Awful weather - typical Brits talk

twopenny

Hedgehogs around the area Goldie. I have 2, mother and youngster who come up around dusk and another set that come around 3am (or so my neighbour says, I'm fast asleep then.

The nearby villages have home made signs saying 'SLOW hedgehogs crossing' so there are more about.

Just got back from a trip to the hills to see the sunset. Ponies, baby rabbits too.

I stopped to see if I could hear Nightjars, one of my favourite sounds but not a peep (or churrrrr). Lack of flying insects and really not quite late enough.

More and moor will have to be explored ;-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UOAGUfBFcvM

YoungBlueEyes

I don't know why I didn't think of expanding trellises, thank you 2p Last year I had one of those anti-bug mesh curtain things, that was quite good until that cat figured out his paw would slide in between the curtains and he could squeeze his way in. You'd never know he was in 'til you went upstairs and saw him curled up on the bed. Sly little s0d. That's a lovely peaceful sunset - looking forward to results of more and moor explorations  

A freesia gf, I'm not sure. I did buy freesia bulbs but I don't think I planted them... the fragrance is similar but the stems are so skinny. I wish I'd kept the packets. How's things going at your plot?
I'm unsure whether I want to fully set up my bird app... some of the things it tells me it's hearing are quite exotic. This morning's list is - Long-tailed Tit, Common Woodpigeon, Eurasian Blackbird, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Wren, European Robin, Asian Brown Fly-catcher, Long-eared Owl, Common Magpie, Common Chaffinch, Spotted Flycatcher, Dunnock, Rufous-backed Robin. That was a good couple of hours ago, when they were all getting up and announcing themselves to the world. I suppose I should do it properly if I'm going to do it at all, it is for Cornell Uni after all. 

Raining here, gently. Phone says it's 12' and a high later of 15' but it feels much warmer than that to me. 

I discovered a thing last night, even though Beechgrove wasn't on telly last night (bladdy sport and/or glasto wrecking the scheduling grrr) they've still put it on iplayer. It was quite a good one-  George was titivating his grape vines and figs At the end Calum confidently announced that next week there'll be a new presenter *sigh* 

Off to Posh Town today for the Armed Forces celebrations. If himself manages to peel his erse outta bed... 

twopenny

Oh lovely day out Bluey!

It's very cool here. Bright. Been up since 7 thanks to neighbours son even though it was a late night. If he left at the same time I'd learn to sleep though it but it's random coming and going. Think he's getting the best of both worlds

I looked at the lawn first thing and thought it could do with mowing, carpet cleaning etc but tempted to take a trip to get some more sandals for dancing or visit the resevoir for photos for our group.

I haven't watched GWorld for months because it's random presenters with random bits and pieces. I think it's because they are trying to get all genders and ethnicities into everything to avoid critisism. Don't think they've changed Gardeners Questiontime on the radio yet.........must listen to some podcasts.

I don't mind if their sky blue pink with polkadots if we could just have some decent gardening information.

Dustyevsky

We have a fair number of hedgehogs here too, now the population of badgers has 'decreased.'

One hedgehog escaped death here temporarily on Tuesday when I avoided it at the last moment with the brush cutter. It looked like the head of a broom that had fallen into the grass.....until it shuffled off into the big barn! We knew one was living in there, but having seen it out at around midday and moving slowly, I told Mrs Dusty I feared it was not well.

Sure enough, on Wednesday evening, I found the hedgehog, dead, about 100m from the barn. It had no physical injury. As it was fully grown, it may have been natural causes. It certainly wasn't the result of all the global boiling heatwaves we're having here. 

Looking at the coming week, according to the gaslighting gurus in Exeter, we're about to have another unremarkably dull but dry five days, so perhaps the hay will be cut. I used to think our partner in farming here used ancient lore and his decades of experience to determine when to time the hay harvest, but no, he watches the week ahead's weather on Countryfile!

While you guys have been watching Beechgrove, I've been viewing farming vids on YouTube and wondering why so few mainstream politicians have made mention of the looming food crisis in their Election bumph. There's a few, but obviously I can't mention them here without breaking the rules. What I will say is that growing your own gets a big thumbs up from people like the Bowler Hatted Farmer or Gareth Wynn Jones, who can both be found easily enough. They know how tough it's been, producing crops this year.

I'm picturing an almost useless crop this morning. I believe one may eat the tubers if things become desperate, though! It's Dahlia 'Bednall Beauty.' She's a great colour, but a little frail and apt to look down, but MiL gave her to me, so I have to make sure she thrives!

Farway

Warm & sunny here, going to be a hottie I think, can't trust forecast of course

Anyhow, went up watering the pots at the volunteer place, all done, plus planted up two fuchsia in blank spaces, see how they go. 

When I tried them pre covid, it was Fuchsia Gall Mite that did for them, so I never bothered in subsequent years.

Spotted a flaw in my late sowing runners, coming out of volunteer spot there is a garden, with runners in full flower!

Have a nice day in Posh Town YBE.

Nice hydrangeas Wort, just wish I had room for them, the only one I ever had I managed to send Fiord wards with an overdose of Iron to turn it blue, turned blue in the face & died

I will try to feed the pots out the back today, failed yesterday, it was too cold for old bones in the end. Check on the carrot sowing as well, not expecting gemination, just need to see it squirrels etc have left them alone.

No photo, I spotted a cracker while up the volunteer spot, mixed weeds wild flowers, poppies, toad flax & Evening primrose, Ox eye daises, but sun in the lens , I'll try another day

Edit, PS, I just missed Dusty posting. I've heard the same about food, on R4 farming today. No details due to The Rules, spuds is down to weather, too dry, or wet at wrong times.

Dustyevsky

Glad to see you back with us, wort. You have some lovely hydrangeas. The one I like best of the three is the last one, which I think might be h. seemanii. We haven't acquired that one yet, but viewing yours, it's going on the 'List.'   

Sorry, I'm not very good on bulbs, Bluey. I wonder if your unidentified flowers might be Ixias?

I forgot to say what a great combination your mixed plant photo was pp. Your aquilegias may have come later than ours, but you still have them, while ours are just seed heads now.

Must go do some work! 

2p, it would be the reservoir for me!

wort

2p some great ideas for foiling the wildlife there. A great sunset pic too.
Farway had to laugh at the iron comment.  Hope you enjoy the good weather, wet and grey here.
Dusty I was thinking of Ixias but couldn't remember the name !🤣

Dustyevsky

wort said:
Dusty I was thinking of Ixias but couldn't remember the name !🤣

I slept on it after reading Bluey's post last night, when I was too cream-crackered to write anything. I'd no idea what thy were anyway.

This morning, as soon as I saw them again, "Ixias" just came into what passes for my mind. I didn't stare hard or anything; it was just 'there.'

There are areas of our brains where data isn't consciously accessible. At uni, I learned these bits do important stuff while the everyday bits of brain are largely switched off during sleep. There are practical applications, but I won't bore people with those. 

A half-decent day here, though not very sunny.

pink_poppy

I was going to agree with goldfinches about your flowers being freesias, YBE, but now it looks like they're Ixias. But it does remind me that I haven't seen cut freesias in the shops for ages - I wonder why not.

Lovely dahlia pic, Dusty. Definitely keep it alive and kicking if it was a gift from the MIL

We used to get loads of hedgehogs in our last garden and next door even had hoglets born in their shed - they were so cute   No hogs here, just lots of bunnies.

It's been dry today, but cold. I think the fire will be going on tonight - you wouldn't think it was going to be July in a couple of days...

twopenny

Did you know if you tickle hedgehogs under the chin they gently grunt?

How I found out is quite a story.