Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

Those toms in the plastic cups are hooge, Bluey! I'm growing 'Tumbling Tom,' though not sure why. Like himself's retro taste in trainers too!

greenbee

My seedlings all need potting on, but I'm putting it off until I have time and am organised enough in the greenhouse. I also need to sow more seeds.

I've just done soil tests all round the garden. Close to the house is alkaline, which I suspect is contamination from building work that was done not long before I moved in (we found a brick when we dug a hole in the lawn for a sample). And everywhere is low/deficient in N/P/K. I've been here around 18 months and mostly been taking stuff out - but as what are now borders were effectively cut as hedges with the odd tree poking out, I'm not hugely surprised.

We mulched most of the garden last autumn with a mix of homemade and commercial compost (the homemade had plenty of bits of fence post in YBE, but I work on the basis that if it's mulch on the beds it doesn't matter as it will rot down). I'm feeding the camellias and hydrangeas with ericaceous feed, but otherwise I'm not currently feeding much. I'm considering whether I should sprinkle liberally with BFB and water in (i.e. scatter it on a rainy day!), or just keep going with regular mulching (I could order a some now and get it on before things get going). 

-taff

Beautiful primroses, violets [ one of my mothers favourites] and nigra wotsit 2p.

wort, that's a bautiful contrast between the two colurs, talk about eye popping! And the montana along with ybe, love the smell of those ones. I used to walk past a house where they'd pretty much taken over the whole of the shed, back wall and lane and the smell was incredible.

ybe your tomatoes are a mixture of David and Goliath! The sculpture also reminded me of Gormley, but I suppose different intentions?  dunno...I don't like hte plinth it's on that you can see though, Gormleys stuff has the advantage there for sure. Glad cissie got some sleep too! But I am inclined to go with her anti diesel thing, ony because of the adblue.

Dusty, I do hope it's not, bloody yellow flowers...And this is why I should google before buying. Well done on mcgyvering the padlock. I got some vinca the other week, lost the label because I dropped the plant on the floor and the label disappeared somewhere...fingers crossed it's a spreader in a pot for now..That white one IS a pretty one...want want....

greenbee, that's one thing I never really thought of doing. It's only when someone tells you something yuo don't know you start thinking it's a great idea. Your compost operation sounds...large...

Apropos of nothing really, I am most impressed with tulips this year...bear with me...I've only ever seen them in a vase, never grew them before and somehow always equated them in a vase with the same in a ground, so short lived and blousy...The ones in the front garden have been flowering for well over ten days now, they shut in the night and open in the day and they're still here...That has been an important lesson for me this year I think so far.

twopenny

Just popping in to practice on my new tablet which keeps loosing the page and screen fading out. I know what I need to find but can't find it 😞 
Gorgeous red rhododendron (hey it spelt that for me  ) and clematis.

Weather like Dusty's, cold, dull and windy but got shopping and table tennis on the agenda so no worries.

No I wasn't keen on the sculpture either but didn't like to say. Spoiled a lovely view. A bit of look at me rather than a compliment to the surroundings. It should have been moving or made of soft material like wood. 

Right, I'm going to quit while I'm ahead here. Have a good day everyone.

Farway

My weather is a bit changeable, sun, cloud, cold, warm. Supposed to be rain this evening, not much, but it'll rinse the dust off, and give the sunflower seeds a reminder to get growing.

Yesterday lunch at new place came into OK category, nothing wrong, maybe my expectations were higher than warranted? Nice, bright, clean etc. I had smaller appetite [AKA child / oap size] Fish & chips, The chips were the fat chunky ones, and ideal with the mushy peas.

Which nicely segues into one of today's tasks, sowing my germinated Kelvedon Wonder peas. Very speedy germination with these fresh seeds. Has to be said, fresher is better with peas it seems:

I'll sow 3 or 4 into a pot and then plant out one really growing and hopefully bird / slug resistant

Like your photos wort, the clematis is stunning, I keep hoping one day mine will get like that, the one year I had similar & that was trying just died on me.

YBE, tomato forest time again? And well done on the sweet peas, no sign of mine yet.

-taff said:

. Glad cissie got some sleep too! But I am inclined to go with her anti diesel thing, ony because of the adblue.

..

Apropos of nothing really, I am most impressed with tulips this year...bear with me...I've only ever seen them in a vase, never grew them before and somehow always equated them in a vase with the same in a ground, so short lived and blousy...The ones in the front garden have been flowering for well over ten days now, they shut in the night and open in the day and they're still here...That has been an important lesson for me this year I think so far.

I've an older diesel, apart from sneering at modern CO requirements, adblue is not needed either. All that plus £30 annual road tax are some reasons I keep getting it patched up at MOT time.

Enjoy your tulips, they tend to be closet fjord lovers, never to be seen again, unless the short type.

twopenny said:

Just popping in to practice on my new tablet which keeps loosing the page and screen fading out. I know what I need to find but can't find it 😞 
Gorgeous red rhododendron (hey it spelt that for me  ) and clematis.

Hope you crack the tablet and enjoy it. I'm cracking on with W11 later today.

Never trust the spell checks, mine wanted to have a charge of £30 anal tax for my diesel above.

pink_poppy

Ooh, looking at your photos I think I spotted violets on my walk this morning, twopenny 💜 pic to follow…

Love the clematis, wort, I wouldn’t mind one of them.

I wasn’t struck by STILL either, but was curious to see it. It wasn’t as big as I thought it was going to be (said the actress to the bishop)… It was in a lovely wee village though and I’m sure it’ll bring the tourists in.

I usually hear cuckoos in April, Less. One thing I haven’t heard yet this year is the thrush that usually sings away - hoping it’s just late.

Gorse galore on my walk this morning, plus a black caterpillar - don’t think I’ve seen a black one before. The weather was dry but cloudy and definitely chillier than the last week or so 🥶 layers are back on.

Working_Mum

Hello everyone,
It feels like ages since I've said hello - I've been bonkers busy with work and one thing & another so have only managed to read along and "thank" most days.

I would like to attend a local class that would tell me how to be a better gardener -taff - my local Open Gardens event is on May 18th and I am super excited - I always ask the gardeners loads of questions and buy lots of plants. It's all for the local hospice so I always feel very virtuous! I adore tulips and have a few in my garden - last year I simply emptied pots of their bulbs and stuck them where I could dig a hole big enough but didn't actually know what I was planting. This Spring has seen lots of colour and random plants popping up left right and centre and I love it 


My "cut flower" border is full of daffs and tulips and I can see various green  things growing - I planted Stocks, Foxgloves and Sweet Williams last year so am hoping they're on their way back. I cobbled together a satisfying nice bunch of daffs yesterday for my friend who is going through a tough time at the moment.

Wort the shocking pink of that Azalea is gorgeous (I think it's one - even though the question has been answered my meno brain hasn't retained the answer!). I have a few clematis in my garden but none are actually flowering at the minute. I always associate them with being a "May" flower but maybe it's just chillier up here so they bloom later??!

YBE and I had a lovely day out on Saturday with the big skies across the big river - we had a cheeky beer sitting outside and it was great. It's thirsty work catching up on all the history in this maritime city! We have an Anthony Gormley sculpture looking out to sea - not sure what I think about the lake based metal man if I'm honest - it spooked me a bit PP. I love a Monkey Puzzle tree and the one from your pic is so majestic. What is the timescale for your garden being landscaped? Are you doing it or hiring in muscle?

I've not planted any seeds so far this year - despite my best intentions. I have potted on several houseplants and planted up my patio fruit trees into bigger pots and one of them has got blossom on!! I'm quite excited. My rhubarb is growing and my onions and garlic all seem to be doing ok (so far so good). My fig tree has lots of figlets on it so now I'm carefully avoiding walking too close to the pot as I am v clumsy! A local market garden opens this weekend (and basically closes when all of his stock is sold!) So I'll be there with my wodge of cash and a list of things I think I'd like to see in my garden. Everything I got from them last year has come back this year which I'm pleased with.



I've loved everyone's primrose pics and those little blue flowers of yours 2P - I've never had any success with Agapanthus but maybe this year is when I give it another go. I am considering digging a pond but don't feel 100% committed to this yet so watch this space!

The weather has been lovely this last week or so - I jet washed my patio yesterday so it's officially Spring in my neck of the woods! My hands were so tight and hurty that I haven't returned the furniture and pots to it yet - that's a job tonight when I get home from Mum's. I thought of you Dusty this morning as I walked the dog past the wind turbines - there is a lot of oilseed rape planted out in this low lying area and it seems like it's flowering earlier than previous years. I am not sure if it's the kind of crop that can grow twice in one year.



OT I've seen the weather forecast for the first time in weeks - I am avoiding the news and social media for  mental health  my sanity reasons but sitting in Mum's kitchen whilst I work has meant I couldn't avoid today's....we've got rain coming in overnight and most of tomorrow. Given I gave my pots a good watering yesterday (and not just from the errant jet-wash spray) it doesn't surprise me that we have rain forecast!

Wishing everyone a smashing short working week.

((WM))

Dustyevsky

-taff said:

Dusty, I do hope it's not, bloody yellow flowers...

Apropos of nothing really, I am most impressed with tulips this year...

Yellow? Err....there are some that are not yellow.

Tulips? Ah, I can do you those.   If anyone's ever wondered what the Hot Garden is like when it isn't summer, the answer is "Not very hot-looking." Hence the distraction of hot tulips.

In and out quickly today. We have Garden Club, and I have some work to do for it.

OT: It's rained a bit, and it may rain some more. 10c and feels much colder in the wind.

pink_poppy

We’re doing the landscaping ourselves, W_M and I have a habit of jumping from one thing to another 😳 so yesterday was demolishing the pond. I do feel bad about it, but it was too big and the structure (basically a load of rocks holding the liner in place) was yet another tripping and breaking my ankle hazard. I’ve put an old washing up bowl outside with water and stones in as a makeshift pond/birdbath for the time being.
Lovely photos, and it sounds like your garden is going to be a mass of flowers in the coming months 🌺

I don’t usually like ‘hot’ colours in a garden, Dusty, but those tulips are lovely.

Lidl had fig plants in today for £12.99. Also different coloured Ranunculus (??) - they were nice and I was tempted, but ended up buying what I thought was a white Canna Lily until I looked at the receipt when I got home and it says Calla Lily?? Are they one and the same?? I wasn’t even sure if it was an indoor or outdoor plant as there was no label 🤷‍♀️

We had another walk out this afternoon and came across this - it was the fluffy white bahookie that caught my eye… 😂

YoungBlueEyes

I'd have liked "Still" more if he off to one side and on the end of a wee pier or summat. He looks like he'd sound like a creepy electric car if he spoke, which is what spirits sound like, and that's just wrong *shudder* Interesting conversation piece though eh  

You're more than welcome to my wind Dusty The hooj toms in the cups are ones I lifted from the well we might post it office. 50p so I got 2 of each. I love our village, they sell jam wot auld women have made and I guess the plants are the husbands' offerings I'm only sorry I have to go into that place to buy them. Anyway. I think I have one diddy vinca out the front, well it looks like your pic. I think it's currently under himself's rear tyre... I like all those different tulips, put mine to shame...

That's some haul you've got there taff, I reckon you're the forest grower this year ha haa! What's up with adblue..? (Genuine question.)

D'ya wanna do my potting on when you've done yours gb thankyouplease What seeds will you be sowing..? Hopefully you got your BFB down in time for the rain? Is BFB acid or alkali then? I've never thought about that, I just sprinkle it everywhere and water it in  

Hurray for new tech 2p and Farway. Fingers crossed now they start playing the game! Have yous started a savings pot to rebuy them next year again cos of built in obsolesence  

Your caterpillar looks like he's made of coal Whitby Jet pp, is he a goody or a baddie..? Love the tufty bum, but I really love your gorse  

Me and wm had a fab day on Saturday, it's amazing what you miss/are ignorant of until someone's walking round with you pointing it out. Brilliant. It was a bit chilly mind, so when we reached a pub I got the ciders in and a couple of rums. The only ones they had were Captain Morgan's - a spiced one (not even a full measure!) and some pineapple nonsense that taste like Gee's Linctus. V poor offering considering where we were

OT raining a bit and a cool 8'c. Mind we've lost the wind so there's that. The birds don't mind it though, they're singing goodo out there. I've a song thrush here (so Merlin says) but I don't think I've heard a cuckoo for years