Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Farway

Wow, I'm back and over twenty posts to catch up, with great photos as well, and lots of sparkling sun for fairies to dance in

Can't remember or mention all the items, I'm spared midges here, guess it's too dry for them, but one year was panic, some alleged malaria mossies were spotted but all vastly exaggerated.

Had a good, but very hot, day over DDs. Managed to get the dwarf Golden Delicious planted in her garden, plus my homeless Loganberry. 

Some of her plants are drying out, hosepipe ban, I was trying to remind her to chuck a bucket of water on the new arrivals until the rains arrive

Despite me & her Horticultural DD, her lack of plant knowledge surfaces at times.

She was telling me she is looking for fruit, food, type plants, hence apple & loganberry, and wanted an Elderberry for cordial. 

We were stood next to a left drying out and gasping Black Lace ! I did get her to chuck a bucket of water on it and a promise to keep it up. 

https://www.barcham.co.uk/store/products/sambucus-nigra-black-lace

Another flax lover here, used to see fields of them when we went visiting Mum near Marlborough. 

Only later, through my family history research did I find a proper connection, seems Great G Granny was a Flax Spinner in the 1850s Dorset, 

However, the flax trade, and her job, died out due to imports of slave grown cotton, so as a victim of slave trade can I have some dosh please. TIA 

Forgot who posted it, but thanks for long handed weed message. I'm probably going to Morries mid-week, so will have a look, and even peek at Lilies, plus check out for edibles suitable for DD, she also mentioned currants

Dahlias, as Dusty said, from seed is fine, well mine were until the year, when I tried dwarf ones and everything possible has biffed them. I have two slug ravaged, not yet flowered, ones left 

 

Here's a pic, taken Sat, of a dahlia I threw in my Dalek last year. I never knew it survived until seen this Saturday. 

Assuming like spuds, tuber stores and plant grows

If, when it flowers, I'll get another pic. From memory, the flowers weren't much, which was why it was binned.

pink_poppy

I can smell that manure pic from here, Dusty    

I love those gates, YBE, surely they're not just leading to that wee building behind. It looks like a lovely location - is it up for sale??
What will you be doing with your bramble haul?? If it's to make a crumble, I'd like an invite, please. No custard for me, thanks.

DH witnessed two near-misses with motorbikes on his way home yesterday and then nearly got wiped out himself by a car on the wrong side of the road when he came round a bend   he was shaking when he got home   Unfortunately he had a few filled garden pots in the car, so a couple didn't survive the emergency braking and swerving he had to do and the rest deposited their contents all over the back of the car.

We went for a wander after dinner to calm DH's nerves and also because it was such a beautiful evening (gorgeous sunset again). It was really warm and thankfully no midges. I can't remember if I said I had the Avon oil spray - not sure if it works, but the tourists certainly apply it liberally if the smell of it everywhere is anything to go by.

Very warm today - not the type of weather you want to be dressed like a stuffed shirt for an interview...

Ooh, just refreshed... good idea of your DD to grow edibles, Farway. Was she the recipient of the purple apple tree a while back?? I love the Black Lace elderberry and want that in my garden. I remember seeing one in a council car park a while back and often think of going back to see if any of it will stick to my clothing.

pink_poppy

Pic from last night - it was a busy night in the marina. I do love the reflections with Ben Cruachan in the background…

Farway

pink_poppy said:

Ooh, just refreshed... good idea of your DD to grow edibles, Farway. Was she the recipient of the purple apple tree a while back?? I love the Black Lace elderberry and want that in my garden. I remember seeing one in a council car park a while back and often think of going back to see if any of it will stick to my clothing.

Good memory PP, yes she was, but it died, I think neglect, no water but can't say for sure. 

I know we make excuses for our offspring, but she did have a lot of upheaval problems last year, thankfully now past, so watering a tree was not top of the list. 

Hence, the Golden Delicious, surplus for me but replacement for her

Never tried, but I think elders will strike from cuttings, apparently one of the easier ones.

Hardwood ones easier, the poke a stick 2/3rds in the ground method, between Nov - Feb

twopenny

Elders seed all over the place but I guess that would take too long.
Make sure you get one with sweet smelling flowers. Elderflower champagne is delicious 😋 

Cold and overcast here, darn cold around 15c with an easterly.
Bit of a relief and snuggles under a blanket this evening but water out for the little animals still. The wind not helping the plants but my sinuses are grateful!

All appointments and things today so no gardening. More watering and painting tomorrow.

Blueys building reminds me of something discussed on the housing forum but can't remember what right now.
One village here sold an old toilet block for conversion to home. It's TINY!

pink_poppy

Awake early (2am) as just too hot and sticky here. The previous night I was woken by an owl hooting away at 11.30pm and then couldn't get back to sleep - steer well clear of me today because I'm seriously sleep deprived  

Shame about the purple apple, Farway, hopefully the Golden Delicious will thrive. 
I don't even know if the elderberry is still growing at the car park as I haven't been there for at least a couple of years - I'll have to investigate.

Elderberry champagne sounds good, twopenny. Is that just homemade elderberry cordial added to the champagne?? As I'm a cheapskate, I'd probably try it with Prosecco instead   That's a good point about the smell of the elderberry flowers - i know some smell of cat wee. 

OT - it's supposed to be a wee bit cooler today (prays to the weather gods). I had a wander outside earlier as there was a chance of an aurora - a few stars were visible and it felt very mild - no aurora though.

pink_poppy

In other news, my DH peeled my red potatoes yesterday - I couldn't believe it - so now I've got boring white potatoes for dinner tonight instead of gorgeous red ones. Grr...