Awful weather - typical Brits talk

twopenny

I had one of those. Ended up in the skip. Just too much hard work trying to find ways of dealing with it.
We had a balmy 5c last night. About the same today and the wind has dropped. But everything is so cold now it's hard to work up any enthusiasm.
Northern lights - been dense cloud here forever 

So walking with friends this morning and that rare thing, an appointment with a nurse md afternoon so no gardening. But I have stuff ready for even a slight break in the bitter weather. Can't get cold because there's no real way to warm up after.
Saw some aubritia in burgundy- which I have out the front - but £3 a pot. I must take cuttings.
May remember to check seed situation and buy.

Farway

Dull but sorta mild, not snowing yet any way.

I mention snow because that's the latest OMG panic news from Daily Fail weather "forecast". Actually could be a tinge of truth in there because my daughter's pond has frog spawn now, and I seem to remember that often happens, the early frog catches the frost

Gardening today was buying two bags of compost in Home Bargains with no sign of blow away plastic greenhouses, so my cunning plan never got very far

Spotted the blossom out on some of the trees, ornamental plums I think.

No sign of Northern Lights, just clouds

twopenny

Still bitterly cold inside and out. Dark cloud and this is mostly predicted for the whole of March.
I've watered the tiny new beds of bulbs and some primula pots. Filled the bird bath. Strikes me I must water the big pots too. 

You can dress for a short spell of cold but this continuous stuff has everything icy to touch.
Buds have appeared but even the wild plants look miserable. Much like me.

Farway

Frosty and sunny start this morning, looks nice but cold

My new potting on post arrived yesterday, so job for the day if my conservatory ever warms up, is to pot on the last of the streptocarpus cuttings.

Went online searching for cannas, some lovely ones but oh my, eye watering prices. I found the National Collection is in Bisley, Surrey, maybe a detour visit on the way home next time I'm up Wisley way?

Not easy searching for canna, I found lots of rather more exotic offers which could result in a visit by the boys in blue

twopenny

Sunshine promised for today. It's certainly brighter enough to bother drawing the curtains.
But guess what, I'm out all day!
Still 5c with a north wind- 

Won't help this year but our council plants cannas on town central reservation and in the park. Noo I'm not suggesting.... but they dig up and compost plants twice a year.
I've blagged winter pansies and wallflowers before. They don't like composting healthy plants.

YoungBlueEyes

Ooh steady Farway, we don't need to be another man down!

Digging up and composting plants twice a year seems a bit wasteful. I'd be out there with my bucket asking to rehome some ha haa! I would too. 

I'm working like a navvy, even tho it is cold and a bit windy. I'm almost sorry I started this 'properly digging out the flower beds' thing now. The roots are seemingly impossible to get rid of. I'm not one to do half a job but I think I'll have to draw the line somewhere for I'm making no real progress. I'll have to take yous a picture. If I don't break my wrists digging the taproots up I'm gonna have a stroke/hernia trying to pull the blasted things up. I really want to get my plants in before the cold snap comes next week so they can get a bit of warmth from the land

YoungBlueEyes

Hopefully this makes it clearer, cos I’ll take any hints or tips

This morning I’ve re dug 3 panels length of soil but to a deeper depth (?) than I did yesterday. I’m trying to get rid of the roots so my plants can have all the goodness. At what point does ‘hard work that’s worth it’ become ineffectual…? 

Oh and I’ve damn near filled my brown bin (garden waste) in 3 days! 

twopenny

Not sure I can answer that Blue. Because I'm much the same.
I'm so proud of what I've achieved, pain and all, but no one else sees it except me. Or my vision.

Perhaps get those roots out as much as you can, get the plants in and sit back and admire for the summer.
Edge and improve the lawn (urine on the grass) then next autumn move and increase the border to allow for growth 
You'll have forgotten the pain!

I put in loads of bulbs first year. Now I need to move them. But because I know how far I've come thats fine. Look lovely for the moment.

Today i read an article about Gertrude Jeykll..........now I want to rearrange what is there.
But I'm 3yrs in.

YoungBlueEyes

Thanks 2p I spose I was looking for a quick fix for getting the roots up but I’ll just persevere. It did occur to me to hire a chainsaw and sway it about in the soil but I can see meself losing a limb or 3 doing that 😆

I’ll sit a watering can in the bathroom then, give the grass a feed. What sort of wee-water ratio do you think? 50/50? 80/20? Considering the soil is in such a good state it’s a wonder the grass is so unhappy. 

I didn’t find anything of interest really either. No bulbs or pretty stones. Or a lovely Roman mosaic. There’s no justice!

Oh and I’m not looking up Gertrude Jekyll, I’ve enough on ha haa!  

YoungBlueEyes

Well I might have had a quick look… 

https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo/gertrude-jekyll-gardens.html?sortBy=relevant

Beautiful 😍