Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Dustyevsky

Road names can be quite rude, but I'm resisting the temptation. I regularly pass a Mildred Road and imagine people there might have preferred a different female moniker. My current favourite is Grapple Close. Although I've not visited, I doubt it's filled with couples permanently locked in combat! Having a 'bad' address, like Crotch Crescent, can reduce your property's value by thousands, apparently.

On solar panels, I've always said our top field would be ideal; sloping gently south and being invisible from the roads or footpaths. Sheep could still safely graze. However, at 3 acres, it's way too small. A couple of weeks ago, Mrs D and I were at a high vantage point, feeling puzzled because someone seemed to have created a huge lake on the outskirts of a local town. It was only when I uploaded the photo, the 'lake' revealed itself as a solar farm.

the sun's out here now and I can hear the grass growing.....siesta time's over.

pink_poppy

Lovely thrush pics, Dusty, they're one of my favourite garden birds. Glad to hear the council have got back to you with positive news.

Cissie sounds like a character, YBE. Hope you're all having fun together.

I used to pass a Richard Street, but always read it as Pilchard Street    

Your raspberry plant is looking good, Farway.

taff, I've never heard of charabanc ride, that was me last night (after my 3 G&Ts) when I watched the video of someone who sneezed into their trombone whilst playing in an orchestra   

DH and I have been doing yet more weeding today - we've been lucky with the weather, although yesterday was so hot, it took me three large gin and tonics ages to cool down. I've been cursing the previous owners again... the anthill mob has been a bugbear for long enough, so today DH started to remove the stones (the ants were not happy) and he found a sheet of plastic underneath, so the POs had laid plastic down, piled a load of stones and other carp (that I removed a while ago) on top of it and just walked away and left it. This is on part of the lawn... why on earth would you do that?? I'll never understand their logic...   Other neighbours have described them as 'eccentric'... Anyway, once all the stones have been lifted we'll have to take the plastic sheeting up, which will probably splinter into a million bits, the same as other bits of plastic that we've come across in the garden... grr...

Off to have a shower and get into my PJs now - it's cooled down after a warm day and I've actually shut the bedroom windows for the first time in a while.

ArbitraryRandom

Good morning all. Glorious weather again (which is good as I didn't actually get around to putting out my wash yesterday!) 

Trying to decide - I think I want to pull up my honey berry. I should leave them, but they're not thriving in the bed and they didn't do well before that in the pots. Everything else is romping away and I don't know if that it's too much sun, or the soil conditions... I'm thinking I might move them to the shady side (morning/afternoon sun) near the fence. 

Then there's the question of what goes in this bed. I'm not planning on pulling up the gooseberry or jostaberry that I only put in this year (they'll get at least 2 years to prove themselves) I do like the idea of having more fruit, but I'm not sure I trust raspberries or blackberries after spending so long trying to get rid of the brambles. I was considering flowering quince as I've only got the one bush in the front and I did like them, but as I have a 'real' quince tree again I'm not sure it's a good use of space. The 'sensible' alternative is use it for veg - then I have three beds for proper crop rotation and will hopefully be less tempted to cram so much in as I did this year but who am I kidding - I'll still try to grow too much  

Hmm... either way, no need to do anything immediately I guess. 

Farway

I'm sharing in the sunshine here as well , forecast is a scorcher on the way

Lovely bottle brush, Dusty, now wondering if I could squeeze one in the Volunteer border? 

I used to have one, from a bit that stuck to me when I was going round Werneth [Oldham] park conservatory many decades' ago with FIL.

That plant lasted longer than the Werneth park conservatory, so I guess it was my early start at conservation

I'll have a peek at the video later.

Dustyevsky said:

Road names can be quite rude, but I'm resisting the temptation. I regularly pass a Mildred Road and imagine people there might have preferred a different female moniker. My current favourite is Grapple Close. Although I've not visited, I doubt it's filled with couples permanently locked in combat! Having a 'bad' address, like Crotch Crescent, can reduce your property's value by thousands, apparently.

There was a Rat Lane in Portsmouth and when new houses were built the name was changed because of that. I think the rats stayed put though because it was a pokey road leading to a narrow, ex Bailey bridge, over the railway.

Arbs, your fruit dilemma, would a thornless blackberry suit? Or has the bramble experience put you off that idea?

I think it's my turn to fight the council now . 

Further investigation into garden waste bin not being emptied revealed my licence expired 30 June, hence collection not paid for yesterday.

Previous years a renewal due notice has been sent, but none this year, or I would have renewed, albeit reluctantly at new price of £120 a year, yes, you read that right!

Unfortunately I have to have it collected, due to my infirmity & health my options are none, except let it pile up in some garden corner

You may say £120 is a silly price, but seems not, the waiting list is closed and no more slots available.

I've submitted a complaint, citing health & age, left feeble-minded out of it. Just have to wait & see.

Apart from that, no more gardening anticipated today.

-taff

If they don't cave, can you shred or burn when dry? Or bury under soil? Can you make a deal with someone to fetch smaller amounts as they happen for you grown plants? Drown the perennial weeds for feed?

ArbitraryRandom

Farway said:

Arbs, your fruit dilemma, would a thornless blackberry suit? Or has the bramble experience put you off that idea?

Previous years a renewal due notice has been sent, but none this year, or I would have renewed, albeit reluctantly at new price of £120 a year, yes, you read that right!

It's the same price here... hence me not signing up unless I can find a reliable gardener to help me - I resent the bins being empty/mostly empty most of the year (they won't do just a one off or part of the year) but can't keep on top of the back enough by myself to keep them filled each month. i just got another compost bin but I appreciate that's not a solution for everyone. 

Does one of your neighbours get a collection - if so, would it be an option to split the cost? 

I'm not sure about thornless... one of the things I've learned is the beds are actually just a bit too deep for me (the ones against the fence, the ones coming out into the garden are perfect as I can access both sides. I'm reluctant to have something that's just going to take them over in a mass as I won't be able to get 'into' the bush to gather the fruit - the other beds have peas that climb so don't have to get down to the roots or onions/beetroot which will all be pulled at about the same time when I clear the beds. I'm considering rhubarb as that's another one that's easy to harvest, but it's a lot of space in a 'prime' position. 

In the meantime, I'm hoping to have potato pictures this weekend, but for now some enthusiastic flowers, climbing a good foot above their support  



And I was going to give you a pic of my equally enthusiastic tumbling toms... but in the hunt for some fruit I noticed these lovely scarlet pimpernel saying hello 

Farway

ArbitraryRandom said:

Farway said:

Arbs, your fruit dilemma, would a thornless blackberry suit? Or has the bramble experience put you off that idea?

Previous years a renewal due notice has been sent, but none this year, or I would have renewed, albeit reluctantly at new price of £120 a year, yes, you read that right!

It's the same price here... hence me not signing up unless I can find a reliable gardener to help me - I resent the bins being empty/mostly empty most of the year (they won't do just a one off or part of the year) but can't keep on top of the back enough by myself to keep them filled each month. i just got another compost bin but I appreciate that's not a solution for everyone. 

Does one of your neighbours get a collection - if so, would it be an option to split the cost? 

I'm not sure about thornless... one of the things I've learned is the beds are actually just a bit too deep for me (the ones against the fence, the ones coming out into the garden are perfect as I can access both sides. I'm reluctant to have something that's just going to take them over in a mass as I won't be able to get 'into' the bush to gather the fruit - the other beds have peas that climb so don't have to get down to the roots or onions/beetroot which will all be pulled at about the same time when I clear the beds. I'm considering rhubarb as that's another one that's easy to harvest, but it's a lot of space in a 'prime' position. 

In the meantime, I'm hoping to have potato pictures this weekend, but for now some enthusiastic flowers, climbing a good foot above their support  

Arbs, now I do have runner beans envy, mine are still flowerless but even so I've never had them like yours.

 Is that Painted Lady or St George BTW?

No neighbours with garden waste bins, unfortunately, seems we share same waste bin & back problems. I have space for another compost bin, but don't really want to go there.

At the rate I fill the bin, like you, it's empty most of the year, I am thinking I could pay someone say £30 or less three or four times a year to take it to tip

Or cunning plan just forming, buy DS posh lunch in posh pub after tip run

He lives near Southampton, so some fresh tip air will do him good

ArbitraryRandom

I went for painted lady and moonlight - I'm not sure if the moonlight are slower or if they were swamped out as I don't see any just white flowers. 

Everything is doing really well this year. I'm assuming it's heavily due to the soil being 'new' and me topping the beds up a lot with bags of compost and manure right before planting, plus the odd handful of ferts when I've been doing the potatoes and toms - it's why the honeyberry stand out as doing so poorly. 

Broad beans are basically all done flowering, so I'm thinking of pulling those soon to make some space and allow some ventilation (send mum home with a bag at least this weekend). Peas are well on the way to being done, and runners just starting  

Farway

Quick, 50% off seeds at Mr Fothergills   P & P applies

Ends midnight Wednesday 24th July. Discount will be automatically applied at the checkout

Phew, panic over, my garden waste wheelie collection is sorted

Had a message to phone a human, no problems, gave credit card number to a robot, kerching!

£120 lighter and sorted for another year, laughter & tears in equal measure there.

I've added a reminder to my diary for next year.

Next battle is MOT coming up soon

Now time to nip out and move the wheelie bin, and get a photo of self seeded borage in the sunshine

twopenny

Hmmm defo runner bean envy Arbs

My ones in the shade are huge but only the odd flower that's nibbled. The late left over ones in the sun are flowering but not as sturdy.

The birds have kept the blackfly under check but no birds today. No idea why.

Good result Farway. Well done for the perseverance. My neighbour asked to share but considering she keeps it under lock and key and has only grass clippings every couple of months and I have a potential bin full every couple of weeks I can foresee problems.

No idea what the bins cost now. They keep it secret. Tried online but had to fill out a 3 page document, Subscribe to a Subscription!

I nipped down to photograph my favourite Sitoorie while I was shopping.

It's right by the sea so sea sounds too.

Seems it's nearly Flying Ant day. Humid and oppressive and seagulls all over the road. They do this for a couple of days before the big fly at around 6.30 in the evening.

We had sun for a bit late yesterday (no sunset as cloud came over) and sun this morning but then the thick grey and white clouds came in and it's been a breathless day.