Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

twopenny said:

Carol used to be great. But she's had double the giggle treatment and instead of her expert knowledge they had her making Christmas wreaths.

There's nothing inherently wrong with including some garden-related craft ideas in a show about gardening, and at least Carol has artistic credentials, but we gave up on 'how to do it' gardening programmes in the late 90s/early 2000s. Then, there were some alternative programmes to watch, featuring specific gardens or plant families, where there was a bit of depth. At the same time, the notorious Ground Force came along to make the public believe “I want it all, and I want it now!” was a realistic way of approaching gardening. Mrs Dusty and I used to spit feathers at some of the nonsense that went on there!

There are enough interesting gardens in this country to make a programme every week featuring one or two of them,  forever! It's probably too demanding in terms of cost for the audience it would attract, though. So, we get programmes which are basically magazines, where subjects are dipped-into and out of. It's like much of the National Curriculum, which I hated, which seemed to start from the premise that most people or students are quite thick. I managed to subvert it for many years (the maths bit excepted,'cos it was more suited) and then, when the school inspectors came too close, I retired and returned as a supply. No one cares what supply teachers do, so long as the kids are quiet!

Definitely no instant gardening here. We've been on this one for 14 years and some parts are still relatively undeveloped.

"Rain to end" it says on my 'puter, but as they think I'm in Bridgwater, that may not be accurate. Blue skies at present, but letting the hens out at 08.30 was grim.

Farway

Weather is doing everything here this morning, rain, wind and now the sun's out. If it stays out I may even get the rubber clogs on & squelch down the garden to see if much changed with the storms etc, looks the same from the windows, but closer inspection may prove otherwise.

twopenny said:

Carol used to be great. But she's had double the giggle treatment and instead of her expert knowledge they had her making Christmas wreaths. What a waste.

Talking of waste, once they had Kirsty Wilson making fairy gardens on Beechgrove, honestly she must have cringed, top dog at Edinburgh botanic gardens!. 

I suppose in the TV world you do what the boss says or someone else will.

OT, DGD group has a visit to Ed'bh BG planned for the coming year, it was Wisley this year.

 DGD tells me Kirsty W is off to Balmoral, not sure if that is true or rumour, but new King maybe new outlook? Highgrove Mk2 in the Glens? Remember folks, you heard it here first.

twopenny said:

So yet no gardening.
No garden centre as it's Sunday, NYE and school hols but I'm making a dash for it next week to see if there are any bargains for fruit trees. No idea where I'd put another but thats not the point.

That's the spirit, can never have too many fruit trees. If I were younger & fitter, I think I'd have mini orchard where my “lawn” is, a variety of trees, just shoulder-high.  Maybe, like the Commerical folk have, rows of different variety espalier types

I was re planting [in my head] my lily bulbs last night instead of sleeping, the Asiatic ones the squirrels have dug some up, and they're now littering the surface of the pots like moon rocks.

I may collect them & replant in the Volunteer border somewhere, as they seem quite tough and vigorous

Must be mad, my Essentials cheapo fresh toms from Asda are heart shaped this time. No prizes for guessing who has taken a seed smear.

Not expecting miracles but hey ho worth a go just for the shape.

Dustyevsky

YoungBlueEyes said:

Poor Carol Vorderman, I always liked her and they got rid of her despite all the work she had done. Even in her reconfigured state she added a bit of class to the gig. Not seen her on tv for ages now I think about it... Hopefully she's not been demoted to the opening supermarkets brigade

Last seen calling out a politician for not fulfilling a pledge he made. Politician replied on social meja in a most impolite manner and tried to re-frame what he'd said, like they all do.*

OT. ...And it's raining hard again!

* Correction: There's one who doesn't, and he has an interesting debate coming up mid-January.

twopenny

Ok, that settles it. If you've got rain I will soon.
It keeps changing by the minute and the sun is deceptive thinking ' out' but I know it's just teasing me.
Waiting for me to change clothes and get excited about daylight!

I've got beachgrove saved. Maybe get my fix there.
Between the tv going 'popular' and many garden centre going popular I'm grateful for this thread.

I too thought about a mini orchard instead of garden. It would have suited the site which is too hot to sit in and given summer shade. I think I've been affected by the progs and how people think of gardens now.
I can feel rebellion coming on with so much time to think indoors.

pink_poppy

My computer says mostly cloudy, which is true, but it's actually quite bright out there. Yesterday was dire - sleet/snow, strong winds, freezing cold - bloomin' miserable...

My Ceanothus succumbed to Storm Gerrit Right Up Ye (sorry, pinched that from the Daily Record front page headline because it did make me laugh) and a big branch has snapped right in the middle. I'll have to cut it off completely, which will make it look a bit lopsided and it'll probably die now anyway haha.

Tomatoes sound interesting, Farway.

-taff

Farway, there are heart shaped ones but they're big, that I know of, called Cuor di Bue...

Two pee, yes, same as, re the garden. And orchard...I have a quince and a medlar on order, also same problem, where to put them, it's slightly worse I think than getting another plant there's no room for from the gc Last year I left it in places to do it's thing, grew more what we used to call weeds, and generally made it a bit wilder. From all the years of growing veg in serried ranks I let that be a bit stranger too. I do remember Alys Fowlers victorian garden programme where she just grew her veg in amongst the flowers [years ago!] but that's not feasible for me yet, but getting less rank and file definitely is.

BTW, it's been sunny, windy, raining and grey so far today. It's raining again now....

Dustyevsky

I've just realised today's the last day of the year! I thought it was tomorrow, because we have visitors! One day's much like another ATM.

So, a quick review of the Dusty year is called for!  In a nutshell, it's like this: 

Mrs Dusty started the year immobile, then got a new knee and began knocking the garden into shape again. Meanwhile, I battled in a legal context with evil neighbours and won , but far too late to do anything constructive in '23. We both enjoyed reinstating the polytunnel using our children's skills/labour , and the hay harvest was pretty good , so there were positive experiences among the trickier times. A milestone year, certainly, but we didn't quite reach the heights of self-satisfaction I snapped on a canal trip some years ago. Sometimes, a super photo literally falls into your lens!

May 2024 be the year when more things go right, for all of us! Happy New Year.

Paspatur

Happy New Year when it comes to Dusty and all others on here. Thank you for making me smile (frequently) in what has been a tough year but also thank you for the expertise over the years. I am guilty of trying to grow things that might work in the south of England (or even in warmer climes)  but die here in the NE of Scotland. I keep learning and enjoying and hopefully I can restore the garden after one year of neglect. I am never going to grow masses of fruit and veg due to cold, wind etc. but I have accepted that and just go for flowers/shrubs etc with tomatoes, chillies and peppers in the greenhouse. I love my greenhouse (retirement present) and love it has withstood storms up to 100 mph (Malik)

twopenny

Happy New Year to one and all reading

Paspatur - go on give us a challenge. Goodness knows we've got time on our hands with all the bad weather!

Lucky you having a greenhouse, always been my dream.

I'm sort of pleased with the wet tonight. Means I may get a nights sleep without fireworks till 3 in the morning

I love fireworks but there are limits.

Love that boat too Dusty. That's an even bigger dream.

Wish I was redoing this Christmas - different boat

Dustyevsky

Paspatur said:

I am guilty of trying to grow things that might work in the south of England (or even in warmer climes)  but die here in the NE of Scotland. I keep learning and enjoying and hopefully I can restore the garden after one year of neglect. I am never going to grow masses of fruit and veg due to cold, wind etc. but I have accepted that and just go for flowers/shrubs etc with tomatoes, chillies and peppers in the greenhouse. I love my greenhouse (retirement present) and love it has withstood storms up to 100 mph (Malik)

I've a cousin up your way, but on the other side (Sutherland.) He's just given up growing potatoes! A robust polytunnel or greenhouse makes all the difference up there. Even down here, it's a treat to escape into your own private and protected world, preferably in a greenhouse because they're quieter!.

twopenny said:

Love that boat too Dusty. That's an even bigger dream.

Yes, the guy looks so happy there, relaxing next to his pride and joy. Personally, that situation's rarely been achieved. We didn't finish our last garden, though we got close. This one will certainly never be completed, but it doesn't worry me. I went back to our old garden 3 years after leaving, and although it was totally neglected, I didn't feel bad. It's much worse now, but the people who live there love the location. The 'bones' of the garden are still there for a future owner to revitalise, if they wish.