My gardening diary, ( amongst other things)

ani_26

Still very cold here this morn, 0 degree c. Back to meter watching, for me. 35p's worth of heating is as far as it goes for me, in the mornings. Lets hope the sun decides to put his hat on, and warm this place up, today? Still, the smart meter is excellent if you are obsessive about watching the actual money you are burning? Obsessive about everything, me. That's just my personality. :rotfl:

It was such a balmy, ( 7 c) afternoon, yesterday, i decided to do some outdoor gardening. It wasn't particualrly in my non existent plans, but ne'er mind. Most of the soil is now like sand, and i've been neglecting the outdoor garden, (because it's been incognito as white stuff for so long,) and i've focused my efforts on the indoor garden. I tend to forget why i have an indoor garden? :rotfl:

It's far too soon to be planting although maybe i should plant Ms Prim rose and ula? In the sand? They were looking distinctly down in the mouth, so i gave them a good drink. G and T's all round, minus the G. Well, rain, (and therefore more of the white stuff?) is on it's way? I managed to rid the back and half of the side garden of that evergrowing, all year round, all season, all weather, singing and dancing plant, which continues to grow and defies all obstacles, that wonderful living thing, THE (drum roll, ) Well, i won't mention it's name but it begins with a W and ends with a D. Bar stewards, they are, (along with the sc's.) It takes much more of an effort than it did last year, and i seriously need some help with the gardening. I want to get it right, as they say, this year, as the plants i now plant, i intend to be the completed plan for the garden, so i don't have to keep buying 'stuff' (namely plants.) :rotfl: Apparently the previous occupant was always redesigning the garden. Got it looking beautiful, and then dug it all up and started again? No ta very much. That is definitely too much hard work, for me.

At least it gives me some small sense of achievement, as everybody who walks past my garden (both indoor and out,) makes comment, although most of the outdoor garden was the previous occupants achievement, at the moment. Being out in the garden yesterday, has finally given me a small amount of thankfulness for this place, as a whole. I was extremely fortunate to get this place, and even though it has needed many repairs, overall this place has been cared for, over the years. Could be worse? Some free light entertainment in the garden yesterday afternoon, by way of birdsong, happily chirping away.

ani_26

I'm more overwhelmed by the indoor garden, right now, i've bitten off more than i can chew? Overwhelmed, is that much used word? In my wisdom i decided to consult one of the gardening books i acquired from charity. All of five minutes i spent perusing. Propagation, pinching out, pricking out, potting out, planting out, it's a never ending list of P's? I suspect the poached eggs need to be pricked out opposed to potted out? No, i still haven't dealt with the poached eggs. Nor the sunflowers in elephant poo. However, the sunflowers are still merrily bursting through plastic bag. Oh dear. On a positive note, i have whipped, caned and pinched sweet pea. I need to think about repotting pepper?Although i have peppers in abundance, maybe now isn't the best time to repot? I have 10 peppers, although i'm unsure whether they will ever grow to required size? I Definitely need to repot the two new plants sprouted off the main plants? Guess what? The remaining pepper seeds i sowed, are now seedlings, too. Peppers in abundance? They are definitely at home on south facing window sills........:rotfl:


I forgot. I DID buy two more plants on saturday, (although very cheaply.) They wouldn't be anything BUT cheap.

ani_26

Primula gold laced :-





Probably another of these hybrids?


The garden will be magnificent if i ever get anything planted?


I need HHHHHEELLPPPPPPP :rotfl:


I need an expert garden designer. NL, Peeeeequant.......................


Someone?

ani_26

I don't know what i'm talking about as the senetti are definitely senetti and not cineraria. I've seen some cineraria today, and they have a much smaller flower. :rotfl:


I had to go out for an appointment today so i decided to do a food shop. £18.46 later, and not much food later................... I'm now the proud owner of more azalea, purple, red and orange to add to my collection, and a white rhododenron, and a cistus sunset.


Cistus sunset :-








Didn't do very well there, did i? Didn't buy much food, then? I'm not going food shopping again, this week. I'm sure i'll manage. I've enough fresh fruit, pulses, lentils, etc,etc to last me the week. I've taken to buying fresh, fresh fruit, this last couple of weeks. It makes a change from err, not so fresh, fresh fruit, and is a real treat.


I'm as proud as punch, today. I've done some more gardening, despite the fact it's freezing cold again, and the wind chill factor? Brrrrrr. I can't warm up, now. Still, the garden is starting to look like it did when i moved in. I've finished the back and sides. Weeded all the patio pots, cut back all the plants hanging around here, there and everywhere, (except the plants gone into hibernation.) These were mostly the hardy fuschias which i'd fogotten i have. After cutting back, i could see signs of growth. There's also signs of growth on the 'outdoor' lupins. Won't last for long that, will it? I've also cut back the passion flower climbing thingy? After i saw a neighbour cutting theirs right back, i decided to follow suit. After all, theirs grew and flowered, last year? Didn't it?:rotfl:


Just the front garden to go now. This is the worst as it's grown moss as it got flooded, last year. Oh, i forgot about all these plants indoors. How could i? I'll wait until it rains? They are proving the most challenging as all the seedlings now need repotting, before they go outdoors. I should have thought before i sowed seeds?


I'm now getting more serious about gardening, to the point where i'm looking at gardening books. Oh dear. I've decided i should draw a plan of the layout of my gardens, so i can remember where everything is? I should also seriously plan where all my new friends will reside. Oh dear. Ne'er mind. Once the garden is finished, it's all maintenance.


Isn't it?


Time to get warm. Brrrrrr................

Piquant_2

Not buying anymore plants?? Really? Ani, we are addicts!!

I love the cistus, they are so beautiful. I want one too! The flowers are like tissue paper, so very delicate looking.

Boiling water from the kettle kills off moss very easily. It then scrapes off with a trowel or knife. I use boiling water on weeds that try to come up in the cracks in the path

It's good that your garden is making it's way back from the winter, most plants are very tolerant of the weather. I don't have any fushias, I might just have to obtain some cuttings....I remember my grandma always had a plastic bag in her handbag ready for any bits of plants that fell off as she was passing people's gardens:rotfl: I used to be really embarrassed, but now I'm thinking along the same lines

I read gardening books in bed:o

Pre-war_babe_33

Thanks for the tip about boiling water killing off moss Piquant. I will have to try that sometime, but not today as it is raining yet again. I think I will have to boil quite a few kettles though as my patio is quite large, some 30ft by 15ft but it will still be a lot cheaper than that moss inhibitor stuff.

Sounds as though you have enough plants for a car boot sale Ani if you haven`t room in your garden for them all. It could be quite a nice little earner for you and about the right time of year to sell them I should think. Have you got a car? If not perhaps you can ask a friend to take you for a share of the profits.

ani_26

Pre-war_babe_33 wrote: »

Thanks for the tip about boiling water killing off moss Piquant. I will have to try that sometime, but not today as it is raining yet again. I think I will have to boil quite a few kettles though as my patio is quite large, some 30ft by 15ft but it will still be a lot cheaper than that moss inhibitor stuff.

It's a great tip? Will be tried and tested, today.

I'm sure i also read somewhere, that if you add salt, was it? you can use it as a weedkiller? I'm sure i did, although my memory is not 100% on this one.

Pre-war_babe wrote:

Sounds as though you have enough plants for a car boot sale

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Pre-war_babe wrote:

Ani if you haven`t room in your garden for them all. It could be quite a nice little earner for you and about the right time of year to sell them I should think. Have you got a car? If not perhaps you can ask a friend to take you for a share of the profits.

I'm not selling my blimmin friends. Give away, yes. Sell, no. :rotfl:

ani_26

Piquant wrote: »

Not buying anymore plants?? Really? Ani, we are addicts!!

Well. There could be worse things to be addicted to?

Piquant wrote:

I love the cistus, they are so beautiful. I want one too! The flowers are like tissue paper, so very delicate looking.

When it's established i shall try and take a cutting, (i think i need the gardening encyclopedia here.)

Piquant wrote:

Boiling water from the kettle kills off moss very easily. It then scrapes off with a trowel or knife. I use boiling water on weeds that try to come up in the cracks in the path

This will be my task for today. If i have time, that is. Must get off tinternet.

Piquant wrote:

It's good that your garden is making it's way back from the winter, most plants are very tolerant of the weather. I don't have any fushias, I might just have to obtain some cuttings....

You're welcome to a whole plant. I have many..............:o


They were beauts last year.

Piquant wrote:

I remember my grandma always had a plastic bag in her handbag ready for any bits of plants that fell off as she was passing people's gardens:rotfl: I used to be really embarrassed, but now I'm thinking along the same lines

Hmmmmmm.....................

Now there's an idea?


I already suggested that about the local 'green' place. I think they thought i was being serious? Anyways, they haven't spoken to me since. :rotfl::rotfl:

Piquant wrote:

I read gardening books in bed:o

Makes a change from fifty shades of grey?

Pre-war_babe_33

Yes, sprinkling salt on the paths and then pouring hot water on it should do the trick and also help get those weeds that get deep into the cracks between the paving stones. Only use it on paths and patios though, not on the flowerbeds or you might find you have killed off your flowers too. The salt would stay in the ground for quite some time too so you wouldn`t be able to plant stuff in it either.

ani_26

Pre-war_babe_33 wrote: »

Yes, sprinkling salt on the paths and then pouring hot water on it should do the trick and also help get those weeds that get deep into the cracks between the paving stones. Only use it on paths and patios though, not on the flowerbeds or you might find you have killed off your flowers too. The salt would stay in the ground for quite some time too so you wouldn`t be able to plant stuff in it either.

I'm glad you told me before i tried the salt on the flowerbeds. Phew. Disaster averted. :rotfl:




Almost had a major disaster, yesterday. I'd left the sunflowers sunbathing without any refreshments. :eek:



Mouth to mouth resuscitation seems to have done the trick? Well, you know what i mean? Phew. Won't let that happen again. I must repot them, i must repot them.....................


Trouble is, gardening has now become too much of a mammoth task? I've overfaced myself with it all. :doh::think: I'm so tired today.