Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Blackjack_Davy

twopenny said:

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 temperature

I'm starting to wonder if it'll ever rain again. Its so warm I'm having to leave windows open day and night or I'm sweating. Leaves are starting to drop but can't get the blower out as its a dustbowl here and I'll need a mask not to choke to death from the inevitable dust storm. Its ever so handy for getting them out from the dense shrub rose bed its impossible to get a rake between the forest of stems

Beans are done for lack of rain but tomatoes well I picked a bowlful yesterday at least they're reliable under glass

twopenny

So much like the Strawberry Tree Goldfinches.

Can be used but not worth the effort.

Quince jelly is delicious but so much hard work I keep my eye open for some someone else has made ;-)

Noted Dave, I tried Asters last year but they didn't thrive either apart from the original variety - which at the moment are tall and cloud like and looking good.

Have a nice day Farway, sometimes it's nice to be on your own so you can spend as long as you want undisturbed. And you can then share with the family next time.

phoebe1989seb

Dry here on Saturday, drizzle yesterday - but no gardening (or other outdoor activities) on our agenda as still too busy forging ahead with our wall removal.

Being a hideous mix of stone, brick and rubble, it's still not completely down, although the acrows are in place and a lovely pair of ancient timber lintels (over 3m long) that used to bridge the gap where carts came into the old mill have been revealed 😃

Heavy rain over night, but it's cleared away now....however, I don't feel remotely in the mood for rockery soil clearance today 🙄 

We have one aster (mauve) - it wasn't doing very well in one of the sunnier (although that's all rather relative here in Wales, lol!) beds which was where we planted it in 2018, so was moved to the top level of the rockery a couple of years back. Now - out of necessity - it's getting moved again, although not sure where yet. It's not a particularly healthy example, so might end up losing it 🙁

twopenny

Stepped outside the back door last night and nearly trod on a hedgehog! 
He must have been trapped in the garden all day when I closed the gate early morning.
Nice and fat though, hopefully on many of my slugs.

Davesnave

With only a few hours before rain, after my flu jab yesterday I attacked the thistles that have come up early in the fields and then knocked-up a temporary framework to create a second yew arch. I got so engrossed in beating the weather I forgot to order the heating oil I'd been quoted for, figuring things would change today. They sure have!!! The price for 1000l is now over £200 more, but by going direct I've shaved that down to £40 and gone with it. Things will probably return to something more 'normal' in a week or two, but I doubt if it will go lower than 54p/litre any time soon, if ever. Solar panels on the roof are looking better than money in the bank now...

I still have two more arches to construct, but as expected, I feel a little sore and fluey today, so I'm having a day off.

Hope the visit to Wisley went well, Farway.

Davesnave

twopenny said:

Stepped outside the back door last night and nearly trod on a hedgehog! 
He must have been trapped in the garden all day when I closed the gate early morning.
Nice and fat though, hopefully on many of my slugs.

Yes, they're back in our garden too, leaving presents on the lawn, but I found this fat chap with some white markings (?) in an area of rough grass a few nights ago:

(Yellow stuff is a half-buried hose. )

wort

Lovely to see all your pics. Glad the wedding went well Dave looks like a good time was had by all.

Managed to cut the very lush lawn yesterday, thanks to my BIL for greening it up with seeds ! It usually is green with Moss and weeds!!! Had a fabulous down pour this morning which has now given way to sunshine. It's the first proper rain we've had for months!!! Actually had emails from water board asking us to conserve the water. Which I do anyway being on a meter.

Confined to barracks for the foreseeable as got a positive covid test back.  So looking forward to more fab pics . 

Farway

Back again, woke up to rain at long last, not sure how much but at least it rained. And now the sun's out

Good day at Wisley yesterday, sun came out later & had I borrowed one of their free mobility scooters to scoot round in

With my lack of puff & energy I wouldn't have made it to the cafe let alone anywhere else. It certainly made a huge difference although of course some areas, like rockery, are unsuitable but a minor niggle and counting my blessings

There have been big changes there since my last visit, which I think was late 2019 pre Covid, a huge new complex, Hilltop has been built and the surrounding area planted up & landscaped, very impressive and I can thoroughly recommend anyone in striking distance to go along for a look

With the talk on here recently about Love lies bleeding I was pleased to see they are trialling them at Wisley, very impressive ones, and blow me down, castor oil plants as well. Not only that the blighters are using coleus as bedding and display in the Glasshouse, pinching all my ideas . Some of the LLB were huge, chest high, and very impressive

Plus they have loads of ripe outdoor tomatoes with not a sign of blight, boo , and the wall of climbing nasturtiums is caterpillar free as well

Some pics from yesterday

Dahlia Firepot

Pumpkins and artichokes in World food garden

Forty years old bonsai Acer

And an arty B & W silhouette spotted on the way out

twopenny

Lovely dave. Mine had scarpered pdq when i stepped back to turn the light off. Must be shy, my last house one ambled around my ankles.
Farway, glad you found a way to get out and around. You reminded me that id been planning garden visots during lockdown. But the crowds and traffic this summer made it impossible. Now it's too late.
Do you know about the Trampers to hire with national park and national trust places? 4 wheel drive mobility. Look great fun.
Rain bucketed down last night and some today. The plants have shot out new flower buds already.

Davesnave

Farway said:

Plus they have loads of ripe outdoor tomatoes with not a sign of blight, boo , and the wall of climbing nasturtiums is caterpillar free as well

Yes, and they  ripen sweet peppers outdoors here while mine are still struggling in the polytunnel. Very suspicious!

I managed a bit of clearance in the stream bed this morning, not that there's any water in there yet, but it won't be long before there is. All the recent rain has just been absorbed by the parched ground.

I think it was sunny this afternoon, but I slept through it Are you asymptomatic, wort? DB reckons I'm psychosomatic!