Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Apodemus

2p, thanks for the link.  I used to be registered with the old aurorawatch website for its email alerts, until it was taken  off-line a number of years ago.  Thin layer of high cloud tonight, so no stars. 

Nights are definitely drawing out now and with a clear sky and snow cover it was quite light when I got back from my afternoon walk at 16.15 today, even if the sun is still officially down before four here.  Just that half hour extra makes it feel like spring must be on its way!   I'm not noticing it in the mornings yet, though, with no appreciable daylight till about 08.30, but that will change rapidly in a couple of weeks as we get into February.

ancientofdays

It has been bitterly cold here, hard frosts and snowy days but we have reached the dizzy heights of 1° here this morning. 
Still not a crocus in sight, and I think the suggest that the squirrels might have eaten them could be right.  I do have a lot of bluebells coming up and daffodils too and so far the violas look ok but a bit frost-nipped. The Hesperantha  has kept going and there are more flowers, plus seeds that I might harvest. My compost bin is full of frozen chunks of compost.
I have a question. Just beyond the border of the garden is a big sycamore and if left, the seeds sprout everywhere. Over the autumn and winter, I have been collecting them up and have put them in a bucket of water. How long before they are well and truly drowned?  I would like to be rid of them but I really don't want to spend most of the spring fishing out small sycamores and they are so sneaky, they hide behind things until big enough to be hard to get out.

Apodemus

Lol, if you find a solution to self-seeding sycamores, patent it!  You'll make a fortune!   

I would think that you won't manage to drown them when the temperatures are low over winter, they'll still sprout if you let them out in spring.  You might be better to put them somewhere that you can let them germinate, then kill off the seedlings.  I have a Council garden-waste bin that gets anything that I don't want to seed itself in the garden.

in_my_wellies

Good morning

Vaccination day for my mum today. I only have to drive 6 miles so very pleased about that.  After a very sunny day yesterday (went for a 35 minute walk) I've woken up to heavy rain this morning. I'm looking for an indoor project to get on with which mum can include mum, getting increasingly difficult. 

It'll be my first spring in this house for many years so quite excited to see bulbs coming up. I'm wondering how many of my original bulbs will appear. The interim owner was a keen flower gardener so I'm expecting magic to happen. Will go and fetch sprouts, kale and carrots later but fear it'll be too wet to do much more than that as I can't risk mum slipping in the mud!

Farway

And another wet day ahead, with mist / low cloud at present

twopenny said:

 The front lawn is now 80% moss I see. Perhaps I should just make it a moss lawn and set a trend.

I think there is some sort of Japanese style moss gardening, which I suspect is harder than it looks to get it right and not look like some neglected area

I have moss in my grass, which I leave as it's green & I'm not after a bowling green. plus makes a nice backdrop for the dandelions

ancientofdays

My neighbour made a moss garden, just a small one, but he thinks he did something wrong because the moss escaped. I think the escape was assisted by the birds. My front lawn is almost entirely moss now. It is pouring, no gardening today.

Davesnave

Warm and wet and squidgy again here.

Black_Cat2

Hi all

Imw - perhaps your mum might like a game of scrabble, of course I don't know your mum's interests but my mother in law loves the odd game.  She also loves a hand or two of rummy and has on occasion enjoyed a game of cribbage.  I love my mother in law BUT I hate all those games but grin and bear it lol grrrrrrr 🤐

ancientmum

Oh we used to play cribbage as children.  We found the old cribbage board when clearing out Mum's flat.  Brought back many happy memories.

in_my_wellies

Black_Cat2 said:

Hi all

Imw - perhaps your mum might like a game of scrabble, of course I don't know your mum's interests but my mother in law loves the odd game.  She also loves a hand or two of rummy and has on occasion enjoyed a game of cribbage.  I love my mother in law BUT I hate all those games but grin and bear it lol grrrrrrr 🤐

I know exactly how you feel, I too hate all those games but was made to join in to make up the four. Mum used to love all sorts of games. She was a card wizard and very competitive. She could remember the order of the whole pack of card and knew exactly which card every person picked up once the pack was turned over. Unfortunately now she has dementia she tries to play but her lack of memory makes it impossible.  She still has enough awareness to know she can't do it any more and gets frustrated and upset. She will sit with someone with a jigsaw. She rarely puts any pieces in but enjoys the chat and the company. I'm hoping to keep this going.  This morning I let her polish all the shoes and boots. She did a good job and enjoyed herself  

I think it rained for the whole day. The reservoir is vey full, no birds this end. Too deep for dabbling. Reminds me I must check the boat house - wish me luck - if I'm not here tomorrow call a search party