Awful weather - typical Brits talk

DD265

We're also in the East Midlands but near the M1 and edge of the county. Have had plenty of rain the last few days, but touch wood today seems reasonably dry. We don't have a greenhouse (want) but I'll garden in the rain if something needs looking at urgently. We recently shortened some decking and increased the size of the lawn, and the seeded area is growing up slowly. Hopefully some alternating sun and rain will speed it up. 

I've got a climbing rose with black spot so I'm planning to prune that this afternoon, then I'll assess what else wants a quick trim - the herbs probably which are apt to go a bit mad. The fuschia and something else out the front have stopped flowering so I am tempted to attack them with the loppers as they're a bit unruly, but these are all jobs that could wait thankfully.

Black_Cat2

Catsacor said:

Another Somerset person here @Black_Cat2 yup, rained all day yesterday, all night, and now still pouring down 😏
I have my own elderly, black cat, that would like the warm sun to reappear and is wailing to be let out - but when she goes to the door ..... too wet out there, shakes and flicks her front paw as if she's already wet and turns back around and goes back to bed !

Gardening wise - i'm a fair weather gardener these days so the extent of my gardening is watching or reading it, however, after laying a large area of garden down to 'walk bark' last year i can now be out there without getting muddy, dirty feet.

Tesco man commeth ..... back later....

Greetings fellow Somerset neighbour 😊

My cat is a bit kooky - doesn't matter if it rains or not she is extremely lazy and seems to use any excuse to stay indoors sprawled out over the couch cushions.  I think she is a sloth in a cats body! 

I'm eager to get outside and tidy up a bit so hope this rain is gone soon 🤞

Black_Cat2

Davesnave said:

Catsacor said:

Another Somerset person here......

I've omitted to mention that for over half of my life I worked undercover as Somerset Man.   I also had a couple of gigs as London Child and Youth, but couldn't cope with not seeing farm animals and fields, so used to free ride the Metropolitan Line after work just to re-acquaint myself.

Had a year as a Dorset Child in a two room school, but that was so awful I prefer not to think about it now. Dickensian experience!

Lol! 😹😹

twopenny

Another person on Exmoor.

Yesterday two shrubs in pots were blown over and the pots smashed so I went out in the weather to get 2 more pots before everyone else did the same. Supplies at the garden centre being random.

However the smashed pots and shrubs are still laying on the paving out front as I'm darned if I'm going out in this to mess with compost and rootballs in howling wind, torrential rain and icy temperatures. They won't get any worse and I'll wait for the 'sun' tomorrow.

One pot was here when I moved and looks like dragon scales so disappointed to loose that. But been thinking I could make a dragon or fish sculpture with the bits.

Just seen a bit of cat deterrent fencing has blown off the top of the fence and bending the big shrub I'm growing for privacy. Do I want to go out an deal with it now? Doubt any self respecting cat or squirrel will be out tonight when everything is just sodden. Besides it's an excuse for me to improve it without excuses to my annoying neighbour.

Using the saved water to flush the loos and help my water bill as there's no chance of needing to water anything this side of Christmas.

Catsacor

Morning folks.
No rain or winds for a few hours, now, and the bbc app tell me it'll be a quieter day, weatherwise ! 

Yesterdays heavy rain, in a short period, caused localised flooding in the town and in parts of my own garden - being on a high water table doesn't help that fact !

Davesnave

I don't go by the Beeb's app; I go straight to the Met, but you're right about getting a quiet patch, while we get more full-on rain for hours yet. Our quiet patch came overnight, when the river here was at danger level, so it's fallen back again temporarily.

We have 3 rivers nearby; one from Dartmoor, one from Exmoor and one from neither, so they all behave differently if rain is locally variable.

It's hard to imagine that less than a week ago I was wandering up the nearest river with my fishing rod, cursing the lack of water!

Fortunately, we cannot flood here at the house, but the land runs down to a stream, which is now full. A new neighbour down there has recently discovered the joys of being at the bottom of a slope. Indeed, he's threatening to block all the surface drains that enter his property. I can understand his frustration, though I imagine King Canute would have a few words of wisdom for him!

Anyway, people often compliment our nerines at this time of year, so here's the secret: plant them where they'll go underwater in the winter!

Catsacor

Your Nerines haven't read the reference book i have here that says they like more arrid aspects 😆
Monty was featuring them on his programme this week.
I grew them in the last garden and they did well.
Here, in this one, the Schitzostylis are the happiest perennial, which is good because i love them 🥰

Black_Cat2

Loving reading all your replies 💖. Looks like we're all being affected by the weather one way or another. 

No rain for an hour so popped out and cut back my herbs (like DD265 was planning to do) and wrestled with the weeds surrounding my carrots. Good crop this year - been in the ground for months so they're huge! Too many for me and the other half to eat.  

Would love to see your sculpture @twopenny if you decide to make one 🐬🐲

Just watched GW (yes I'm a bit late) and chuckled when I saw Rachel on there!  Thought instantly of Davesnave's comment lol.  Monty didn't have much luck with his greenhoused tomatoes did he.  Great success with the ones outside though...  making me think about what to have a go at growing next year. 

twopenny

Just been out to have a look. Not great news. Seems the slugs have decimated at least one large broccoli plant, the sweet peas look like they are ground cover and the Ceanothus that was giving me privacy has been snapped off by the falling expandable topper to the fence that I was going to see to  last week.

Ah well, looks like something else to fill the time in the days of little excitement......

Still blowing, still wet and drizzly. Hurumph!

Farway

Black_Cat2 said:

No rain for an hour so popped out and cut back my herbs (like DD265 was planning to do) and wrestled with the weeds surrounding my carrots. Good crop this year - been in the ground for months so they're huge! Too many for me and the other half to eat. 

The carrots will be OK in the ground for while yet so no need to panic