Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Davesnave

That's a Tragopgon, Farway. The horse lady next door has some in her drive and they sometimes migrate to mine. A bit ephemeral to bother with, but pretty enough.

I don't think there's anything special about our hornets. They aren't aggressive, but may check people over, when it's best to just stand still and let them! I'm sure two had a fight yesterday, but I've no idea why.

I will take a picture of the sympho....asters. There's 4 different ones planted together and none gets mildew. The species A divaricatus doesn't either, but it does spread around and take over, if allowed.

Shopping day today and I was forced to take a long diversion in the big van down roads with grass in the centre. It seems Karma has stopped working already.

Farway

Davesnave said:

That's a Tragopgon, Farway. The horse lady next door has some in her drive and they sometimes migrate to mine. A bit ephemeral to bother with, but pretty enough.

Dave, Thank you for the ID, I will now tell the other to the other volunteers. It's amazing at times what pops up, we had Lambs' Lugs Ears arrive last year

Sun was out, now overcast but nothing planned for the garden because I did the pot watering yesterday afternoon

The only thing niggling away is potting on the heliniums before the slugs eat the lot

My Pinova apple is looking much better this year, I was very disappointed last year, it's first fruiting year, nasty little apples despite it's pedigree. However  it think  RAS mentioned it could be down to lack of sunshine, so being in a pot I moved it and the fruit is looking a lot better this year, and an older tree of course, too early for picking right now

I'll try for some pics and hopefully post comparisons

Davesnave

We had some unexpected rain yesterday which upset plans a bit, as one of my wellies was out of commission. I was taking the heads off the sunflowers to dry for the birds, especially one that was drooping towards the small pond in front of it. I forgot the existence of a second pond completely buried in foliage and went in with my left leg, right up to the knee!

So, with better weather in prospect today I should be able to do yesterday's job and erect a frame for  a second yew archway. The plants are already grown-out, so should meet up once tied-in. Digging the holes for that took me an afternoon as the soil's bone dry and I had to go through some roots too.

I'm slowly knocking some order into the remaining plants on the redundant nursery, some of which we will use in new areas of garden. However, less favoured ones are being recycled now, their pots full of weeds etc. Anything that looks remotely wild is being re-homed in the area beside and below the mini-woodland.

 Briefly saw a hornet again yesterday when taking a photo of another aster, but it didn't hang around long enough to feature. No idea what this one's called, but as you can see, no mildew and a great insect-thrilling bang for your £ at this end of the season.

Davesnave

Drizzle here and I have to return many chairs to the village hall shortly, but I grovelled on the ground yesterday and got the ID of the sympho-thingy-wotsit above. It's 'Combe Margaret.'

Farway

Just dull here but nothing planned for today, fingers crossed for tomorrow weather when I'm due to go to Wisley swerving round petrol queues as we go

Davesnave

Farway said:

Just dull here but nothing planned for today, fingers crossed for tomorrow weather when I'm due to go to Wisley swerving round petrol queues as we go

Looks like you'll get a good day for it, but after tomorrow there seems to be a slide into autumn over in these parts. It's an appropriate day for me to get my flu' jab and then feel carp for much of the week, or is that just psychological programming? There's certainly plenty of it around; the petrol queues being just a minor manifestation of that particular iceberg.

twopenny

It's been so hot here and still bone dry. Being the end of the year everything is looking very sorry for itself getting summer temperatures.

I did get around to repotting the 4 bigger shrubs and cleaning the last of the flagstones. It took a lot of relocating a mass of snails in, under around the pots. Cutting out all the dead wood from the perenial and giant wallflower yet leaving some sad flowers for the bees and hoping it will recover when we get some more rain and carefully trimming the standard lavenders for privacy while leaving some for the bees again

Typically feeling pleased with myself I noticed one pot sunk beside the steps that I missed and the big lilac needs compost on top.

Dave lovely Aster. Very envious. I bought a whole load of chrysanths but they have either rotted or the enormous slugs have just eaten the flowers. They even come out in the day and drap themselves over the flowers they are so tasty.

Seems like they will have to come up and be popped somewhere obscure with hopes for another year. Can't find anything in the shops to put in the pots and beds to replace them though. Morrisons garden house has been closed for weeks and the plants in shop poor or house plants. Tescos a few dying plants outside and the garden centre not much choice for bedding.

goldfinches

Muggy and cooler here but still no rain.

I was mooching around the Botanic Garden this afternoon and after eyeing the physalis and checking to see if the fruits were really ripening I noticed this solanum sisymbriifolium in the same bed.



I got quite excited at the idea of something edible that would grow well locally and ripen nice and early that I didn't already know about but then I read this on the rhs site, "green, spiny fruit cases that split to reveal bright red fruit which are edible but insipid". 
I'm hoping someone here knows more and can tell me a worthwhile variety to put on my wishlist.

Davesnave

twopenny said:

Dave lovely Aster. Very envious.

Those are living on the edge of the veg plot, waiting for new areas to be developed. They're never watered or given any attention. Much easier than chrysanths IMO and very underrated.

When we put asters in pots to sell we had bother with some, but a few always performed. 'Alma Potschke' was one.

Farway

Nice photos, and those bright red seeds look sooo tasty GF, seems like they fall into same flavour category as fuchsia seeds, edible but don't bother

Dull but dry, off to Wisley soon and forecast is OK but maybe showers later PM, by which time I should be home or nearly so

Camera charged and memory card emptied so all ready to go

Granddaughter had to pull out of going due to petrol & the parents can't risk driving from other side of Southampton as they rely on cars for work. gives me an excuse to go another time soon