Cut back hardy fuchsia in front garden as leaves now frosted. Will cut it back very hard later when new shoots appear. Also got a bit secateur happy with a spirea, cut back an osteospurnum (?) as it was covering some snowdrops and crocus.
After lunch in the conservatory (15c in the shade), started on pruning the wisteria. Green bin now nearly full as I brought 2 bags of rubbish back from Mum's yesterday.
I started to tidy the front garden/nature reserve. Mainly moved leaves, crisp packets blown from the bus stop, and dug out a few Avens, that I get infested with. I took off a lot of dead stems off of perennials, although the hesperis had a flower or two. Aquilegias are starting to grow well. I've left the spikes on the Phlomis russelliana for a bit longer.
This let light in to the primulas and bulbs that are now coming through. The Garrya is going to need a major cut back, it went mad last year, but it is covered in catkins at the moment.
Some Helleborus niger I had last year have survived and produced leaves, but no flowers.
Fed the birds, admired some of the hellbores and then beetled off to a new (for me) patchwork class in Jumet near Charleroi. Indoors all day whilst outside it was bright sun and blue skies. Would have been frustrating if the ground wasn't too sodden and cold to walk on or work.
Beautiful bright starry night at the mo but set to be a fright tomorrow so probably stuck indoors again. Will just have to be patient.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
Cold and windy but nice and sunny so planted a dozen 'tree' lilies and two dozen asiatic lilies which arrived on Friday. Did a lot more weeding as I went around too. Topped-up a few large planters with mini fruit trees in them as the squirrels have been retrieving stuff by the look of the holes. Spotted hundreds and hundreds of bulbs poking through so expecting a seriously good display soon!
Eurphorbias which crept through from next door have taken over an area of 2x2m so need tackling soon.
A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
Spent an hour today trying to dig out the roots of a Horseradish, which we stupidly planted in our raised veggie bed last year. We didn't realise they were such deep rooters until we moved it into a pot last Autumn. The remaining roots are a nightmare to remove, they go down at least a metre, which means they have hit clay. Does anybody have any tips on how to get the roots out, other than elbow grease? Chemicals are a no-no, as we don't like to use them anywhere near the veg patch.
Lots to read since I last saw this thread - you have all been busy
Nice to have the sun today even though it was cold enough to freeze the bird bath. Probably the chilly wind.
Did a bit of a tidy up, mainly in the front as like Bob, there are bulbs showing everywhere. Seems too early for tidying but no point having the bulbs flowering under a pile of twigs. Trimmed back some of the tougher perennials and tugged out some gladioli and allium sticks.
Thought my GW offer snowdrops might have arrived today since they were dispatched Thurs but can't see them left anywhere Has anyone received them? Are they a postable size?
Ordered a mini greenhouse today. I'm going to use it in the conservatory for seeds. Thought the jacket might come in handy to keep my cat's fingers out the compost but I'll see what the light level is like first.
Posts
Clear canvas for me now. Now the stone, brick, and paving to carry on with.. happy days.raining now and blowing ..
Cut back hardy fuchsia in front garden as leaves now frosted. Will cut it back very hard later when new shoots appear. Also got a bit secateur happy with a spirea, cut back an osteospurnum (?) as it was covering some snowdrops and crocus.
After lunch in the conservatory (15c in the shade), started on pruning the wisteria. Green bin now nearly full as I brought 2 bags of rubbish back from Mum's yesterday.
I started to tidy the front garden/nature reserve. Mainly moved leaves, crisp packets blown from the bus stop, and dug out a few Avens, that I get infested with. I took off a lot of dead stems off of perennials, although the hesperis had a flower or two. Aquilegias are starting to grow well. I've left the spikes on the Phlomis russelliana for a bit longer.
This let light in to the primulas and bulbs that are now coming through. The Garrya is going to need a major cut back, it went mad last year, but it is covered in catkins at the moment.
Some Helleborus niger I had last year have survived and produced leaves, but no flowers.
Fed the birds, admired some of the hellbores and then beetled off to a new (for me) patchwork class in Jumet near Charleroi. Indoors all day whilst outside it was bright sun and blue skies. Would have been frustrating if the ground wasn't too sodden and cold to walk on or work.
Beautiful bright starry night at the mo but set to be a fright tomorrow so probably stuck indoors again. Will just have to be patient.
Verdun , thanks for info , very interesting
Cold and windy but nice and sunny so planted a dozen 'tree' lilies and two dozen asiatic lilies which arrived on Friday. Did a lot more weeding as I went around too. Topped-up a few large planters with mini fruit trees in them as the squirrels have been retrieving stuff by the look of the holes. Spotted hundreds and hundreds of bulbs poking through so expecting a seriously good display soon!
Eurphorbias which crept through from next door have taken over an area of 2x2m so need tackling soon.
Spent an hour today trying to dig out the roots of a Horseradish, which we stupidly planted in our raised veggie bed last year. We didn't realise they were such deep rooters until we moved it into a pot last Autumn. The remaining roots are a nightmare to remove, they go down at least a metre, which means they have hit clay. Does anybody have any tips on how to get the roots out, other than elbow grease? Chemicals are a no-no, as we don't like to use them anywhere near the veg patch.
I've opened and closed the GH's doors
Lots to read since I last saw this thread - you have all been busy
Nice to have the sun today even though it was cold enough to freeze the bird bath. Probably the chilly wind.
Did a bit of a tidy up, mainly in the front as like Bob, there are bulbs showing everywhere. Seems too early for tidying but no point having the bulbs flowering under a pile of twigs. Trimmed back some of the tougher perennials and tugged out some gladioli and allium sticks.
Thought my GW offer snowdrops might have arrived today since they were dispatched Thurs but can't see them left anywhere
Has anyone received them? Are they a postable size?
Ordered a mini greenhouse today. I'm going to use it in the conservatory for seeds. Thought the jacket might come in handy to keep my cat's fingers out the compost but I'll see what the light level is like first.