Awful weather - typical Brits talk

twopenny

Well me too. They know about their plants and will give you a call back if there's something not in.

The cafe is cosy and friendly too. Surprised no one has complained about their chickens but I love them.

They have a small but very good aquatic area too.

And yes, I find people I know prefer to walk around the 'goods' in the fancy one.

I tend to buy things I don't need at that one, like the rampant hybrid helebores that are giving me a problem now 

Our nursery, that I used for decades, used to have chickens, dogs cats birds around. I miss that but like me, they got old and poorly and do by phone only. Not the same.

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
All this talk of bags of compost Arb meant I had to get off my bum and check out how  many bags of YBE's soil I have left over from last year. I currently have three plus 2 bags of the gravel I removed from so much of my garden last year. I am thinking of digging a pond this year so think that may be the source of soil for the rest of my garden for a chunk of the coming year.

Love the mountains pic Lunatic - I thought it was Yorkshire so epic fail there. Welcome to the thread - I am still very much a newbie but have been made most welcome

Glad you're back PP and rocking some fab pics of the Loch - I love to see slushy ice in water (not just alcoholic drinks obvs!). Hope you are well and treating yourself kindly.

Sounds like you've been busy on the old DIY front -taff it's so empowering isn't it getting things done yourself without having outside help! I've amazed myself at what I've done over the last 15 years of being a single parent on very limited funds! 

Sorry you've been proper poorly 2P - I do hope you are taking things really steadily. Look after yourself. The pics showing the storm damage are shocking - I know it'll regenerate naturally but it is still brutal seeing the pics initially.
I'm battening down the hatches for this weekend's predicted storm up here. 90mph winds I heard for some parts - not us though we are predicted a sedate 60mph by comparison.

I'm glad you are being industrious rather than contrite and sitting on the naughty step Dusty - we have to make hay while the sun shines don't we. I'm back working full time again (have been since June '24) and already feel behind with all my prepping jobs - the lack of light on an evening is a major contributor to this feeling. Although it was light at 7.45am this morning when I was walking Rome0 so the difference is now tangible and I feel very happy about it!

I don't visit Morries GC Farway - I did about 4 years ago and the local one was well stocked and I bought some hostas which have settled in very well to the shady side of my garden. I use a "mom and pop" GC and they open at Easter and close when their stock is gone. It's very well priced and you have loads of choice so I'm saving up a little slush fund so I can make the most of my visit over Easter!

Right I need to crack on, work has been a bit busy for me this week - I am not complaining though  as it means my weeks go by quicker and it won't be long until I can get into the garden after work (and start digging that pond!!).

((WM))
 

ArbitraryRandom

Oh no 2P - I hope it was something isolated and no more trips back to the hospital in your future. 

It's amazing what nature can do. I remember when I was maybe 6 or 7, of the big trees in the local wood came down. Rootball must have been at least 5 foot wide/tall. I used to walk with my grandad almost every weekend and we used to stop and use a stick to dig some of the mud away from the roots every single time for literally years. I went back in 2021 for the memorial service (he died during the plague times) and I'll be damned if that root ball wasn't still there, still covered in a ton of soil... 

Nothing outstanding to report here. It's cold, and I'm a bit knackered, so something warm and easy is cooking in the slow cooker. I think an early night and a book are on the cards. 

-taff

 Arb, as I doscovered to my and my plants cost, mushroom compost is alkali. If you are going to buy it, buy it and put it somewhere where you can leave it for a year, or be prepared to grow lots of brassicas in it. I would put something in, it would grow really well for a few days/week then brown off and die. Happened lots of times before I twigged...I'm with Farway on the Levingtons and I am going to continue to be naughty until the ban proper i think judging by the results from peat free.

I am now chucking the cat littler [ wood pellet based, poo flushed away] on the front garden as mulch because i really don't want to landfill it... Yes, i am very contradictory in my recycling and environmental wotsits...

2p, that's pants, seconded hoping this sin't a recurring thing. And that is a proper devestated scene happening there. I'm not a fan or walking round goods unless they're gardening related tools or string or pots or things like that. Twee signs can do one along with mugs and things wot don't belong...

Dustyevsky

Gosh, 2p, you must take it easier, and maybe get yourself checked over at the health centre, if it's something that needs looking into / monitoring. Mrs Dusty went today for 4 different problems, and while nothing will happen immediately for any of them, at least she's now on the 'lists.'

Those upsetting scenes at Watersmeet have been duly noted, and we'll avoid for now. They'll need to do lots of clear-up before the tourist season. 

twopenny said:

If Dusty is reading have a look at GW Special 3 about 35mins in.

I looked, and it was a chap making dead hedges with old Christmas trees. That didn't appeal to me, but then we were shown an old stump which was rotting gracefully and providing minibeast homes. That was more in my line! We have 3 of those, and more on the way:

The stump photos were taken today, near where I had the bonfire. Sunshine, blue sky, and a tolerable 4c.  Not long after I took them, the barn owl flew along the hedge in the background and dropped onto something in the grass. Annoyingly, my camera was then 25m away, so I crept over to it, but when I popped-up behind the stump above, there was no sign of Owly.

Dustyevsky

-taff said:

 Arb, as I doscovered to my and my plants cost, mushroom compost is alkali. If you are going to buy it, buy it and put it somewhere where you can leave it for a year, or be prepared to grow lots of brassicas in it. I would put something in, it would grow really well for a few days/week then brown off and die. Happened lots of times before I twigged...I'm with Farway on the Levingtons and I am going to continue to be naughty until the ban proper i think judging by the results from peat free.

Yes, lots of chalk in mushroom compost and the texture isn't great. I also found the Levington OK last year. Checking out the local GC recently, I noted they still have Erin compost from the Emerald Isle, which proclaimed, “Reduced Peat!” Of course, I read that as "I still have a fair bit of peat in me!" so I'll be buying a few bags!

Farway

Dull & gloomy again, and from forecast this is the best we can expect until storm thingy arrives

I was hoping to sneak out & get a photo of my fresh daff buds, but it's far too gloomy for that

I like those stump photos Dusty, the more upright one would have potential for any wood sculpturing, I can already see head & arms in there

Dustyevsky said:

  I also found the Levington OK last year. Checking out the local GC recently, I noted they still have Erin compost from the Emerald Isle, which proclaimed, “Reduced Peat!” Of course, I read that as "I still have a fair bit of peat in me!" so I'll be buying a few bags!

You are not much younger than me, so no doubt you also remember those huge bales of compressed Irish peat we could buy?

Searching shows still available, but minimum quantity & transport may be problem

I saw in my trawl nice high class trolling, after being lectured about not using peat for gardening, blah blah, one poster replied he would stop using it for gardening and just stick to burning it in future

No gardening today, I still want to dig up the sedum clumps, but weather is not playing along

Dustyevsky

Working_Mum said:

I'm glad you are being industrious rather than contrite and sitting on the naughty step Dusty....

I know you meant that kindly but IMO contrition shouldn't apply, unless someone has broken the law by encouraging hatred or advocating violence. Freedom of speech necessarily includes the possibility of offending others with different views. This was always accepted by academics in the West until quite recent times.  As this isn't an academic discussion site, the people who own it make their own rules. I try to fit in, but it doesn't always work!

Back down to earth, and OT, we currently have heavy rain and very blustery wind. I thought I heard thunder, but Mrs Dusty, who was hurriedly retrieving her bird feeders, said it was a plane. Either way, it's quite a turn-around from 08.00, when our delivery of logs arrived in dry and relatively calm conditions. Half of them are in the wood shed now, but the other half need more splitting, so they'll probably stay outside until the middle of next week. It matters not.

Farway said:

I like those stump photos Dusty, the more upright one would have potential for any wood sculpturing, I can already see head & arms in there

Dustyevsky said:

  I also found the Levington OK last year. Checking out the local GC recently, I noted they still have Erin compost from the Emerald Isle, which proclaimed, “Reduced Peat!” Of course, I read that as "I still have a fair bit of peat in me!" so I'll be buying a few bags!

You are not much younger than me, so no doubt you also remember those huge bales of compressed Irish peat we could buy?

Searching shows still available, but minimum quantity & transport may be problem

I saw in my trawl nice high class trolling, after being lectured about not using peat for gardening, blah blah, one poster replied he would stop using it for gardening and just stick to burning it in future

Wood carving? I've just replaced my bar & chain at a cost of around £60, so the prospect of meeting stones and mud in those stumps doesn't appeal right now, and I doubt I've the talent to produce a recognisable sculpture. Frankly, any day when I return from chainsawing with all appendages attached, is a good one!

Yes, I do recall the peat blocks, and the fact there were 2 qualities, related to whether it was sedge or sphagnum based. I'd willingly forego peat, if results hadn't been so dire at times over the past 5 years or so. I've mentioned going over to a soil base for growing-away, so it'll only be for seed sowing that I'll use the Erin. We're so lucky here, having unlimited supplies of light, well-draining soil. It's just a matter of getting the mix right. I can use any compost with that, even recycled. Last year's tomato compost always goes for flowers/shrubs the following year, and the industrial microwave is our friend! 1980s and still going strong....

pink_poppy

Thanks, W_M, just got Monday to get through and then we can hopefully move forward.

lunatic, I've only ever been to North Wales once and it was beautiful. Definitely on my list for a revisit.

Sorry to hear you've not been well, twopenny. Are you feeling any better now??

Dusty, you sound as busy as ever - hope you manage to get through your list of jobs. Ps don't tell anyone that we burn peat...

Weird that there's been talk and pics of fallen trees. We were on a forest walk on Saturday and there were loads of fallen pines (??) I know they only have shallow roots, but the width and height of the root system for each tree was huge (pic doesn't do justice)...


I also liked this mossy 'ring'...


I'm not so keen on our mossy roof - I really need to get this removed or have a go at removing it myself...



We have yellow, amber AND red weather warnings for wind tomorrow. We're cat-sitting, so unfortunately we're going to have to venture out twice - I'm not looking forward to that    Stay safe anyone who is in the path of Storm Eowyn.

twopenny

You're roof moss could be gone with the storm Poppy. I know a lot of ours gets washed into gutters

Otherwise encourage the birds. They like to scratch for and do a good job sending it flying off.

It does show you've got good insulation up there though.

Dusty you have the makings of a stumpery. That would be a fun thing to do with only the initial effort to stick them together. I'd love one of those, so good for the birds and beasts and ferns.

https://www.gardenmyths.com/stumpery-garden-ferns/

Not a chance of gardening, we've a bit of wind but it's raining now quite a bit and 7c.

It was so dark this morning but has brightened up even if you don't want to go out in it.

I was hoping to get the bench that's out front, coated in something as yesterday when I didn't have time it was perfectly dry at last

Also need to move the front Hidcote lavender that has gone straggly into a deep hole out back to get it rooting for cuttings. I even have the spot! New plants to go in for my mini hedge.

TBH the front looks quite cheerful at last. With the storms having taken all the winter jasmin flowers, leaves off lavender and roses and the clematis not really big enough yet the back is a bit dismal.

The pots have only been randomly left what with one thing and another.

Buds are growing on the purple plum tree.

Poppy thanks for the thought but no, still feeling poorly. We have no doctors, you ring at 8am for a maybe appt with whichever locum of many, happens to be in so I feel I'll leave it and stay in the warm and rest. Oddly, I'll give them a visit when I'm feeling a bit better and up to facing a random stranger and a dismal waiting room.

Sun is coming in the window now, they say rain will stop this afternoon..............