**Insert witty diary title here**

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redofromstart said:

I should, of course, try growing some to cut.  I did manage a whole bunch of daffodils this year (Thalia, white, scented)  but only because they got snapped when we trimmed the blasted evil monster pyracantha. 

sounds like we need to add those to our list @redofromstart
I quite like our Pyracantha, our resident female black bird (Trouble) has enjoyed eatting the berries off it along with turning over the bark chippings for worms - Mr M_F declared this morning that Trouble has a boyfriend - he has been named Mischief.

foxgloves said:

Thalia is a lovely daffodil. They were on 'Gardener's World' last night & Mr F suggested we get some bulbs for planting in autumn as they are quite different from all the other daffs & assorted narcissi in our garden.
F

@foxgloves.  We record it and watch on a nice morning or afternoon.  The gin is flowing this evening so may save it for tomorrow.  

redofromstart

I like the berries, etc and the birds love it but it is an inherited plant that grows up a metre high stone wall, maybe five metres long.  Its an absolute cow to prune and pick up the trimmings, and I m of course allergic to it.  There was another one growing up the south facing stone house wall that was maybe 3m x 3m - of all the things you could grow in that situation, a pyracantha and a pineapple broom tree?!  I replaced them with clematis, a winter flowering honeysuckle (fragrantisimo) and a thornless climbing rose zephirine drouhin.

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Oh dear redo, I can see where you are coming from.  The pruning is a pain - literally!

foxgloves

Oooh, I'll make a note to look in Wilk*s in the autumn. Thanks for that, Redofromstart. We like Barnsdale too. Had hoped to visit this Spring, but not much chance of that now. Never mind, it can be something for the future.
F

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We visited Barnsdale a few years back but found it disappointing.  When we visited a couple of the gardens seemed neglected and they seemed quite strict on no picnics so had to eat ours in the car.  Maybe its time to take another look -subject to lockdown being revoked of course.

Seasidegal58

The discounted flowers are a lovely idea - never thought of having them delivered direct to home before.  I hope you're successful in your bid to recreate the flowers by seed. 

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redofromstart said:

ooh if there is a heads up on a flower discount code I am interested.  Love cut flowers, but am generally too much of a miser to indulge.  Always envious of @doingitanyway and her bargain bunches.

Sorry @redofromstart I forgot to answer this.  If you just google Marks Flower Subscription it offers you 20% off your first order.  I cancelled a day or two after my bunch had been dispatched.

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Seasidegal58 said:

The discounted flowers are a lovely idea - never thought of having them delivered direct to home before.  I hope you're successful in your bid to recreate the flowers by seed. 

I ordered some seeds when we brought M_F Mil some marks flowers for Mothers Day - Sarah raven are dispatching them as and when they have them just waiting on the plug snap dragons now.  This bunch has similar flowers but its also got off white astromelia's which look lovely so I may have to get some of those.  The flowers are lovely but at £20.00 each if you have the subscription a bit too pricey to justify on a regular basis.

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I have been neglecting my diary lately but intend to get back to regular posting.
Todays activities:
Spent some time in the garden - Mr M_F did quite a lot today He tided the lawns (front and back) including the edges and sharpened the tools as he used them.  He got on and did most of the weeding (missed a few but I got them with the fiskers weed wand thing).  He even got rid of all the overgrown grass on the paths and stepping stones.
Meanwhile I got on with sowing a few more seeds and moving the strawberries into a planter we made last year.  We had enough strawberries to fill an extra trough for M_F Grandchild so that will be kept safe until the lock down is over.
Sowed some more seeds for my cut flowers and sowed some beetroot and shard along with some lettuce seedlings I'd sowed earlier to make baby leaf salad.
Lunch was a lovely salad wrap with vegetable fingers (Crusty home made cobs with ham for Mr M_F_) and a nice piece of HM Iced sponge.
After lunch we nipped to get fuel for the working week and whilst no queue at Mr S stocked up with compost, frozen veg and various other grocery items.
This afternoon has consisted of making cranks nut roast (currently in oven) - I added some roasted butternut squash ,mixed peppers and broccoli -and was quite please to make half a tiny jar of HM Raspberry Jam.
We are now enjoying a nice glass of wine whilst Mr M_F cooks the rest of the dinner.
Unfortunately grinding the nuts for the nut roast blew my cheapo hand blender so I have ordered a more robust one from the Rain forest on the internet.

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I have to also confess to buying a food mill for jam whilst getting the hand blender. I used to own a plastic one which I brought back from france but it went a while ago.  It took ages to sieve the seeds out the raspberries and this will allow me to make more seedless jam from whatever fruit I can lay my hands on.  I don't like shop brought jam unless its the expensive stuff.  Homemade you can lessen the sugar slightly and make to your taste.