Awful weather - typical Brits talk

pink_poppy

Thanks twopenny and woolsery, I do remember Portuguese laurel being mentioned on here (or the daydream thread) before. I suppose we’re classed as coastal though, so looking at the planting conditions it might not be suitable. Shame really because I do like the look of them.

RAS, I’m loving the apricots. Amazing from such a small plant. Is there a ‘gardening know how’ reason why you wouldn’t just leave them??

I don’t know about blossom, Farway, as the blossom trees here are not really out yet, but the daffodils have been (& still are) looking lovely, definitely better than last year.

I can’t remember if I posted on here about the sand martins we saw last year. We returned today and I was gutted to see the site has been flattened 😕 we saw what we thought were a couple of the birds flying around, but nowhere for them to nest.

Last year and today...

twopenny

Wow! But that looks like rain damage? I wonder if the birds will have enough height there to rebuild.

Nothing much done here. Life has taken over the last few months with post pandemic influx of stuff that has decended in one go plus dental surgery (4th go) so no bending or heavy lifting for a day or two.

The sun came out warmly this morning but decended into an icy wind and cloud.

My soloution was look in the garden centre incase they've got square pots/wicker trellis but no luck.

On my way into Morrisons I looked at the plants and spotted the one and only everlasting sweet pea plant in someones basket. I mentioned I desperately wanted one and she handed it to me and we had a too and fro. Nice lady, had a chuckle about buying/not buying more plants.

So it wouldn't get lonely I indulged in a couple more Pinks, like roses, you can never have enough.

The cold wind looks set for a few days, hope the forecast is wrong as I have several plants, seeds and feeding to do along with gutters and wires at the top of a 7ft fence. Like the paperwork, I'm sort of getting snowed under! My own fault.

pink_poppy

No, it’s definitely been flattened by man, twopenny. It looks like the site is being developed as the land adjacent has also been flattened. Such a shame.

A cold wind here too 🥶

RAS

pink_poppy said:

No, it’s definitely been flattened by man, twopenny. It looks like the site is being developed as the land adjacent has also been flattened. Such a shame.

A cold wind here too 🥶

That was my thought as well. Pity.

twopenny

I was just trying to optimistic

They will find somewhere else but probably not near you which is a shame.

I had House Martins right outside my bedroom window. I had the place decorated and the nest had to be spoiled. I thought they would come and rebuild but they didn't.

It was lovely waking to the sound of the babies. Tiny at first and then growing in volume. Great way to start the morning.

Farway

Cooler but sunny start, today’s task if I feel up to it is using long handled shears to trim back the new growth at base of my upright gooseberry before it turns into a woody bush, have to use long handled shears ‘cos bending over could find me face down in the border

I’ve found a packet of nasturtium seeds so may just poke these in somewhere and see what comes up

My plum blossom is finished so just have to wait & see if any set or not, never can be sure for a few weeks until they start swelling or fall off, bit like the other stone fruit cherries

My rhubarb is growing but I saw mention elsewhere about already pulling theirs, mine is nowhere near that stage

Shame about the sand martins PP but perhaps the development will bring fresh but different wild life to it?

in_my_wellies

Beautiful sunny morning here but cloud is coming. Not a lot has be done in the garden due to family circumstances 

My plum blossom is just out and being enjoyed by the wood pigeons. How they manage to balance their fat bodies on the thin waving branches I don't know! The 'Aldi  apple' is full of blossom, the Cox and Bramley are still in tight bud. Cherries have blossom but will be mainly for the birds this year as too high

My rhubarb is coming but will take another week. Traditionally I've always made a crumble with the last Bramley apples and the first of the rhubarb - sort of joins the circle of life in the garden. I will try this year although only me to eat it.

I shall have to try to continue tending my allotment for the benefit of the village so willing volunteers help me now. It's too complicated to explain here but I have somehow acquired adverse possession which might prevent opening up several acres of building land. I'm going along with it so long as people more clever than me do the letters. In the end I won't be living there so it matters not to me - but moral decisions to be made! 

Woolsery

Re the Sand Martins, if it's a development where was the environmental survey? Or do you also have brown envelopes in Scotland ?

No sign of Swallows yet, but a single House Martin has been sighted this morning. I think that's enough to declare summer is around the corner. On this day in 1981 it was blowing a gale and felt close to zero. It also snowed a few days later, just after we'd returned from the Devon Riviera havng been robbed in an establishment not dissimilar to Fawlty Towers.

Happy days!

Woolsery

in_my_wellies said:

I shall have to try to continue tending my allotment for the benefit of the village so willing volunteers help me now. It's too complicated to explain here but I have somehow acquired adverse possession which might prevent opening up several acres of building land.

DB and I opposed a 'worthy' development near here. We pointed out problems before plans were submitted, but those proposing them seemed to think the criticisms were unimportant and took no notice, but at least we'd covered our bums. The plans didn't go through and have been withdrawn for amendment several times and I'm not clear what's holding things up now.

Some people  understand that if a proposal is badly designed it should be opposed, but others think the ends justify anything, so there have been some acid and other (redacted) comments aimed at us. I do have sympathy with 'the other side' too and it's a difficult situation, but a bad plan needs making good, especially when public safety is involved.

in_my_wellies

Woolsery said:

DB and I opposed a 'worthy' development near here. We pointed out problems before plans were submitted, but those proposing them seemed to think the criticisms were unimportant and took no notice, but at least we'd covered our bums. The plans didn't go through and have been withdrawn for amendment several times and I'm not clear what's holding things up now.

Some people  understand that if a proposal is badly designed it should be opposed, but others think the ends justify anything, so there have been some acid and other (redacted) comments aimed at us. I do have sympathy with 'the other side' too and it's a difficult situation, but a bad plan needs making good, especially when public safety is involved.

So I say the right things, cover my back, take the money and run all the way back to my beloved Devon