Pruned back verb bon and valerian. It looks a bit more like a dormant garden rather than a wilderness. It's amazing the difference a few minutes makes.
Not sure it counts but we've tied down our windbreak fabric along about 50metres of the back fence cos it had been blown loose in the gales. OH then took down broken trellis panels between fence posts and rescued 3 good ones to go elsewhere. I can feel a bonfire coming on.
Lots of snowdrops out now and daffs emerging at last. Hamamelis Orange Peel is covered in flowers for the first time ever - thanks to the windbreak - but too breezy for much of a pong. Pity.
Gales and downpours expected tonight and tomorrow. Nuff now.
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)."
Raining again this afternoon, frost this morning... but all kinds of bulbs are up and buds on the shrubs are coming along nicely. A walk round the garden is all that I managed today, along with topping up the bird feeders.
I went out and tidied the borders along teh fence to the back gate and put compost down on them. Tidied the bit beside the pond and pruned the clematis there (Niobe)
Looks like we may get rain/sleet/snow overnight so glad I got that done
obelixx - hope everything stays where it should tonight
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hi Jenny, pleased to hear from you. I'm always surprised that I get any fruit from the fig plant here in the frozen north but you're even more ambitious hoping for fruit up there. I started out with the plant in a pot and it spent several years on the patio not doing much and only managing one or two fruits. I think I pruned it back at least once to get it to bush out sideways. Then I created a small bed between paths, the soil top no bigger than one meter squared, and planted it out in that. I was most surprised to find it growing and producing more fruit year on year but I still only get half a dozen fruits that are worth eating. It is also protected from the wind by a tall fence which probably helps, but is largely in the shade as as result, which you'd think was a minus. The best thing I expect is that it's planted out but with a limited root run, and is protected from the worst of the cold winds in my very windy garden. Mostly I enjoy it for its foliage, the fruit is just a fun bonus. Hope this helps. Actually I'll take/send a pic next time the garden sees any sunlight.
I was forced into 'bonsai-ing' my 8' hardy fuchsia "Lady Boothby" after Storm Imogen paid a call! Still in full leaf & with new blooms forming, such a shame really. However plus-side is that Mrs M now has deep red vase of cuttings material which will hardly open for Valentine's Day, but will certainly be opened up in time for our joint birthday on March 4th!! Have a Hippostraea coming into bud (two stems), so with 'storm orphan' daffodils from the garden the place is looking quite cosily decorated!!!
Other outdoor action was to prepare ground for Broad Beans, using Wilco CM pellets. Seed is started in troughs in unheated greenhouse as defence against pigeons, slugs, cats & jackdaws!!
I'll look forward to hearing more from ExtremeGardener about how the fig goes! Thinking of trying to plant it in full sun but also trying to restrict the roots in some way. So that's a bit more digging as soon as the soil will let me dig deep enough...
Posts
Actually did some gardening today!!
Pruned back verb bon and valerian. It looks a bit more like a dormant garden rather than a wilderness. It's amazing the difference a few minutes makes.
Almost inspired to do some more tomorrow
Not sure it counts but we've tied down our windbreak fabric along about 50metres of the back fence cos it had been blown loose in the gales. OH then took down broken trellis panels between fence posts and rescued 3 good ones to go elsewhere. I can feel a bonfire coming on.
Lots of snowdrops out now and daffs emerging at last. Hamamelis Orange Peel is covered in flowers for the first time ever - thanks to the windbreak - but too breezy for much of a pong. Pity.
Gales and downpours expected tonight and tomorrow. Nuff now.
Sounds like gardening to me obelixx. New fence panels an excuse for new climbers
Raining again this afternoon, frost this morning... but all kinds of bulbs are up and buds on the shrubs are coming along nicely. A walk round the garden is all that I managed today, along with topping up the bird feeders.
I went out and tidied the borders along teh fence to the back gate and put compost down on them. Tidied the bit beside the pond and pruned the clematis there (Niobe)
Looks like we may get rain/sleet/snow overnight so glad I got that done
obelixx - hope everything stays where it should tonight
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Hello , last 2 days in Swindon , really hard frosts
I was forced into 'bonsai-ing' my 8' hardy fuchsia "Lady Boothby" after Storm Imogen paid a call! Still in full leaf & with new blooms forming, such a shame really. However plus-side is that Mrs M now has deep red vase of cuttings material which will hardly open for Valentine's Day, but will certainly be opened up in time for our joint birthday on March 4th!! Have a Hippostraea coming into bud (two stems), so with 'storm orphan' daffodils from the garden the place is looking quite cosily decorated!!!
Other outdoor action was to prepare ground for Broad Beans, using Wilco CM pellets. Seed is started in troughs in unheated greenhouse as defence against pigeons, slugs, cats & jackdaws!!
Fuschia: "Lady Boothby"
I'll look forward to hearing more from ExtremeGardener about how the fig goes! Thinking of trying to plant it in full sun but also trying to restrict the roots in some way. So that's a bit more digging as soon as the soil will let me dig deep enough...