Awful weather - typical Brits talk

alicef

I'm loving looking at all the pictures!  @pink_poppy your plant is, I think, Himalayan Balsam - an invasive plant.  Should be removed where possible.

Dustyevsky

alicef said:

I'm loving looking at all the pictures!  @pink_poppy your plant is, I think, Himalayan Balsam - an invasive plant.  Should be removed where possible.

“Where possible” being the key words there!  They've tried near me, but it keeps on keeping on. Kids love the exploding seed heads, though!

Monster impatiens are maybe not very useful, but I came upon a mutant blackberry last night. Here's an unexpurgated, untweaked picture:

OK, it was in a pack of M&S 'Victoria' blackberries!

It didn't rain, nor was there any thunder here yesterday, but I just escaped a huge downpour up Barnstaple way at 17.00. It looked to have drifted across from you, 2p.

I still haven't had the van back. After asking for an update, the lady at the garage volunteered herself for a mission to obtain a thorough one, returning with the news they were still "waiting for a couple of bits."

Loving the suggestions for actions to counteract the NIMBY neighbours 2p, but for now a quotation from our deeds will suffice, along with an assurance the trees' fate will be decided before they get anywhere near the height restriction mentioned therein.   Aluminium sulphate? Oh, flocculation....I see! Better not go there!

Farway

Dull now, rain maybe later?

Plan was up to volunteer spot & water the large pots, but rain was sprinkling and forecast is “maybe” so decided to leave it to nature

Pic below of Shepherds' Warning with free pigeon

Instead, I prepped & stewed a load of my apples, these are the early unknown ones, taste great for a bit, then go to cotton wool. They are huge this year, some the size of grapefruits. 

Not sure if caused by weather or fewer apples actually set this year despite the tree full of blossom in Spring?

Anyway, apples are now stewed & ready for packing in pud size portions for freezing

PP, nice shrunk picture, could the caterpillar be a Woolly Bear? And agree with others, Himalayan Balsam,

Dustyevsky said:

alicef said:

I'm loving looking at all the pictures!  @pink_poppy your plant is, I think, Himalayan Balsam - an invasive plant.  Should be removed where possible.

“Where possible” being the key words there!  They've tried near me, but it keeps on keeping on. Kids love the exploding seed heads, though!

I confess to being one of those fascinated kids, remember it well, River Colne, near Iver. It was so unexpected finding exploding seeds with a huge patch of exotic [to us] purple flowers. 

Even then, my future self pocketed some seeds to grow at home. Failed, of course , wrong conditions, but I never knew that.

Bad luck on van, hope the “bits” arrive soon. I went down a YT rabbit hole on Wet Belts, what a horror story and more reasons to be thankful for older, non-improved, cars.

That blackberry looks a god one Dusty, had to search for Victoria of course, sounds good. I may see about buying a plant, but I'd guess expensive for now.

However, my Helen ripened and sampled yesterday. A bit sharp for me, but it does say it needs leaving to fully ripen, when it then goes squidgy as picked , which is why the fruit are never in shops!

Here's Helen

Shepherds' Warning with free pigeon

twopenny

Your lake is lovely Poppy and the screenshot worked well. I'd love to walk around there.

And the blackberry flowers are superb! I'd like a photo on my wall it's so joyous looking.

Hi Alicef, nice to see you

Farway, I've spent some years doing the family tree, largely on the freebe Ancestry at the library but when I tried to go back to it that site has changed and it's not so easy or informative to use. I could get the full site but then I'd be working totally on my own. We have been farmers mostly since 1300 and over several villages I've found records. As I have a lot of documents and interesting stories it was facinating. Locally it's a bit of a mismash where they want local history and such and people are there more as a general chat.

Yes Dusty, that downpour came from us. It was quite an enjoyable one from sitting inside and no sign of the thunder or downpours forcast today - I think it's waiting for me to set off to town. That was naughty with the blackberry  

I'm not going to mention gardening proposition for today as every time I do it rains or some such. Suffice to say, some information please?

I need to pot on my Clematis and Rosemary cuttings - I have JI3 and the awful tomato growbag stuff. I was inclined to the JI but wondered if I should mix the two? Opinions if you will.  

alicef

thank you @twopenny for the book recommendation.  I made rosewater recently, though not with rainwater, (my trug contents looked rather grubby) - I pinched the OH's distilled water.

pink_poppy

Thanks for the plant id, alicef - I've heard of Himalayan Balsam, but never knew that's what it was. Luckily it's not in my garden, but I've seen a few big patches of it in different places around the village. I love the idea of exploding seed heads    

That is a monster blackberry, Dusty, was it you or Mrs Dusty that got to scoff it??

Farway, do you freeze the stewed apple?? I've still got loads of apples that were gifted by lovely neighbour, but don't know what to do with them once stewed (apart from have it with porridge, but it's been too warm for a hot breakfast) If I could freeze some in portions that would be good if it worked.
Your brambles look tasty - I had a few squishy ones yesterday and came back home looking like I'd murdered someone.
That's a lovely pic with the photo-bombing pigeon.

The 'framed' photo was of a sea loch, twopenny, so lots of swirly movement but so peaceful. We were actually driving past in the car and I asked my DH to stop so that I could take a quick pic out of the window.

It's another warm and sunny day here - we've had day after day of sunshine and warmth, with spectacular sunsets every night for about a week

Dustyevsky

pp's getting far too good at this photography lark! Look at that loch; still as a millpond, and beautiful muted colours reflected in it.

Farway's desert is another place I'd not weed in shorts, but I'd guess very few weeds germinate in there. Certainly not Himalayan balsam, which loves the riversides here.

I'm not sure about the compost, 2p, but I'd expect JI3 would be OK 'watered down' a little with something lighter.

No rain or thunder here today; in fact, it's quite pleasant. I've been going around with a paintbrush, getting 'up close and personal' with some brambles and other weeds noted in the past few weeks. Also visited the market in the village this morning, to prove I still exist, buy a few preserves and gossip. Now I'm about to treat the chicken shed......if I can beat the rain!

Did someone mention apples? These are a Cox type and almost ready now. We have loads of cookers too.Would you believe I was so much on autopilot while shopping on Friday, I bought 6 Braeburn for £1.69 ! Only realised when I got home & Mrs D said, “And what are these for?"

pink_poppy

I bought some apples from Aldi that were identifying as Cox's, but they taste nothing like they used to. I know we've had this conversation before, but I do worry that I'll forget how Cox's apples used to taste years ago. What do you mean by 'Cox type', Dusty?? The ones I got from Aldi were grown in Kent.

twopenny

The best Cox apples I've had where in a box outside a house in a village. Amazing flavour. I'm guessing they came from an old untouched tree.

That's really upsetting Dusty considering I've had the last 2yrs Cox stolen off the tree when I've waited 5yrs for them

Poppy, I freeze some stewed apple in paper cake cases then put in a bag. That's for pork chops and such. I used to freeze in portions on a tray when I had a fast freeze function. I've also made some apple chutney which is quick. Next to be made is mincemeat which has apples. It's soooo easy, no cooking just chopping and leaving and the house smells gorgeous for days. I also use all this autumn stuff to use up years left over dried fruit and nuts going hard as it's always soaked in juices and maybe an alchoholic beverage so no problem.

Sea loch even better, I have to see the sea every day.

Alicef, I'm glad you found the book useful. Lots of free ways to make scents other than buy the chemicals.

Well the rain waited till I'd hung the washing out and got my coat. Began as drizzleish - 10mins later it was monsoon season with leaves blocking drains it was a flood in town - wet feet right through shoes, washing soaking. By this afternoon when I was dressed for winter the sun came out in the thick mist and I swealtered. Out of 5 weather apps none got it right.

Dustyevsky

pink_poppy said:

I bought some apples from Aldi that were identifying as Cox's, but they taste nothing like they used to. I know we've had this conversation before, but I do worry that I'll forget how Cox's apples used to taste years ago. What do you mean by 'Cox type', Dusty?? The ones I got from Aldi were grown in Kent.

They look and taste like they might be Cox's, but we've no ID, so they may be something similar, like Ellison's Orange. The flavour isn't as strong, but I don't mind that. Apparently, Kent isn't the best place to grow Cox's now, thanks to global boiling. Their relatively short keeping time is another thing that's made true Cox apples much harder to find.

twopenny said:

That's really upsetting Dusty considering I've had the last 2yrs Cox stolen off the tree when I've waited 5yrs for them

Don't worry, we're being punished in other ways. Our fine crop of walnuts is fast disappearing. I'd rather have those!

Walking friend was up your way, visiting a castle today, so I expect I'll hear about the monsoon you also mention!

I managed to paint half of the chicken shed, before the fake eco-creosote ran out. Still no rain....