I had ordered Jacqueline du pre this year fascinated by the pink stamens on the white petals, but gave it away to my son. I'll check it out when I'm at his place next.
Oxford. The City of Dreaming Spires.
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils (roses). Taking a bit of liberty with Wordsworth
I'm very very pleased to have seen new growth breaking out on Lady of the Lake. Where the shoots that started in spring have stopped growing there seem to be new ones emerging which is great! Just need to try and keep the aphids off this time.
Once the new shoots have leafed I'll take all the "old" foliage off as it's already looking tatty and aged.
Also, I saw the first aphid eating bird in the garden - a great tit on Lady of Shalott, hopefully the first of many. Black birds were around much more today too.
Finished the strawberry bed at the allotment, transplanted the old ones and we've got some new to plant tomorrow.
@Mr. Vine Eye I really like your strawberry bed. Is that a lid on hinges with netting to keep the birds off? Are the tops of the sides netted too? What is the reason for having the tops of the sides open rather than just carry on with solid sides all the way up? Is it for light?Â
Sorry for all the questions, I am trying to learn as much as I can!
@Mr. Vine Eye,. I like your strawberry bed too. My daughter bought some strawberry plants, are I have put those in pots. I need to figure out how to protect those.
Is that a lid on hinges with netting to keep the birds off?
Yes, but with hindsight I should have done a lift off lid that was hooked on, or made the bed narrower as I stupidly didn’t think about reach! Won’t be able to reach the centre back strawberries without a major stretch! 🤨
The lid is easy to lift though for access and I’ve attached a strap that keeps it from opening too far but can be unhooked if I ever do need to open it all the way.
Are the tops of the sides netted too?
Yes, to stop birds getting in through the gaps.
What is the reason for having the tops of the sides open rather than just carry on with solid sides all the way up? Is it for light?
The decking board is the actual raised bed part - the rest is just a frame to support the lid - which obviously needs to be held a reasonable distance above the plants or they’d get squashed. If those sides were closed it would limit airflow, light and cost more in materials too!
The whole thing cost £24 for the 8 pack of wood I used for the frame and door, £42 for 6 decking boards. I reused old netting that had been on the plot when we got it. Also used soil from another part of the plot that I’d sieved through to fish out weed roots, and added one bag of peat free soil improver £2.50. I’ll cut some long grass at the plot and dry it for my own straw.
Still no open roses to show yet, but this one is trying very hard.🙂 Celebration. I love the pink tinged bud before the golden yellow flower. These are some of my in flower things around the garden.Â
.. Beautiful day today here, my local BBC weather has us at 15C... but it's quite warm, perhaps 20-21C in the garden.  Some roses coming out now.. 'Tall Story'.. this bloom is about 5 days old.. 'St. Nicholas'.. 'Marie Nabonnand'.. 'The Country Parson'..
Posts
I'm very very pleased to have seen new growth breaking out on Lady of the Lake. Where the shoots that started in spring have stopped growing there seem to be new ones emerging which is great! Just need to try and keep the aphids off this time.
Once the new shoots have leafed I'll take all the "old" foliage off as it's already looking tatty and aged.
Also, I saw the first aphid eating bird in the garden - a great tit on Lady of Shalott, hopefully the first of many. Black birds were around much more today too.
Finished the strawberry bed at the allotment, transplanted the old ones and we've got some new to plant tomorrow.
Sorry for all the questions, I am trying to learn as much as I can!
Yes, to stop birds getting in through the gaps.
The decking board is the actual raised bed part - the rest is just a frame to support the lid - which obviously needs to be held a reasonable distance above the plants or they’d get squashed. If those sides were closed it would limit airflow, light and cost more in materials too!
The whole thing cost £24 for the 8 pack of wood I used for the frame and door, £42 for 6 decking boards. I reused old netting that had been on the plot when we got it. Also used soil from another part of the plot that I’d sieved through to fish out weed roots, and added one bag of peat free soil improver £2.50. I’ll cut some long grass at the plot and dry it for my own straw.
So it cost about £70Â
EDIT: £75 including handle and hinges
Celebration. I love the pink tinged bud before the golden yellow flower.
These are some of my in flower things around the garden.Â
.. Beautiful day today here, my local BBC weather has us at 15C... but it's quite warm, perhaps 20-21C in the garden.  Some roses coming out now..
'Tall Story'.. this bloom is about 5 days old..
'St. Nicholas'..
'Marie Nabonnand'..
'The Country Parson'..