GreenFly - A 'flylady style' gardening thread with weekly tasks to tame your garden

Cherryfudge

On the theme of water levels, Yorkshire Water has just announced that reservoir levels are rising for the first time since January. Good news, and they haven't seen my water barrel, which is brim-full. The cut off mechanism from the down pipe doesn't seem to be working properly so there is more water than the barrel can cope with. I'd have another barrel but the space is now taken with the log store.

Cherryfudge

Yesterday was solid, heavy rain from the word go, and it didn't stop till about 3 am. At least the gravel got a good rinse! One of our adult children sent a photo of Richmond water fall with the water level very high in the river and the water rushing forcefully over the rocks. I do get the logic of a hosepipe ban, honest I do, but it's a strange juxtaposition of circumstances.

We are due a few nice days now and today was sunny, and warm in the sun. DH and I spent a couple of hours sorting out one of the damson trees, the older one. Next door's clematis had grown through it to the point there was more clematis than tree, so Dh went up the ladder and cut back the 'aim for the stars' damson sub-branches that we can't reach to pick, plus clematis, plus lots of brambles with a few blackberries which we rescued. He threw down a different branch and I did a double take and announced it was a grapevine! Shortly after, he found bunches of tiny grapes, which he took round to the neighbour in whose garden the vine is growing. Normally I would have loved the opportunity to take cuttings of both grape vine and clematis, but having seen how rampant they are, I will probably see plenty of both and know I haven't room for either.

After all that work, it's not really visible from the house as there's a plum tree (also overgrown) in the way. That will probably be next for a drastic prune though it's very beautiful. We've not had any fruit from it this year: I think the birds got there first.

Talking of birds, DH found an unused nest box in the shed so I think I'll attach it to the damson trunk. There will be enough foliage to shelter it in the nesting season and I hope there will be some takers.

We have filled the green wheelie bin with twigs apart from anything too wide for secateurs, which is now starting on two years of drying ready for the log burner.

The weather forecast mentioned frost and while I don't think we'll get any yet, I've brought in a few houseplants that I was freshening up out of doors.

greenbee

Definitely chilly here. Have brought the ripe squash inside as the greenhouse now no longer qualifies as warm and dry. The kitchen might just... 

I have ONE (huge) blue banana which I think isn't quite right, and I'm debating whether to cut it today as it'll be down to 4C tonight. There are also several very green musquee de provence that probably won't ripen before we get frost, so I'm unsure what to do about them. I definitely need to book some time off for gardening as the grass needs cutting in the orchard and there's a lot of clearing/tidying/prepping to do in the veg plot. And ideally putting some kind of crops in for winter/spring. 

EssexHebridean

We've had some frost the last two mornings - annoying as the bulk of the tomato crop is still on the plants, the beans are still producing well, there are ludicrous numbers of courgettes forming and still some cucumbers as well. I guess it might warm up again a little yet, but I think we'll need to take stock at the weekend and decide what to do. I might sort out some fleece to pop underneath the courgettes, at least... 

Cabbages - chinese and ordinary - got potted on at the weekend, and are back under a degree of cover in the mini-greenhouse in a bid to try to keep them away from the slugs. 

Had to give in and cut back the rampant rose in the front in the end - it was trying to take over the world! 

Cherryfudge

I saw a fantastic offer at T&M today: highly scented wallflowers, 10 for £2.99. I was about to order when I saw how much the postage was, and decided I can jolly well grow from seed. I'm not saying the postage wasn't reasonable, but it was more than double the cost of the plants so they weren't such a bargain after all.

In better news, the bright yellow wallflowers I bought locally haven't been planted out yet but have decided they are going to flower right now, and they are beautiful.

redofromstart

Wallflowers are one of those things that I always forget to plant Cherry, but I love the scent. Must see if I can find any locally. I am sure they used to sold in small newspaper wrapped bundles, or is that my memory inventing things? 

The lawn has mostly recovered and finally had to be cut. The wisteria had its third trim (and third) lot of flowers!) so it has clearly recovered from last autumns severe pruning. It is amazing how some plants can recover where others just give up.

Farway

redofromstart said:

Wallflowers are one of those things that I always forget to plant Cherry, but I love the scent. Must see if I can find any locally. I am sure they used to sold in small newspaper wrapped bundles, or is that my memory inventing things? 

No, still around, my greengrocer sells them like this

I found some small trays of them in Morries, if you have one locally

greenbee

Next door are replacing more of their fence panels, so it should be completed in the next couple of months. They need to get this side to deal with it properly, so it's not a bad time of year to do it as the doors are shut so the dog can't escape!

It's been warm enough so far today for the greenhouse vents to open fully. I think they might need adjusting now, as the air they will be drawing in is going to be a bit chilly.