Awful weather - typical Brits talk

twopenny

Probably a corkscrew hazel Abs. They were very fashionable back along.

And the Witch Hazel, I've wanted one for years and finally got one but not at the racey prices Dusty mentions. It's been thriving in a pot but is suffering this year and I've no idea why. Other than it probably shouldn't be in a pot!

I dug a whole lot of stuff out when I was making the beds. I don't recall anything in the two spots that are giving me problems. Unfortunately now there's so much growing that deep digging isn't an option.

I really want to increase the depth of the borders but this spring torrential rain and summer baking heat then rain. We'll see.

At the mo it's all desperate dealing with problems.

Bluey, that photo was a year or two ago in summer from my living room. Not getting away from the jobs out there while you sit on the settee But I can watch the birds at the feeder or lawn. Was sure I heard a blackbird chuntering yesterday evening. Bird seed etc to be

got today.

Just to prove - the beans that have been blown down 4 times !!!

Wish I'd taken this after I mowed the lawn

And the kale is in it's 3rd yr. I cut it to ground level but couldn;t get the roots out and voila! 2 stems from same plant producing again.

ArbitraryRandom

Might be overkill, but I think you can get a postal soil test for things like heavy metals? 

If it was a larger area then I know there are plants you can use to 'clean it' (depending on what it is - like willow for zinc and copper)... but with a relatively small area I'd probably go for a nice bird bath maybe? 

YoungBlueEyes

Or squidge your bird bath over? If that doesn’t leave your garden brain-chewingly asymmetrical 

I nipped to morries while I was out food shopping because fomo, and look what they’ve got! 

Not the healthiest looking specimen but the best of what was there… Always good to have a backup plan  

Dusty that’s what the fuschia near me looked like, but it’s like it’s on half power now. Pic when I go out after lunch. 

YoungBlueEyes

Oh god summer’s back, produce some flowers quick! We can’t, we’ve no goodness left! *sigh* this is all we can muster, take it or leave it - 

Farway

And here's mine, belt & braces, Judas with flowers and seed pods

Dustyevsky

YoungBlueEyes said:

Oh god summer’s back, produce some flowers quick! We can’t, we’ve no goodness left! *sigh* this is all we can muster, take it or leave it - 

That's not on half power; it's a different variety! It's probably  Whiteknights Blush or Pearl.

We have a couple and they're always late.

https://www.ballyrobertgardens.com/products/fuchsia-whiteknights-pearl

ArbitraryRandom

YoungBlueEyes said:

Or squidge your bird bath over? If that doesn’t leave your garden brain-chewingly asymmetrical 

Can you tell my brain's not working on all cylinders - I didn't even register there was one in the picture

But yes, I'd move that over to the dead zone and see if something could grow in its spot to fill in.  

YoungBlueEyes

Ha haa Arb, I did wonder! I only spotted it cos I had one the same in my last house. My buyer was so lovely I left it for her, but I do miss it. 
Yep I'd move it over a wee bit and let the good rosemary fill the gap. Then it doesn't matter about soil or digging or roots or whatever. 

Dusty I didn't mean it was the same one, I meant that's what my one looked like earlier in the year Lots of rich coloured flowers and good leaves and lushness in general. My one it's all pale and sparse and the leaves are thin... There's plenty of it, just that it's tired looking  

Your Judas is a very pretty colour Farway, I'd be happy to see that having a second go.

I was at lovely neighbour's yesterday for a coffee (yes I forgot to photo those plants I said I would photo), and Handsome is sick! Something in the mouth/throat dept she thinks. He's drinking copious amounts of water and his breath stinks. She's worried about his kidneys, my first thought was diabetes. Vets tomorrow.... 

Still warm and humid here, and there's a lovely breeze. The apps all agree we're properly sliding into autumn now and that's the last of the heat, which is fine by me cos I like it crispy cold Just shows you what a difference there is in a year. This time last year we went to Hull fair cos neither of us had been for years, and it was dreich windy rainy cold. We were soaking and chilled through by the time we got home. Miserable. I bet folks were in shorts and tshirts this year bless em, much nicer. I'd recommend it if you've never been, but there's no reason to go twice
Still waiting on the rain starting here, it reckons to have been raining these last 3 hours but I've not seen a drop of it....

wort

YBE I hope handsome is ok, my cat lost his voice for a few days last week it was very peculiar, but he’s back to almost normal now.

Dd has a fuchsia in full bloom the red variety though , I prefer that pale one myself.

BIL turned up with a wheelbarrow at teatime last night, with 2 huge clumps of the yellow flowers I liked in his garden. Problem for today is where to put them ,garden is rather full and difficult to dig due to all the roots of other stuff. Also it’s pouring down today and set for the day.
I'm working tomorrow ,and off to the lakes for a late birthday 🎉 trip with friends who have all had big birthdays too this year.

Farway

Very grey & dull morning, looks a bit damp but not raining, not a day for doing much in the garden by the looks of it

Blooming garden waste bin was not collected, I saw the lorry, but the swines missed me, got onto council using the online form, robot response "bin not out" . Lying toads, just phoned the Council and told they will come back but unable to say when, which I guess is council code for see you in a fortnight when next collection is due

Shades of Michael Douglas in Falling Down flashed before my eyes, but the only falling down would probably be me into a flower bed at Council HQ

If it brightens a bit I may try to get the new clematis planted because rain is due tomorrow

wort said:

I'm working tomorrow ,and off to the lakes for a late birthday 🎉 trip with friends who have all had big birthdays too this year.

Have a nice time, Lakes should look very pretty this time of year with Autumn colours