that still smells of honey.

Unless the kit has been out for a few weeks in the freeze, sterilise it with a hot air gun or acetic acid.

If you do get a swarm then treat them for varroa immediately as they have no brood.

Davesnave

ferretkeeper wrote: »

Anyone know how I can put a photo up if I'm not allowed to post attachments?

No one can load direct from their computer.

Load it on Tinypic and copy the code they give you straight into the page text here. That's what I do.

http://es.tinypic.com/

lostinrates

Rummer, Alfie I sent you links. . Rummer,I only sent you the one I thought you would be keen to see. Do you know anything about lines in the breed? I do not!

ferretkeeper

Thanks Davesnave - loved your pics BTW!:rotfl:

Here goes.....



It worked!

This is the little boy - he was cold the first night so brought him indoors. Next morning he came to bed for a wee snuggle and the cat joined us!

pink_poppy

ferretkeeper wrote: »

I've been planning my garden using some books I find amazingly helpful - Sarah Raven's Great Veg Plot, Mark Diacono Taste of the Unexpected, Geoff Hamilton Ornamental Kitchen Garden, Bob Flowerdew No Work Garden. I've also been enjoying GW again, shame there was no hour long Easter Special though?

I quite like the sound of that one

ferretkeeper wrote: »

I like the idea that the garden will be pretty and productive, I also like their ideas of concentrating your precious time on growing special things that you can't buy, or are expensive, or taste best when absolutely fresh. That's my plan, just need to prise myself out of the house and into the cold again :undecided

Me too ~ are you thinking of anything in particular??

Certainly sounds like you have your hands full atm, ferret!!

pink_poppy

Aww, the pic is gorgeous ~ happy families!! :j

lostinrates

Very cute picture.

Re hour long gw special.....not sure what they could have done this year....maybe a now to assess damage in your garden?

I am not sure our trees have done at all ok this winter. It's very stressful indeed looking at some of them.

ferretkeeper

pink_poppy wrote: »

are you thinking of anything in particular??

Poppy, the wish list is a long one! Everything from Mulberry and Medlar trees, to edible flowers, and unusual fruit like mini kiwis and blue honeysuckle (like blue berries but much easier to grow!). I'm looking out for perennial plants incl vegetables, to reduce the workload at this time of year. I'm esp looking forward to some asparagus in the new raised bed, I can make it mega free draining so it'll be happy.

I'm going to make a plastic roofed pergola (at some point!) against the huge west facing wall to give protection and extra warmth for ripening peaches/kiwis and toms/peppers etc that never usually do anything here.

I'm also going to try and help wildlife as much as poss, so early/late or winter flowering shrubs, things with berries etc. I've seen a few bees out here too, and even a lady bird sunning itself on a warm plastic shed thing, and there's nothing for them to eat yet.

Even if their plants are just ornamental it'll be good to give the brave creatures something to eat, they'll keep on top of pests for me, and the winter flowers often have a lovely fragrance (Viburnum, Daphne, Lonicera etc).

lostinrates wrote: »

Re hour long gw special.....not sure what they could have done this year....maybe a now to assess damage in your garden?

That's a really good idea! So many people must be looking outside in despair, the experts need to give everyone some fresh ideas and a bit of a boost.

They could also address this weird weather we're seeming to have more often now - tell us it's ok to start sowing later if it's freezing or bone dry or both, and things that just won't do as well as we're used to!

All my gardening books say I should have sowed this and that months ago and only one or two really said to watch your own garden and make sure conditions are right.

Weather patterns have changed a lot in a few short years :eek:

Itismehonest

ferretkeeper wrote: »

Weather patterns have changed a lot in a few short years :eek:

Yes, the weather seems to be changing enormously from that which we have known.
Apparently we're down to freezing again tonight (one pond froze last night again) but it will feel like minus 6. Tomorrow we can expect some rain & snow - oh joy.

I think GW might have a problem advising people what to do as nobody really knows what's happening & whether this is a pattern going forward or just a blip.
They're all used to the old cycle of seasons & planting, harvesting etc. so are in much the same situation as everyone else.
Unless things are being grown indoors with some heat I doubt that much will survive to flourish. Even then it will depend on what weather we get from now on. If it's another year of wash-out rain only watercress is going to be a winner

I've been looking around at the farming forums. They're in the same boat on a larger (& more financially involved) scale. Nothing is coming up. What's there is grey. Birds have stripped anything which looked promising. It's a fairly depressing read. Unfortunately, it isn't just the UK, either.

lostinrates

Itismehonest wrote: »

Yes, the weather seems to be changing enormously from that which we have known.
Apparently we're down to freezing again tonight (one pond froze last night again) but it will feel like minus 6. Tomorrow we can expect some rain & snow - oh joy.

I think GW might have a problem advising people what to do as nobody really knows what's happening & whether this is a pattern going forward or just a blip.
They're all used to the old cycle of seasons & planting, harvesting etc. so are in much the same situation as everyone else.
Unless things are being grown indoors with some heat I doubt that much will survive to flourish. Even then it will depend on what weather we get from now on. If it's another year of wash-out rain only watercress is going to be a winner

Yep, it was bitter here last night, all the troughs froze and the lagoon.