Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Davesnave

Good job that panel went the way it did, 2p. I wonder if the neighbour's highly skilled fencing contractors will be around to re-erect it any time soon! As it's fairly new, perhaps the posts weren't far enough into the ground?

Well, we've had rain, but it's unlikely to be enough when the dryness of the land and the state of the rivers is considered. However, it's better than nothing and we can expect a little more in the week.

Fed up with the racket in the polytunnel, I spent the latter part of the afternoon in my den/boiler room moving racking to make space for the run the chicks will need in a week or so. Last year we raised them in the partially completed en-suite, but that's in use now and a bit posh for chickens! The barn is just too cold and dark.

Yes, RAS, one chick is lighter in colour and stands differently, so DB thinks it might be a cockerel. I hope she's right and it's not the other way around!

2p, to get a picture on here, I just click on the attach image symbol and then go to 'browse' and navigate to the one I want. It's about the only thing I find easier on this newer MSE platform.

twopenny

Dave that's what I did (I think) and it just got itself attached!

The fence is the original from build 20yrs ago. The posts were rotten but the panels are fine, they paint them orange regularly.  I've been proping up one that I knew was rocky as the old lady is unwell at the mo but there was no sign of the others being bad.

Yes, darn lucky in direction.

I've only just planted the little rose by the fence hole. It was sick when I bought it, recovered, didn't like where I planted it first, recovered. Now it's got to be dug out again.

We have a lovely man ex fencer who damaged his back. He's really good and neat  Hoping that he'll fix my gate to the posts while he's here. Too small a job to ask him normally. It's an ill wind as they say.

My little prunus Negra isn't looking happy. I have 2 heavy pots on it's roots and supporting the stake but the ends of it's tender delicate branches are drooping. It's only a baby.

I've been watching the trees being nearly turned inside out and it's bucketing down.

phoebe1989seb

Dave, the chicks are so cute 😍

Yesterday we managed to get the majority of the white bed oak sleeper retaining wall finished (another day should do it) and all the day lilies transplanted to join the others in the pink/orange/purple bed. We also laid everything out so we could confirm we've got enough plants to fill the white bed, which we do.

Today, we've had it wet and windy as forecast since about 8am, getting progressively worse throughout the day, so DH has been plastering the upper hallway. 

Then, about five minutes before it finally stopped raining and the sun came out (couple of hours ago), a branch from a neighbour's tree hit the electric supply pole and burst into flames! Obviously all the power went off.... fortunately for me, I was vacuuming so that put paid to that, lol 😂

There are only three properties supplied by that source, so I had my doubts they'd be quick to fix it, but within fifteen minutes DH had a text from Western Power saying they'd have it sorted by 8.30pm and by 7 three of their blokes were on site....8.40pm and the power's just come back on!

Only real issue for us was our borehole which needs a supply of electricity to work. Fortunately we still keep loads of bottled water just in case, like all good preppers - along with candles, matches, torches etc.....good thing tonight's dinner was a stove-top affair and we're LPG for that!

Davesnave

We've found Western Power pretty good phoebe, especially the time they left 200m of 11kv cable in our yard for us!  Had quite a job 'disposing' of that!

Sadly, one of the chicks took ill in the night and died, so we are down to 5. It was nothing obvious, as it had been eating & drinking normally all day. DB finds the chick raising traumatic, but I take the view we're providing a safe and appropriate environment and  nature  knows what it's doing. When we used a real hen, she trod on one of the 3 chicks and killed it, so there is no way to avoid these apparently cruel disappointments.

Farway

The wind & rain arrived late afternoon, by which time I'd brought in all the young plants for the overnight shelter in the unheated conservatory

I've just popped them all outside again this morning, sun's up and wind has dropped, looking at forecast I'm now in part of country that may avoid the next lot, just, there's some moving up the Channel which could clip me

Unless there's snow my runners & sunflowers have to go out ASAP and take their chances or they'll be starved & stunted in their pots, just can't win at this gardening lark

Apart from looking at the plants that need planting there is no gardening planned for today, except lily beetle patrol

Spotted a vine weevil on the outside of window pane, on a reconnaissance mission I suppose

twopenny

The wind is still ridiculously strong but at least it's not turning the trees inside out now. My little Prunus Nigra looks a bit happier and the lilac tree is still standing. Haven't lost any pots this year so must count my blessings.

The Blackbirds that like my bird table are enjoying the neighbours fence being down. They have a long view and run to it now.

Been surveying my plum tree disease. It's all the left side and I found some more baby plums so I'm going to leave it and see what happens. The splitting bark is so dire that it's all or nothing I think. I have the odd idea of wrapping the affected parts in something soaked in teatree. Works for humans and I've nothing to loose as can't plant another there or anywhere till winter. Some tender feeding for it like smaller plants too.

Between the weather and the builders doing hard landscaping I haven't got seeds in that should be. Farway you've reminded me I have some free Sunflower seeds from Morrisons in my purse. So hoping it will all catch up eventually. Brassicas are on their way and tomatoes all on my outdoor shelves. Broad beans in. Need to sow some Sweet Peas in pots (some in the ground) and Runner Beans. Then dig out a bit more veggie garden.

For a garden from scratch in 2yrs I've had my fence down, my neighbours fence down and first me then the builders relaying stuff. And I wonder why I would like a day dozing.

Davesnave

Yes it was pretty windy here too, but bright, so I tidied up the den after yesterday's rearrangement, moved one of my mobile courgettes from the conservatory to the polytunnel and then pottered there till lunch.

In the afternoon I went to the other end of our land and planted a standard Holm Oak we've not found a use for. I've planted several trees in that area in anticipation of the big ash succumbing to die-back disease, though it still looks healthy. After that, I felt like cutting up all that oak tree we felled recently in the garden, so I did. That's about 1/2 of it in the picture. Now I just have to chop up all the big bits into log sized lumps.....

Apodemus

Oooh, I like the saw-horse combo!  Is it good?  Must save the back a bit of effort.

Lots of new snow to quite low on the hills here this morning and the north-easterly wind is just bitter.  Then heavy squally hail showers, so the heating is back on and the garden can wait!  Still hoping that the blossom on the apple trees holds out a bit longer before the buds open, but they are getting pretty close and the ten-day forecast shows no sign of it getting any warmer for us

Davesnave

Apodemus said:

Oooh, I like the saw-horse combo!  Is it good?  Must save the back a bit of effort

It's brilliant, and safe. I like my battery saw, but the mains one has more oomph for doing literally hundreds of cuts in a session.

wort

It was my day off yesterday, so of course it rained and was windy. There was a couple of garden jobs I'd been set on so went out anyway.  
I have a large pot of alstroemeria, which I wanted to put in the ground. Gosh the roots were huge! At least the rain had softened the soil as it's not rained properly for months here. I was hoping to tip the soil from pot on the garden as it's a large pot but then noticed the horrible white grubs!!!!😨 I don't suppose there's any way to kill them off is there?
I drilled holes in a new metal planter I bought which I'm hoping to get my lilac standard into. The dilemma is do I do it now or after it flowers in June?? The root stock is sprouting at the bottom ! And last time I tried to cut them off I couldn't get far enough into the pot as the soil was rock hard.
Put feed and weed on lawn , tidied up the dianthus. Was hoping to take cuttings if anyone has any idea? 
Shufted 2 of my indoor orchids into new pots. Then straightened the garage. 
Luckily the clematis is still holding its blooms !