Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

Arbitrary, your roses remind me of those we found here when taking over this wild and overgrown smallholding 14 years ago. Sadly, they were mixed in with bramble, many other plants of 'strong' constitution and rubbish tips, so with an acre of the stuff to sort out, plus the rampantly unproductive fields, we opted for a 3.5 tonne digger. We relocated some apple and pear trees, medlars etc but otherwise, it was a case of grub out and burn. Sorry about that. It still took 18 months before we had the place semi-tame and being farmed again.

That's why it pis hurts when some jumped-up pen-pusher at the council tells us the land is not 'productively farmed.'  I must've hallucinated the cutting of the hay yesterday, which went well. It'll be spun into rows today, turned a couple of times on Tuesday, and  with the heat, it could look like bales by Wednesday evening, or Thursday. No end to the dry weather in sight here.

As if on cue, there was a 'Harvest Moon' here on Sunday evening. I don't have any fancy kit, but it created quite an atmospheric photo, shot using the conservatory door frame for stability.

Dustyevsky

That's some challenge Himself has taken on for a week, Blue Eyes! Make sure he stays 150 mm below the DPC in the brickwork if he can. I've not managed it everywhere, but my 'non-building regs compliant bit' is very sheltered.

ArbitraryRandom

Dustyevsky said:

Arbitrary, your roses remind me of those we found here when taking over this wild and overgrown smallholding 14 years ago.

They don't really fit in with my plan for the back yard (I'm not really a roses kind of girl), but I'm optimistic about finding them a space at the front. It would be a shame to not at least make an effort given how well they've coped with being neglected, and the bees do seem to like them. 

YoungBlueEyes

Oh god, I didn’t even think of building regs… do I need to start researching compliance issues? He had some hols to use up at work so we’ve just cracked on I’ll tell him the 150mm thing, thank you Dusty. 

Worried now, I’ll go look it up. 

Dustyevsky

YoungBlueEyes said:

Oh god, I didn’t even think of building regs… do I need to start researching compliance issues? He had some hols to use up at work so we’ve just cracked on I’ll tell him the 150mm thing, thank you Dusty. 

Worried now, I’ll go look it up. 

So long as the raised area doesn't exceed 30cm above normal ground level, it's compliant with permitted development, and being a back garden, there are no special concerns about permeability of surfaces.  It's different in front  garden areas.

Having said that, around these parts there's been a slight tendency for people to construct quite high viewing platforms in back gardens, where they sit and watch the sunsets. Often, a farmer's hedge blocks a good view. I saw several out in the sticks when taking the train into Exeter. I bet none of them has PP.

The 150mm thing is about protecting the walls from damp caused by rain splash. I expect Himself knows about it.

YoungBlueEyes

Himself did know about it - he rolled his eyes at me and muttered some nawty words about me questioning his knowledge ha haa! It’ll all be well below the dpc, probably 3 bricks below. 

Tentative research is looking fine. We’re replacing the same area that we had, at the level that it was, but in different materials. So not an issue (I don’t think). 

Anyway the timber’s here now (jeez it smells lovely) so this is only a lunch break then it’s back to it  

pink_poppy

Your garden looks like mine, YBE (not in a good way)... what’s the wood for you’ve just had delivered??

Your water iris is gorgeous, Dusty, might be a silly question, but is it actually in water?? Here’s my bog standard iris...



Talking of water... no sign of Kermit in the pond this year, but I did hear some froggy croaking when I was weeding nearby 🐸 

Tom is definitely not a beefsteak, Farway. As far as I know it’s a cherry of unknown variety.

AR, lovely rose photos - the bud pic (top) reminded me of a standard rose I had years ago called Raspberry Ripple. The open flower looked nothing like yours though. Btw, very impressed with your own thread - I came across it yesterday and need to sit down and read it properly.

 I potted up my peppers this afternoon and ended up with nine because I had a couple of doubles. They’re back on the windowsill in the house now.



I found this snapped off my Calamondin yesterday - so waste not, want not - into the G&T it went...



Finally, OT and it’s seriously scorchio here... 😎

YoungBlueEyes

Ooh I like your diddy wee orange pp, how’s the flavour? 

The wood is “pressure treated sleepers”. Yeah but which wood is it? “Tree wood”. And we need more of them, apparently  

The birds are loving the open ground now. Blackies have scratted most of it for worms and bugs, with sparrows and a couple of robins following in their wake. There were a couple of Mrs blackies and poss a baby one too - lots of very melodic chirping  

OT - sun’s just come out! 

Dustyevsky

YoungBlueEyes said:

We’re replacing the same area that we had, at the level that it was, but in different materials. So not an issue (I don’t think).

Well, if you don't have neighbours that will dob you in, it's not usually an issue anyway. After 4 years, whatever built is legal, assuming it's not a listed building, AONB etc.

Birds love ground that's been exposed, disturbed etc. I went through the brush-cut  part of the hen orchard with the mower set as high as it would go to chop up all the grass even more, and the hens were on it as soon as I passed. Years ago, we had a Dorking which was so keen I nearly ran her down a few times, despite the racket the mower makes!

Poppy, your iris is lovely. I like them all, but they're over too quickly. The water irises are in the ground next to the mini-ponds, but as they're old iron 'coppers' it's not boggy there. I also have some in pots and just dunk them in at flowering time.One pond is full of rocks, so birds can perch and drink.

Speaking of birds, hairy cat spent the late afternoon asleep on the back doorstep, while the robin perched on the trellis nearby swearing at her. She's finally learned to ignore it. I bet if the blackbirds turned-up, it would be different, though!

Had the hay turned this afternoon and spent a lot of that time sneezing. We're dust-dry here now.

Must get a photo of the new hens, not that they're very pretty yet. They're a big breed called Australorps. We have a black and a blue; like these when full-grown:

LurkingAgain

Thank you Dusty, the chucks are camping in the feed shed, in a dog cage over night. I use nettex sheild and dia dust. I must have caught this lot just in time. 

YBE did you find any rats?