Awful weather - typical Brits talk

wort

Dusty , like your dd mine would have come from work, sounds like the same firm 😉 I like the clipped tops of the apple orchard, appeals to my ordered mind 😂

Farway excellent news getting the trees for the verge, you are certainly doing your bit to prettify your town. Your description of the slugs sounds like a waiter asking how you would like them 😂

Pp the fried egg looking plants are primroses, they spread like topsy, some are paler than others, I was told they are a British native and that’s why they do so well. I’m not sure if that’s correct.

I have an appointment in town today which is an hour there and back walk, and then I’m supposed to meet a friend for a walk. The sun is out but there’s a chilly breeze ,looking warmer over next couple of days. I have washing to peg out so pleased about that.

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Dusty, Those trees at Clovelly will look wonderful in a month or so once the blossom opens

It's the sort of look I'm trying for with my old apple, but requires a few more decades of work on it.

Heard on the radio this morning, on a promise of slug free summer due to cold frosty winter & global boiling dry weather

The slugs either froze, drowned, or fried

I'll try to take Mrs Dusty to see Clovelly Court with me in May, or before/after the tourist season, anyway. It's easy walking....and cheap! I might even organise a visit there with the Garden Club, but that depends on how my selection for this year goes!

Our slugs are looking as perky as ever.

Well done to you and your council with the tree enhancements.

twopenny said:

I have a photo of a dog like Dustys.....

Your dog looks friend lier than mine, but it's allowed hairy bittercress to invade its patch!

wort said:

Dusty , like your dd mine would have come from work, sounds like the same firm 😉 I like the clipped tops of the apple orchard, appeals to my ordered mind 😂

DD's in VM. Loves it.... the corporate rules, not so much, but they put up with her!

I'm worried about showing Mrs D the apples in case she gets ideas. Ours are neglected. I neglected them again yesterday, deciding to have one last go with the chain saw on the streamside trees. The new neighbours still haven't shown up, so I thought they'd like to find it as I'd like it to be, with plenty of light getting through to the planting. Rather overdid things, but now we shall be able to see the waterfall properly, not that there's much water flowing currently. Still some tidying-up to do, and always another year for the apples.   Pictures of before and after in a few days.

Meanwhile (OT) lovely sunshine and 11c promised, but still with the keen easterly. A few pots of rejects  from DD's work:

Dustyevsky

-taff said:

So I've been the allotment. The fox has dug up nearly all the keyhole bed , probably because of the rabbit bedding in one layer,, I found a dead rat and thrw it over the fence into the dead ground,  I've sown beetroot, spring onion, planted out some comfrey [ bocking 14 dusty ], planted half the potatoes in the hay, well, on the ground under the hay [

Oh, no! Hopefully, the keyhole bed's recoverable, and the foxes won't be interested in your planting, now they've investigated?

At least you have the right comfrey. That one stays where it's put!

Must check out the YT vids you and Farway are recommending. I'm on there a lot, but not for gardening!

Farway

Sunny, bright, blue sky, but a wind that slices right through you. Supposed to be Summer from tomorrow onwards.

Checked the new Council tree planting, a perfect job, must have used experts. Staked, tied, chippings mulched. I have what looks like the crab apple opposite, I can just see a few blossom buds. I assume it was bare root, so I'll keep an eye on it, and thin if needed, should it go fruit mad this season.

The council flowering cherry is about to open up, with the sun & warmth promised it should be a picture by the weekend

Actually, next year the road could look lovely in spring, cherry, with neighbours huge magnolia, followed by Crab apple & Rowan

Doctors first thing, nothing serious, also got booked in for a jungle juice booster, on special offer for coffin dodgers

Up to Morries after, the garden area has more plants in. I was looking for something to help fill the new space, made by neighbour clearing out the manky sedge for me.

Some are on 3 for 2 option, £3 each or three for £6

I came home with oriental poppy, clematis & an everlasting sweet pea, all for £6

I'm hoping the clematis & sweet pea will scramble up & through my fjord bound buddleia before it finally snuffs it

Who mentioned primroses? Morries had loads, The large flowered posh ones. I was very tempted, at not too bad a price either.

It was just the thought of my vine weevils that deterred me.

Second batch of peas, for shoots, still with us, but not yet germinated

-taff

I would like to report that the carlin peas, which are a minimum of 13 years old, have germinated. Sadly the Alderman and the Serpette Guilloteau which are roughly the same age have not...They just smell like rehydrated peas which does not bode well. Pretty stoked about the carlin peas though...Seed saving can happen this year then

What a lovely bunch of pruned trees Dusty. I've foiled the foxes by putting wire mesh on the bits I've sown with beetroot and spring onion,finges crossed etc...

2p, well done with the painting. We have an expanse of fencing to do but OHs hands are still leprous so he can't do anything at the moment. I like your dog too. Both of them seem to be very well camouflaged.

Farway, your councils on the ball! everlasting sweet pea eh? Sounds just the job...hang on, do sweet peas and peas cross?

twopenny

Careful where you plant the perennial sweet pea Farway.

Once those roots are established there is NO digging them out.

But a great choice for flowers in the July gap etc and some to pick for inside.

I got mine from the roadside here where they grow in the verge.

Good luck with the netting Taff. Hopefully that will do the trick. What about a cat scarer, got mine from Lidl. Not cheap and then I worried it would scare the hedgehogs.

Sunny but cold today. Got a new spring for my favourite secateaurs?? as I lost the last one in a huge amount of lavender pruning and it cost a fiver, more than the implement!

That's the only garden related job. I did check out the price of pots for tomatoes and looked for a potato growing bag. None in this year

Just got back from a talk about photographing the coast which was very good. Not a hope of getting shots like that but I'll try and remember the tips.

Farway

Cold, but sunny & blue sky, supposed to get warmer today, hoping this is true, 'cos I would like to get on with a few bits outside.

twopenny said:

Careful where you plant the perennial sweet pea Farway.

Once those roots are established there is NO digging them out.

But a great choice for flowers in the July gap etc and some to pick for inside.

I got mine from the roadside here where they grow in the verge.

Just got back from a talk about photographing the coast which was very good. Not a hope of getting shots like that but I'll try and remember the tips.

Thanks for the warning, but the perennial pea I'm hoping will settle in near the base of the Norwegian Buddleia. It's a grim place, ivy & the manky sedge were the previous occupiers.

The front bit it will be in is bounded by paths & concrete. 

Hopefully it will settle in, be as tough as old boots, stand neglect & maybe dog poo, all the while lifting the mood of those who walk by on the footpath.

Photography tips, I try from YT, but don't have their patience, or bendyness TBH. Need the bend to get low, but I'd never get back up again. One use for flip screens, not ideal but better than nowt.

-taff said:

I would like to report that the carlin peas, which are a minimum of 13 years old, have germinated. Sadly the Alderman and the Serpette Guilloteau which are roughly the same age have not...They just smell like rehydrated peas which does not bode well. Pretty stoked about the carlin peas though...Seed saving can happen this year then

Farway, your councils on the ball! everlasting sweet pea eh? Sounds just the job...hang on, do sweet peas and peas cross?

Wow, that is some good news on the carlin peas. I looked them up because I'd not heard of that one. Well I never & knock me down wiv a fevver. Very interesting history.

Presumably, you will save some of them for seed?

Do you intend eating them as carlin peas, salt & vinegar etc, or eat the shoots?

Just checked my purple podded peas, some are germinating, but I can see a few are going yukky.

Probably put the survivors in tray with compost at the weekend

I don't think peas & sweet peas cross, but some edible peas are quite pretty when growing, no scent though AFAIK

Just looked it up, sweet peas are poisonous, not die instantly poison, but very toxic with amino acids

One to frighten pet lovers, also toxic to animals

If it warms up later, my gardening today is getting the new rhubarb potted up and maybe plant out the aquilegias, but my back is twinging so maybe I'll have to stop at rhubarb.

pink_poppy

Another cold and sunny day today - I'm really enjoying my afternoons in the garden (too cold/frosty first thing).

I would never have guessed those fried egg lookalikes were primroses, wort.

It does sound like your road is going to be looking lovely with the new trees, Farway, I hope your neighbours are appreciative of your efforts (if they even know it was you that instigated getting them).

I like those pots of (Nana) Muscari and cyclamen, Dusty, they're very cheery looking.

I've been weeding for the last few days (in the sunshine) and I feel like I'm making some slow progress. I've flattened the anthill mob area and am now wondering what to do next. The photo shows the area I'm working on at the moment - the dark soil at the back is the former ant residence and the raised soil to the left was just a mess filled with disintegrating plastic and thousands of stones and weeds. I'm thinking of flattening that too, the only problem being it's got tree roots growing through some of it. I've been thinking about covering the whole area with slate or gravel and using it as a seating area with pots dotted around. It would have been nice to have a greenhouse there, but the tree roots have scuppered that idea...


The two light coloured slabs will be getting removed and the other (ugly, but they're going to have to stay) slabs cleaned. I'm also thinking about taking some of the lawn away (the bit above the light slabs) and curving it around from the anthill bit to the ugly slabs, itms. I'm not sure what to do about the bit to the left of the raised soil though. At the moment it's full of stones and tree roots, but there are loads of bluebells popping up (alongside the weeds).

Does anyone have any ideas or thoughts on my rough plans - it's just vague ideas at the moment.

A couple more photos - a weird looking cloud this morning and a trio of wee birds pinching buds off a crab apple tree - I love the blueness of the sky on both pics...

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Wow, that is some good news on the carlin peas. I looked them up because I'd not heard of that one. Well I never & knock me down wiv a fevver. Very interesting history.

Just checked my purple podded peas, some are germinating, but I can see a few are going yukky.

Probably put the survivors in tray with compost at the weekend

I had to look up Carlin peas too. Somewhat disappointed to find no connection whatever with George Carlin, but as an occasional chickpea fancier, I think I'll try them.... just not this year. Too much going on.

Yesterday, I was going to finish off the streamside 'pruning' but the dodgy knee was protesting, and then old/new neighbour began doing stuff in his new-to-him field nearby, so I left it. He was just removing the lower limbs of the oak trees, as one should, to allow the passage of machinery underneath. However, it's still far from clear what he intends to do with the land. At around midday, I noticed a 200litre blue barrel of the kind we use for water storage appear, which just confused the issue even more. He's not a gardener, and any animals he might keep there ....err, I'd better not say any more!

I planted some saved Norli peas about a week ago to use as 'shoots'. I'd no idea what I was doing, but apart from being a bit mean with the numbers, I doubt it'll matter. They're only 2 years old. No signs of life yet, but my first courgettes are up. I want to try one in the poly for an early crop. I often do that, and it never works, but hope springs eternal & all that!

Off now to 'wade' the dry stream and finish the work down there. Then, maybe bonfire while the wind is right.

The fancy muscari in Bridgewater buckets keep coming!!!  This one's a lovely cool blue. Bet it goes brown on the white bits quickly tho!

twopenny

My dogs and cats survived all the plants that now have a warning. I think they know what's what.

The perennial sweet peas do everything you said you wanted. Of course we don't know if the mass growers have been genetically fiddling with them but so far they seem to have been a plant that goes under the radar. Perhaps because they are sturdy so can't be resold annually.

One word of advice is when you save seed, mark the pod container in big letters. While the pods are longer than annual ones getting the bag out next year it's not always obvious - as I found.

So far only made the plum jam. It was too runny with juice for a crumble which I really fancied and the jam wouldn't roll boil or aparantly set though the stuff on the spoon was like toffee so goodness knows what I'll be having on my morning toast!

Started off beautifully sunny and still only 5c but now blanket white cloud and 5c.

Don't know where the sun and double figures comes into it. I can't wait for a morning that gets a decent temperature.

Got to water the pots and troughs. 2nd time because it's now so dry. From sodden to powdery. You've got to admire plants for dealing with all this and just getting on with the job of growing.

My body bits seem to still be cooperating and with it being dry I'm more inclined to get out and about while I can than potter in a chilly garden.