Great photos and wow that sure is a giant. It's now 7.20am here and our dog has just woken us both up for an outside wander. My weather thing on the iPad says the temp outside is a balmy 7.5c, so I think I'll snuggle down again for a bit longer. I wonder how my veggies are doing under their cloches. How was your lecture Marion? I'd love to have access to similar opportunities, but we're a bit remote for such like.
10.50am and I'm back in for a while. The dog and I went for a wander in the garden. Pulled some weeds up for the worms in the worm farm because they were getting a bit low on supplies. Opened the greenhouse and put some of the hardier plants outside, checked those still germinating etc. Planted 2 tulip bulbs which I bought yesterday from Reject Shop - hope they go OK - pink colour. Checked the rhubarb which I had covered with straw and pots - based on Monty's advice, and am pleased to see some emerging shoots. The chives that I had covered with plastic milk cartons have been given the treatment by the Crimson rosellas. They have been straightened up. ( the cartons, I mean). Hubby has taken one of the village fire trucks into town for some mechanical work - have to keep them in good order before the fire season begins. It's my day to do my volunteer shift at the little gallery this afternoon, so not time for much more at home. Hope you all have a good sleep!
I noticed that some of you like watching sport on TV. Do any of you remember Ken Grieves? He was my mother's baby brother ( one of 11 kids) and he moved to the UK when was a young man - to play cricket. He must have liked it there because he stayed. I'm still in contact with one of his daughters. That generation were the first to add an 's' to Grieve. So, following on from that, and Carol saying that the James Grieve Apple was her mothers favourite, do any of you know any more about that apple? I'd love to think there was a lost family connection. What fun!
Hello Pat, yes the James Grieve apple is still a favourite in back gardens and can be bought in fruit and veg. shops. It should be on Google somewhere.My father was a professional footballer and played County cricket but in Scotland so cannot say i am familiar with a Ken Grieves.
The lecture last night was fantastic. If anyone can lay claim to the description of walking in Darwin's footsteps Professor Barrett most certainly can. I will probably be posting about the sexotica as he called it of plants for months now, but as a taster let me tell you about the picture he showed us of a beautiful bird, a Malachite sunbird, which uses the Rat;s Tail or perch coming from an iris Babiana ringens which has evolved flowers that are sessile. The bird does not like to sully its beautiful tail which is used in courtship by standing on the ground to milk the flowers so this perch has evolved to promote efficient cross pollination and high seed set! I thought about how lovely that malachite bird would look among your rosellas! Strangely enough the females are quite happy to stand on the ground,not having a long tail! Reminded me of when we were going out as a family to some dressed up "do". I, with seven children to supervise could get ready in five minutes while my late husband needed at least an hour!
Hello Marion, that professor sounds fascinating. I can't believe how smart the birds are. We see it all the time. Our neighbours sheep have been busy producing twins and triplets across the river from our place. The wedge- tail Eagles appear our of nowhere, seemingly, and our neighbour is kept busy rushing over there in his ute and trying to chase them off.
Marion I went to the sale at Blaise Nursery today. They had lots of plants cheap but nothing I fancied. There were some lovely looking gazanias but when I asked about them, they were sold I was more interested in the contents of the greenhouse next door, all sorts of stuff going on in there, including what looked like banana plants
Yes, Fruitcake, a few pounds buys a lot there but i am much too busy to go shopping. Family coming tonight and 12 of them next week. Also just spent an hour picking a huge bowl of strawberries and another of blackcurrants. There is a little space left in the green wheeliebin so I am off to fill it now with flowering rosebay willowherb and nettles to get emptied tomorrow.
Feels fresher this morning but no rain yet so another day of rescuing newly planted shrubs and trees from desiccation. My third son and his partner really enjoyed seeing the garden in all its glory last night but could not offload any strawberries on them as they have a glut in their allotment too. So more freezing today and the blackcurrants I picked yesterday.
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Your pictures brighten my day up Marion
Great photos and wow that sure is a giant. It's now 7.20am here and our dog has just woken us both up for an outside wander. My weather thing on the iPad says the temp outside is a balmy 7.5c, so I think I'll snuggle down again for a bit longer. I wonder how my veggies are doing under their cloches. How was your lecture Marion? I'd love to have access to similar opportunities, but we're a bit remote for such like.
10.50am and I'm back in for a while. The dog and I went for a wander in the garden. Pulled some weeds up for the worms in the worm farm because they were getting a bit low on supplies. Opened the greenhouse and put some of the hardier plants outside, checked those still germinating etc. Planted 2 tulip bulbs which I bought yesterday from Reject Shop - hope they go OK - pink colour. Checked the rhubarb which I had covered with straw and pots - based on Monty's advice, and am pleased to see some emerging shoots. The chives that I had covered with plastic milk cartons have been given the treatment by the Crimson rosellas. They have been straightened up. ( the cartons, I mean). Hubby has taken one of the village fire trucks into town for some mechanical work - have to keep them in good order before the fire season begins. It's my day to do my volunteer shift at the little gallery this afternoon, so not time for much more at home. Hope you all have a good sleep!
I noticed that some of you like watching sport on TV. Do any of you remember Ken Grieves? He was my mother's baby brother ( one of 11 kids) and he moved to the UK when was a young man - to play cricket. He must have liked it there because he stayed. I'm still in contact with one of his daughters. That generation were the first to add an 's' to Grieve. So, following on from that, and Carol saying that the James Grieve Apple was her mothers favourite, do any of you know any more about that apple? I'd love to think there was a lost family connection. What fun!
Hello Pat, yes the James Grieve apple is still a favourite in back gardens and can be bought in fruit and veg. shops. It should be on Google somewhere.My father was a professional footballer and played County cricket but in Scotland so cannot say i am familiar with a Ken Grieves.
The lecture last night was fantastic. If anyone can lay claim to the description of walking in Darwin's footsteps Professor Barrett most certainly can. I will probably be posting about the sexotica as he called it of plants for months now, but as a taster let me tell you about the picture he showed us of a beautiful bird, a Malachite sunbird, which uses the Rat;s Tail or perch coming from an iris Babiana ringens which has evolved flowers that are sessile. The bird does not like to sully its beautiful tail which is used in courtship by standing on the ground to milk the flowers so this perch has evolved to promote efficient cross pollination and high seed set! I thought about how lovely that malachite bird would look among your rosellas! Strangely enough the females are quite happy to stand on the ground,not having a long tail! Reminded me of when we were going out as a family to some dressed up "do". I, with seven children to supervise could get ready in five minutes while my late husband needed at least an hour!
Hello Marion, that professor sounds fascinating. I can't believe how smart the birds are. We see it all the time. Our neighbours sheep have been busy producing twins and triplets across the river from our place. The wedge- tail Eagles appear our of nowhere, seemingly, and our neighbour is kept busy rushing over there in his ute and trying to chase them off.
Marion I went to the sale at Blaise Nursery today. They had lots of plants cheap but nothing I fancied. There were some lovely looking gazanias but when I asked about them, they were sold
I was more interested in the contents of the greenhouse next door, all sorts of stuff going on in there, including what looked like banana plants 
Yes, Fruitcake, a few pounds buys a lot there but i am much too busy to go shopping. Family coming tonight and 12 of them next week. Also just spent an hour picking a huge bowl of strawberries and another of blackcurrants. There is a little space left in the green wheeliebin so I am off to fill it now with flowering rosebay willowherb and nettles to get emptied tomorrow.
Feels fresher this morning but no rain yet so another day of rescuing newly planted shrubs and trees from desiccation. My third son and his partner really enjoyed seeing the garden in all its glory last night but could not offload any strawberries on them as they have a glut in their allotment too. So more freezing today and the blackcurrants I picked yesterday.