Awful weather - typical Brits talk

YoungBlueEyes

Not sunny here, not even insipidly. I’m actually on the brink of putting my lights on. 

Farway an optimist would say 7.5 out of 20 is nearly half, does that make it easier. You’re right about waiting for the right toms though. I think if nothing suitable presents itself when I’ve scaled the seed mountain I’ll just make do with whatever I find for this year and keep my eye out for something just right for next year. I’m also thinking of abandoning the replacement tree idea. Arb’s website mentioned that patio trees can be planted so I’ll wait and see what the Ska is and maybe it’ll do. Nothing to report as yet, the one bud is still closed but is a wee bit bigger, as soon as something substantial occurs I’ll put up a pic. My apple is happy I think, it has leaves and flowers in the one bud/cluster (?) opening now, so if Ska is an apple that problem will have solved itself :clapping: 

B+M have rolls of coir lining stuff so I’ve one of them. Next is working out how to get it on the wall ha haa! 

Oh and one of the baskets is morries, cos I was in there checking out plants that might do for your volunteer pot Farway. My one has racks of stuff out now so hopefully you’ll have a good selection in yours on Friday. The Dead Plant Society corner had a couple of hebes at £1 each so I lifted the pair of them cos I can’t see anything wrong them. If it ever stops raining I’ll get a pic of all this nonsense so yous can see.

Edit - hopefully you’re right about the weather now that Spring is properly here Dusty 🤞🏻 Speaking of the east, the website I like for a bit of news had a lovely headline - The Winner Fakes It All I’m waiting to see what they’ll do when we get news from the west about that fart person and his umm fiscal foibles… 

ArbitraryRandom

This is my current gardening... I won't say disaster, but not exactly an amazing success as yet. 

I can't see ALL of the seed has failed, but it's been nearly 3 weeks since I did the first lot and not even a hit of a sprout for any of them. Gah. Patience has never been my strong suit. 

Farway

Sun kept out & quite warm outside, so I had a squelch around the garden.

I have pear blossom out, Yay, photo taken, needs a spot of Royal adjusting, and then I'll post it up

YoungBlueEyes said:

Farway an optimist would say 7.5 out of 20 is nearly half, does that make it easier. You’re right about waiting for the right toms though. I think if nothing suitable presents itself when I’ve scaled the seed mountain I’ll just make do with whatever I find for this year and keep my eye out for something just right for next year. I’m also thinking of abandoning the replacement tree idea. Arb’s website mentioned that patio trees can be planted so I’ll wait and see what the Ska is and maybe it’ll do. Nothing to report as yet, the one bud is still closed but is a wee bit bigger, as soon as something substantial occurs I’ll put up a pic. My apple is happy I think, it has leaves and flowers in the one bud/cluster (?) opening now, so if Ska is an apple that problem will have solved itself :clapping: 

B+M have rolls of coir lining stuff so I’ve one of them. Next is working out how to get it on the wall ha haa! 

Oh and one of the baskets is morries, cos I was in there checking out plants that might do for your volunteer pot Farway. My one has racks of stuff out now so hopefully you’ll have a good selection in yours on Friday. The Dead Plant Society corner had a couple of hebes at £1 each so I lifted the pair of them cos I can’t see anything wrong them. If it ever stops raining I’ll get a pic of all this nonsense so yous can see.


 

Sounds hopeful for my Morries outing, and my fingers also crossed for Ska

Update on DGD's award, it was something to do with City & Guilds Horticulture & Livery Companies & Lord Mayor of London

Here's one of the next generation of gardeners, but we have to refer to them as Horticulturists now or some swoon

She is the one with the gold envelope

twopenny

Lovely photo Farway, you must be proud of her following in your footsteps.

Now who asks who's advice?

Yes I left all behind and went out. Ended up at the garden centre but the tree I spied was £175!!!!!!!!!!!! It was only little.

Generally around £70 which is too much for me so having to try and find a way around.

Very sad, both our local nurseries have closed down Seems the youngsters don't have the care or skills. I was hoping to find a little damson bare root for a reasonable price but seems choice is not to be. It's flash garden centres that buy in now all the way.

At least I'm breaking the addiction and after 4 visits only came away with 89p of nasturtiums.........my bug diversion a la Farway. But feeling the packet and knowing the bug problem I need at least another packet or two.

I planted some bulbs in the lawn but the slugs have eaten the tips of leaves. the tips of the tulips so that didn't work well. Back in the pots for next year. The ones I just shoved in or left in pots have thrived. Isn't that just the way!

Brassica seeds are coming on a treat. I was hoping to get tomatoes on the go but didn't. Must be done this weekend while the moon is rising...........or whatever is good karma at the moment.

I have pics on my camera but can't be up to downloading them and all that nonsense just at the mo. I need some spring bulbs that are doing a treat identified.

Arbs, that looks desolate. Did you keep them hot or cold?

-taff

Farway, congrats to her and you.she's doing something right commiserations about the seed dispersal..

AR, I've done that before, thought something wasn't going to sprout that then did after I sowed more which also sprouted...

I did sow my tomatoes, chillies, some herbs, aubergines and rocket and parsley [those two straight in the ground] so now I am playing the waiting game. I don't think one of the chillies will sprout , they are extrememly out of date , but they're being pampered in the heated propagator [ freecycle goodie] so we'll see.

No rain today! i did chop the bay down for the most part though, it was just brown brown brown and I have a tip run tomorrow so it went in the car. I was talking away to OH before he went to work and then did a girlish scream feeling something on my neck - your friendly neighbourhood garden snail obviously wanted a spell indoors after clinging to that pesky tree....

ArbitraryRandom

twopenny said:

Arbs, that looks desolate. Did you keep them hot or cold?

They're just on the windowsill, and it's not a room I heat, so I'm hoping the last couple of days of warm weather will convince them it's spring... sill, compared to my very late sowing last year (Late May IIRC) even if I have to resow directly once the beds are built, at least there's time.  

I'm giving them another week, then I'll sow some more seed (maybe if we have a nice bank holiday weekend for Easter I'll go to the Carboot and come back with a load of plants from someone else!) 

YoungBlueEyes

I wondered why it was so warm when I got up this morning - it's the glow coming off Farway! Yous must all be pleased as Punch eh. Well done DGD (Love the William Morris waistcoat too, very On Trend.) 

Arb could you move that whole gig into your living room or sit it on the boiler or summat so it's got some heat..? That worked for my toms last year - sat in the sunny front window in the day then into the living room overnight. I was about to sling the lot when I spotted a tiny wee sprout, and then the whole forest appeared. Yours might be the same - they're only messing with ya. Or maybe they want a good talking to, a la Prince charming. Speaking of which I've got a pic that made me giggle....

£175 for a tree 2p Bit toppy is that like. What kinda tree was it? And did it come with a fella to harvest it for you and and chef to cook the fruit Are the Tesco/Lidl offerings no good..? Bloody sight cheaper if nothing else.

Jeez you're on it taff.  Are you offering your services to us slowpokes so we can catch up? But don't be bringing any hitch-hiking snails with ya 

Looks like a nice day here, mild and calm and high white clouds. Gardening to be done for sure and pics to take and crampons to find... 

Dustyevsky

Well done Farway's DGD for finding the real Lord Mayor of London.  I hope there was a valuable Golden Ticket in the gold envelope!

Oh dear, Bluey, your last contribution this morning had me reaching for another medicinal dose of something, but the bottle's almost empty.   I overdid things yesterday, and when ice packs and Ibuprofen fail, there's really only one legal thing left. In answer to your question, I think it's as Sonia Poulton said, which is roughly that the MSM lie and spin so much, people are reluctant to accept what they're told now, regardless of whether it's true or not.

And back to the gardening where I can commiserate with both Farway and Arb because the road to germination is always strewn with good, but unsuccessful, interventions. In my case, a packet of self-saved Rehmannia elata seed from 2017 yielded just 2 plants which I carefully nurtured through the winter, but now, just when temperatures are creeping up, both show signs of wanting to be fjord-bound.   Why? It's best not to worry, otherwise one might end up like that bloke over on the other thread with his paving slab fixation. Goodness, I've had to slap myself to stay out of that one! 

Where was I? Oh, yes, it's moderately bright here, and warm, with a light westerly wind and no prospect of rain. However, we shall only reach 13c, and things like taff's chillies need more than that to burst forth. I've recently sowed 3 varieties for my SiL and given them 23c in the propagator. No sign, as yet, but he and DD2 are in India anyway, so they'll hardly be chilli-starved! None of them I'd sow myself. If you look up Bhut Jolkia, California Reaper and Chocolate Naga you'll know why!!

Today's photo shows why I was keen to get done on the elm hedge renovation. I can barely reach it now on the roadside for daffs! If you examined them carefully, I'm sure you'd find most attacked by molluscs, but when they're en masse.....

Farway

Blue, you'll get banned for that, but I can assure you all that Kate is well, I had an email from her, she is stuck in Lagos airport & needs me to send her £200 to bribe her way onto a 'plane

Started misty, sun is struggling to come out so hope is high

Dustyevsky said:

Well done Farway's DGD for finding the real Lord Mayor of London.  I hope there was a valuable Golden Ticket in the gold envelope!

And back to the gardening where I can commiserate with both Farway and Arb because the road to germination is always strewn with good, but unsuccessful, interventions. In my case, a packet of self-saved Rehmannia elata seed from 2017 yielded just 2 plants which I carefully nurtured through the winter, but now, just when temperatures are creeping up, both show signs of wanting to be fjord-bound.   Why? It's best not to worry, otherwise one might end up like that bloke over on the other thread with his paving slab fixation. Goodness, I've had to slap myself to stay out of that one! 

The Gold envelope was empty , photo op only Never trust a photo these days. Cash went into her bank and I expect there's a certificate somewhere.

Me too with the slabs, my mouse finger keeps itching, but I'm keeping well clear. 

Actually it must be awful if something as minor, to my eyes, gives rise to worry, frustration & contemplating spending £3K for an alternative.

The remaining rescued from floor seedlings seem to be coming off the endangered list, in human terms, now sitting up in bed and sipping tea.

Today's seed venture is sorting the climbing beans, I don't need many because I get fed up eating them & CBA to freeze etc.

Three varieties this year, two of each, Celebration [pink flowers], Goldenfield, flat yellow bean, and own unknown variety self saved from last year, which did well

I'll start on damp tissues to filter out any Norwegian ones before I put in soil

One of my pears has open flowers, and looking at the other I think this year could be good for my pears, at last

Slightly modded pic, cropped & framed

pink_poppy

A beautiful pear, Farway... ahem... And congratulations to your DGD.

I'm another one who almost gave up on my yogurt pot chillies last year. I think they eventually popped up between 3-4 weeks and two bore fruit (a long time later). I had them in the window of a room with afternoon sun with a DIY propagator.

I'm guessing from the word 'reaper' in one of your DD's chillies, that it's a tad hot, Dusty. My youngest DD is the same, the hotter the better, but she's also having to take stomach acid remedies, so a lesson to be learned there. Thanks for the kind words, btw.

Naughty but funny pic, YBE. Please don't get banned though.

Our one remaining bay has been clipped so it looks like a standard, taff. Still loads of leaves on it for cooking with.

Sounds like you've been busy, twopenny, good luck with finding a reasonably priced damson.

Came back from a grey and rainy Glasgow yesterday to beautiful sunshine the nearer to home we got. A couple of the lochs were like sheets of mirrored glass, not a ripple in sight. The reflections were amazing - upside down mountains and pretty houses - I wish I could have got a pic. If anyone has watched Inception, that's what it felt like I was seeing and it made my head go a bit squiffy at times.

The weather today is in complete contrast - rain, rain and more rain, but our hardy postie has just walked past with a pair of shorts on...