Awful weather - typical Brits talk

greenbee

While the whole bank looks pretty right now, it's hard work! Most of the time it's overgrown with grass and brambles. I'm hoping that some of the self-seeded foxgloves will like it over there too. The garden needs far more TLC than I can give it. Although lockdown and lack of work travel last year means I'm making a lot more progress than previously. 

Davesnave

You are way ahead of us 2p ; our forget-me-nots aren't out yet and we aren't tidy like you either, due to my exhumation of the quince and the tree peony. You're looking so presentable already!

This was DB earlier this week, still sorting out the herb garden-to-be:

Today, as it was so cold, we decided to pack up late morning and head for the chippy in the nearest bit of civilisation. They were very quiet, when I'd expected a rush at 1pm on a Saturday. Consequently, although I paid for two 'smalls,' we found they'd packed two 'large' which we couldn't possibly devour in their entirety.   We parked-up in our usual spot overlooking a wildlife area and the train line. A magpie was collecting nesting material and the rabbits barely looked up at the train going by.

A quick trip afterwards to Morrisons found us completely thwarted, as they were in the throes of a major makeover and 'non-essentials' like plants had been left out. So, off to the farmers' shop where DB weighed out 2 kilos of niger seed and I failed to buy the posh Melcourt compost I'd promised myself. Apparently they're not stocking it now, farmers being a tight lot!

Well, at least the goldfiches will be happy.....

twopenny

Wow that is impressive landscaping. Looking forward to seeing it planted. Guess you are too

If that's your herb garden it's going to rival Chealsea Physic! Lovage? Angelica? I miss those. Guess you can work off those chips with that size plot.

Neat and tidy lol...selective photographs

But when you have a small area with big windows framing it you suddenly think differently and need to make pictures. Especially when thats mostly what you're looking at each day. The white bird bath bit was a failed experiment. I can recomment multisurface paint if you want something to stick a long time.

Overgrown means wildlife Greenbee. Foxgloves are a great idea.

Farway

Another dull & windy morning, but the ornamental cherry opposite is hanging on to it's blossom so far, just as well because some of the blossom I thought would be out is still keeping it's head down

I'd love wild primroses but they seem to be one of the easy to grow plants that are picky in my garden, I did transplant loads from someone with a surplus & growing like weeds, but soon curled & crisped up once at Farway Towers

What I did notice at my volunteer place was lots of wild flowers in the "lawn", it is very poor soil, baked in summer and never fed. 

It used to be looked after, at a price, by "Greensleeves" I think when the general idea of garden was trimmed lawn with red ranks of marching geraniums in the borders before I arrived on the scene

Once the weed killing treatment stopped wild flowers, like white clover & bird foot tre- foil, appeared, and this week I spotted these along with the celandine, I think it's violets but wrong colour and I can't bend low enough to sniff it, looks nice though

Davesnave

twopenny said:

Wow that is impressive landscaping. Looking forward to seeing it planted. Guess you are too

If that's your herb garden it's going to rival Chelsea Physic! Lovage? Angelica? I miss those. Guess you can work off those chips with that size plot.

It's taken a year, on and off....mostly off. There's about £300 worth of wood there and the rest is just graft. Ideally, I'd have done the path edging in something stone-related, but money and time are tight and other paths have lasted 10 years. Beyond that is academic!

We have a lot of  herbs ready to go once the digging is done and some sort of internal path laid. I've got loads of slabs in a horrible yellow colour the previous owners liked, but I want grey. Does anyone know if cement stain works long term?

greenbee

@Farway - white violets, you’re very lucky! I have purple ones in with the primroses, snakeshead fritillaries, cowslips, snowdrops, cyclamen and bluebells that I’ve been slowly persuading to grow under the wild pear in the middle of the garden. 

twopenny

Yes, I had some once. Planted themselves under the washing line and were treasured. You reminded me that there are some wild scented violets down an obscure lane. I must see if I can get some seeds off them this summer. Remember Devon violet perfume? All the rage in the 50s.
Dave there was a thread on the diy forum about it yesterday. Driveway. Doesn't sound like it's for you can't link on my kindle.
Farway primroses like it shady in summer. They grow best under deciduous shrubs if that helps. So many growing wild around here in the woods.

Farway

twopenny said:

Yes, I had some once. Planted themselves under the washing line and were treasured. You reminded me that there are some wild scented violets down an obscure lane. I must see if I can get some seeds off them this summer. Remember Devon violet perfume? All the rage in the 50s.
Dave there was a thread on the diy forum about it yesterday. Driveway. Doesn't sound like it's for you can't link on my kindle.
Farway primroses like it shady in summer. They grow best under deciduous shrubs if that helps. So many growing wild around here in the woods.

That brought back memories of Parma violet sweets as well

twopenny

You can still buy them. I used to love them but slightly weird now. Also Beeches Violet Creams which I loved have come back.

Been trying to have a day just tidying up. Dave saying it looked tidy reminded me that there's always random stuff left around. Did a bit but it's so boring.

Oh, went to Morrisons and they have got lots more plants. Yep, I bought a lot of stuff that wasn't essential just because it was cheap and I can squeeze it in. Seem to have aquired a plant that I never knew I wanted. Also some Cosmos seeds, 2pkt large and 1 small @ 89p.

I did look at the seeds in the garden centre but at £3=£4 a packet.........there was the first yellow Cosmos out now too if you want to pay.

Davesnave

Farway said:

twopenny said:

Yes, I had some once. Planted themselves under the washing line and were treasured. You reminded me that there are some wild scented violets down an obscure lane. I must see if I can get some seeds off them this summer. Remember Devon violet perfume? All the rage in the 50s.
Dave there was a thread on the diy forum about it yesterday. Driveway. Doesn't sound like it's for you can't link on my kindle.
Farway primroses like it shady in summer. They grow best under deciduous shrubs if that helps. So many growing wild around here in the woods.

That brought back memories of Parma violet sweets as well

I remember the sweets, but not the perfume. By the time I was buying perfume it was into the late '60s and totally clueless me decided to play safe and gift my young lady the same one as Mum used....  Apparently, it was kinda old fashioned!!!   I've been reminded quite recently about that. She never let on at the time.

We have the bog standard Devon violets growing in the south facing hedge here and they spread into the field most years.

Thanks Farway; after doing more research I've decided to give staining slabs a miss! Research and housework is all I've done today.