Awful weather - typical Brits talk

pink_poppy

Dusty - risqué 😂
I was surprised the ducks didn’t fly off, but I’m glad they stayed put 🦆🦆🦆 (aye, I know one was a female).
Btw, I see you’re using YBE’s measuring prop 😉

Thanks for confirming B&M, taff, I’ll have to persuade DH to take me to Stirling as I think that’s the nearest one (only 2 hours away 🙄).

twopenny

Lovely landscapes Poppy, beautifully taken.

Dusty, that load of carp is disgraceful! Bulking out with useless stuff.

Taff I'd wondered about using arches for beans. I need something to shade the patio in summer but die down in winter. It's a thought in progress - still.

Farway, you are so busy producing stuff. Whether it's plants or progeny

Went for a drive over to Dustys side of the hills today. Surprisingly the shops are still mostly closed which was annoying. I decided to climb up the hill to a viewpoint instead of the other side to the main shops to look for my phostrogen.

The banks all the way are covered in Primroses in huge drifts. Last years wet and cool must have suited them because everywhere they are glorious.

I saw lots of new laid hedges which is encouraging. There must be a offer on.

One thing that I have mixed thoughts about is there were so many hybrid daffs planted  everywhere. Even a long fence line to a field.

Why can't people plant native daffs if they want this?

I did see a large magnificent bird of prey that I was hoping to impress you with but I can't identify it. Still lovely to see it over the fields searching.

Poppy I don't miss my old garden in such that it was hard work and I had nightmare neighbours which ruined it.

But I could do with the extra 3 ft that is the badger run to be included in this one. That would make it just the right size. But at the moment this one is looking lovely with big violets and forgetmenots growing around the edges and huge humps of primroses. It's just come together mostly now.

pink_poppy

I've noticed lots of hybrid daffodils too, twopenny. In fact I have some in my garden, not planted by me.
I also saw a bird of prey yesterday - took a couple of pics but, like you, unable to identify.
I like your primroses pic, it must be nice to see big swathes of them when you're out and about.
Your Violets and Forget-me-nots are lovely too.

I've been tossing and turning all night with aching hips - I think I need some of Farway's silicone spray or WD40   

I saw the Aurora last night   It was perfect conditions for it, with a lovely starry sky.

OT - lots of sun forecast for today     

pink_poppy

Last night’s Aurora and unidentified bird of prey…

-taff

Beautiful aurora. I think the bird of prey is another chimney pot...

PP, they will deliver as well and you can buy online if you don't fancy a trek, although if you are trekking, I'm sure there are some other garden centers on the way and way back to make the trip worthwhile

I have a tip run today and I will be potting stuff on. I had a jab yesterday and it knocked me out about ten minutes after I posted yesterday so no sowing was done [ except some aleppo peppers I discoverd I had that I didn't know I had...]

Shame about your neighbours 2P, I would be miffed if someone were spoiling my garden for me. I'll put a photo up of the arches next time I go.

greenbee

Thanks Dusty. I saw a lovely rotary sifter on GW on catch-up last night made out of old bicycle wheels! However, I'm not up to making that myself. I do have a couple of metal grids that I could use over the too-small compost bin (currently home to a builders' bag full of leaves) for the first round of sifting, which is probably the sensible option. Then something over a wheelbarrow is probably the next level. 

Mind you, at the moment I need to get some water into the two existing bins and give them a good stir. I had help moving the bins a few weeks ago, and it resulted in them being refilled in neat layers of green and brown which have just compacted rather than composted! I have two builders' bags of grass clippings and two of leaves, as well as bark chipping, so plenty of material but need to speed up the process. I'm hoping this year I'll have enough mulch for the whole garden. Although if my plan to get rid of lawn and make more beds goes ahead that probably won't work!

I've got someone making a base this week for three of the IBCs that have been sitting my drive for months. These will be on the back of the shed to hopefully water the veg plot via the miles of soaker hose I've installed (should have done drippers, but I had soaker hose). The other will go behind the summerhouse so I can use it to water the orchard. Or I may put the spare water butt there, and put the last IBC on the cart shed. I've also got a water butt to install on the shed by the compost bins. 

Obviously, having been thoroughly soaked all winter, there is now no rain forecast at all, so they may need to be filled with the hose (I think it will be too complicated to syphon the bathwater into them!). I have two waterbutts on the greenhouse, and an irrigation system to set up in there (debating whether to include misters as well as drippers), and two on the patio for watering pots. The house has a lot of roof, but the downpipes are all in inconvenient places for putting water butts. 

Dustyevsky

pink_poppy said:

Dusty - risqué 😂
Btw, I see you’re using YBE’s measuring prop 😉

Risqué? Moi?   And that lighter is strictly for causing major conflagrations, not to ignite tubes of smouldering nicotiana!   As the song doesn't go, “I am a firestarter!” although with these persistent easterly winds, I have to contain my evil behaviour.

Speaking of songs, I've had a very bad earworm of late, which just won't go away. Like Monty Python's “Funniest Joke in the World,” which caused anyone who heard it to die laughing, I won't reveal the tune, lest I infect others. However, it was recorded in 1978, so for most of my adult life I've had immunity. I think it's only struck now thanks to giving up Japanese heavy metal for Lent.

As for the other thing; the snuffle, sore throat and aching bits, I'll have that beaten by Saturday evening. DD has it too, so it's likely an import from London or Leicester. I prescribe lots of dibber action in the polytunnel, though that isn't the kind of restorative therapy I had planned.

twopenny said:

Went for a drive over to Dustys side of the hills today. Surprisingly the shops are still mostly closed which was annoying. I decided to climb up the hill to a viewpoint instead of the other side to the main shops to look for my phostrogen.

The banks all the way are covered in Primroses in huge drifts. Last years wet and cool must have suited them because everywhere they are glorious.

I did see a large magnificent bird of prey that I was hoping to impress you with but I can't identify it. Still lovely to see it over the fields searching.

Market days on our side of the hills are mostly on Thursday/ Friday. Wednesday is still early closing around here!

I agree, the primroses have been excellent this year. Most of our large B of P are still Buzzards, but Red Kites are making inroads into their territories now.

Smashing aurora pics again, pp. You have it all going-on up there. I'm focused on more mundane developments here currently, as more of the formerly arable fields around us are being filled with sheep. This runs contrary to the narrative promoting greater consumption of plant-based protein, and frankly, I'm delighted.

In my view, sheep's wool is best made into clothing so I remain baffled at the poor prices offered for fleeces. There are alternative uses, fortunately, one of those being as a mulch and slug deterrent. We were amused by a demonstration of that in the Clovelly Court walled garden, though whether 'Fred' was supposed to be standing guard, or lying prone, wasn't entirely clear!

OT. Eventually looked t the weather for today, to find we have decent amounts of rain arriving at 16.00. Good for the emerging plants and indicative of more mowing ahead!

Farway

Another sunny day, but cold wind, which I hope drops 'cos I want to dead head the daffs.

I saw stars but no aurora last night, and it seems there are Red Kites around here, never seen one here, but I have over Chichester way

There again, supposed to be white [albino] squirrels here, not seen any of those either

So, that's a list of things I've not seen here then

Phostrogen, HB do deliver, not free, [£3.95] but I did get some stuff from them a few weeks back, BFB, wall planters, + other bits & bobs, which for me was worthwhile, saved a trek, only to find shop shut or out of stock etc .

It all arrived promptly & very well packed

https://home.bargains/product/cd3bbf28-9cf2-4ed4-bcf2-9646f6eb46dd/phostrogen-all-purpose-plant-food-400g?qid=476f16aa79a2d1ea8a100d0ecac7a8d9

These days I use the liquid version, I found the powder just clags together in the packet

I must have tried all sorts over the years, slow release, magic blocks planted near roots, you name, I've tried it, but never found one so wonderful that I stopped looking for the magic one

I have plum blossom out , and in my garden, but very sparse this year, plus this cold wind will ensure zero plums, again.

I think, if it fails me again this year, I'll bite the bullet & get it out, then stick something else in the pot

No sooner had I said I was going to sow another batch of beetroot, in cells, than my earlier sowing, on 23rd, popped up yesterday. I did sow another batch anyway, fingers crossed it all works out.

Anyone remember I sowed carroty carrots late last year? The main lot got slugged before I had a chance to try them.

I also sowed a batch in small pots, and they are now growing again, can't see any shoulders or carrots, leafy bits though

Very tempted to just plant the contents, as a plug, and let them run to seed, could look attractive

T & M have replied about my failed rhubarb crown, it's now out of stock so they have refunded my money, fair enough, I'll see what's around Morries next time I'm lurking

pink_poppy said:

I've been tossing and turning all night with aching hips - I think I need some of Farway's silicone spray or WD40  

LOL Not medical advice f course.

pink_poppy

taff, I think you might be right about the Bird of Prey being a chimney pot    
There's a Dobbies and a lovely antique place en route to Stirling, so I definitely wouldn't mind the trek to B&M, I just have to convince my DH.

I wake up with a song in my head nearly every morning, Dusty, as does my DH. Mine is usually fairly modern, but DH has usually got some random Prog Rock song that I've never heard of.
I think I would have freaked out if I'd seen 'Fred' lying there - he looks quite realistic at first glance.

Good result on the failed rhubarb crown, Farway, although it was a shame you got a squishy one in the first place.

I've been out for a walk this morning and I was absolutely mafted. No breeze to begin with, but thankfully it picked up on the way back, I still ended up with a red face though.

pink_poppy

Two ducks today - no idea what ‘variety’ they are though…