Gardening 2013

[Jules]

Well, today's the first day in ages that I've felt like going out into the garden to begin the tasks ahead.  I think it was a bit of warm sunshine (although that'll be gone by mid week, I believe).  Oh goodness.  How depressing was it.  Everything is so waterlogged, so muddy, so squelchy.  I couldn't bring myself to do anything.  That's not exactly a good attitude.  I need some inspiration, not desperation!

[Shaun Finnie]

As you may know, I have no garden, none. Just a small (2 meter x 2 meter) area in front of the house with a bird table on it. But I do have a house plant. Just one, something that the Beloved bought me on the day I started at the Large Multinational Company that I spent twenty years at. It lived in my office and I looked after it there. Then I brought it home and looked after it here too. Twenty-one years.

 

At Christmas I bought a lovely poinsettia and sat it on the same table beside my plant. Within a day all the leaves of my little plant had either dropped off or withered. Presumably the poinsettia had ‘gassed it’ in some way? Anyhow, I figured that it might recover if I moved it into the bathroom and fed it?

 

Today I gave up on it. It has no leaves at all and is very very loose in its pot, so I’ve just despatched it to the bin.  Daft as it sounds I feel quite emotional.

[glenc]

Know what you mean Shaun.  I have a plant of 19 years which my late brother bought for me not so long before we lost him.  It always flowers on my birthday!!  I have taken it everywhere with me and when, in the process of house moves, working abroad etc, I have been in temporary accommodation it has been with me or boarded out with friends!!!  Don't know what I would do if I lost it...it cheers me up on my birthday with thoughts of my wonderful brother whom I miss so much.

[Jeannie's Hunter]

That makes me feel quite sad Shaun. I have cared for an umbrella plant my mum gave me when our conservatory was built (27 years ago) and I do have a little talk to it, just to keep it going!

Poinsettia should ever be moved once you place it where it is going to 'live' as the leaves will droop and drop off, but I have never heard of it putting the evil eye on to another plant!

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[Claire Hawes]

Aww Shaun that is quite a sad story!

I understand how you feel Jules. Although it was a beautiful mild sunny day here today, I just didn't want to get out in the garden as I cannot walk on the bottom lawn - it is a quagmire; the compost bins are surrounded by several inches of water so I can't make a start on digging out the compost to put on the raised beds; the top lawn is too wet to put the mower over it even though it could do with it... I could go on!

The one thing that did make me feel more cheerful was that, due to the clear blue sky this afternoon, it was light until well after 5pm - oh how lovely to think we have only  a few more  weeks to wait before BST returns!

[Jules]

I'm not surprised you feel emotional - that's quite an attachment you'd formed.  Amazing care it's had to last as long as it did.  Evil poinsettia!

Claire - I'm vaguely heartened by your garden situation.  I guess we shouldn't be surprised where we are in the valley - it used to be marshland, reclaimed for farming.  No one in the village can ever recall it being so wet.  It'll dry out one day, won't it?!

[Shaun Finnie]

has anyone heard of anything like this before with poinsettias?  I mean, it couldn’t just be coincidence could it? 

[Jules]

Not in my experience, Shaun.  I have a money tree that I've been nurturing for many, many years. I'm convinced that the day it dies, I shall have financial ruin.  Daft, perhaps.  I'm not taking any chances -  I think I shall keep poinsettias well away in future.  Like, not in the same room!

[Pippa]

[Shaun Finnie]

Empty mail Pippa?

 

From: Pippa

Sent: Friday, February 15, 2013 11:38 AM

To: timeshe...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Gardening 2013

 

On Thursday, 14 February 2013 18:29:21 UTC, Jules wrote:

Well, today's the first day in ages that I've felt like going out into the garden to begin the tasks ahead.  I think it was a bit of warm sunshine (although that'll be gone by mid week, I believe).  Oh goodness.  How depressing was it.  Everything is so waterlogged, so muddy, so squelchy.  I couldn't bring myself to do anything.  That's not exactly a good attitude.  I need some inspiration, not desperation!

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[Pippa]

Hi I feel the same re the garden. I did clear both flower beds of leaves so that I could see what was coming up and cut back our ivy on our wall that was the last time it was  a dry day. Some of our garden is in the shade still so it does not make me want to get out there. Sorting pot plants today to give up on some. Chilli we thought had had it though is coming back as our our orchids that we keep going new leaves which is pleasing. 

Shaun I have a ponsettia which is being lovingly watered as it is a fab specimen once a week only. Some leaves dropped today but it looks healthy. I feel your pain on yours! Find yourself another houseplant to attend!  I love daffs to cheer me up and bring some colour into the house. I have a cyclamen bright red which is still going strong!

Lets hope the ground will recover and dry up a bit for us all to at least assess.

[Pippa]

Shaun it is quite common for them to drop their leaves if  they are under or over watered or have changes of temperature. Sometimes you get a duff one. My neighbour bought 2 from tesco one died within a day and she still has the other going strong.

[Shaun Finnie]

Ooh no, the Poncy was fine! It lasted months. It was the little plant beside it, the one I’d had for over twenty years, that died within a day of me placing the Poncy at the side of it.

[Lesley Martin]

I have no houseplants as they inevitably die on me from under or overwatering or sheer neglect. My husband has a tray of little cacti in his study which he mostly ignores and then nurtures intensively for a day or two - they've been going for ages!

 

I'm looking forward to being able to fill vases with daffodils even if its only for a week or two.

 

I am not a gardener as you know but I have a little herb patch - unfortunately they have all died from the snow so an Easter job will be to replenish it with chives, rosemary, bay, sage, thyme...what else would you recommend? (Bearing in mind that when I say little I mean tiny)

 

Lesley

[pippa....@gmail.com]

Basil if you can. We had cacti it must be a male thing!

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[Cally]

Parsley and oregano Lesley.  Oregano does spread so you can be ruthless. Mint in a pot though as it will take over. Lovely for Pimms in the summer.

[Cally]

Shaun, It makes me dislike poinsettias even more than I do.  They are a con, come into the house colourful and firm before drooping and molting everywhere withiin days... but even worse to survive and kill off your long term resident!!....

[CarolB was MNKB]

My Poncy is still alive from Christmas but few leaves left. I'm not one for plants in the house as like Lesley they tend to die on me. Much prefer to see them in the garden.

Shaun, how sad to loose your special plant. What type was it? Or what did it look like?

[Shaun Finnie]

I have no idea what it was Carol, it was ‘a house plant’ (I’m not big on the subject – can you tell?).  It wasn’t a spider plant, a yucca or a lily, I know that much. It didn’t flower at all (I don’t think it was meant to), it looked more like a tiny privet hedge as much as anything, it had those kind of leaves. I just can’t understand what happened to it. Ah well, it had a long run (as they say).

[CarolB was MNKB]

Shaun
I am now on a mission to find out what plant you had. I love a bit of detective work.
So a bit like privet Hedge!! watch this Space. X

[Pippa]

Oh?

Today we cleared the flower beds and assesssed the garden. Great to see signs of spring ie daffodil tops in the lawn and bulbs coming up.

[Pippa]

I am rehoming a ponsettia to a friend on Thursday as  a  gift. It is a rather good specimen.  Will has taken care of it since before xmas as I usually kill them.

[Jeannie's Hunter]

I happily spent four hours in our garden just tidying up in general and deadheading the hydrangeas as well as cutting back a couple of shrubs. Joy oh joy, I wasn't feeling any cold! The problem I had was that everything was so wet, I couldn't get the  secateurs to cut as they kept sliding off the plants! 

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

[glenc]

I wrote a long reply to your email yesterday Jeannie but it disappeared and I gave up.  I shall not repeat it other than to say that I laboured in my little patch yesterday...not that one can tell.  Tidying up????....no just shifting more builders rubble.  But I did plant out some pots with bulbs...about all I can do at the moment, the flower beds still need major surgery!!!!!  If I had the resources (financial and muscle) I would have all of the top soil plus grotty lawn removed and replaced...maybe the Lottery????

Just to bring up the subject of houseplants again.  I think I mentioned that I have a much-loved Clivia which my late brother bought and which I have cherished  for endless years.  I am about to repot it - very vigorous.  However, it appears to be infested around the roots by some little black bug/fly.  I have tried most places but cannot seem to find Houseplant Insecticde.  I finally saw some at Homebase but they only had a HUGE bottle...enough for the next 20 years (and counting).  I have no shed or garage so I do not want loads of chemicals cluttering up my house - does anyone have any ideas about small quantity supplies of Insecticide...or better, a natural remedy?

[Claire Hawes]

No, sorry no great ideas Glen although I wonder if you put a note on something like Freecycle, or even your local horticultural society website, you might find some kind person could let you have enough for your needs?

Two days in a row I have been working in the sunshine in the garden - bliss! We have pruned more of the highest branches off the willow (OH up the laddder, me doing the clearing up) so the garden will not be excessively shaded but the willow will still add a touch of grace. This afternoon my elderly garden-helper-clearer-upper came, for the first time since the New Year. I think I mentioned I have been wondering whether to have The Conversation about letting him go. Today he told me it was his 81st birthday!! I said, gently, was it getting a bit ,much cycling over to us and working in our not-at-all labour saving garden, maybe he would prefer to hang up his gardening gloves or at least reduce his hours? Ha - no- he said he really enjoys coming over and "don't worry, I'll say when it gets too much!" So it looks like I will be having his assistance for some time yet!

[Cally]

I must out a picture of my Amarrylis on here; even OH who does not noice a lot has commented on how beautiful it is. She had a rest last year and flowered again this year - 2 heads open and another 2 on the way!

I keep checking the garden to see if t=anyone has come to view the bird boxes; we put up 3 in the ebd, repositioning one.  I did a bit of light weeding yesterday as my strawberry plants are due, but need to get on and catch those wretched weeds before they take hold.

[Jeannie's Hunter]

My mother used to swear by drenching the house plants with the soapy water from the dishes to get rid of bugs and she had the most beautiful plants Glen! Do no harm to give it a whirl?

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

[Jeannie's Hunter]

Lucky you Claire! X

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

[Cally]

Glen, look online.  I look for everything there now, from recipes to best way to position a bird box.

[glenc]

Yes I think that is good advice Cally. Mind you, I do remember soome famous organic gardener (Bob Flowerdew or Roland Hills) spraying their crops with soapy water.  So...since there appears to be an off-shoot on this plant, I think I shall separate it off and pot it up, then use it as a guinea pig (if that is not some kind of oxymoron?).

However, in the meantime I shall have a look on the Net.  I seem to remember that, years ago, there used to be some marvellous tHiungs called 'Plant Pins'.  They were little cardboard markers which were impregnated with insecticide and/or fungicide.  All one did was ..tear off a strip (Pin) and press it down into the compost.  As and When....this must have been too economical...the manufacturers just want us to buy excessive quantities of everything now. No wonder we are becoming a 'throwaway society'.

[Fiona]

Shaun that's very sad that your plant has died - I'm wondering whether or not to let one of my houseplants go - it's quite old and looks a bit sparse compared to the nice new one I got in Ikea last week.  I've moved it to the bedroom windowsill so it gets  lots of sunshine - don't really want to kill it off, but it's not very pretty any more :-(

 

[Jeannie's Hunter]

Go for it Fiona - it sounds as if it's run it's span and won't get any better, sorry!

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

On 24 Feb 2013, at 19:28, Fiona <Fccam...@btinternet.com> wrote:

Shaun that's very sad that your plant has died - I'm wondering whether or not to let one of my houseplants go - it's quite old and looks a bit sparse compared to the nice new one I got in Ikea last week.  I've moved it to the bedroom windowsill so it gets  lots of sunshine - don't really want to kill it off, but it's not very pretty any more :-(

 

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[Fiona]

Haha - the lovely Jeannie's ruthless streak has emerged ;-)

[Mel]

Finally we had a weekend cool enough for me to be able to get out into the garden. I spent hours clearing out one corner of the jungle that has appeared over the wet wet summer we've had. Some long unused muscles are aching today!

[Fran]

Mel I am just waiting for a day warm enough to venture out to tackle the weeds!!  Good job done though  and I bet that used up a lot of calories.  Hope your muscles are feeling better today.

[Cally]

I am getting a bit worried as I have planted a lot of seeds in teh green house, and with this erratic weather I have noticed nothing coming up. I do hope that it is not going to be another disastrous year.

 

The garden is full of crocuses and the daffs have started. I have a new table in the utility room and I have told myself that nothing will be on it apart from a vase of flowers for most of the year.  So far so good since february - a gift from frinds first, and now the daffodils.

[Pippa]

Hi Cally they are probably slow to germinate as it is so cold.

I like your idea for flowers on your table. I have daffs currently  but try to have fresh flowers all year round.

Our garden now has a pond with all the rain we have had and we are on a chiltern hill!

[Jules]

There is blossom appearing in our garden!  Whoop whoop!  And the daffodils are starting to show yellow....

(this must mean that weeds will follow)

[Claire Hawes]

Gosh Jules we must be closer to sea level than you, as we have had our daffs out for a week or two now. The blossom has been very very late though, as is the blossom on our evergreen clematis. Yesterday was the first day this year where I could actually smell its scent from open flowers (it's lovely, a sort of vanilla) as the flowers have been very tightly in bud for ages.

I have finished scrubbing the decking, woohoo! Now I just need it to dry thoroughly so I can apply the protector stuff.

[Lesley Martin]

Is it to do with sea level? I'm in the Fens and my daffs are only just showing signs of colour.

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Lesley Martin

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[Claire Hawes]

Well I was thinking sea level because of temperature, Lesley, but you've been bearing the brunt of those easterlies so it could simply be the Baltic weather!

[Jules]

Let's just face it - it has been officially cold! The blossom of today wasn't there yesterday, so perhaps tomorrow will reveal some new majesty of nature.

We live in an amazing place to experience such transformations!

[Fiona]

That's funny you should mention it Jules.  I just noticed today as I was coming home on the train that the daffs on the banking by the side of the expressway are almost in full bloom - just like that!

[Jules]

The daffs are changing by the day. Marvellous! My man has been today and started on the tidy, and what a differecne he's made already. Why didn't I do that before? He's got a mother of a task near the stream, but he doesn't seem phased!

[Jules]

[Jules]

I'm after some advice....  I'm part way through my very patient remodelling of the garden, but I'm at a loss as what to do re. moving (it is seeming more likely by the day that we will at least try).  However, in this state of half done, the garden is looking shabby.  Specifically in two areas.

The border along the edge of the garden, which I dug out April 2011, and have laid under weed matting to try and kill off the nasties of ground elder etc.  I really think it would benefit another year, but it's not exactly sightly!  Do I just leave it, and explain it, or fill the borders with plants? It's a 30ft border, so would take some planting (would have to be mature things)

The "area" down the bottom of the garden, which I had in mind to clear out, level and put some kind of gazebo - it gets the summer evening sun, is by the stream, overlooking Sussex fields....  So, it's another area in flux.  Should we clear it and turf it, so that it at least looks part of the garden, or clear it, have it looking rough and then have some design ideas lying around?

Any thoughts would be much appreciated - from gardeners and non-gardeners alike.

I've done a little bit of gardening - clearing out some pots and picking up twigs, leaves etc.  It was so lovely to be outside, although I think my knee has probably had enough.

[CarolB was MNKB]

Jules, I've been thinking about this and also Fra. He thinks you should not do to much. As new owners may just pull it all up and change it so money would be wasted.

I think what we saw last year it all looks good. You could place maybe a couple of large pots over the weed matting area with some nice shrub. Then take it with you when you move.
Or just explain your plan.
Whoever buys the House, will be expecting to take on the Garden too. And they may have big plans.

Today we planted an Escallonia, 'Darts' Rubyred. also Tamarix parviflora and a Tree Prunus cerasifera 'Nigra' (cherry plum)
Roll on the good weather.

[Claire Hawes]

Yes sorry Jules I meant to reply to your query but then it fell down the list and I overlooked it!

The bed under the weed suppressing mat - I agree with Carol, I wouldn't rush to plant it up but would maybe put some big pots or just leave it if that would look too bitty.
The bit where a summer house could go - tidy it up a bit but definitely have some options sketched out to entice and enthuse purchasers.

Good luck with your prospective house-hunting!

[Jules]

I was feeling neglected - and then I forgot about it...  Must have been a 'learning' to try and resolve my own queries...  

Anyway.  Thank you for your thoughts, which are similar to mine.  I'd thought that I should leave the long border to the matting, and explain it.  Also, I had the genius of having our chap clear the old bed properly, level it, and then turf it.  It will look so much better.... It's actually hidden behind a bank of daffs at the moment, so it looks lovely.. at ground level, until you look out from an upstairs bedroom.

I'll try and knock up some drawings of "the vision" in the meantime.

[Fiona]

Weedkiller has been purchased for mother's driveway. Comes ready-
mixed with a wee spray attachment - who knew it would be so easy? Now
we have to wait for a day with no rain guaranteed for 6 hours. Oh,
that was today!

[Claire Hawes]

Yes  I've got some of that too Fiona! Our gravel path is full of weeds and now the weed suppressing membrane is starting to break down the weed roots are getting too much of a grip. However I want to be very selective where I spray it because we  have violets and primroses which have also self sown into the gravel and I want to keep them.

[CarolB was MNKB]

I shall just put my Halo on and tell you I don't use poisons anywhere in the Garden.
I must say my neighbour across the road annoyed me today. He was spaying the buttercups, Daisy's and dandelions on the grass verge outside his house.
I think that us going a bit to far.

[Claire Hawes]

Carol I would love to be totally chemical free but there's just no way I can get rid of all the weeds in the path by hand - I'd need a small army of helpers and a gravel path looks nice with violets and primroses but not with grass, dandelions and herb Robert and goosegrass etc etc etc!

[Fiona]

I agree Claire - I spent ages on Mum's drive last year and never
managed to get it completely weed-free. So today was the day - a good
day's work including weedkillering the driveway, weeding a raised bed
along the front of the house, and planting some red geraniums. Can't
remember what else is in there but whatever it is, it hasn't started
growing yet! I also pruned a large bush outside the front door - I'm
going to take a saw to it and get it down to manageable size
eventually.

Mum's neighbour passed away a few weeks ago so I'm hoping whoever buys
the house will do some serious pruning of the boundary tree and
shrubs. There are probably Japanese soldiers in there who don't know
the war's ended!

[glenc]

Well done Fiona.  My lawn (weedy grass on heap of builder's rubble) badly needs a weed treatment.,  However, my garden is a convenient cut through for many of the neighbourhood cats (whom I love to see) and so I am ab it way of putting anything down that they will plod through and lick off their paws.

I have spent a hard couple of hours potting up blue and white plants for my front 'garden'.  The soil is too awful to grow anything in so I have supplemented the few ornamental shrubs with blue terracotta pots and sculptures containing blue and white plants.  Come the Coronation Celebrations I may just add a few red Geraniums to make it patriotic for a couple of weeks.  My garden is awful to work in...so depressing trying to make something of this awful soil.

[CarolB was MNKB]

Fiona, loved your Jap Soldiers joke. I was looking for the Like button!

As we are this year developing a partial wild garden for the birdies and bees etc. we are enjoying the daisies, dandelions, clover etc. and have planted seeds and bulbs in the grass in certain areas.

I have just covered my Ceanothus for the third time this week. It's just coming into flower and its our first year so don't want to lose the buds.
We have also just planted 8 cabbage plants which were going cheap. We are hoping they will cover in insects just in time for the Tits babies so they have extra to feed. A few caterpillers would be good too.

[CarolB was MNKB]

Forgot to add.
As its a Garden thing are tell I you here.

Today at lunchtime I was looking a a Blue tit and thought his neck feathers were ruffled/sticking up. When I spied through binoculars he had a pink bald patch on his head. I think he may have been attacked but was nibbling the peanuts .

Secondly, yesterday I was looking round the garden and came across a giant tooth. A bit like a molar. So I have put in onto springwatch on twitter and hoping they can identify it. They have favourited it so maybe they are looking into it.
It is quite big so could be Muntjac, Badger or Fox! I'm feeling all scientist/ornithologist like. Or is it archeological ..

[Claire Hawes]

lol Carol :-) I must have a look on the twitter site...

I sowed my runner beans this afternoon. They are an old packet (I only need a dozen or so plants a year so one packet lasts 2 or 3 years) so I don;t know how good germination will be but I expect they will be OK. I also sowed some poppy seeds (the "wild" red poppy) in some relatively poor soil - it would be lovely if I got a blood red patch for a couple of weeks in the summer.

[Jeannie's Hunter]

I have had a super couple of days gardening as the weather has been wonderful - bright and sunny but with a very chilly wind. We are still having frosts here in Perthshire but I cannot possibly cover everything up, so have put some tender plants in the greenhouse and will just have to hope for the best with all the others.

Gardening does make me feel so much better about everything - I just love every aspect of it, including weeding!

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

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[Mel]

My deck man is coming on Friday. I am so looking forward to having a nice place to sit outside rather than a lunar landscape.

[Claire Hawes]

Jeannie you sound much more like your old self - the power of gardening!

Mel we installed a large decking area in place of a very uneven scruffy terrace a few years agao, and apart from when I have to scrub and re-oil it, which is quite a task, we are thrilled with it as it really does make for a much more usable social than what it replaced. Enjoy!

[Claire Hawes]

"space", not "social" - though I suppose "social space" would apply!

[Mel]

I'm sure we will Clare, in fact I can't wait and plan to do a bit of entertaining as well.

[Jules]

Just popping in to say how much more advanced the gardens are this way! A couple of weeks, I'd say. The magnolias are magnificent, if on the end of their cycles. The colours of the Rhoddies look wonderful in the banks (I know not your taste, Claire)! One of the houses that I have my eye on has a huge Rhoddie visible from the road. It has a walled garden. We will see it on Sunday evening, so all things crossed. We see another house tomorrow with a parterre.... This house Pete really liked. We will see...

[Cally]

The variations in gardens seems huge. Jeannie had a poor season with daffs and mine have been glorious. Jules has magnolias nearing the end of flowering and our new tree  has tiny leaf buds only at present.  The garden green in the herbaceous is really beginning to shoot up - so unfortunately are the weeds which I thought I had  got on top of.  I went to Muncaster gardens today and the rhodedendrons are out everywhere looking super.

[Jules]

I've decided that what I really like doing is digging and pruning.  I don't mind weeding - I just wish they'd slow down their growth! Is that a bit mad?  I also think that this is because I find the whole planting thing a bit stressful - knowing what to plant... 

I was going to go to gym this week, but decided it was too nice outside to be inside.  My GP said if you gardened, you shouldn't need to go to the gym.  On the basis of the aches in my arms, back and butt, I'd agree.

[glenc]

If you like digging Julia I should enrol you to come and have a go at my little plot.  I guarantee massive aches everywhere.  Bearing in mind, of course, that my garden is actually a heap of builders rubble, thinly covered by tatty grass and about 1 inch of top soil.  They euphemistically called this 'landscaping' !!!!!

I have done all that I can now without actually employing beefy men to wield spades and forks (or pick-axes).

I have plants to go in but not the muscle to dig out the concrete beds!!!  I love planning gardens but this one is definitely defeating me.!!

However, one small bonus - I actually managed to get Sweet Peas in early enough this year.  In fact, I took the line of least resistance and planted a wig-wam in a large pot.  The result is wonderful.

Also wonderful is a White Jasmine which has really come into its own this year.  The perfume hits you when you step into the garden in the evening.  Sadly, this has got to be moves (somehow) to make room for a shed.

My little blue and white garden in front of the house is looking good.  However, my son has had to 'garage' his car in front of it temporarily he says) and so it cannot be seen from the front.

[Pippa Cotton]

Hi All

Come and dig my flinty clay based soil anytime!  I agree with Glen making flower beds is a tough thing. My sweetpeas and jasmine and roses are looking fabulous. We had stunning Aliums as well.

 

 

Pippa Cotton

 

30 The Drive
Amersham
Bucks
HP7 9AA

 

Tel: 01494 721528
       07771 625413

 

pippa....@gmail.com

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[Jeannie's Hunter]

I do not like deadheading as I always feel that it is the end of something! Very grey and dull here and so we ate in the conservatory with our friends. However, the sun came out just at the coffee stage and we were able to sit on the back decking in glorious sunshine.

Now, we are sitting at our little waterfall having a glass of very cold white wine and, as my son sometimes says, life is like a bowl of cherries. It's very good too, as, after weeks of fighting with B.T. An engineer was sent out this morning, spent two hours fixing things and we now have broadband once more!

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[pippa....@gmail.com]

All good then Jeannie x

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[Shaun Finnie]

This could just as easily be in the WIDTW or the Critters threads, but...

 

The Beloved and I went looking for orchids today in a local nature reserve that has a lot of wild flowers. She took some photos. Northern, Southern and Bee orchids I believe.

 

Just sharing.

Shaun

 

 

 

[pippa....@gmail.com]

Stunning xx

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From: "Shaun Finnie" <shaun....@sky.com>

Sender: timeshe...@googlegroups.com

Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:00:04 +0100

To: <timeshe...@googlegroups.com>

ReplyTo: timeshe...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Gardening 2013

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[Cally]

Too hot to garden. I have been sitting the shade admiring my roses. having had my shoulder injection I have been told to do little so I am doing as I am told for once.  I have picked the pdd wild strawberry!

The orchids look lovely Shaun.

[Shaun Finnie]

Hope that the shoulder feels OK Cally

[Jeannie's Hunter]

What sweet little orchids Shun - thanks for sharing! X

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

On 12 Jul 2013, at 13:00, "Shaun Finnie" <shaun....@sky.com> wrote:

This could just as easily be in the WIDTW or the Critters threads, but...

 

The Beloved and I went looking for orchids today in a local nature reserve that has a lot of wild flowers. She took some photos. Northern, Southern and Bee orchids I believe.

 

Just sharing.

Shaun

 

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<orchid%202[2].jpg>

 

<bee%202[2].jpg>

[Jules]

Gorgeous photos, Beloved! 

[Claire Hawes]

I love those bee orchids Shaun! Isn't nature clever :-)

On Friday, July 12, 2013 1:05:54 PM UTC+1, Pippa wrote:

[CarolB was MNKB]

Shaun, love the photos, very pretty and good shots too.

I like digging too Jules, although I agree with Jeannie on the dead heading although it does give more flowers sometimes. Unfortunately I am leaving most to Fra these days as my hands cannot cope.

Well apart from a pot with Strawberries in. (Ok) The Beasties and Critters have eaten all my strawberries. We didn't cover them in time. Francis was to busy protecting his Salad!
But I have a lb of Gooseberries (covered by net) so tomorrow as we have friends for dinner, I shall make Gooseberry Fools....well try to. It will taste ok even if its not perfect.
The good thing is they can be made early and left in fridge to chill.
We have tuns of salad, a bowl every night for the last two weeks and still lots more.

[Jeannie's Hunter]

I could live on salad all year round Carol - just love it! I can't grow much in the garden unfortunately as we are very prone to slugs and all other kinds of beasties and I don't like to spray. However, one red lettuce remains, peas, beans and load of herbs which are super in salads too.

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

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[Fiona]

I'm quite pleased with my tomato plant on the bedroom windowsill - will post pics as soon as one of them ripens!  In the meantime, here is a geranium  (and some weeds) from my large garden at Mums!!! 

[Jeannie's Hunter]

A lovely splash  of colour Fiona - and the weeds are very charming too!

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

On 14 Jul 2013, at 18:20, Fiona <Fccam...@btinternet.com> wrote:

I'm quite pleased with my tomato plant on the bedroom windowsill - will post pics as soon as one of them ripens!  In the meantime, here is a geranium  (and some weeds) from my large garden at Mums!!! 

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[Claire Hawes]

Fiona I wouldn't count the poppies as weeds - I'm always trying to grow them (I think those might be called Welsh poppies?) as they seem to come up in wayside verges around here and look very pretty but I think our soil just isn't right for them - too rich I think.

In a few days' time I hope to be able to post  a picture of a rose which has finally got the idea. I planted it about 5 years ago after a visit to a Yellow Book garden, where it was growing up a big fir tree and looked amazing. Well it has not only taken all this time to start climbing up the fir tree (and it's still only into the lower branches) but this is the first year it has more than a handful of the small white blooms. Patience is a virtue when it comes to gardening!

[Jeannie's Hunter]

I always leave the Welsh poppies in place Claire, although I have a friend who hauls them out as soon as she spies them!

True about patience - I have spoken before about my lilac tree - still not a bloom after about twenty five years and we have two healthy vigorous wisteria which we have had for about the same length of time, and never a bloom on them either! However, quite often I have given up the ghost on a clematis only to see it reemerge many years later! Gardens are full of surprises.

I was out in mine just after 6 a.m. Giving everything a good water. We had another glorious day yesterday when we were able to sit out for tea once more - oh joy! Not so nice today, but dry.

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

[Shaun Finnie]

Agree Claire, the Welsh Poppies look delightful.

 

From: Claire Hawes

Sent: Monday, July 15, 2013 7:52 AM

To: timeshe...@googlegroups.com

Subject: Re: Gardening 2013

 

[glenc]

I must admit, I collected seedheads last year ad grew them in my garden this year.

This year has not been good for flowers here...much too dry.  I have been watering essential plants and containers but have left the rest.  I am on a water meter and my bills are already high enough for my budget.  It is difficult to visualise that, this time last yea, we had  had floods in the area and the river activities (races, dragon boats, even Swan Upping) were cancelled due to the high, fast levels of the River.

I looked at the UK weather map and you lucky people north of the Midlands have sunny weather but which is 10C degrees lower than here.  It has been 27-31 for 10 days here and forecast to remain so until the end of the month. he heat is just relentless.  My house has never been less than 27C inside even at night.  I really want it to cool down now. It is quite exhausting.

 My lawn is like burnt toast!!!!

[Fran]

I absolutely love poppies and have tried to grow them but to no avail.  When in Asissi in May they were everywhere and a friend subsequently bought me a lovely painting of a poppy field.

[CarolB was MNKB]

I have a mixture of Poppies in my garden. One lot are a beautiful pink. Where they came from I don't know!!

[Cally]

My mother had a stunning variety of poppies i her garden, i just have  some little calafornian ones in a wild area, some chunky red ones that used to be amazing growing in a grass area when we moved in but have thinnned down over the years and some (supposedly) opium poppies of pale lilac that keep returning to my veg patch and seed themselves each year unlesss I cull them!

They are such pretty plants.  I jave uploaded one of my mothers poppies as I had taken a picture of a few of her plants when I was up last so that she could see how well her garden was still growing; she's in her nursing home.

 

Last night I had a happy, leisurely time deadheading all my roses and others plants. It makes the garden look so fresh and alive again.

[Shaun Finnie]

Beautifully coloured poppies Cally.

[Jeannie's Hunter]

Lovely Cally - I wish I had taken some photos of ours now!

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

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<2013 06 29_5050.JPG>

[CarolB was MNKB]

They look lovely Cally, a shade darker than mine. They are so pretty bobbing in the sunshine.
I also need to deadhead the roses. Maybe tomorrow night.

[Fran]

 

 

A couple of photographs taken yesterday of my very small back garden. This is my oasis my area of calm - (apart from the screaming children next door)!!!

 

 

 

 

[Jeannie's Hunter]

That looks great Fran - enjoy your little oasis! X

Sent from Jeannie's iPad

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[glenc]

Well Fran I clicked on the link for your photographs and it disappeared!!!  The Secret Garden eh?!!!

[Mel]

My flowering peach tree is covered in blossom. It is beautiful and tells me that spring is not far off which is always cause for celebration.

[Claire Hawes]

That sounds lovely Mel. I always love seeing blossom on the trees too as the winter slowly recedes.

Here in the UK it's time to replenish the garden a bit and I did that with some really lovely lavender plants from Morrisons - the dark purple "Hidcote" lavender. It was funny, I was pushing my trolley round with 3 plants in it on Saturday morning as I did the rest of my shopping, and bumped into a friend who alos had 3 lavender plants in her trolley! I don;t mnd a little rain now to help them establish but then I'd like some sunny and warm (but not too hot!) weather please.

I have a row of established lavender elsewhere in the garden and yesterday it was alive with bumblebees :-)

[Jeannie's]

 By sheer coincidence again Claire, I also bought lavender plants in Morrisons this week! They are glorious, large dark purple heads and a wonderful perfume - called Fat Rascal I think.

Sent from Jeannie's iPod today!

[glenc]

You had all better come to the South East if you want sun then.  We are predicted to have temperatures possibly up to 32C tomorrow.  For me...I am liking the cool, cloudy rainy days!!!! Apologies...but my poor stuffed-up head just feels a little better in the cool damp weather at the moment.

I saw a lovely white fuchia in Waitrose a few days ago which I could manage on my patio...if I venture out today I might see if they have any left.  Waitrose here have just begun to have a little gardening corner.  Maybe it is because our huge out of town Tesco has closed its Garden Centre.  It apparently is going to try to make a little Market area with small shops and market stalls.  Another threat to our struggling High Street and Town Centre.  I wonder if there is any way of stopping this horrible juggernaut?

[Cally]

I must get some lavender as I want to dry some. I still have not plucked up courage to ask how a lady up the road keeps hers so lush,a nd to ask for some to dry!    I have loved going out picking gooseberries and raspberries, though this rain today will threaten the rest of the raspberry crop.  The  beans are coming on well and the rain this afternoon is welcome before hot weather is to resume tomorrow. We are promised  high 20'2 but I take thngs as it comes and appreciate whatever comes as it is all good for the garden and in general - just adjust the occupation. The house may be cleaner and tidier if it rains!  And the garden blooms ready for the mext time I sit out in it.

[glenc]

Cally I saw some white lavender in Waitrose today and I was rather taken with it.  Good to see you are so sanguine about the weather. I walked to and from town today and my clothes are now soaking and sticking to me.  It is hot and humid here...horrible....I would dearly like some rain.

I think that the micro climate here in Oxford must be good for Lavender, we have great bushes of it everywhere.