Good Morning all. Do hope this weather lasts for some time to come. It was so warm yesterday, although not as warm as further south, you could have mistaken it for Summer. It's harder to work in the garden as the heat seems to sap the energy out of you. The allotment is in full sun most of the day so there are no shady spots to work in. @AnniD. I shall give the rose area a good soaking before I put the bark down if it works for you. Will probably have to do it when it's not so sunny. I presume any rain still finds its way down through the bark. Do you recognise the cat visitor? Was out rather late at night. Do hope Mouse didn't become his supper. You certainly have been busy. Hope you pick up some energy to carry on today. I think we are all feeling the same. @Purplerain. It sounds as though you haven't stopped either. Do hope your seedlings are ok. I take it they are all vegetables and not plants! You must have the patience of a saint. I usually have to order an extra plant to make up for free postage. Have some ivy in water to see what happens. Many thanks for the suggestions for plants in my new pot. The colour is cream so it wouldn't clash with any plant colour. I have to admit I hadn't heard of the plants you suggested apart from pelargonium so googled them. I then searched on SGC and sadly they didn't have any of them in stock. Looks like a visit to B&Q is imminent. Still have my £5 voucher which could help. I don't think the pot is big enough for a cordyline. I wish my cat tapped me gently on the arm when he wants food. I just get a set of teeth giving me a good bite. @nultyphilip224. It seems we are all feeling the strain of working in the heat. As soon as I get home I have to sit down although I do have a couple of breaks to sit and stare. My friend the robin found me yesterday but as the ground was so dry I wasn't digging up any worms so he wasn't impressed. I know there are plenty of worms in the "compost" heap which isn't really compost but a mound of everything I want to get rid of. I remembered after my last post that I was confused between your hellebores and heucheras! I get the watering can to water the plants which I have just put in the ground and then I can't remember where I put them! I hope you manage too get the seed pods from your hellebores. Have some ivy in water and will try potting some. Will get those Tasman lily bulbs in hopefully today. I would like something cascading over the side of the pot so will have to go on the ideas @Purplerain suggested. Your ferns are unfurling nicely there. A few weeks ago I watered my primulas with miraclegro and the difference it has made is incredible. The flowers are so much bigger than normal and some bigger than the flower of a pansy. Something I got right... @Valley Gardener. Had to laugh when you said my sad looking dog was the hare looking up. For seconds I can see the hare but then it changes back to the dog. Either way they are both nice. Good you are back in the land of the living. Hope each day sees an improvement. How did your daughter feel after catching the germ. Do hope she is ok now. Stick to the deck chair and Cush for the time being.
Managed to drag myself out of bed. After a bacon sandwich (l have ignored the recent dire warnings in the press), OH helped me apply nematodes. Moved as many plants as l could into what shade l could find, am so pleased it was done as those charity shop plants have been worrying me ! The thought of someone giving money to the charity and then finding the pots full of grubs has been preying on my mind. Also managed to get the tomato and bean seeds sown, so l feel like l have achieved something @Fran IOM , we get at least three different cats passing through the garden all night. I know where one of them comes from, but not the other two. Last night's left a calling card, if you know what l mean. No sign of Hedgehog or Mouse, even Mr B appears to have stopped hassling me in the mornings, although he still comes for breakfast eventually. I think l will just put out the dish of water and keep checking the camera every morning. @Purplerain , l see l tagged the wrong purple person when l posted yesterday, so sorry. My excuse is that l was shattered (and l'm sticking to that !). I thought at first you had posted a photo of my garden, it looks very similar with pots and trugs everywhere. l have been trying to move stuff around so that l don't break my neck, as l also have planters etc. from MIL's garden to contend with. @Valley Gardener, l have been gazing at the gazing hare, but l can't see a dog no matter how long l look at it ! He would have had a beautiful full moon to gaze at last night, it was really bright here. Hope you are taking it easy sitting in the sun and issuing orders to your OH.
Good afternoon all. Just look at this weather! I feel like I am chasing my tail trying to keep up with everything.
@Fran IOM I hope you manage to get something nice for your pot. I had to fill that disaster of a purple pot the squirel dug up and bought a red cordyline in Morrisons for £3.00. I treat them as annuals as they don't age well in my opinion. I will add more bedding later on in May. I think you should give that cheeky monkey of a cat a lesson in manners. Biting you indeed 😀. Like you, my main garden is South facing so it gets all the sun from morning till night. I have a couple of parasols I set up for a bit of shade and that helps.
@nultyphilip224 I also forget what I am watering at times, and sometimes I completely forget what I came out to do. That doesn't bother me, because I soon forget what I forgot and go on my merry way, convinced I have done everything correctly.
Yes, that was the edge of the coldframe and it is full now. It looks like a lot of seedlings, but I have three 4ftx15ft borders (just checked and they are at least 20 ft) to fill and you only saw the half of them😀. If I have too many, I give them away. I suspected you were unsure about me putting the peas in a massive pot, so, without you saying so I dug trenches and planted them in the ground with canes for support. I will fleece them at any sign of frost. I haven't started the beans yet but they do fine in the great big pots. You sound as if you were shattered yesterday, so take it easy (chance would be a fine thing).
@AnniD things are not looking promising for your nightime visitors. I had a present brought to me by one cat yesterday, and it looked very like a cousin of your mouse. Unfortunately, it was deceased 😞. I hope that is not the fate of your mouse, but I didn't like the look of that cat skulking around. I don't allow mine out at night.
Did you get your nematodes watered in? Between you and OH you have done so much, and still raised money for charity. Put your feet up tonight.
@Valley Gardener it's good to hear that you are on the mend, and your garden is looking lovely despite you not being able to attend to it. I see you are taking Metatone. I have an almost full bottle in the cupboard. I took one teaspoon of it and... bleugh, yuck. I decided I would rather suffer 😀.
That's enough from me rambling on, so have a lovely evening, and try not to overdo it. We cross posted @AnniD.
Good Evening. Hope you are all relaxing after a busy day. @nultyphilip224. Forgot to mention in my previous post that on the thread "Caterpillar Infestation" I took the. liberty of explaining about the advantages of Neem oil and how to make up the mixture. A question was brought up as to how it differentiates between the goodies i.e. ladybirds and lacewings and the baddies like aphids. Do you have the answer to this? If so I can put their minds at rest. @AnniD. You have been busy and can now breathe a sigh of relief that all the plants are protected with your nematodes. You could have another bacon sarnie. I noticed you had mentioned the wrong purple person but didn't bother to mention it as it is quite easily done and you were shattered. I nearly had a fall this afternoon tripping over the hose but managed to keep on my feet and was glad there was no one there to see my antics. @Purplerain. I am afraid my cat has the upper paw so to speak. I shout at him to no avail and yet he has to know where I am and follows me around when he isn't asleep. Never had a cat like him before. They have always been gentle and loving. Went to B&Q this afternoon to choose some plants for the pot. Forgot to take the names of the plants you suggested with me so had to look at everything to choose what I thought would be best. Bought for the centre a Goldcrest Wilma, hanging lobelia and some ivy. Can only try and see if it works out. It only cost me the grand total of £3.40 as I had my £5 voucher and there was 20% off all plants and three of the plants were for £6. @Valley Gardener. That 3 hours sleep will have done you good but hope you can sleep tonight. No matter how I look at your stone hare I mostly see the sad dog. At the bottom of his ear would be the nose. Probably a bit like a bloodhound. You will have to take another photo at a different angle. Take care.
@AnniD,..you were right it was another perfect day today,..it was great to be able to shed some clothes,..just a shirt and shorts was the order of the day.
I had a late soaking in the bath tonight,..didn't fall asleep but fought it off,..just about,..it wasn't so much garden soil but the fact i had boiled Cod Steaks in milk with Onions and a whole chopped clove of Garlic,..two days in a row,..i reeked of Garlic and Onions lol.
A well grilled bacon sandwich can be very tasty,..despite the warnings off,..i remember Eggs were not the order of the day some years ago,..according to Edwina Currie MP.
So one of your visiting Cats left a calling card,..me as well,..but it was one of the Hedgehogs and it was very insulting as i gather it was a hint about the food left out.
@Purplerain,..this warm weather is making plants grow rapidly,..i was thinking i had plenty of time before the tall plants like Delphiniums needed canes to support them but found i needed to start today.
Still getting not fully getting the hang of the glasses as today i almost walked into the glass sliding door,..very close call.
It did flash through my mind about the Peas location lol,..you must have got the vibes,..mentioning vibes,..i got those about the Lamb card thank you .
@Fran IOM,..i spotted the post about the Neem Oil,..i felt that some of the replies were just nit picking and some others a tad confused about the fact Neem Oil is a Natural Oil,..if you like i will post in that Thread tomorrow giving a good description.
@Valley Gardener,..you had a good sleep today,..that will stand to you,..the bout of Flu had your system worn down so you deserved an extra rest,..either that or Mr Hare has cast a good spell on you lol.
Primula vulgaris 'Common primrose'.
Arum Lilies.
I gathered up a few of the Aquilegia which self seeded since last Summer and placed them as below,..there are just as many again all over the garden but not in the way so i let them be.
The big Arum that was thrashed due to the heavy gusts of wind has recovered,..with the help of some canes and lots of watering.
The Voodoo Lilies are starting to appear.
Bluebells.
Pysalis franchetii 'Chinese lantern',..returns every year but i keep it from getting into the garden as its very invasive,..i really keep it for the Lanterns.
Lantern's from last year have still retained their colour up to today.
Posts
Do hope this weather lasts for some time to come. It was so warm yesterday, although not as warm as further south, you could have mistaken it for Summer. It's harder to work in the garden as the heat seems to sap the energy out of you. The allotment is in full sun most of the day so there are no shady spots to work in.
@AnniD. I shall give the rose area a good soaking before I put the bark down if it works for you. Will probably have to do it when it's not so sunny. I presume any rain still finds its way down through the bark. Do you recognise the cat visitor? Was out rather late at night. Do hope Mouse didn't become his supper. You certainly have been busy. Hope you pick up some energy to carry on today. I think we are all feeling the same.
@Purplerain. It sounds as though you haven't stopped either. Do hope your seedlings are ok. I take it they are all vegetables and not plants! You must have the patience of a saint. I usually have to order an extra plant to make up for free postage. Have some ivy in water to see what happens. Many thanks for the suggestions for plants in my new pot. The colour is cream so it wouldn't clash with any plant colour. I have to admit I hadn't heard of the plants you suggested apart from pelargonium so googled them. I then searched on SGC and sadly they didn't have any of them in stock. Looks like a visit to B&Q is imminent. Still have my £5 voucher which could help. I don't think the pot is big enough for a cordyline. I wish my cat tapped me gently on the arm when he wants food. I just get a set of teeth giving me a good bite.
@nultyphilip224. It seems we are all feeling the strain of working in the heat. As soon as I get home I have to sit down although I do have a couple of breaks to sit and stare. My friend the robin found me yesterday but as the ground was so dry I wasn't digging up any worms so he wasn't impressed. I know there are plenty of worms in the "compost" heap which isn't really compost but a mound of everything I want to get rid of. I remembered after my last post that I was confused between your hellebores and heucheras! I get the watering can to water the plants which I have just put in the ground and then I can't remember where I put them! I hope you manage too get the seed pods from your hellebores. Have some ivy in water and will try potting some. Will get those Tasman lily bulbs in hopefully today. I would like something cascading over the side of the pot so will have to go on the ideas @Purplerain suggested. Your ferns are unfurling nicely there. A few weeks ago I watered my primulas with miraclegro and the difference it has made is incredible. The flowers are so much bigger than normal and some bigger than the flower of a pansy. Something I got right...
@Valley Gardener. Had to laugh when you said my sad looking dog was the hare looking up. For seconds I can see the hare but then it changes back to the dog. Either way they are both nice. Good you are back in the land of the living. Hope each day sees an improvement. How did your daughter feel after catching the germ. Do hope she is ok now. Stick to the deck chair and Cush for the time being.
Have a good day all.
Also managed to get the tomato and bean seeds sown, so l feel like l have achieved something
@Fran IOM , we get at least three different cats passing through the garden all night. I know where one of them comes from, but not the other two. Last night's left a calling card, if you know what l mean. No sign of Hedgehog or Mouse, even Mr B appears to have stopped hassling me in the mornings, although he still comes for breakfast eventually. I think l will just put out the dish of water and keep checking the camera every morning.
@Purplerain , l see l tagged the wrong purple person when l posted yesterday, so sorry. My excuse is that l was shattered (and l'm sticking to that !). I thought at first you had posted a photo of my garden, it looks very similar with pots and trugs everywhere. l have been trying to move stuff around so that l don't break my neck, as l also have planters etc. from MIL's garden to contend with.
@Valley Gardener, l have been gazing at the gazing hare, but l can't see a dog no matter how long l look at it ! He would have had a beautiful full moon to gaze at last night, it was really bright here. Hope you are taking it easy sitting in the sun and issuing orders to your OH.
@Fran IOM I hope you manage to get something nice for your pot. I had to fill that disaster of a purple pot the squirel dug up and bought a red cordyline in Morrisons for £3.00. I treat them as annuals as they don't age well in my opinion. I will add more bedding later on in May. I think you should give that cheeky monkey of a cat a lesson in manners. Biting you indeed 😀. Like you, my main garden is South facing so it gets all the sun from morning till night. I have a couple of parasols I set up for a bit of shade and that helps.
@nultyphilip224 I also forget what I am watering at times, and sometimes I completely forget what I came out to do. That doesn't bother me, because I soon forget what I forgot and go on my merry way, convinced I have done everything correctly.
Yes, that was the edge of the coldframe and it is full now. It looks like a lot of seedlings, but I have three 4ftx15ft borders (just checked and they are at least 20 ft) to fill and you only saw the half of them😀. If I have too many, I give them away. I suspected you were unsure about me putting the peas in a massive pot, so, without you saying so I dug trenches and planted them in the ground with canes for support. I will fleece them at any sign of frost. I haven't started the beans yet but they do fine in the great big pots. You sound as if you were shattered yesterday, so take it easy (chance would be a fine thing).
@AnniD things are not looking promising for your nightime visitors. I had a present brought to me by one cat yesterday, and it looked very like a cousin of your mouse. Unfortunately, it was deceased 😞. I hope that is not the fate of your mouse, but I didn't like the look of that cat skulking around. I don't allow mine out at night.
Did you get your nematodes watered in? Between you and OH you have done so much, and still raised money for charity. Put your feet up tonight.
@Valley Gardener it's good to hear that you are on the mend, and your garden is looking lovely despite you not being able to attend to it. I see you are taking Metatone. I have an almost full bottle in the cupboard. I took one teaspoon of it and... bleugh, yuck. I decided I would rather suffer 😀.
That's enough from me rambling on, so have a lovely evening, and try not to overdo it.
We cross posted @AnniD.
@nultyphilip224. Forgot to mention in my previous post that on the thread "Caterpillar Infestation" I took the. liberty of explaining about the advantages of Neem oil and how to make up the mixture. A question was brought up as to how it differentiates between the goodies i.e. ladybirds and lacewings and the baddies like aphids. Do you have the answer to this? If so I can put their minds at rest.
@AnniD. You have been busy and can now breathe a sigh of relief that all the plants are protected with your nematodes. You could have another bacon sarnie. I noticed you had mentioned the wrong purple person but didn't bother to mention it as it is quite easily done and you were shattered. I nearly had a fall this afternoon tripping over the hose but managed to keep on my feet and was glad there was no one there to see my antics.
@Purplerain. I am afraid my cat has the upper paw so to speak. I shout at him to no avail and yet he has to know where I am and follows me around when he isn't asleep.
Never had a cat like him before. They have always been gentle and loving. Went to B&Q this afternoon to choose some plants for the pot. Forgot to take the names of the plants you suggested with me so had to look at everything to choose what I thought would be best. Bought for the centre a Goldcrest Wilma, hanging lobelia and some ivy. Can only try and see if it works out. It only cost me the grand total of £3.40 as I had my £5 voucher and there was 20% off all plants and three of the plants were for £6.
@Valley Gardener. That 3 hours sleep will have done you good but hope you can sleep tonight. No matter how I look at your stone hare I mostly see the sad dog. At the bottom of his ear would be the nose. Probably a bit like a bloodhound. You will have to take another photo at a different angle. Take care.
Will join you again tomorrow.
I had a late soaking in the bath tonight,..didn't fall asleep but fought it off,..just about,..it wasn't so much garden soil but the fact i had boiled Cod Steaks in milk with Onions and a whole chopped clove of Garlic,..two days in a row,..i reeked of Garlic and Onions lol.
A well grilled bacon sandwich can be very tasty,..despite the warnings off,..i remember Eggs were not the order of the day some years ago,..according to Edwina Currie MP.
So one of your visiting Cats left a calling card,..me as well,..but it was one of the Hedgehogs and it was very insulting as i gather it was a hint about the food left out.
Still getting not fully getting the hang of the glasses as today i almost walked into the glass sliding door,..very close call.
It did flash through my mind about the Peas location lol,..you must have got the vibes,..mentioning vibes,..i got those about the Lamb card thank you
Primula vulgaris 'Common primrose'.
Arum Lilies.
I gathered up a few of the Aquilegia which self seeded since last Summer and placed them as below,..there are just as many again all over the garden but not in the way so i let them be.
The big Arum that was thrashed due to the heavy gusts of wind has recovered,..with the help of some canes and lots of watering.
The Voodoo Lilies are starting to appear.
Bluebells.
Pysalis franchetii 'Chinese lantern',..returns every year but i keep it from getting into the garden as its very invasive,..i really keep it for the Lanterns.
Lantern's from last year have still retained their colour up to today.