Daydream fund challenge part 4

lostinrates

Hello!

We received our first plant purchase of the year yesterday.

When I was younger I really hated honesty. I thought it was drab and boring. I think having bought some to plant either shows maturity and greater appreciation or a sad sign of getting old! I think maybe it was all the dried seed pods in disused fireplaces in uk that put be off, even though the seed pods are the best bit!

alfie_1

lostinrates wrote: »

Hello!

We received our first plant purchase of the year yesterday.

When I was younger I really hated honesty. I thought it was drab and boring. I think having bought some to plant either shows maturity and greater appreciation or a sad sign of getting old! I think maybe it was all the dried seed pods in disused fireplaces in uk that put be off, even though the seed pods are the best bit!

lovely "old fashioned" plant....;)


ive got my first, for many years, spider plant ! remember the chrochet hanging pot holders with the plantlets whacking you in the face in the bathroom ? :rotfl:
I have 6 likkle plantlets growing on mine so far... fortunately on a window sill in the utility and not head height ...


ive also bought a ceiling clothes airer thingy on a pulley.... im turning into my GRANNY !!!!

Fay

Davesnave wrote: »

I agree with alfie about using carpet, or any other strong material you might find for pathways. We have a path behind some of the herbaceous beds that started life as the very thick bitumen stuff used on flat roofs. It's almost indestructible.

Fay, that fence will look less overbearing in grey. Makes me wonder if my oil tank hiding fence might be better in a colour.....but I'll clothe it with plants anyway.

Thanks Alfie and Dave. I saw an allotment yesterday with beds raised up from the paths I.e. They had dug out paths which were about 8 inches or so below the soil. So raised beds without the raising if that makes sense? I could then line the paths with carpet or weed membrane and like you say, move the beds if I wanted to. I like this idea much more than permanent raised wooden beds. Thank you.

The fence will definitely look better grey. It will disguise the patchwork of wood and help it match the rest of the fence in the garden which is already grey. It's also a great background colour and greens really pop against it. I'm looking forward to doing the fence and arbour, reshaping the beds and getting lots of muck in.

Today it's warm here but grey and damp. It's not raining or drizzling but just damp in the air. I was going to turn my compost and get my chillies started but I'm going to see if it dries up at all. Just not feeling it today lol.

lostinrates

Fay wrote: »

Thanks Alfie and Dave. I saw an allotment yesterday with beds raised up from the paths I.e. They had dug out paths which were about 8 inches or so below the soil. So raised beds without the raising if that makes sense? I could then line the paths with carpet or weed membrane and like you say, move the beds if I wanted to. I like this idea much more than permanent raised wooden beds. Thank you.

The fence will definitely look better grey. It will disguise the patchwork of wood and help it match the rest of the fence in the garden which is already grey. It's also a great background colour and greens really pop against it. I'm looking forward to doing the fence and arbour, reshaping the beds and getting lots of muck in.

Today it's warm here but grey and damp. It's not raining or drizzling but just damp in the air. I was going to turn my compost and get my chillies started but I'm going to see if it dries up at all. Just not feeling it today lol.

Won't sunken paths turn to mud on top of the carpet or just have the soil back wash back down onto them if not supported and everything become level or lumpy?

Fay

Well I thought that LIR but I found an article in the telegraph I think, a few years old, that said it's a good method. So I'm not sure. Might try it and see how it goes?

lostinrates

Fay wrote: »

Well I thought that LIR but I found an article in the telegraph I think, a few years old, that said it's a good method. So I'm not sure. Might try it and see how it goes?

It will be wonderful to find out how it works for you in practise! .

Some of our raised beds are just held in loosely with breeze blocks and rubbly bits which we instead to make smarter with covering in the future, with a planned cladding of copper :eek::D. But not yet, its more important to get the plants than the cladding for for me. .

We have privet in flower. Each year I think it cannot get odder,....then it does. Passionflower all winter, then privet in January.

Davesnave

lostinrates wrote: »

We have privet in flower. Each year I think it cannot get odder,....then it does. Passionflower all winter, then privet in January.

And the birds were all singing tonight like they think it's Spring.

I warned them, "it's only January!" but they didn't take any notice.

Countryfile's from North Devon, so I'm off to watch.....:D

I_have_spoken

Pretty quiet with me, just loads and loads of letters...expecting rain on Tuesday mind.

Lost a couple of minnows, both had been looking a bit iffy for a while so have doubled-down on maintaining the tanks.



Now that's snow (Washington DC)!

choille

When I've made raised beds I've had to riddle the earth & the little stones went onto the paths for drainage. The beds were built up using well rotted compost & sheep dung with the earth minus the stones.

Traditionally here they used to make lazy beds which are anything but. The are long & thin so you could reach across to weed/plant/dig up etc. The edges were built up using upside down turfs that had been dug out to form the bed. I did one but it seemed to be infected with rack grass & I ended up digging out the turf sides & using wood.

Mild here & very windy - got a couple of loads of washing out, but it's to go all torrential later so keeping my ear & eyes out.

Just given a 2nd coat on the windows in utility & they'll need a third. The Satin Wood doesn't seem to cover like it used to. Just gonna do a 1st coat on the hall window as might as well since the tin is opened & the brush is used.

alfie_1

hi all....


ive wallpapered my bedroom wall....:j
must admit I am very pleased an its not as OTT as it looked on the roll.. just got to sort curtains/blinds and get the new carpet down...
bailey [pup] decided to help me.... ate wallpaper glue, ran off with paste brush, chewed wallpaper cut offs and bounced up and down when I stood on a chair ! he is nuts but adorable too