Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

That's a bargain tree, Bluey! Opal is one of the most popular nowadays.

No damage from the gales here, but a red dawn, and sure enough, drizzle turning to heavy rain shortly. Nice!  I have to see the physio this afternoon, so that's beggared-up the day anyway, but it should be merely drizzle again by then.

I did some moderate exercise yesterday after the rain stopped, digging-up more pipe to re-use, and humping bags of chicken food, shavings etc, but hopefully he'll think my knees are OK to start 'good' exercises now.

More photos from my walk last week, as I've had little to take pictures of here recently. This is the sight that awaited after I'd parked-up and headed for the wooded riverside.....

A bit of a blow, but maybe necessary in a tourist area. Round here, we don't have such things....and it's a bigger river.

Anyway, every fence ends somewhere, so I set off in search of a way in, and I was glad I did. About 1/4 mile along, this sight greeted me:

Still the blooming fence, but lots of Wood Anemones, also blooming! (To be continued )

Farway

Weather here, started good but going downhill rapidly with rain any time now, once Dusty has finished with it.

No flooding near me, but DS + family went over Cowes yesterday, and it was flooded, as was coastal area near here, high tides, winds & lots of rain

Nice wood anemones Dusty, the wood near me is a carpet of them, along with blue bells, but my dodgy legs & balance no longer allow me to safely, or sensibly, walk there any more. Never mind, I know what is there.

The gate & fishing etc may be a response to reports I have heard of those from other backgrounds not being aware the countryside is not a free, help yourself to all-you-can-eat larder.

YoungBlueEyes said:

Plum, label front, label back. I picked it cos it says it’s self fertile, and it doesn’t look like it’ll take much to espalier

If I struggle to get fruit off it (or if  when everyone else eats my share) at least it's a good big size so it'll not be long 'til it's providing a bit of privacy. 

It looks good, and plums will get HUGE if you let them, when they say semi dwarf they mean eighteen footer. Nothing wrong with that if room, except for picking the blighters.

Nice blossom, only trouble I have is it flowers early, so gets the cold & wet, which of course doesn't help with pollination even though self fertile

My bendy branches have been tied down without any problems, so guess yours will do the same if wanted.

I was thinking of potting on more toms, but the weather may stop that, I prefer to do it in the sunshine, using a low garden wall as a bench now I can't readily lug compost around

 

Today's pic, it's Rosa medicus carrus parkii. 

Taken as a cutting and seems to be underway. Nice, prolific, small red flower...

YoungBlueEyes

Posting without catching up again. 

Weak willed persons are to avoid going to morries, get talking to auld fellahs and saying you’re just getting going in your garden, cos they’ll direct you to the sale rail and next thing you know you’ll have a box full of all sorts. And an Orange Pippin tree (despite having nowhere to plant it), and no washing soda! 

ArbitraryRandom

I've just spent far too long looking at various options, and may end up being tempted into a cherry plum on pixy at some point for the shadier side of the garden (the only thing I've got planned at the moment is the rhubarb), but I've been reminding myself that I need to wait at least until the building is done - probably 6 months - before buying anything else... 

Alternatively I might go for some gooseberry and thornless blackberry/raspberry, which I understand all do okay in partial shade/with afternoon sun. 

twopenny

Not a great day and definitely not a gardening day.
Wild easterly wind, rain and cold.
I woke up to see a fat leaving, not in a hurry    open land and large gardens around and I guess no people around for ages with the weather.
Renovation not ready for painting. Found lots more sanding, this place was done by work experience students unsupervised!
Tried to bake some bread, the machine seems to have broken and only gave off lovely smells and no bread.
Seem to have got a cold.
I had considered the top gloss of the hall skirting but the way things are going probably best left.

So great plans to get stuff done aren't going to happen but enjoying reading all the promise of fruit and flowers on the go.
I'm watching the petals of the last tulip to survive the wind hanging in there.
Cherry blossom drooping in the wet and cold.

Still better than a friend in Cornwall with floods and all roads closed. She decided a bed and book was the answer 
I'm doing the fire and settee......dug out some apple and blackberry from last year so maybe a crumble for dinner with jersey  cream. I see an eating fest on the way 

YoungBlueEyes

Arb could you buy things now so you’ve got them ready? If you’ve a morries near you (other supermarkets are available) they could have trees you’d want (other plants are available) but might not sell them in 6 months… 

Lovely anemones Dusty. I agree with Farway about the reason for the sign. When I lived in Lincs I was forever seeing those signs, they ended up being replaced with ones in Latvian/Polish/Romanian/all of the above. Didn’t stop them mind.   Good luck at the physio. 

Those little rose cuttings look v happy eh I need to start keeping my eye out for sticky stuff. Possibly. 

Weather about to turn I think, so that’ll be you suvveners getting a break from it. Gives me chance to think of a planting plan… 🤔

Farway

ArbitraryRandom said:

Alternatively I might go for some gooseberry and thornless blackberry/raspberry, which I understand all do okay in partial shade/with afternoon sun. 

I can confirm blackberries are OK in partial shade with sun at some stage during the day, mine get morning sun and are fine, not in deep gloom though.

I have Merton Thornless and Thorn Free, for taste it's Merton but TF is good too. 

One I want to get next is Triple Crown, from what I've seen it would appear to be a good one

TF was in Morries, not sure if part of the offers on, see YBE post , but was cheap enough to start with £2.50.

Rain did arrive, so put out the rubbish and that's it done outside.

twopenny said:

Not a great day and definitely not a gardening day.

Tried to bake some bread, the machine seems to have broken and only gave off lovely smells and no bread.
Seem to have got a cold.

Mine did that a couple of times the other week, tasty bricks , looking for a replacement seems to have scared the blighter back into shape & now working fine. And now of course it will turn Norwegian.

YoungBlueEyes said:

Posting without catching up again. 

Weak willed persons are to avoid going to morries, get talking to auld fellahs and saying you’re just getting going in your garden, cos they’ll direct you to the sale rail and next thing you know you’ll have a box full of all sorts. And an Orange Pippin tree (despite having nowhere to plant it), and no washing soda! 

Is the Cox 's OP? Where can it go? Have a look on YT for growing trees in one hole, you may be able to squeeze it in somehow.

If I were starting again, that's what I'd do, have a row of small but different variety trees.

My new Sunset is supposed to be a good Cox alternative, just waiting for the blossom now

YoungBlueEyes

I missed your post 2p. That’s a Belgae about your bread maker, can you do a Dutch oven jobber..? Would cold bugs disappeared when drowned in special burny medicine water 😈 Bread first like 😁

Yep it’s a Cox’s Orange Pippin. There was a Jonagold as well but it had some tiny wee mares tails poking up through the soil. Which is a shame cos it was the better looking tree, similar to my plum. I would never have thought of putting multiples in one hole… I’ll look that up. I was thinking of moving my plum over to the corner (if it’ll be a beast) and putting the cox in its place. I’ll have to research and think. 

Arb the one fruit I do remember morrries having on the sale rail is “Heritage” rasps, if that’s any use? Looked well too. They evidently got sick of changing the numbers on the pricing gun cos everything was £1.13 👍🏻 (hence my box full). 

Here’s a cheerful pic of the cherry tree at the end of my road this morning, for anyone who needs some cheer.  It’s only just getting going with the blossoms - 

Farway

YoungBlueEyes said:

Yep it’s a Cox’s Orange Pippin. There was a Jonagold as well but it had some tiny wee mares tails poking up through the soil. Which is a shame cos it was the better looking tree, similar to my plum. I would never have thought of putting multiples in one hole… I’ll look that up. I was thinking of moving my plum over to the corner (if it’ll be a beast) and putting the cox in its place. I’ll have to research and think. 

Arb the one fruit I do remember morrries having on the sale rail is “Heritage” rasps, if that’s any use? Looked well too. They evidently got sick of changing the numbers on the pricing gun cos everything was £1.13 👍🏻 (hence my box full). 

The trees in one big hole is fairly recent AFAIK, some clever so & so did all the work and for back garden not commercial. It is a good option over the Family trees grafting or limited spaces.

Have to [should] stick to same type, all apples, all plums etc not mixed apples & pears

Aids pollination with trees being within a few feet of each other, choose wisely & get staggered cropping, with the roots fighting each other it helps restrict the trees' size & vigour

Heritage rasps, I got mine from Morries only the other week, £2.50. Autumn fruiting. 

I have mine in a large tub because it is a runner and I don't want it everywhere among the other fruit.

I may change my mind once it grows a bit & runners arrive. Just hoping the runners don't somehow spread to the vacant ground near my garage.

Blimey, your road's cherry is late, mine all been & gone now

twopenny

Arbs, I think it's worth considering getting some things while you can and growing them in pots.
You can get a watering system for while you are away. Sink the pots temporarily to keep the roots cool.

Raspberries, briars, rhubarb and small trees would do fine.
They won't be available by June at latest as stocks will be sold and harder to get next autumn.

That way you can be raring to go September and harvesting next spring. You've waited so long!

Yup, you're right Bluey. It's stopped raining atm, wind dropped and warmed a tad.
Love that view 
And Dustys wildflowers. I'm hoping to get out and see some for myself when the weather bucks up.