Awful weather - typical Brits talk

YoungBlueEyes

Is that what you call a box hedge Dusty?  

Good luck with your seeds wort, I reckon the hairdryer woke them up and now they'll be raring to go. Shawshank is definitely A Thing - I think some stuff just wants to die and nothing you do will save it, and then other stuff is full life and it'll go even with your 'help'. (See kmn's clematis post.)  It's a bit like bread making - the more bashing about and trying to get it exactly right you do, the worse the result will be. Minimum effort = maximum result. And get a tree bought! Big things are harder to kill and take longer to die, and if you get a patio one it'll only take up the same floor space as a dinner plate  

So what's stage 2 Arb? Is that builder work or you work?  

Lovely cool fresh sunny morning here, but it'll not last. Possibly. No rain forecast but then they said the rain would stop yesterday aft which I spose it did technically for it turned into hailstones Windy again but a bit less so. 
Today's pic is of stars in the lovely clear sky we had last night - 

YoungBlueEyes

Ah it's only lurgy pp, I'm not properly poorly. It's either in retreat or covering more ground before moving on, can't tell. In Aldi yesterday in their gardening stuff I'm sure I saw a metal arch you know. I couldn't tell you size or strength etc but it'll be on their website

I know what you mean about wanting everybody elses stuff - I now want a greenhouse, an arch or two, a sitooterie or three, each with a pergola, and covered in clematis. Also some raised beds, and Purple Haze apple trees. And I'm sure I could make use of a polytunnel. It'll be like Farway said - all the yoofs are buying the same car cos this year it has the cheapest insurance premiums, we'll all have the same gardens  

Would your neighbours move their bins if you explained what you're doing? Mention "sitooterie" and they might one too and the problem will solve itself  

Dustyevsky

-taff said:

Dusty, I don't blame you for moving, where I lived for 22 years suddenly shot up in price after a Royal got added, just when me and the OH were looking for something to buy, so in the end, I moved away from there..But you are a serious gardener and I am just a common or garden variety so I don't need as much space but that doesn't mean I'm not envious of yours, even with all the problems it brings with it. The grass being greener etc..also envious of the forest, mines a poor showing compared.

Having too much land is almost as bad as having too little. What can be efficiently managed is best. We began with a 30' x 15' garden, in a place which was ideal for work, leisure, and bringing-up children. But times change. We wouldn't want to live in that location now, or start a family there. Here is better, but there might be more affordable options elsewhere. Recent Rightmove data showed 9 of the 10 fastest selling areas were in Scotland!

For anyone starting out today, I'd say consider the way the world's economy is shifting. Long-developed countries have huge debts, and their influence is declining. That's why I'd rather be in a small place with a close local network, than in an anonymous conurbation. When times are hard, it's the community which pulls together that does best. In gardening terms, this might mean specialising: us with our polytunnel growing toms, others doing greens, and those with farms bagging-up grain for backyard chickens. Whatever happens, there will always be an economy, no matter how rough and ready. 

Maybe the land where you are is better than that where we have the forest areas. That's invariably steep and/or on poor, rocky soil, too naff for any other crop. We also have some vestiges of temperate rainforest, so people are keen to preserve that.

Dustyevsky

pink_poppy said:

The sun was out here too - made a nice change. Hope you and Mrs Dusty had a lovely time.

We did, but there's been sad news for our extended family recently, so some self-care was in order. The power of gardening and/or getting close to nature can't be over-estimated, but living where you are, you know that! 

Visiting at this early stage in the year also helps to reveal more of the 'bones' in planting and landscaping. Careful selection of plants makes the Cool Garden green and interesting, even without flowers.

And here's nature, getting on with life. The wet weather makes finding worms easier; always an up-side!

2p please note the above photo. I have a terrible picture of Siskins to share later!

kiss_me_now9

wort said:

Ahh Arb stop it 😆I’d have to dig the patio up , I used to have a lovely willow along the fence there but next door complained it was blocking his light 🥹 They don’t have a single plant in their garden ! 

KMN clematis love to be cut back after flowering, so it probably invigorated it. Could you train it higher and cut off all lower sticky out bits, none of mine are bushy, so not sure if it can be done.but then the flowers and leaves would be higher up.

Decided to sow the seeds outside and do a YBE and let Shawshank prevail. Tried a method I’ve seen on tv, and chucked them into a bit of compost then scattered about. Snipped a few bits and put some feed on anything with a flower!! I always forget to feed😞
just finishing when a black cloud appeared so washing brought in just in time for the downpour. Stopped after 5 min but washing was virtually dry so it’s on the airer with dehumidifier on.
The buds are on the lilac and will possibly flower when I go on holiday and I’ll miss the delicious scent. The red rhododendron is in flower now and looking great.

We agreed that OH will trim it better this year and if it's well behaved it can stay for a bit longer. Trouble is it goes up the outside of our brick outhouse and bushes out right at the roof level - just about head height. So if you walk into it and there's a bee enjoying the flowers you get a face full of angry insect. 

sammy_kaye18

Morning all

Not amused - the wind somehow managed to uproot one of my shelves that I am positive I secured but did end up with things on the floor so put things back in the pots and left them on the floor to stop falling, went in yesterday and something has eaten the inside out of the seeds......have found some sticky tiles though - my greenhouse is on pallets to help secure it so I will spend today putting tiles down to block holes - I have got plenty of bits of spare wood too so can really get it blocked off from whatever critter was making its way in. 
Nevertheless I may be playing guess the plant with those few tubs. 

Also I fixed the shelve and made sure to secure it so it is back up with tubs back on it now so hopefully up out the way and secure. . 

Woke up this morning and it was lovely and sunny, wanted to check in here and get some information , turned round and its rain and wind again. 

Waiting on a delivery today too of seeds. I did realize I meant to order more sweet pea seeds and completely forgot them because I got distracted. 

Also cant remember who asked for the pictures of idiot dogs but here they are.....

This is Angus. Hes 4. Lurcher x whippet. Scared of everything, Is a complete cuddle monster, sweet mummies boy but extremely skittish. The reason I fell in love with sighthounds and his sweet nature made me think when our older dog passed - 'oh lets get another sighthound'


^^^^^ This is Hamish. Hes 2. Bull greyhound x saluki, Absolute pillbox. Nicknamed Hamish the Hooligan. Has dug me a lovely figure of 8 trench through my lawn with his zoomies. Doesn't realize how big he is. His butt is vile. Killer of stuffed toys. Favorite place to sit is across my shoulders even though hes the same height as me when hes stood on his back legs. Mummys boy - if mum moves, he moves.


This is Nicky aka Noobs or noodles. Chihuahua x jack russell. Shes 6. Small dog complex. My shadow. Stealer of toys. Affectionate but barks at everything and everyone. Drives me round the bend on a daily basis. Photogenic little meerkat. Sleeps like a little bean.

On a serious note though. I cant imagine my house without multiple dogs. When the door is knocked you only ever hear our chihuahua - the boys are so chilled. 

ArbitraryRandom

YoungBlueEyes said:

So what's stage 2 Arb? Is that builder work or you work?  

Me work is between the builder work stages - while I'm saving up the pennies again...  

Stage 1 I guess was hedges out/fences up, clear the garden and level (late last year);

Stage 2 was trees in, this small patio area and the beds (all along the right hand side of the garden);

Vague plans for the rest of the work are:

Stage 3: a large (4x6m ish) concrete slab at the bottom of the garden, running electrics to it from the house (maybe also running a water pipe), and breaking up the two previous foundations from the greenhouse and a previous small shed, plus moving the existing aluminium shed onto this new base; 

Stage 4 is a large patio under where the existing shed is currently located (on the left)

Stage 5 is building/buying a new shed to go on the concrete platform (the builder is trying to convince me to let him build it basically as a garage out of blocks...but we will see)

-taff

ybl, ahh! the upright saucepan ready to bash someone on the head

kmn, I did laugh at faceful of angry insect

dusty, very jealous making, all that space and green. Good point about community too.

sammy, they look like a handful!

Weather is dull after rain and sun, perfect to go shopping for more raised beds [ uh oh] and fetch more cheap coir stuff to fill it. This means moving the small cast iron feed trough [ a present to myself some years ago, and full of manky water, that needs cleaning, re-siting and filling again, with some plants this time - the foxes ate the water pump] and the large concrete sheet that's been in the garden since we had it but moved it's way around the place. I dropped that last year when I moved it, had some impessive scrapes down my leg even though I jumped not very athletically out of the way...do not recommend. Better be more careful this year.

twopenny

Sunny but freezing and windy, Easterly as usual, now gone dull and to be that way to the end of the day.

Loving the photos, been sorting mine out for our last photo meet on Friday.

Meantime I'll have to replant the tomatoes and beans. Think they've rotted.

Now of course I'm having to water the pots as the wind has dried everything  

The kale and purple sprouting are ok apart from what must be a minute slug eating some. I've been out repeatedly in the dead of night with a torch and turned the pots over, every one and can find nothing.

My garden is small the veg plot small - this was it 4yrs ago

And now

Canes up for the beans and tomatoes. against the fence for gooseberries to be espaliered.I had red currants espaliered up the fence till last year when I found I didn't need them but do need some goosegogs

Agapanthus in the big pots on the patio.

Stuff growing atop the panels for privacy from those who have a huge house and want more bedrooms in the attic!

I can't say I choose much about the design. Had grand ideas but then practicality and covid scuppered those.

But it's full of plants and now feels more like home.

I have another 3ft behind the fence that is a badger run and can't be incorportated. Shame because then it would be the perfect size  

YoungBlueEyes

Dusty I know what you mean about prepping for umm changes. It's why I've kept my Irish passport, so if the excrement hits the wosname I've community to go back to cos that'll be what's most important. Love your pics - have you babby blackies then? 

Kmn if you can't get the clematis trimmed to just above head height so the bees have a bit of peace, maybe put a sign up to remind you to they're there. Me and my friend used to drink in an olde worlde pub years ago (wiggly walls and creaky floorboards and low wonky door frames) and the owner put up a sign over the front door that said "Duck or grouse"  

It was me asking about dogs Sammy, yours look like they keep you on your toes eh  

I completely misunderstood your plans Arb, I thought the building work was the majority of it. But at least you can get on and get planted now can you..? 

Same weather here as 2p, cold and windy and dull now. I'm sat here waiting for a delivery... I daren't do any gardening cos then I wouldn't hear the front door. I like your garden 2p, looks welcoming and cottage-y