Daydream thread... without the rose-tinted specs

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

I think Bissetii is supposed to be one of the best screening bamboos, but it can be a bit naughty....

https://www.bowdenhostas.com/products/Phyllostachys-bissetii.html

I am slightly opposed to bamboo, one of my parents was keen with the kind of fervour that's off putting.

But they are useful and have many virtues. ATM, besides walking cane ( which was never grown in my family gardens in fact, its quite a recent introduction to uk, I.e. Few decades) I am thinking of three others, one of the black canes, but not sure which and a clue of borindas, one with white canes and one with greyish/purplish/blueish ones.

The sound of bamboo rustling is beautiful. More than the look IMO. In fact I plan to put it behind small deciduous trees for screening and so will see it in off season more.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

This.

A previous home had a few walnuts, very mature. Never saw one of the nuts that I can recall right now. Saw plenty of squirrels though.

We planted a walnut here, in a hedge line. I shall check it this weekend. I doubt we'll see it fruit.

There are trees in Somerset that yield well, because we buy wet walnuts direct from them if we're around when the harvest comes.

Our tree at the end of the willows produced 8 nuts in 2012 despite being in a bad position/state. Last year none, but it wasn't squirrels.

We think it will go in the extended chicken orchard, so at least we'll get useful shade!

lostinrates

Davesnave wrote: »

There are trees in Somerset that yield well, because we buy wet walnuts direct from them if we're around when the harvest comes.

Our tree at the end of the willows produced 8 nuts in 2012 despite being in a bad position/state. Last year none, but it wasn't squirrels.

We think it will go in the extended chicken orchard, so at least we'll get useful shade!

This was Somerset. Not far from somewhere We have discussed on the thread before, not where you knew me being just before here though, further west a little.


One of the best gardens we had as a family IMO, nice orchard, nice hazelnuts, the walnuts were beautiful if not productive, beautiful veg garden, including established beds like asparagus.....

But lots of squirrels!

moneyistooshorttomention

LIR,

I have a walking pole very similar to Trekmates Wanderer Walking Pole (see Amazon.co.uk) for details of. Mine is an expensive German brand one that cost me 4 times as much, but looks very similar to this.

I don't need a walking stick and would refuse to use one if I did iyswim (as I regard them as being something that people who are both old and unfit use, hence I obviously cant in my mind), but wanted something for Going For A Walk specifically.

I am not keen on people who really need walking sticks using walking poles normally, as it brings out a "I'd better throw my walking pole away then, as some people might think I'm really using it as a walking stick and see me as being old/decrepit" and muddies the divide between "obviously young and particularly fit" and "obviously old and not fit"...but I'll make an exception in your case:)

lucielle

Morning Chaps, need some help. I've got puppy photos on photobucket and then what do I do.......
L

I_have_spoken

Copy and Post the IMG image link

lostinrates

moneyistooshorttomention wrote: »

LIR,

I have a walking pole very similar to Trekmates Wanderer Walking Pole (see Amazon.co.uk) for details of. Mine is an expensive German brand one that cost me 4 times as much, but looks very similar to this.

I don't need a walking stick and would refuse to use one if I did iyswim (as I regard them as being something that people who are both old and unfit use, hence I obviously cant in my mind), but wanted something for Going For A Walk specifically.

I am not keen on people who really need walking sticks using walking poles normally, as it brings out a "I'd better throw my walking pole away then, as some people might think I'm really using it as a walking stick and see me as being old/decrepit" and muddies the divide between "obviously young and particularly fit" and "obviously old and not fit"...but I'll make an exception in your case:)

Teehee, thank you.


I don't need one all the time, but when I do I do! People think I'm odd at parties hanging off DH or sitting entirely ..what they don't realise is often I have no choice:rotfl: I have a folding one in my handbag for if I need it.

I found clear acrylic ones I liked but DH doesn't like the idea of me having a 'pimp stick' :rotfl:

Rummer

Some of these look lovely my mum uses a stick and has a few different ones.

DawnW

lostinrates wrote: »

Sounds like a different bamboo, though I think this one is as spreading.

Your oh makes walking sticks? Any pretty ones? . ( on perpetual search for sticks that don't make me feel older than I am but aren't gaudy)

He uses native woods, antler and ramshorn, and they tend to be bought by country sports set type people as a rule, not an elderly image at all, but not the 'walking pole' type either. He supplies a few hunting lodges / country sports shops and upmarket gift type shops, and makes different kinds, either ideas he comes up with himself or things that people ask for. Some people like the plain thumbstick type made with antler on a hazel stick (young country sports types tend to like those, perhaps because they look good with tweeds and aren't very expensive, as they don't take long to make), and others like the ramshorn ones or carved wooden animals or birds, and more interesting woods like holly or blackthorn. Some are very pretty - he yesterday finished polishing a handle in the form of a trout, made from ramshorn. Some are more boring, such as one waiting to be finished which has a small magnet set into the handle for picking up spent shotgun cartridges. This one was for a specific order I think. No two are ever the same as they are individually hand made.

I wouldn't say they are gaudy - he wouldn't usually paint the natural materials for example, not unless someone particularly requested it (and then he would moan :rotfl:). He generally finishes them with linseed oil or wax polish. He often takes one himself if we go somewhere like a country show. People who 'need' one as opposed to using one either as an accessory or for a hearty country walk, or simply like having a couple in a nice umbrella stand in their hall because they like the look of them, tend to choose a type which is not too fussy, and has a good grip for the hand, and often ask for a non-slip rubber ferrule to be fitted on the bottom, instead of a metal one which could slip.

lostinrates

DawnW wrote: »

He uses native woods, antler and ramshorn, and they tend to be bought by country sports set type people as a rule, not an elderly image at all, but not the 'walking pole' type either. He supplies a few hunting lodges / country sports shops and upmarket gift type shops, and makes different kinds, either ideas he comes up with himself or things that people ask for. Some people like the plain thumbstick type made with antler on a hazel stick (young country sports types tend to like those, perhaps because they look good with tweeds and aren't very expensive, as they don't take long to make), and others like the ramshorn ones or carved wooden animals or birds, and more interesting woods like holly or blackthorn. Some are very pretty - he yesterday finished polishing a handle in the form of a trout, made from ramshorn. Some are more boring, such as one waiting to be finished which has a small magnet set into the handle for picking up spent shotgun cartridges. This one was for a specific order I think. No two are ever the same as they are individually hand made.

I wouldn't say they are gaudy - he wouldn't usually paint the natural materials for example, not unless someone particularly requested it (and then he would moan :rotfl:). He generally finishes them with linseed oil or wax polish. He often takes one himself if we go somewhere like a country show. People who 'need' one as opposed to using one either as an accessory or for a hearty country walk, or simply like having a couple in a nice umbrella stand in their hall because they like the look of them, tend to choose a type which is not too fussy, and has a good grip for the hand, and often ask for a non-slip rubber ferrule to be fitted on the bottom, instead of a metal one which could slip.

They sound beautiful.


I had thought of a staff rather than a stick ( partly because keeps me thinking up rather than down if that makes any sense, and partly because would work with lots if heights of shoes :o) but then I thought I'd just look like some crazy witch. :o



My main stick is an adjustable folding one. I really dislike it, but its practical. . The only thing is I often think people must wonder why I stop and checnge the length. I cannot imagine coping with one stick length. I change length for even different flat shoes, but also, sometimes half way through a day out, I think that means I am probably between the lengths to be ideal on those days.