This weather is truly amazing. I have irises in flower in the front garden and the ceanothus buds are showing. The beautiful oak tree that l can see from my kitchen window is coming into leaf. It reminds me of the old saying "Oak before Ash", and although l can't see any ash trees, looking at the forecast l wouldn't mind betting that the oak is first. @Valley Gardener , don't know which services you stop at on the M5 but Gloucester services are a change from the usual. I wouldn't mind a look at your photos (being a right "nebby nose"), l like looking at other gardens - that's how l ended up on this thread ! But of course, this is Philip's domain, so it's up to him . You could always post on the garden photos thread, or start your own ! @moragb1 l am so lucky l have never had rats in the garden (touch wood). I know you can get humane traps for them like you can for mice, but l don't know what you do with them once you've caught them, take them for a long car ride perhaps...... @Fran IOM@nultyphilip224 l have been topping up on the Voltarol supplies, we should buy shares in it ! Hope everyone has had a good day
@Fran IOM,..you certainly couldn't resist taking on board the Clematis seeing they were Free except for paying postage,..where to plant them or some of them,..how about in the middle of the garden or someplace other than along a wall or shed,..one of mine is in the middle of the garden.
I had a square container,..made a hole in the middle,..placed a metal bar through the hole,.. well into the ground,..then made holes around the edge of the container,
I tied garden wire through the four corners and up high to the top of the metal pole where i have heavier wire bent into the pole and hanging in a 'U' shape so i could secure the garden wire to it,..then as the Clematis was growing i added cross wire and sometimes twine so the Clematis could grip and grow.
I know someone who used an old Umbrella placed on top of the pole so the wires could be used to grow the Clematis around,..the rainproof material removed of course. There you go,..just one idea.
I will be interested in hearing what you think of the Voltarol after you use it,..as for the Neem Oil Mix,..it will start working on the first spray and keeps improving after each application,..first thing you will notice is your plant leaves will be shiny.
@AnniD,..Lol i did feel like a Scrubber,..in the scrub a dub fashion only,..i hope your Plumber arrived and you had the house tarted up nicely lol.
Lovely to see the duo on camera,..''Hedgehog and Mouse'' go walkabout,..they are obviously just good friends.
@moragb1,..oh boy i bet there was some high screaming tones reached lol,..''Bliss'' surely earned her keep and retrieved the culprit a second time,..i hope after things quietened down you praised her,..oh to highlight a name,..you just place a '@' before the persons name,..when it has worked you will see a red line under the name,..also when you type the '@' before the persons name,..up will pop that persons name after you start typing a few letters,.. click on that name as it saves you from typing the entire name.
@Valley Gardener,..a slim Buddha or Gazing Hare lol,..can you get a slim Buddha,..ah yes the Amaryllis really shows up its bloom when the sun hits it,..i have seeds if anyone wants them to have a go at Amaryllis,..oh yes Foxy Molly goes boating with me though i have to secure her with a lead in case she decides to jump overboard,..my previous dog Molly the Springer would jump overboard when i was near shore and that was near only to her,..200 Meters at times and not where i was going nor would be able to due to rocks,..so i would have to travel to a landing point somewhere along shore,..i had to secure her every time after several frustrating incidents,..only Molly has being secured.
@nultyphilip224, plumber turned up, bless him. He is a nice lad, his wife has been in hospital (nothing too serious) and his eldest has been ill so he had to look after them. He was so apologetic about letting us down earlier in the week - he didn't comment on my gleaming home though. Trouble is he is coming back next week so l will have to waft a duster round again.This is unheard of, twice in one week ! Another beautiful dog in Molly
@nultyphilip224 thanks for the tip and hope it works!!! Yes Bliss was praised and my screaming could be heard streets away ha ha. It was like something out of Tom & Jerry ha ha
@AnniD thanks I need to get something and I am really fed up now. I put some chocolate in last night and it was taken so more there. I hate poison as it could be slow - hate killing at all. I have used humane traps for mice so will try and get one for rats and release them (if I have the nerve ha ha ) There is one on Amazon that zaps them instantly but sounds horrendous. So back to square one with an overly obsessed dog that drives me nuts running around scenting them. Now she has caught one she will never stop. Thanks
Oh, it's masterchef the final on now. So exciting (to me) so I hope to join in tomorrow.
Edit: so many memories about Dorset @Valley Gardener courtesy of Enid Blyton. I bet you had a great childhood amongst the hedgerows with home made lemonade, bicycles, torches and very bad men 😀.
@nultyphilip224, plumber turned up, bless him. He is a nice lad, his wife has been in hospital (nothing too serious) and his eldest has been ill so he had to look after them. He was so apologetic about letting us down earlier in the week - he didn't comment on my gleaming home though. Trouble is he is coming back next week so l will have to waft a duster round again.This is unheard of, twice in one week ! Another beautiful dog in Molly
Amazing when talking to someone else to find each have their own problems,..we never really appreciate the good times ourselves when we have no problems,..soooo once again you will have to tidy up the house lol,..i only laugh because i am constantly making things tidy and dusting,..just in case someone calls,..they seldom do,..ah Molly the Springer was a very happy dog especially when near water as then she had to get in for a swim,..her breed has webbed toes.
@nultyphilip224 thanks for the tip and hope it works!!! Yes Bliss was praised and my screaming could be heard streets away ha ha. It was like something out of Tom & Jerry ha ha
The chances are high that there is another Rat and with ''Bliss'' searching around she may scare off the Rat or Rats,..once ''Bliss'' has now got the scent she will hunt them out of existence which is a good thing to have happened,..try to get used to her running around Ratting,..the Chocolate you left out could well be eaten by something else so have a look at your camera,..a Fox perhaps,..you can always get the cage that traps the Rat alive,..then get someone to release it far away from your house.
Lol at that last couple of photos @nultyphilip224 and the Amaryllis is spectacular. It is huge! Apologies for the short post last night, but just as I came on to write, masterchef started. I wasn't too happy with the outcome as I wanted Gilly to win. I didn't realise that you did so much boating, but it looks such good fun for you and the dogs, past and present.
I have been working at the front of the house and am itching to get out again today, hence the early start. I found some fritillary which surprised me as I didn't think they would grow. It is North facing and sloped so I have to be careful. It is the opposite of the back garden which is flat and South facing. There is a very large white Hellibore out there so I will take a photo and post later.
@AnniD congratulations on your gleaming house and it is good to see the hedgehog and his friend are still inhabiting your garden. I am feeling the cold here, so slightly envious of the warm weather you are getting.
@Fran IOM some really good ideas from Philip for growing Clematis. It's exciting when plants turn up that you forget you have ordered. I have been good this year, only ordering the Asters from the Secret Garden Club.
@moragb1 I hope you get the rat problem sorted. It is horrible having to kill creatures, but rats can cause so much damage and disease. They can eat through concrete and get into the house if left to do what they want.
Off to make my second cup of coffee and then hopefully a productive day. Keep well all.
Posts
@Valley Gardener , don't know which services you stop at on the M5 but Gloucester services are a change from the usual. I wouldn't mind a look at your photos (being a right "nebby nose"), l like looking at other gardens - that's how l ended up on this thread ! But of course, this is Philip's domain, so it's up to him
@moragb1 l am so lucky l have never had rats in the garden (touch wood). I know you can get humane traps for them like you can for mice, but l don't know what you do with them once you've caught them, take them for a long car ride perhaps......
@Fran IOM @nultyphilip224 l have been topping up on the Voltarol supplies, we should buy shares in it !
Hope everyone has had a good day
I had a square container,..made a hole in the middle,..placed a metal bar through the hole,.. well into the ground,..then made holes around the edge of the container,
I tied garden wire through the four corners and up high to the top of the metal pole where i have heavier wire bent into the pole and hanging in a 'U' shape so i could secure the garden wire to it,..then as the Clematis was growing i added cross wire and sometimes twine so the Clematis could grip and grow.
I know someone who used an old Umbrella placed on top of the pole so the wires could be used to grow the Clematis around,..the rainproof material removed of course.
There you go,..just one idea.
I will be interested in hearing what you think of the Voltarol after you use it,..as for the Neem Oil Mix,..it will start working on the first spray and keeps improving after each application,..first thing you will notice is your plant leaves will be shiny.
@AnniD,..Lol i did feel like a Scrubber,..in the scrub a dub fashion only,..i hope your Plumber arrived and you had the house tarted up nicely lol.
Lovely to see the duo on camera,..''Hedgehog and Mouse'' go walkabout,..they are obviously just good friends.
@moragb1,..oh boy i bet there was some high screaming tones reached lol,..''Bliss'' surely earned her keep and retrieved the culprit a second time,..i hope after things quietened down you praised her,..oh to highlight a name,..you just place a '@' before the persons name,..when it has worked you will see a red line under the name,..also when you type the '@' before the persons name,..up will pop that persons name after you start typing a few letters,.. click on that name as it saves you from typing the entire name.
@Valley Gardener,..a slim Buddha or Gazing Hare lol,..can you get a slim Buddha,..ah yes the Amaryllis really shows up its bloom when the sun hits it,..i have seeds if anyone wants them to have a go at Amaryllis,..oh yes Foxy Molly goes boating with me though i have to secure her with a lead in case she decides to jump overboard,..my previous dog Molly the Springer would jump overboard when i was near shore and that was near only to her,..200 Meters at times and not where i was going nor would be able to due to rocks,..so i would have to travel to a landing point somewhere along shore,..i had to secure her every time after several frustrating incidents,..only Molly has being secured.
@AnniD thanks I need to get something and I am really fed up now. I put some chocolate in last night and it was taken so more there. I hate poison as it could be slow - hate killing at all. I have used humane traps for mice so will try and get one for rats and release them (if I have the nerve ha ha ) There is one on Amazon that zaps them instantly but sounds horrendous. So back to square one with an overly obsessed dog that drives me nuts running around scenting them. Now she has caught one she will never stop.
Thanks
Edit: so many memories about Dorset @Valley Gardener courtesy of Enid Blyton. I bet you had a great childhood amongst the hedgerows with home made lemonade, bicycles, torches and very bad men 😀.
Each bloom is close to 18 cm wide.
Still no sign of my Hedgehogs,..but as i mentioned there was Hedgehog Poo close to the door of my shed.
There are no Slugs left in my garden so Hedgehog has being dining out lol.
I have been working at the front of the house and am itching to get out again today, hence the early start. I found some fritillary which surprised me as I didn't think they would grow. It is North facing and sloped so I have to be careful. It is the opposite of the back garden which is flat and South facing. There is a very large white Hellibore out there so I will take a photo and post later.
@AnniD congratulations on your gleaming house and it is good to see the hedgehog and his friend are still inhabiting your garden. I am feeling the cold here, so slightly envious of the warm weather you are getting.
@Fran IOM some really good ideas from Philip for growing Clematis. It's exciting when plants turn up that you forget you have ordered. I have been good this year, only ordering the Asters from the Secret Garden Club.
@moragb1 I hope you get the rat problem sorted. It is horrible having to kill creatures, but rats can cause so much damage and disease. They can eat through concrete and get into the house if left to do what they want.
Off to make my second cup of coffee and then hopefully a productive day. Keep well all.