I hope you will soon feel much better GWRS - perhaps a tot of something to warm you up this cold evening would be beneficial to your cold.
We dismantled the garden Christmas lights this afternoon and then attacked our indoor decorations - we will finish them off tomorrow and read through the Christmas cards once again before they are recycled. We can't recycle cards with glitter on them, can you?
It's odd that people have been happily recycling old Christmas cards for years but are now suddenly being told we can't recycle the ones with glitter on - why not?
It was a bit warmer today, so I was able to potter, cut off all the old stems of the ceratostigma plumbaginoides (what a mouthful!) overhanging the dwarf wall on the drive, pulled out some ivy and swept the leaves off the drive for the umpteenth time. Had a shock when I went up into the back garden to find pools of what looked blood on the paving next to a pot with frost killed purple/red begonias in it, but came to the conclusion that it must have been the sap out of the stems that dripped? It won't come off the paving though.
I to had a couple of hours at the allotment just tidying around, the new roses I planted four or five weeks ago have new buds so they look they have taken to there new home.
The new buds might get frosted if we have a hard one but I sometime think it does a plant no harm to suffer occasionally often makes for a stronger plant I think.
I only watered plants this last summer if they really looked to be on there last legs I believe by doing this it forces them to put down deeper roots looking for water and for that they become stronger.
Vegetables on the other hand get as much water as they need to produce a good crop.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
I've been doing the last pruning of my beasts - the wisteria. I have two that are 30+ years and 8 metres of twisted and gnarled stems - takes a bloody long time but worth it when they flower!
thanks @Hampshire_Hog for the weblink. Did some balcony planning - and repotting and tidying up as it was dry out there. Also, list of seeds for the adopted in-laws garden - sweat peas, sunflowers, woodland wildflower mix for their shady patches down the bottom, and Verbena bonariensis - not sure how easy they are to grow from seed but worth a try. that wisteria sounds amazing batwood14! Didnt know about glitter cards, will have to check with our council before putting them out.
I think the glitter thing is because they use lasers to check and sort items as part of the automation system and glitter oblivious reflects and I guess the cards end up in the wrong place contaminating the waste. @Rhubarb7 glad you found the site useful, all the seeds are relatively easy just follow the packet instructions you cant go far wrong. @GWRS Yes we still have flowers on our "Rhapsody in Blue" roses I should really of pruned them back but will leave till March now.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
Like other I still have roses in flower, but I have pruned most of them now anyway. Did a good bit of tidying up, yesterday cutting back things like dead leaves on crocosmia flag Iris etc. I know a lot say to leave until spring but if I am not careful I get too busy in spring with other things but, then the new growth gets too big to do it properly.
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It was a bit warmer today, so I was able to potter, cut off all the old stems of the ceratostigma plumbaginoides (what a mouthful!) overhanging the dwarf wall on the drive, pulled out some ivy and swept the leaves off the drive for the umpteenth time.
Had a shock when I went up into the back garden to find pools of what looked blood on the paving next to a pot with frost killed purple/red begonias in it, but came to the conclusion that it must have been the sap out of the stems that dripped? It won't come off the paving though.
The new buds might get frosted if we have a hard one but I sometime think it does a plant no harm to suffer occasionally often makes for a stronger plant I think.
I only watered plants this last summer if they really looked to be on there last legs I believe by doing this it forces them to put down deeper roots looking for water and for that they become stronger.
Vegetables on the other hand get as much water as they need to produce a good crop.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog
@Rhubarb7 glad you found the site useful, all the seeds are relatively easy just follow the packet instructions you cant go far wrong.
@GWRS Yes we still have flowers on our "Rhapsody in Blue" roses I should really of pruned them back but will leave till March now.
"You don't stop gardening because you get old, you get old because you stop gardening." - The Hampshire Hog