2: Our gardening diaries - from latest toys, flowers to wildlife .. Please upload pics

[alp]

Very nice, @Upsy Daisy ! Have they overwintered in your greenhouse?

I had a look at mine in the lean to. Most of the salvias I raised from seeds are dead. If alive, most of the leaves eaten by ****???.

Wish I had waited to seed them later. Was thinking of going out to work in the garden, but it rained very suddenly.

 

[alp]

Yes ,as I said they tend to visit every now and then in large groups. You can always hear them before you see them!! They seem to gather in the trees...and then wait for all their friends to arrive before all landing on the birdfeeders . They are very pretty little birds....all fluffy and delicate looking.

I have to say, seeing the birds squabble, I think the goldfinches are the most aggressive. I need to hunt for one feeder with 4 holes to see if I can entice any of them here. And also, tons of sunflower seeds, perhaps.

 

[MaryMary]

The bigger one opened yesterday!

 

[alp]

The bigger one opened yesterday!


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Ah! Glorious! You will have weeks of these stunners to enjoy .. very jealous!

 

[MaryMary]

Ah! Glorious! You will have weeks of these stunners to enjoy .. very jealous!

Out of curiosity from things you have said, I bent up the pistil and dabbed it in the pollen. I've never made sure it was pollinated before. Maybe I will get a seed pod!!

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Both greenhouse and cold frames , no additional heat @alp.

Have been filling milk containers with mpc this afternoon in readiness to start Winter Sowing......exciting times

 

[alp]

Good heavens, they look so clean, no mould, no bugs.. You haven't hidden the ugly ones, @Upsy Daisy ?!

Pollination: Are you talking about hellebores? Let's use hellebores as an example. Choose a parent plant and another one with characteristics that you like. eg. ruffled collar and red edges on the petals. Choose a warm sunny day, use a brush or plastic tip (tip needed to be rubbed against some material to get static charge, then brush against the pollen of the 2nd plant.

Choose a newly developed bud which you might have to tease open and remove the anthers so that they are not in the way, then brush the pollen on the stigma.

Please see these two videos

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0140vlk

The French is very clear ..
Boy, I'm going to mess about when there is sunshine and warmth and flowers!

And here: Sorry in French, I have no idea what's he's muttering about. Only start at 5.00 by dragging the progress bar when he TEASES open a bud like flower and removes all the anthers. ... You don't have to understand what he's talking about. I couldn't find the one by an English who started a chain of garden centres. So this French will have to make do. By the way, the goggle is optional!

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Cheeky! No I've included tatty pics as well , such as the half eaten white Hellebore

 

[alp]

Where do you site your greenhouse, @Upsy Daisy ? In the sun or part shade or in the shade please? I kept my stuff in the lean to and it now has moudy walls. Need to clean and clear it. I spent 1 and a half hours tending the bonfire. It was burning so well. I felt like a smelly smoky stink bomb. I couldn't show you my plants as they were disgusting. My heart bled seeing the casualties.

 

[MaryMary]

Pollination: Are you talking about hellebores?

Was this to me, or @Upsy Daisy? I pollinated my amaryllis. (I think.) A lot of pollen got stuck on the pistil.

I'll do it again in a couple days, just in case!!

 

[Logan]

Morning all

 

[alp]

Was this to me, or @Upsy Daisy? I pollinated my amaryllis. (I think.) A lot of pollen got stuck on the pistil.

I'll do it again in a couple days, just in case!!

Ooops! Yes, MaryMary. It's for you. I must have been very fluttered. In fact, I was so hot that my wet hair dried in no time.

For those who want to try hand pollinating most plants.

Good morning. Woke up a bit early. Doesn't seem to be that cold last night. Well, I was having a bonfire, but now they say it 1c here!

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Morning!
Not that cold @alp....we have a thick coverage of frost down here!

Our greenhouse is mostly in sun......when it shows its face! I have to shade it in the summer as it gets too hot , but now we are in the throws of winter....thats a lovely thought...summer. heat, Mmmm!
Hey! must stop daydreaming......summer will soon be here, but first lots of lovely seed sowing to do !

Off to visit friends today so have a Terrific Tuesday everyone

 

[alp]

Morning!
Not that cold @alp....we have a thick coverage of frost down here!

Our greenhouse is mostly in sun......when it shows its face! I have to shade it in the summer as it gets too hot , but now we are in the throws of winter....thats a lovely thought...summer. heat, Mmmm!
Hey! must stop daydreaming......summer will soon be here, but first lots of lovely seed sowing to do !

Off to visit friends today so have a Terrific Tuesday everyone

It's a lovely day here already. Blue sky - I'm going to sort out the back and have another bonfire tonight. Have a lovely day, @Upsy Daisy

 

[Upsy Daisy]