Awful weather - typical Brits talk

-taff

Fast comment, OH is at home sick and has been playing games all day stopping me form using the computer to wander about but fair's fair, I do this all day usually, he doesn't...And he did pay for th enew computer so....

So anyway, came to say, Wort, V shaped pillow, absolute godsend, great for sitting up, also great for wedging under your chin and keeping your shoulder firm when you can eventually lie down. 

Lovely pics YBE

Sory about the sicknotes self inflicted or otherwise..

Yes Dusty, a van is most commodious for tip runs, I loved my transit, it was just like driving a boat. Now I have a posh van with seats car instead [ no fun] Beautifu rose

Hello Working Mum, welcome ot the dark side...we have fairy priced tea and cake and free garden tours

goldfinches

A very warm and fairly sunny day here which I've spent being out and about and am now collapsed on the sofa admiring all the lovely photos on here. Sympathy to all those suffering what my mother always called the "hards" and hope you get well soon.
I love the bees knees Farway and will endeavour to capture some of my own tomorrow afternoon after the electrician has been.
Nothing exciting has happened here apart from the removal of yet more thistles from my plot and I've dug over the bit I weeded yesterday. Very dull but I think that's better than thunder and lightning sometimes.

twopenny

I was trying to take 'bee bums' on a couple of occasions.

People were puzzled at what I was doing  

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Quick update, only been gone a few hours and more sickness around, very healthy all this gardening.

The worst bit is lack of mobility when a gardener.

Is it me, or are those drain pipe lettuce on the way to bolting?

Despite my current less than wonderful mobility, I found myself balanced on top of a pile of pallets this afternoon.  They afforded very good, wobbly access to the errant hedge.    I soon had a gap large enough to throw branches through, so they were then piled up under the trees in the woodland on our side, where they can make a hedgehog home, or something like that, till autumn. Regrettably, now I've made a start on that hedge, I'll have to do some more, but at least it won't grow so much that I'm doing it again in September.

I had the same thought about the lettuce, but was being on my best behaviour After last year's débâcle with the Little Gems, I recognise the signs.

Out, and still taking photos at 21.50 tonight. This is a magic time of year.  I think I have a bee bum, but chances are, they'll all be rubbish!

 

-taff

Well I paid my fiver for the garden party but I don't know anyone at the garden club yet so wandered round on my own for a bit, listened to the talk given by the lady of the house, didn't buy any food or drink or plants because I didn't have any other cash on me. Did see quite a few nice sitooteries, very advanced sweet peas [ 3 ft tall, mine are 6 inches] flowering naturtiums, 3ft high broad beans with no blackfly, everything seemed to be growing as my stuff would be normally in a good year. they do seem to be in a frost pocket though, and thanks to the planting, lots of predators, including slow worms [jealous - I used ot have them in another garden, not in this one though] , a massive wooden gabled greenhouse, a sunken sitting area but more of a sunken terrace than proper sunken, various sheds, apparently her gardener before and her, developed the hotbin [ garbled explanation, she had the prototype for them] and has two original ones [ without the tap] still. The guy who worked with her then perfected ti and sold it to Harrods Horticultural...SO that was interesting. Most interesting to me though was one of her tomatoes. It was labelled as a Black one but the foliage was also dark, think sambuca nigra dark. When I asked her what it was, she'd saved seed from a tomato at a friends house who tols her it was a Black Russian. It most definitely wasn't a balck russian, they don't have dark foliage, or none of the ones I've grown have, so am waiting for an opportunity to discuss again and beg seeds...

Dustyevsky

A black-leaved tomato? That's got to be a great break in breeding, not that toms are especially decorative, but there's novelty value.

I'm more concerned with black sacks just now. A (female) resident went to work on our local wheelie bins last night at 01.15 putting black sacks in them, meaning every bin is over-full. Three car trips she did! The bin collection point is well over 100m from most residents. What's more, the black bins she deposited have much recyclable waste in them. She didn't get to fill ours, though. We're up by 06.00 at the latest, so our bin goes out just before collection at 07.00! The joys of country living!

These long June days, coupled with the rain, mean the grass in the fields is growing rapidly. Suddenly, it seems, the buttercups etc are overtaken, and the hay crop asserts itself. Will it be a good one? Who knows? 25 big bales and more is good.

YoungBlueEyes

Gawd that's some meadow Dusty Looks like a field full of lavender! I agree it's a magical time of year - I was sat out last night 'til nearly bedtime, officially with a book in my lap but the birds were performing their nighttime rituals and the sky was mesmeric. We've had some great clouds and colours here recently, no pics though cos they just don't come out right on my phone. I hope MrsD's knee is at least bearable? 

That sounds really interesting about the hotbin taff, you never know what people are gonna come out with. I expect if anyone can crack the black leaved tom conundrum it's you. Finger's crossed you get some seeds  

If you have any secret tips on getting rid of thistles gf I'm all ears. I'm nipping my ones out but they reappear so quickly, and the sprays don't make a dam bit of difference. How are your neighbour plot's wedding flowers coming along?

I second taff's V shaped pillow wort, game changer. Dunelm sell them (or used to), and the pillowcases too. 

I prefer your marigold to my ones Farway, that really is the bees knees   Aye that sheep shearing line is a good one. When I was starting out as a poker player (online) I had amazing beginner's luck and I didn't waste any of it, I was emptying people's pockets all over the place. Then one day I got a private message from someone telling me what I was doing wasn't good manners etc and that's what he said to me. I thought he was an older guy cos he'd been around for long enough, was an accomplished player with a huge bank and kept the rooms straight. Turns out he was actually a 14 year old Jewish boy. That's why I love the internet, you never know what the next person is gonna say, really you don't. I love it  

How you feeling today pp, improved I hope? And yes sorry, domestic nonsense not housework  

Imagine that being your uncle's garden wm! It truly is a small world and no mistake. I tell you what, your ...aunt..? (the one selling the raffle tickets) seemed like some girl, tell her if she ever fancies someone new to go drinking with she may knock on my door   We missed the rain by coming back to Lovely Neighbour's for lunch, but my god didn't the heavens just open! Ooh I wonder if we've seen each other in real life then.... 

OT sunny and nice now, but cloud due in a couple of hours ish. Dry though, possibly. They got it wrong yesterday - they said rain will start in 22 minutes no matter how may times I looked at the app (sobers') and a sunny warm evening. But it was glorious sunshine in the afternoon so it waited for me to get 2 washes done and out before raining in the evening. Swines that they are.  

Right off to look up plant rings.

Dustyevsky

YoungBlueEyes said:

Gawd that's some meadow Dusty Looks like a field full of lavender! . I hope MrsD's knee is at least bearable? 

If you have any secret tips on getting rid of thistles gf I'm all ears.
I second taff's V shaped pillow wort, game changer. Dunelm sell them (or used to), and the pillowcases too. 

I prefer your marigold to my ones Farway,
How you feeling today pp, improved I hope?

I agree, grass flowers are pretty. Maybe I should do some photos? Not sure how many species we have, but it's a lot!  Apparently, they're very tasty if you're a cow, having survived long enough not to be run over by the police, and overwintering in a barn!

Thanks for asking about Mrs Dusty. She's had to resort to powerful painkillers, so I don't know how she is yet. She sleeps for England on those. Update: She's much improved.  The better weather will help us stay on top of things. I agree the V pillow is a must, though being large, not so good for the person who doesn't have it! 

There are two plants people call marigolds. Farway's last picture sort is fine in making salads look pretty. I'm not sure the other sort would be as innocuuous!

Hope pp is OK today too. It's rotten having Delhi-belly without even visiting said place, but it usually responds to laying off the solids and modest intakes of drink.....of the boring variety.

Are you getting stronger, wort? I remember stitches. Broke mine running for a bus.   Never worth running for!

I agree £10 is way too much for open garden visits. Ours were £7.50, and you got 20 for that, if you hurried!

What else? Oh, yes, gf's thistles. Allegedly they creep, suggesting they join together underground. So why, if I hit one with a systemic, don't the others conk out too?

Farway

Dull and cool morning, very much not June here right now

I was thinning of sorting out the spot for the new runners, but not until it warms up a bit

I like the idea of black foliage toms, be a nice decorative plant. I've grown the black toms, more purple IMO, but apart from novelty value I don't think there is much advantage, but then I'm not the head buyer at Waitrose so could be wrong, again.

Agree with Dusty about the rapid growth, although I've no field to compare, my Lucifer crocosmia are massive this year. Not flowered yet, but if size is any guide they should be superb this year.

I have a geranium in flower, the hardy real ones, very delicate for such a tough plant.

Job for the day is watering, despite the recent rain the pots close to the house soon dry out

Hope everyone's bits are improving, and some light refreshment can be sipped or nibbled

YoungBlueEyes said:

Right off to look up plant rings.

Mine are on the way, fingers crossed they will do what I want them to do. 

I'll try a Before & After shots if they work as hoped

twopenny

Hope you're settling into the leisurely life now Wort and nothing hurts too much. Perhaps you could be our advisor while your out of action.

Dusty, for goodness sake be more careful. If you're knees are playing up take a break. Walk around publicly with a couple of walking sticks and make a point of you can't do it right now.

Lovely field. I do like the native grasses.

Taff, not sure about black tomatoes on a plate. Reminds me too  much of Poppys ailment   

Bluey, plant clips Poundland. Make life a whole lot quicker.

Farway you're keeping a low profile - everything ok jointwise?

I did a lot of dead heading and clearing out of the storms damage yesterday. Was going to mow today but neighbours son decided to go to work at 6.30 and now I'm short of sleep. It's been a busy few days and think I've had a dose of the current covid so a rest is in order. 

Some essential potting and cuttings etc to clear the decks in the kitchen and benches.

Never did find out what happened to the lawn.