@AnniD. Hope OHs appointment went well,also your hair! You are more sensible than me.....I took the clippers to mine,and it looks like rats have been at it!
@nultyphilip224 I'm so sorry to hear Whisper caught a blackbird,that's bad news. The river is looking beautiful,and Foxy Molly is enjoying herself there.
I'm quite exhausted after a day helping OH, I jetwashed 22 old slabs,making them look quite respectable again. It's been a saving,as we found them under all sorts of old rubbish initially. It was so hot out there I was enjoying getting sprayed at the same time! It looks like I may paint the wall tomorrow,and the gate to the lane in a wood preserving paint. Then perhaps the next day we can go and buy trellis,to pretty it up a bit. Hope you've all had a good day.
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Missing out on answering just one days posts really knocks me off track,..thinking now where to begin lol.
I did manage to rise on time and drove half way across the County to see what happened to a friends boat engine,..he presumed it was something very simple as he had the engine running to let his kids hear it???,..a 60 Hp engine,..when i arrived he was checking things out,..anyway i hit the nail on the head as to what was wrong before i even touched the engine as i came across the very same problem several times over the years,..sooooo i asked where were you giving the kids a demo on how the engine sounded?,..oh right here on the driveway,....oh yeah?,..the boat was on a trailer,..i asked how long had he being running the engine,..oh only about 10 mins,..ah says i that's the problem,..your engine is water cooled,..has to be in the water when the engine is running,..water is drawn in and around the engine to keep it cool then released and the process continues,..you have burned out some of your parts due to no water,..what a plonker!,..there is a way to have the engine running when out of the water,..using a barrel full of water and the engine low enough to allow water to be drawn in and out,..of course he didn't know any of this,..he just bought the boat.
Great shot of your two guests turning up for food,..one already has the table booked
You are sure getting a big project done in very warm weather,..though progressing very well,..amazing how many slabs you have to do,..now that is a job for doing in this warm weather,..spray cooling one down lol.
That soil looks very dark,..is it a fine soil or coal dust type?,..i don't envy you the job of moving the slabs around and into the position you want them,..hard on the back,..so take it easy.
Hollyhock Rust,..looks horrible and the reason many gardeners give up on them,..spores are airborne so nearly all Hollyhocks get Hollyhock Rust,..its hard to eliminate it other than a constant battle keeping the foliage treated against Rust,..too constant for most of us so we never win,..best to dispose of the plant for a more peaceful life.
Amazing how your keyboard is performing in a normal way since your return,..i hope it remains like that for you.
Very sad about the baby Blackbird,..at first i was sure it was my usual baby B,..even though it looked smaller but i thought with it being dead that might be the normal appearance,..that upset me as i shouldn't encourage the bird with a cat on constant watch,..i was relieved somewhat when little B put in an appearance.
Despite the break away and the change of scenery and being looked after,..i bet you were happy to be back in your own Secret Garden,..enjoy the feeling.
Good morning all, another beautiful day here in the valley. Hopefully almost at the end of slab laying,OH wouldn't let me lift them,but I was able to roll them,like a square wheel,and yes, even that gives you back ache. Will post some progress pics later.
@AnniD I didn't notice the restaurant was already occupied! You are going to have to do more covers! Every picture tells a story. Fantastic little creatures.
@nultyphilip224 As you say what a plonker! Outboards are" tres cher",you can't afford to burn them out! Lovely views of the water meadows and cows,so serene and paintable,your scenery is so opposite to mine. Glad to hear BB has been seen,that must have been a worry.You'll have to clap your hands when he appears.
@Purplerain I hope you're having a nice time,with lots of chatting? I'm watching "Keeping Faith" box set, have you seen it? Stunning scenery,and the sort of thing I think you like.
@FranIOM FranIOM have you got your grasses in yet? And your expensive clem in a starter pot ? I bet that grass needs cutting now,a chance to try out the new mower??
Just been watching a Jackdaw feeding its baby........an enormous baby,same size as mother....or father,I don't know how you tell them apart.
Have a good day all.
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Morning everyone @nultyphilip224, very good of you to get up early and drive so far to help your friend. Hope it isn't going to be too expensive to repair it. A lesson learnt, but must admit l didn't know that either! My dad was in the navy, and mum and l used to deliberately wind him up by referring to boats, rather than ships. He got wise to it though Good news about Little B, you will have to be cruel to be kind and stop encouraging him. It's a shame when they are such characters, but the way it has to be.
@Valley Gardener, well done on the slab cleaning, but for heaven's sake take it easy today (l am a fine one to talk !). Trouble is, it's so tempting to keep going when you can see all the progress being made. Looking forward to the before and after photos!
@Purplerain, hope things are well with you, and your family catch ups are going okay.
@Fran IOM, the frog was rehomed back in the pot, where to the best of my knowledge he still is. Frogs aren't really my thing - years ago l picked up a pot in the garden, a frog leapt out. He went one way, l shrieked and went another and the pot went somewhere else. The hosta was salvageable though, once my heart regained it's normal rhythm! The irises are now in eleven pots and baking nicely in the sun.
Well, it's Thursday, so supermarket and parents today. OH has to go back in around a month's time, but they seem happy enough with him, and he says that his sight is fine. He could see well enough to tell me that my hair looked very nice Don't see very much of Mr B these days, but he pops up now and again to keep me on my toes .
Good Morning all. Everyone seems to be enjoying the sunshine. At least it's not as hot as when I was away or I wouldn't be doing anything. @nultyphilip224 Yes keyboard still working! So pleased your little B is safe but still sad for the other. Years ago in Scotland I had a large rabbit laid out for me on the back door step! Don't know which cat at the time had achieved that. It must be so calming to have such scenery around you. Don't think you saw my last post to you 2 July which was on its own as I had had to post and start again later. Some questions which aren't compulsory to answer! @Valley Gardener You must be absolutely worn out! Bet you can't wait for the end results. My grasses and clematis keep going to the allotment and then back home again when I get caught up with something and then don't have the time to plant them out! I like to keep an eye on them. My clematis climbing up the side of the shed outside is getting very tangled and don't quite know what to do. If I try to untangle it a piece breaks off so I don't want to ruin it. I would like to spread it out along the wire. Oh yes I decided to mow the "grass" yesterday. I was a bit dubious as to whether I would remember all the instructions my son had given me as to how to use it but to my surprise it was so simple and would recommend it to anyone. It did a fantastic job and the amount of grass cuttings was unbelievable! It's a big container that collects them and I had to empty it at least three times. Where my son had put the grass seed it had all grown well and looking at the whole picture from a distance it looks amazing. Obviously there are lots of weeds in there and still some bare patches which I will have to deal with but a good afternoon's work. Will try and get my daughter to take a photo. The mower cuts the edges as well but as my edging is curved roof tiles it can't do the job properly so will have to get the shears out. Brought the battery home and it is now recharged for next time! @AnniD Think I would have reacted the same as you with the frog! My laptop has icons marked "favourites" and "frequently visited". To my surprise a new one popped up yesterday on "frequently visited" entitled SGC! Outside the restaurant we went to the owner obviously is a keen gardener. He has big pots outside filled with beautiful plants. One very large one had a hosta and I haven't seen one so big before and not a hole in any of the leaves. It took a while to admire each and every one. Could actually name quite a few! Haven't been tempted yet with the SGC email. Will have to dig up my dead Echium so that leaves a space and also another shrub which hasn't grown this year but may give it the benefit of the doubt. We shall see. I have a hairdresser appointment this morning. I very rarely get any remarks as to how it looks. My daughter remarked that it looked nice the other day after I had washed it myself! Maybe I am wasting my money.
Once I get started I don't know when to stop. Hope @Purplerain is enjoying her family outings and looking forward to hearing what she has been up to.
Hi Guys! I've posted lots of pics of all the work done in a pm,so as not to use all space on here. It might be ancient slabs and blocks,but it looks so much better than old plastic sheds and rubbish,hoping it will shame him into clearing up next door!😁😁😁
The whole truth is an instrument that can only be played by an expert.
Pleasing to learn that your weather is so good,..same here,..though tough going when doing heavy gardening work,..took Foxy Molly for a long walk around 0800 this morning knowing i would be up to my neck in gardening today and once started i wouldn't want to stop,..even for a Doggy Walk,..crossed the Town Bridge and let Foxy Molly have a good run in the local park,..they have allowed sections of Wild Flowers to grow which looks great.
This is looking across the river to where i take my usual walk,..almost in the centre of the picture where the first bushes start is the bridge that crosses the Canal,..just a shiny spot to be seen.
I wonder what plant this is?,..approx 60 Cm=2Ft high.
Oh it will cost an arm and a leg to replace the parts that warped or melted on that engine,..it is only about two or three years ago that the exact same thing happened to a friend living not too far away,..he just started the engine,..revved it for a spell thinking,..or not thinking,..it was just like a car engine.
I can well understand your Dad being wound up when you and your Mum referred to Ships as Boats,..similar to someone making out a report writing ''Gun'' when referring to a Rifle or Pistol.
Little B turned up this morning and sat on the gutter letting me know loudly that ''i am here'',..so food was offered while i watched just in case ''Whisper'' put in an appearance.
She hasn't gone white,..that's the sun on her back.
That is one noisy Bird.
Cut back all the Hardy Geraniums today and placed them in a storage area,..filling the empty space with Heuchera.
I was trying to remember did i see your post on the 2nd of July and did i comment on it,..i looked back and remember reading that post but can not remember if i commented on it,..far too many posts to read and reply to and in the late hours gets me muddled.
So you came across a dog that looked like Foxy Molly,..i would like to have seen that,..lol about you not having a decent phone to take a picture,..you will have to start dropping a subtle hint lol.
Every now and then i meet a guy with an exact double of Foxy Molly,..he was on the far side of the road on the footpath i braked and called him over to look in the back window at Foxy Molly,..he was stunned and wondered were they both from the same litter,..possible of course,..i must get a picture next time i meet him,..on the day i first met him i didn't want to get out of the car and start taking pictures,..next time i will.
Mentioning Rose Petals,..oh boy they make the place look so untidy,..i had to do a rush job and sweep everywhere when there was a visitor calling this evening,..with over 30 rose bushes you can imagine its a daily chore dead heading,..worse is trying to keep ahead of the falling petals,..its impossible.
I like how you saved that small rose root and it has grown and produced a nice pink rose,..could well be to thank you for saving its life,..i think like that,..i save even the smallest seedling thinking it might be the runt of the litter,..but when it grows it might surprise me,..or if i break off a branch of a rose bush by accident,..i tend to save it as a cutting,..stopping what ever job i was doing to get Rooting Powder,..a flower pot with soil and so a new cutting is born lol
My ''Cornus'' is about 60 Cm = 2Ft high at this stage though still in a pot,..i still have to decide just where to plant it out as once planted it will root strongly,..possibly at the front of the house.
Oh those Cygnets will stay with the parents until they are almost as big as the parents,..then they gradually go their own way but tend to overwinter locally,..whereas the Bewick's and Whooper Swans head off to Iceland.
Oh that ''Verbena'' i found in the Trolley is doing fine but still only about 30 Cm tall,.. there are two of them both doing as well,..i came across a tall plant not familiar to me growing wild around here,..it has foliage similar to the ''Verbena'' i posted it in my reply to @Valley Gardener ,..but here it is again.
Hosta plants are still looking healthy.
Moved all the Pelargoniums today to one spot.
They had to move in order for space due for the Tigridia Pavonia ''Mexican Shell Flower/Tiger Flowers'',..to bloom soon.
Posts
@nultyphilip224 I'm so sorry to hear Whisper caught a blackbird,that's bad news.
The river is looking beautiful,and Foxy Molly is enjoying herself there.
I'm quite exhausted after a day helping OH, I jetwashed 22 old slabs,making them look quite respectable again. It's been a saving,as we found them under all sorts of old rubbish initially. It was so hot out there I was enjoying getting sprayed at the same time! It looks like I may paint the wall tomorrow,and the gate to the lane in a wood preserving paint. Then perhaps the next day we can go and buy trellis,to pretty it up a bit.
Hope you've all had a good day.
Missing out on answering just one days posts really knocks me off track,..thinking now where to begin lol.
I did manage to rise on time and drove half way across the County to see what happened to a friends boat engine,..he presumed it was something very simple as he had the engine running to let his kids hear it???,..a 60 Hp engine,..when i arrived he was checking things out,..anyway i hit the nail on the head as to what was wrong before i even touched the engine as i came across the very same problem several times over the years,..sooooo i asked where were you giving the kids a demo on how the engine sounded?,..oh right here on the driveway,....oh yeah?,..the boat was on a trailer,..i asked how long had he being running the engine,..oh only about 10 mins,..ah says i that's the problem,..your engine is water cooled,..has to be in the water when the engine is running,..water is drawn in and around the engine to keep it cool then released and the process continues,..you have burned out some of your parts due to no water,..what a plonker!,..there is a way to have the engine running when out of the water,..using a barrel full of water and the engine low enough to allow water to be drawn in and out,..of course he didn't know any of this,..he just bought the boat.
Great shot of your two guests turning up for food,..one already has the table booked
@Valley Gardener,
You are sure getting a big project done in very warm weather,..though progressing very well,..amazing how many slabs you have to do,..now that is a job for doing in this warm weather,..spray cooling one down lol.
That soil looks very dark,..is it a fine soil or coal dust type?,..i don't envy you the job of moving the slabs around and into the position you want them,..hard on the back,..so take it easy.
Hollyhock Rust,..looks horrible and the reason many gardeners give up on them,..spores are airborne so nearly all Hollyhocks get Hollyhock Rust,..its hard to eliminate it other than a constant battle keeping the foliage treated against Rust,..too constant for most of us so we never win,..best to dispose of the plant for a more peaceful life.
@Fran IOM ,
Amazing how your keyboard is performing in a normal way since your return,..i hope it remains like that for you.
Very sad about the baby Blackbird,..at first i was sure it was my usual baby B,..even though it looked smaller but i thought with it being dead that might be the normal appearance,..that upset me as i shouldn't encourage the bird with a cat on constant watch,..i was relieved somewhat when little B put in an appearance.
Despite the break away and the change of scenery and being looked after,..i bet you were happy to be back in your own Secret Garden,..enjoy the feeling.
@Purplerain ,
I hope you have a good chin wag with your Sister during the two days she visits,..enjoy yourself.
Some outdoor views as i didn't manage to capture any garden images today,..busy as a Bee lol.
Hopefully almost at the end of slab laying,OH wouldn't let me lift them,but I was able to roll them,like a square wheel,and yes, even that gives you back ache. Will post some progress pics later.
@AnniD I didn't notice the restaurant was already occupied! You are going to have to do more covers!
Every picture tells a story. Fantastic little creatures.
@nultyphilip224 As you say what a plonker! Outboards are" tres cher",you can't afford to burn them out!
Lovely views of the water meadows and cows,so serene and paintable,your scenery is so opposite to mine. Glad to hear BB has been seen,that must have been a worry.You'll have to clap your hands when he appears.
@Purplerain I hope you're having a nice time,with lots of chatting?
I'm watching "Keeping Faith" box set, have you seen it? Stunning scenery,and the sort of thing I think you like.
@FranIOM FranIOM have you got your grasses in yet? And your expensive clem in a starter pot ?
I bet that grass needs cutting now,a chance to try out the new mower??
Just been watching a Jackdaw feeding its baby........an enormous baby,same size as mother....or father,I don't know how you tell them apart.
Have a good day all.
@nultyphilip224, very good of you to get up early and drive so far to help your friend. Hope it isn't going to be too expensive to repair it. A lesson learnt, but must admit l didn't know that either! My dad was in the navy, and mum and l used to deliberately wind him up by referring to boats, rather than ships. He got wise to it though
Good news about Little B, you will have to be cruel to be kind and stop encouraging him. It's a shame when they are such characters, but the way it has to be.
@Valley Gardener, well done on the slab cleaning, but for heaven's sake take it easy today (l am a fine one to talk !). Trouble is, it's so tempting to keep going when you can see all the progress being made. Looking forward to the before and after photos!
@Purplerain, hope things are well with you, and your family catch ups are going okay.
@Fran IOM, the frog was rehomed back in the pot, where to the best of my knowledge he still is. Frogs aren't really my thing - years ago l picked up a pot in the garden, a frog leapt out. He went one way, l shrieked and went another and the pot went somewhere else. The hosta was salvageable though, once my heart regained it's normal rhythm!
The irises are now in eleven pots and baking nicely in the sun.
Well, it's Thursday, so supermarket and parents today. OH has to go back in around a month's time, but they seem happy enough with him, and he says that his sight is fine. He could see well enough to tell me that my hair looked very nice
Don't see very much of Mr B these days, but he pops up now and again to keep me on my toes .
Have a good day all.
Laters x
Everyone seems to be enjoying the sunshine. At least it's not as hot as when I was away or I wouldn't be doing anything.
@nultyphilip224 Yes keyboard still working! So pleased your little B is safe but still sad for the other. Years ago in Scotland I had a large rabbit laid out for me on the back door step! Don't know which cat at the time had achieved that. It must be so calming to have such scenery around you. Don't think you saw my last post to you 2 July which was on its own as I had had to post and start again later. Some questions which aren't compulsory to answer!
@Valley Gardener You must be absolutely worn out! Bet you can't wait for the end results. My grasses and clematis keep going to the allotment and then back home again when I get caught up with something and then don't have the time to plant them out! I like to keep an eye on them. My clematis climbing up the side of the shed outside is getting very tangled and don't quite know what to do. If I try to untangle it a piece breaks off so I don't want to ruin it. I would like to spread it out along the wire.
Oh yes I decided to mow the "grass" yesterday. I was a bit dubious as to whether I would remember all the instructions my son had given me as to how to use it but to my surprise it was so simple and would recommend it to anyone. It did a fantastic job and the amount of grass cuttings was unbelievable! It's a big container that collects them and I had to empty it at least three times. Where my son had put the grass seed it had all grown well and looking at the whole picture from a distance it looks amazing. Obviously there are lots of weeds in there and still some bare patches which I will have to deal with but a good afternoon's work. Will try and get my daughter to take a photo. The mower cuts the edges as well but as my edging is curved roof tiles it can't do the job properly so will have to get the shears out. Brought the battery home and it is now recharged for next time!
@AnniD Think I would have reacted the same as you with the frog! My laptop has icons marked "favourites" and "frequently visited". To my surprise a new one popped up yesterday on "frequently visited" entitled SGC! Outside the restaurant we went to the owner obviously is a keen gardener. He has big pots outside filled with beautiful plants. One very large one had a hosta and I haven't seen one so big before and not a hole in any of the leaves. It took a while to admire each and every one. Could actually name quite a few! Haven't been tempted yet with the SGC email. Will have to dig up my dead Echium so that leaves a space and also another shrub which hasn't grown this year but may give it the benefit of the doubt. We shall see. I have a hairdresser appointment this morning. I very rarely get any remarks as to how it looks. My daughter remarked that it looked nice the other day after I had washed it myself! Maybe I am wasting my money.
Once I get started I don't know when to stop. Hope @Purplerain is enjoying her family outings and looking forward to hearing what she has been up to.
Enjoy your day all and take it easy.
It might be ancient slabs and blocks,but it looks so much better than old plastic sheds and rubbish,hoping it will shame him into clearing up next door!😁😁😁
Pleasing to learn that your weather is so good,..same here,..though tough going when doing heavy gardening work,..took Foxy Molly for a long walk around 0800 this morning knowing i would be up to my neck in gardening today and once started i wouldn't want to stop,..even for a Doggy Walk,..crossed the Town Bridge and let Foxy Molly have a good run in the local park,..they have allowed sections of Wild Flowers to grow which looks great.
This is looking across the river to where i take my usual walk,..almost in the centre of the picture where the first bushes start is the bridge that crosses the Canal,..just a shiny spot to be seen.
I wonder what plant this is?,..approx 60 Cm=2Ft high.
The Foliage is very similar to ''Verbena''.
Oh it will cost an arm and a leg to replace the parts that warped or melted on that engine,..it is only about two or three years ago that the exact same thing happened to a friend living not too far away,..he just started the engine,..revved it for a spell thinking,..or not thinking,..it was just like a car engine.
I can well understand your Dad being wound up when you and your Mum referred to Ships as Boats,..similar to someone making out a report writing ''Gun'' when referring to a Rifle or Pistol.
Little B turned up this morning and sat on the gutter letting me know loudly that ''i am here'',..so food was offered while i watched just in case ''Whisper'' put in an appearance.
She hasn't gone white,..that's the sun on her back.
That is one noisy Bird.
Cut back all the Hardy Geraniums today and placed them in a storage area,..filling the empty space with Heuchera.
I was trying to remember did i see your post on the 2nd of July and did i comment on it,..i looked back and remember reading that post but can not remember if i commented on it,..far too many posts to read and reply to and in the late hours gets me muddled.
So you came across a dog that looked like Foxy Molly,..i would like to have seen that,..lol about you not having a decent phone to take a picture,..you will have to start dropping a subtle hint lol.
Every now and then i meet a guy with an exact double of Foxy Molly,..he was on the far side of the road on the footpath i braked and called him over to look in the back window at Foxy Molly,..he was stunned and wondered were they both from the same litter,..possible of course,..i must get a picture next time i meet him,..on the day i first met him i didn't want to get out of the car and start taking pictures,..next time i will.
Mentioning Rose Petals,..oh boy they make the place look so untidy,..i had to do a rush job and sweep everywhere when there was a visitor calling this evening,..with over 30 rose bushes you can imagine its a daily chore dead heading,..worse is trying to keep ahead of the falling petals,..its impossible.
I like how you saved that small rose root and it has grown and produced a nice pink rose,..could well be to thank you for saving its life,..i think like that,..i save even the smallest seedling thinking it might be the runt of the litter,..but when it grows it might surprise me,..or if i break off a branch of a rose bush by accident,..i tend to save it as a cutting,..stopping what ever job i was doing to get Rooting Powder,..a flower pot with soil and so a new cutting is born lol
My ''Cornus'' is about 60 Cm = 2Ft high at this stage though still in a pot,..i still have to decide just where to plant it out as once planted it will root strongly,..possibly at the front of the house.
Oh those Cygnets will stay with the parents until they are almost as big as the parents,..then they gradually go their own way but tend to overwinter locally,..whereas the Bewick's and Whooper Swans head off to Iceland.
Oh that ''Verbena'' i found in the Trolley is doing fine but still only about 30 Cm tall,.. there are two of them both doing as well,..i came across a tall plant not familiar to me growing wild around here,..it has foliage similar to the ''Verbena'' i posted it in my reply to @Valley Gardener ,..but here it is again.
Hosta plants are still looking healthy.
Moved all the Pelargoniums today to one spot.
They had to move in order for space due for the Tigridia Pavonia ''Mexican Shell Flower/Tiger Flowers'',..to bloom soon.
Malva Moschata ' Musk Mallow'.