Lovely photos Glad the peony turned out well - not bad for 50p from Wilkos is it? It's obviously very happy in your care.
And what a handsome chap Flatters is now, and Harrie is her usual beautiful self
And thanks for the warning - I've been out there and got all the washing in - most of it's folded and put away now and there's just my pinny and the tea towels which are a bit damp so I've draped them on a rack by the big open doors in the studio - when the deluge arrives I've only got to close the big doors, not rush outside in the rain to get the washing in
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Joyce - re the Hampton Hack - it's just a major cut back and tidy up session!
For me it's a case of a good clear out of all the stuff which was looking so good a month ago but has now gone over & is looking ratty-tatty & overgrown - all the late spring / early summer flowerers - aquilegia, honesty, hesperis, some geraniums, bulb leaves etc etc.
It leaves space for summer plants, tidies every thing up and provides lots and lots of stuff for the compost bin (usually shredded with the lawn mower). It's also an opportunity for a good weed & dead heading before some summer planting.
End of June / beginning of July is when it seems to need doing - ie around the time of the Hampton Court Show. As you say, most of have been doing it for years without giving it a name
The Chelsea Chop is all about stopping plants to delay flowering or promote bushier growth - the Hampton Hack is more about regaining a semblance of order in the garden
Much needed in mine
The cats look very at home in the greenhouse Wonky - Flatters has turned into a handsome fella with a bit of TLC hasn't he?
Night Pat.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Shorter day altogether Joyce! Longer in the car than on the hill. Good weather too
I've decided that's a sensible plan after a very long day. One long , one short...and that's just my legs...
I gave a nice Danish chap a lift along to the hill - he'd already walked from his B&B at Balquidder. He's a hill guide and was doing a recce for a walking group he's taking out. I seem to be making a habit of meeting nice young men when I'm out. I'll be getting a reputation....
Wonks - lovely peony. One of my cats used to sit with it's tongue out like that
Fidget - have you ever been up here diving? My BIL has been diving since his Uni days and used to go out regularly. To the point where my sister was sick to death of eating scallops...
You're having some terrible weather obelixx. You could do with some sun - helps make you feel a bit better when you've not been feeling great. We seem to have stolen a lot of the good stuff recently - but I think we deserve it..
Been lots of rain here overnight and today though - I was hoping to do some grass cutting etc but it's not looking too hopeful at the moment.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They look so daft when they're at that stage, don't they?
It's gone off here too, but I don't think it's far away - those nice downpours of big, 'ploppy' raindrops. That's the correct meteorological term by the way
I have a couple of plants to put in so might do that. I intended doing it yesterday, but instead I repaired the corner of one of my timber 'boxes' that the builders damaged.
I wasn't going to be able to do a bit of planing /sanding to sort it, so I cut a new piece out, attached it and gave it a coat of paint. Of course, it had to be the bit that's slotted round the big post that supports the screen... Just as well I had a spare bit of timber.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Good evening everybody , been out and about including a garden centre visit bought pear tree for allotment , some alpines & house leeks and a few bits for hanging baskets
Posts
Sensible cats WW
and a lovely peony. Hope the weather doesn't finish it off too quickly.
Wonky
Lovely photos
Glad the peony turned out well - not bad for 50p from Wilkos is it? It's obviously very happy in your care.
And what a handsome chap Flatters is now, and Harrie is her usual beautiful self
And thanks for the warning - I've been out there and got all the washing in - most of it's folded and put away now
and there's just my pinny and the tea towels which are a bit damp so I've draped them on a rack by the big open doors in the studio - when the deluge arrives I've only got to close the big doors, not rush outside in the rain to get the washing in 
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm heading for bed soon, so goodnight.
Wonky, I love the Peony and your cats are gorgeous.
Joyce - re the Hampton Hack - it's just a major cut back and tidy up session!
For me it's a case of a good clear out of all the stuff which was looking so good a month ago but has now gone over & is looking ratty-tatty & overgrown - all the late spring / early summer flowerers - aquilegia, honesty, hesperis, some geraniums, bulb leaves etc etc.
It leaves space for summer plants, tidies every thing up and provides lots and lots of stuff for the compost bin (usually shredded with the lawn mower). It's also an opportunity for a good weed & dead heading before some summer planting.
End of June / beginning of July is when it seems to need doing - ie around the time of the Hampton Court Show. As you say, most of have been doing it for years without giving it a name
The Chelsea Chop is all about stopping plants to delay flowering or promote bushier growth - the Hampton Hack is more about regaining a semblance of order in the garden
Much needed in mine
The cats look very at home in the greenhouse Wonky - Flatters has turned into a handsome fella with a bit of TLC hasn't he?
Night Pat.
Topbird, Flatters says thank you
I've just noticed the label on the shirt he's laying on says heavy duty work wear! 
Peony is still holding up....just! Glad I took the picture when I did! Thanks Dove, 50p well spent!
Slugcity here too Obelixx,
I'm patrolling my sweetpea planter hourly in this weather!
Night Pat, stay warm!
They're crashing and banging furniture about in the heavens again
glad I got the washing in 
The heavens have just opened ........................
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Shorter day altogether Joyce! Longer in the car than on the hill. Good weather too
I've decided that's a sensible plan after a very long day. One long , one short...and that's just my legs...
I gave a nice Danish chap a lift along to the hill - he'd already walked from his B&B at Balquidder. He's a hill guide and was doing a recce for a walking group he's taking out. I seem to be making a habit of meeting nice young men when I'm out. I'll be getting a reputation....
Wonks - lovely peony. One of my cats used to sit with it's tongue out like that
Fidget - have you ever been up here diving? My BIL has been diving since his Uni days and used to go out regularly. To the point where my sister was sick to death of eating scallops...
You're having some terrible weather obelixx. You could do with some sun - helps make you feel a bit better when you've not been feeling great. We seem to have stolen a lot of the good stuff recently - but I think we deserve it..
Been lots of rain here overnight and today though - I was hoping to do some grass cutting etc but it's not looking too hopeful at the moment.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Just got rained off! Thunder and lightening now! but had finished most of what I wanted to do so cuppa time.
Philippa
They look so daft when they're at that stage, don't they?
It's gone off here too, but I don't think it's far away - those nice downpours of big, 'ploppy' raindrops. That's the correct meteorological term by the way
I have a couple of plants to put in so might do that. I intended doing it yesterday, but instead I repaired the corner of one of my timber 'boxes' that the builders damaged.
I wasn't going to be able to do a bit of planing /sanding to sort it, so I cut a new piece out, attached it and gave it a coat of paint. Of course, it had to be the bit that's slotted round the big post that supports the screen...
Just as well I had a spare bit of timber.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Good evening everybody , been out and about including a garden centre visit bought pear tree for allotment , some alpines & house leeks and a few bits for hanging baskets
WW , cats must like there summer house
hope alls well out threr