Good afternoon everyone, and what a warm sunny one it is ! @nultyphilip224 ,those Chinese lanterns are amazing, do they usually keep their colour that long ? The big arum has recovered well. Haven't done much today, took a few photos (there's a couple on the tulip thread and one on the clematis thread). Potted on some osteospermum cuttings, planted out a salvia "Trenance", washed yet more pots and watered anything in a pot. My poor seedlings in the greenhouse l am trying to shade as best l can, the temperature in there at the moment is 38 degrees . OH went out at 10am with a car full of stuff to do the MIL project, didn't get back until 4pm. Most of it is done now, he says. Hope everyone is enjoying the day, and keeping cool.
I have been out in the garden all day but it doesn't look much different. Lovely sunshine, but a very drying wind. I will water again at dusk.
@AnniD I just loved your tulips. It is hard to pick between Everlasting Love and National Velvet. They are both so rich and gorgeous. Your clematis is flowering well and a very pretty colour. None of mine are flowering yet and the only colour I have at the moment are the Tulips and forget me nots. Lots of promise though.
@nultyphilip224 everything in your garden is coming on really well and I staked the delphinium after your reminder. One thing I am noticing in my garden is that the lovely lush green of late April/May is slightly missing with this hot weather. Us gardeners always find something to moan about lol.
The other thing I did with regret was to ditch an Acer that I rescued from the bargain trolly a couple of years ago. Branches were sprouting out from the base, others had white tips and the trunk had some sort of scale on it. It had an upright habit and I prefer the arching type, so it's gone. I hate doing that ☹️.
@Fran IOM I am glad you managed to fill your pot so economically, and I am sure it looks great. You must get a camera one day to keep us all happy on here lol.
@Valley Gardener that big sleep you had yesterday hopefully did you the world of good. You must have needed it.
That's me done for the day apart from some late watering, so enjoy your evening all.
Good evening. Hope you have all had a good day. Managed nearly three hours on the allotment in this hot weather. Got some more plants in the ground but with one I had to walk up and down not knowing where to put it. It's gone in the ground but maybe not quite the right place. There are one or two I don't particularly like so their number may be up. @nultyphilip224. With regard to the Neem oil I shall leave it entirely up to you. Maybe just leave things as they are. My cat made two visits to see me this afternoon. The other day when she arrived I wondered why she was a little apprehensive then realised she had seen my stone cat and once she realised it wasn't alive she was ok. Your primroses are still flowering well. Mine seem to have stopped now so I shall split them and they may have a second flowering like they did last year. Managed to get my Tasman lily bulbs planted out as well. I shall wait and see what happens and as they were a free offer I haven't lost out. @AnniD. Your tuiips and clematis are beautiful. Is it next door's garden that you can see through the trellis? Maybe you will see more of OH now that he has nearly finished his project. @Purplerain. You will probably notice the difference to your garden tomorrow. I spent long enough doing things but can't notice a significant improvement but at least I know what I have done. Still have the pot to plant up. Have watered the plants in preparation and need to take the pot and compost over with me tomorrow. Then where to put the pot... @Valley Gardener. Hope you enjoyed your day and are feeling a lot better.
Same weather tomorrow I hope and then to get cooler.
@AnniD,..another scorcher but very enjoyable,..its certainly very warm in your greenhouse,..38C,..hot hot,..it was only 23C=72F in the garden here,..not a human voice to be heard,..Blackbird and Thrush competing as to who can sing the best,..Swans flying over the house and Terns screeching,..the Robin coming closer to me all the time,..Swallows arrived this morning though only a few,..its the same every year just the few in an advance party,..at almost 0230 this morning i opened the back door to let Foxy Molly out before bed time and of course i wasn't prepared for seeing Hedgehogs,..i had to grab the camera very quick as Foxy Molly was in such a rush she jumped over the Hogs,..luckily she didn't scare them off as i managed to capture two images.
Oh the Chinese Lanterns remain like that for a very long time,..once they turn orange one picks them for indoors.
@Purplerain,..I noticed the difference in my greenery after the hose was used plus i am giving the plants a feed every 14 days,..i found a Snail in the garden today but it was under some plastic trays,..i have some tall Salvia seedlings coming along and need to re pot them soon,..my Lettuce has started as have my Scallions,..i have them growing under chicken wire in my work area.
I know how you feel about the Acer,..its hard to dispose of one you have for long enough to become familiar with,..same with my Mahonia japonica,..it was there for 15 years,..i had to get rid of it as many times i cursed it when weeding and getting spiked by its fallen leaves,..its gone now and suddenly i have a nice space EMPTY Space lol,..not for long as i am going to move my two containers of Tigridia pavonia 'Mexican Shell Flower/Tiger Flower' into that spot.
@Fran IOM,..i had made some notes regarding the Neem Oil Mix,..but couldn't find the post that started the queries,..none of the beneficial insects that eat Mealy Bugs and Aphids,..are harmed as its only when an insect eats the foliage that has the Neen Oil Mix on it and either dislikes the taste and leaves it be,..or eats and then dies,.. about the Lady Bugs and the Lacewings,..Lady Bugs first choice of food is to eat the insects not the foliage,..same applies to the Lacewing,..however the latter do have a taste of the foliage and are put off eating it,..Lacewings are not as helpful as many people imagine as they carry transmitted plant disease and cause stunted growth in plants.
I first came across Neem Oil when in the Middle East,..an Indian Family lived near to where i was based,..the Husband noticed i was always scratching my hand near the wrist,..there was no reddening or sign as to what was causing the itch,..his wife rubbed some Neem Oil on the spot and after two days and two applications the itch stopped,..they had a beautiful garden and told me it was all down to the use of preventing insects from eating the foliage by the use of Neem Oil,..i told my Dad about this,..he wasn't surprised but told me they used it in the huge Hot Houses,..it was something one didn't hear about as there was no internet back then plus one couldn't get it on sale anywhere,..i think that ''Dr Vogel'' introduced it as a skin healing oil for humans.
I am glad you managed to get your Tasman Bulbs planted,..they should bloom around July/August for you,..if i remember rightly its approx 16 weeks after sowing,..Oh two visits from the cat,..the stone cat mystified her lol.
@nultyphilip224 , Foxy Molly is a handsome girl, a very smart red collar too. Your comments regarding neem oil are very interesting, l had never heard of it before , the story of how you came to hear of it and how it stopped insects eating the foliage is very intriguing. I wonder how effective it is against vine weevils? . We were so shattered again last night, we forgot to put the camera out again (although l did remember the dish of water). I envy you your hedgehogs, l wonder if "mine" will ever return? Mr B was singing so beautifully yesterday, he was on a neighbour's TV aerial. I rattled dish of suet pellets and he came swooping down to me like a bird of prey ! While he tucked in, l praised his singing. OH is convinced l have finally lost it ....... @Fran IOM, thank you for the comments about the tulips and clematis. That is my garden you can see through the trellis. The trellis runs along the path at the back of the garage - the idea being that as you come through the side gate, you can't see all of the garden at once, just glimpses. Glad you had a good day at the secret garden allotment. I will be glad when it cools down a bit, l have to keep reminding myself that it's still only April. I think it's going to be a shock for the plants when it changes. @Purplerain , l must admit l love the colour of those tulips. Sometimes the catalogues can be a bit, not misleading, but the colour isn't what you hope for. Not in this case ! I shall be ordering those again this year ! I shall be watering the newly planted and transplanted things later. Rain is forecast for later this week, but much as l love Tomasz Scafernaker, l can't necessarily believe a word he says. @Valley Gardener, hope your Gardening Assistant is carrying out his instructions while you supervise and take it easy. Right, OH has had his porridge and is loading up the car (again), so l suppose l had better look lively (or try to, at least). Have a good day everyone
Good Morning all. Another lovely sunny one. @nultyphilip224. That is a very interesting story about Neem oil. Do you use it neat on itches or the diluted spray? I am certainly grateful for it as my Hostas and lupins are doing well so far. I have birds singing their hearts out on the allotment but haven't a clue which bird/birds as I don't know anything about birdsong. At least your hedgehogs haven't done a runner. Probably didn't notice Foxy Molly jumping over them. Can't believe all the plants you have in your garden! Foxy Molly is doing an inspection and looking to see where you have placed your latest stone find. @AnniD. What a good idea putting up the trellis. I am trying to achieve something similar so that as you come into the allotment you can't see everything in one go. I am willing some of the shrubs to get taller. I have two Photinia Red Robins which should help me achieve something once they get a move on. I have a small plot outside the allotment. One side of the shed acts as part of the fence where I have the clematis and honeysuckle. I also had Rudbeckias but I think they have given up the ghost so they will have to go. Was thinking of putting in Heucheras and thought of SGC but then reminded myself that I have plenty and can easily move one or two outside. Can I?... I had one lone daffodil earlier and now I have one lone tulip. It is a beautiful colour. Sort of pinky orange. Don't know where they came from as I am sure I didn't plant them. Not just one.. Hope OH finishes his project today. So lucky to have had all this lovely weather to be able to achieve it. @Purplerain and @Valley Gardener Enjoy your day.
What a gorgeous day! I hope you are all enjoying it.
I have strung up the big hammock for the kids who will be along soon with parents. This is a birthday (6) so I am grateful for the weather. It will keep them all out if the house lol.
I can't find my favourite sunglasses ☹️ So annoying.
@nultyphilip224 what a good bunch of photo's. I am studying them avidly and marvelling at how you do it. I will get back here later, so have fun everyone.
It's lovely reading what you've all been up to,I love all the mossy rocky moots you have @nultyphilip224 isn't that Whisper right down the end? The story of the Neem Oil is very interesting. @AnniD I do envy you your blackbird,he's so tame,I couldn't attempt that with two cats! Unfortunately I'm still not feeling great,the neighbour with all the building rubble,did some tidying yesterday,including cutting off this big piece of black polythene,that hung over my garden,preventing me from doing any planting! Very difficult as we don't want to fall out with him. But at least now I can put back,what I dug up so he could build his wall! It was a clump of Salvia and a Verbena. If I don't get any improvement tomorrow healthwise,I will get the doc out.I don't think I can make it to the surgery. I hope you all have a great day,and enjoy what seems to be the last day of sunshine and warmth. 😘
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@nultyphilip224 ,those Chinese lanterns are amazing, do they usually keep their colour that long ?
The big arum has recovered well.
Haven't done much today, took a few photos (there's a couple on the tulip thread and one on the clematis thread). Potted on some osteospermum cuttings, planted out a salvia "Trenance", washed yet more pots and watered anything in a pot. My poor seedlings in the greenhouse l am trying to shade as best l can, the temperature in there at the moment is 38 degrees .
OH went out at 10am with a car full of stuff to do the MIL project, didn't get back until 4pm. Most of it is done now, he says.
Hope everyone is enjoying the day, and keeping cool.
I have been out in the garden all day but it doesn't look much different. Lovely sunshine, but a very drying wind. I will water again at dusk.
@AnniD I just loved your tulips. It is hard to pick between Everlasting Love and National Velvet. They are both so rich and gorgeous. Your clematis is flowering well and a very pretty colour. None of mine are flowering yet and the only colour I have at the moment are the Tulips and forget me nots. Lots of promise though.
@nultyphilip224 everything in your garden is coming on really well and I staked the delphinium after your reminder. One thing I am noticing in my garden is that the lovely lush green of late April/May is slightly missing with this hot weather. Us gardeners always find something to moan about lol.
The other thing I did with regret was to ditch an Acer that I rescued from the bargain trolly a couple of years ago. Branches were sprouting out from the base, others had white tips and the trunk had some sort of scale on it. It had an upright habit and I prefer the arching type, so it's gone. I hate doing that ☹️.
@Fran IOM I am glad you managed to fill your pot so economically, and I am sure it looks great. You must get a camera one day to keep us all happy on here lol.
@Valley Gardener that big sleep you had yesterday hopefully did you the world of good. You must have needed it.
That's me done for the day apart from some late watering, so enjoy your evening all.
@nultyphilip224. With regard to the Neem oil I shall leave it entirely up to you. Maybe just leave things as they are. My cat made two visits to see me this afternoon. The other day when she arrived I wondered why she was a little apprehensive then realised she had seen my stone cat and once she realised it wasn't alive she was ok. Your primroses are still flowering well. Mine seem to have stopped now so I shall split them and they may have a second flowering like they did last year. Managed to get my Tasman lily bulbs planted out as well. I shall wait and see what happens and as they were a free offer I haven't lost out.
@AnniD. Your tuiips and clematis are beautiful. Is it next door's garden that you can see through the trellis? Maybe you will see more of OH now that he has nearly finished his project.
@Purplerain. You will probably notice the difference to your garden tomorrow. I spent long enough doing things but can't notice a significant improvement but at least I know what I have done. Still have the pot to plant up. Have watered the plants in preparation and need to take the pot and compost over with me tomorrow. Then where to put the pot...
@Valley Gardener. Hope you enjoyed your day and are feeling a lot better.
Same weather tomorrow I hope and then to get cooler.
Oh the Chinese Lanterns remain like that for a very long time,..once they turn orange one picks them for indoors.
I know how you feel about the Acer,..its hard to dispose of one you have for long enough to become familiar with,..same with my Mahonia japonica,..it was there for 15 years,..i had to get rid of it as many times i cursed it when weeding and getting spiked by its fallen leaves,..its gone now and suddenly i have a nice space EMPTY Space lol,..not for long as i am going to move my two containers of Tigridia pavonia 'Mexican Shell Flower/Tiger Flower' into that spot.
The Foxgloves cuttings i took are growing fast.
Perennial Sweet Pea on the right.
I first came across Neem Oil when in the Middle East,..an Indian Family lived near to where i was based,..the Husband noticed i was always scratching my hand near the wrist,..there was no reddening or sign as to what was causing the itch,..his wife rubbed some Neem Oil on the spot and after two days and two applications the itch stopped,..they had a beautiful garden and told me it was all down to the use of preventing insects from eating the foliage by the use of Neem Oil,..i told my Dad about this,..he wasn't surprised but told me they used it in the huge Hot Houses,..it was something one didn't hear about as there was no internet back then plus one couldn't get it on sale anywhere,..i think that ''Dr Vogel'' introduced it as a skin healing oil for humans.
I am glad you managed to get your Tasman Bulbs planted,..they should bloom around July/August for you,..if i remember rightly its approx 16 weeks after sowing,..Oh two visits from the cat,..the stone cat mystified her lol.
Action Dog.
Freeze.
Following the scent.
Iris,..will they flower this year?
We were so shattered again last night, we forgot to put the camera out again (although l did remember the dish of water). I envy you your hedgehogs, l wonder if "mine" will ever return?
Mr B was singing so beautifully yesterday, he was on a neighbour's TV aerial. I rattled dish of suet pellets and he came swooping down to me like a bird of prey ! While he tucked in, l praised his singing. OH is convinced l have finally lost it .......
@Fran IOM, thank you for the comments about the tulips and clematis. That is my garden you can see through the trellis. The trellis runs along the path at the back of the garage - the idea being that as you come through the side gate, you can't see all of the garden at once, just glimpses.
Glad you had a good day at the secret garden allotment. I will be glad when it cools down a bit, l have to keep reminding myself that it's still only April. I think it's going to be a shock for the plants when it changes.
@Purplerain , l must admit l love the colour of those tulips. Sometimes the catalogues can be a bit, not misleading, but the colour isn't what you hope for. Not in this case ! I shall be ordering those again this year !
I shall be watering the newly planted and transplanted things later. Rain is forecast for later this week, but much as l love Tomasz Scafernaker, l can't necessarily believe a word he says.
@Valley Gardener, hope your Gardening Assistant is carrying out his instructions while you supervise and take it easy.
Right, OH has had his porridge and is loading up the car (again), so l suppose l had better look lively (or try to, at least). Have a good day everyone
@nultyphilip224. That is a very interesting story about Neem oil. Do you use it neat on itches or the diluted spray? I am certainly grateful for it as my Hostas and lupins are doing well so far. I have birds singing their hearts out on the allotment but haven't a clue which bird/birds as I don't know anything about birdsong. At least your hedgehogs haven't done a runner. Probably didn't notice Foxy Molly jumping over them. Can't believe all the plants you have in your garden! Foxy Molly is doing an inspection and looking to see where you have placed your latest stone find.
@AnniD. What a good idea putting up the trellis. I am trying to achieve something similar so that as you come into the allotment you can't see everything in one go. I am willing some of the shrubs to get taller. I have two Photinia Red Robins which should help me achieve something once they get a move on. I have a small plot outside the allotment. One side of the shed acts as part of the fence where I have the clematis and honeysuckle. I also had Rudbeckias but I think they have given up the ghost so they will have to go. Was thinking of putting in Heucheras and thought of SGC but then reminded myself that I have plenty and can easily move one or two outside. Can I?... I had one lone daffodil earlier and now I have one lone tulip. It is a beautiful colour. Sort of pinky orange. Don't know where they came from as I am sure I didn't plant them. Not just one.. Hope OH finishes his project today. So lucky to have had all this lovely weather to be able to achieve it.
@Purplerain and @Valley Gardener Enjoy your day.
I have strung up the big hammock for the kids who will be along soon with parents. This is a birthday (6) so I am grateful for the weather. It will keep them all out if the house lol.
I can't find my favourite sunglasses ☹️ So annoying.
@nultyphilip224 what a good bunch of photo's. I am studying them avidly and marvelling at how you do it. I will get back here later, so have fun everyone.
The story of the Neem Oil is very interesting.
@AnniD I do envy you your blackbird,he's so tame,I couldn't attempt that with two cats!
Unfortunately I'm still not feeling great,the neighbour with all the building rubble,did some tidying yesterday,including cutting off this big piece of black polythene,that hung over my garden,preventing me from doing any planting! Very difficult as we don't want to fall out with him. But at least now I can put back,what I dug up so he could build his wall! It was a clump of Salvia and a Verbena.
If I don't get any improvement tomorrow healthwise,I will get the doc out.I don't think I can make it to the surgery.
I hope you all have a great day,and enjoy what seems to be the last day of sunshine and warmth. 😘