Awful weather - typical Brits talk

goldfinches

@Farway - lovely white violets, we have those here in our garden grass too and just occasionally I catch a faint waft of scent when the sun is very warm and the air is still.
I spent this afternoon wandering around the Botanic Garden here admiring the magnolias which are at all stages of buds and flowering depending on variety and location in the site. Some of the Stellatas are just coming out now and the Soulangeana crosses just need one more sunny day to be really breathtaking. I saw lots of bumble bees visiting the hellebores and the bugle but here is what really caught my eye.

I love the purpley blue of these polyanthus against the tulip leaves and the hyacinths that are coming through are dark blue too but I couldn't find any buds to give me an idea of what colour the tulip flowers will be (hoping not yellow). 

[Deleted User]

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

... and you can buy those in B&M 😋👍👍👍

Farway

Bit dull out but promised sunshine later, depending how it goes I may prune the buddlia that has been waiting patiently for a haircut

Should the promised spring weather show up this week I'll start hardening off the radish, peas & cosmos started under glass, and maybe sow some dahlia seed left over from a year back, just to supply a bit of in fill for the volunteer border, be a shame to waste them

Davesnave

I too have about 15 buddleias in pots that need a haircut, but probably not today. I have grass to mow and I might dare to clean the car up a bit now the extreme ploughing has been done around here and the lanes are a little less like the one in this James Ravilious photo.

Apodemus

That looks like my driveway on a good day!     Then the rain stops and the weeds start growing!

greenbee

I have buddleias to dig up and shove into the hedge where they will do something useful. And lots of other stuff. But I have to work first so I get paid... 

My brother came over today to pick up some furniture that was stored in my garage during their move. He's going to come over one day after work with some wire and help me put wires across the top of the pergola. I must make a list of everything that needs doing and put it up somewhere obvious He's still working up here a couple of days a week, and I think he's keen to do something in the evenings other than work late/stare at the walls of his room. If that means I have some help with some of the DIY/gardening I won't be objecting... 

twopenny

The sun has been hot here, tee shirt weather in the back garden. Everything is racing away even Clematis has leaves and buds - yes, buds!

Spent the afternoon moving plants, enlarging borders now the pains kicked in and I can't get up to cook dinner. Hope they survive because there was not gap between storms, snow and sunshine. Nearly killed off some waiting in pots because they dried out so quickly.

I've got the other half to do tomorrow even if it's on my hands and  knees. Never before has painting been on my wish list, so much easier.

Was supposed to be finding a plumber (tried 8 so far) but the little bit of planting that was supposed to be over lunch time was far too nice to be rooting around for tradesmen and getting refused

goldfinches

@Davesnave - lovely photo. I've got his mother's book on my wish list at Persephone Books (https://persephonebooks.co.uk/products/long-live-great-bardfield) but hadn't realised that their son was a published artist too and have now found An English Eye at my local library and reserved it under their Click and Collect scheme. Thankyou for the suggestion, goldfinches.

Davesnave

Glad you like Ravilious's work, goldfinches. I occasionally pop one of his photos on here. He did most of his work after I left here as a young man, but there's a great familiarity in it for me.

Off walking with my friend in the woods today and tomorrow it's Rosemoor with DB, so suddenly I'm living it up! Yesterday I mowed, mowed and mowed...

RAS

Ravelious moved down after our family left but not a lot changed in the decade before he started photographing. So the images are very much what I grew up with, both in Devon and when I moved back up here later. We were on the southern edge of his interest and a good few properties were modified hall houses. The post war period hadn't been kind to the farming industry and properties were not well maintained. These days they go for £XXXK