3: Gardening Diaries ...

[alp]

@alp that table will look great when you've finished it. Have you got room for it?

It's raining now so going to do some vaccing, do the stairs and bedrooms.

I have a 115 ft long garden. At the back next to the fakey "rockery" is a possible area. But neighbour have another big pipe sticking out the glorified shed which houses the daughter and her 2 kids. But there are spaces which I have never photographed as they are so slummy! LOL!

Also in the middle of the lawn where the incinerator is is also a possible choice. These are outdoors stuff and that's why the table top is so badly damaged. But another chair is yet to come when ex comes to visit. He's going to collect for us.

 

[alp]

No you wont ! ... but you can buy One Beer for the price of Two and receive a second one Absolutely FREE

So, that's a men's club!

Just come in to have lunch. Was sweating shifting all the ash and cinder from the incinerator. Seeded some dwarf runner beans, rockets, salad leaves, cucumber, in amongst some hopeless look helenium seeds. Cover the area with a fleece to raise the temperature and dust some ash and cinder on top to deter the slugs and snails. Will add that when I see any movement. I can't possibly use slug pellets. An hour ago, I was sweating and now I am freezing as the living room window has to be opened. Freezing in the motorway noise. Time to sand the other chair. Done very well today.

 

[Logan]

Alp you've done well, I wouldn't use slug pellets either. I haven't done any gardening today, it's been raining all the time. Got the tomatoes and beetroot to sow, might do that tomorrow. Got some annual poppies to sow, don't know weather to sow them where I want them,or do them in the toilet rolls. Next week hubby's got a lot of invigilation to do at studly high school.

 

[MaryMary]

dunno if I can fit anymore bulbs in I tend to chop them with the spade cause I've got that many and I forget where I planted them .

I have done that TOO many times!! Last year I scattered aquarium gravel around them, but the rain washed it away.

This year I am going to use little bamboo skewers to mark them... I might also use a few little birds or chipmunks like the ones BigC posted pictures of, but I think the cats might move them.

The bottles will fall sideway. There is a dip in the middle of my garden. If I want to insulate with milk bottles, I need them to stay put. The winds have been quite strong lately and my tall tree has fallen down time and again.

Push them in the ground a little deeper!!

I would still call it a "Cloche"

Ooh, FANCY!!

MaryMary - what have you been doing with your seedlings and all that now that you are still in cold weather?

I have a table in front of the window that gets the most sun. Previously, I put them on that table and on the sill of the window. This year, I seem to have acquired more houseplants*, and I can only use the sill. I've got some on the kitchen table, since no one eats there. (There isn't really enough sun there.) I'm going to start some things straight to ground, too.

*Ok, here's what happened. My boyfriend does HVAC, so he is in people's houses. They like to watch him do his job, which is annoying to him. They ask questions, then don't understand the answer. He wants to charge extra for "tutoring ," and...... oh, heaven forbid... they want to make suggestions, or "help ." So, if they have houseplants, he distracts them and turns it around by asking them questions, and sometimes winds up with a cutting, which he brings to me. This is nice, and I am glad he's looking out for me while he's working - I just wish they would give him something pretty!!

I have too many big, ugly plants that I feel bad for wanting to kill.

 

[alp]

Another 2 hours of solid work. Initially, I dug up the clay and incorporated the compost, After an hour, I just followed the no-dig theory and just dumped the horse manure on top. To tell you the truth, I was just too tired.

Good, more dough and me time for you, Logan!

MaryMary: you've got to educate your boyfriend which flowers you like..

I saw a tag on the back of the chair

So it is teak, but 20 years in the sun, probably.

There has been a SS fest. I had to kill so many of them. And I was hot and bothered as it was very humid. I asked myself what I had let myself into and I moved a pot and suddenly saw this little beauty!

Erythronium revolutum 'White Beauty

I think is the name. I have never seen one in my real life until today. I was ecstatic. The Pagoda had a big hole in the middle. Obviously, the SS has been chomping at my expense.

But all that sweating and discomfort suddenly became worth it. Now, I can wait to see @Zenji 's Nomocharis !

 

[Upsy Daisy]

How are you @alp..?....fed up with this weather, damp ,grey and freezing down here

 

[Upsy Daisy]

To add to my ' grumps ' I have got ALL my summer bulbs mixed up together and can't tell one from the other. Been sat here trying to find pics of them online so as to identify them....not much luck so far
If anyone knows of a site ,similar to The Seed Site. for bulbs only then p!ease come to my rescue

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Are you cold @Logan??

 

[Logan]

Good, more dough and me time for you Logan!

Yes some piece and quiet.

When I put those milk containers around the parsnips, I pile the soil around the outside to keep them from blowing away. I also put part of a milk container inside to make it more sturdy.
Cut the handle off and the top bit of the container, then push it inside.

 

[alp]

How are you @alp..?....fed up with this weather, damp ,grey and freezing down here

I am OK. Too busy to be fed up. I sanded down one chair, and hanged out the washing and it started to spit. After that, it was sunny and even hot and humid. I was so sweating and bothered until I saw the erythronium. What a sweet surprise. Seeing that you've changed your avatar, I thought it was a good idea to change mine.

I have now only 2 columns of compost bins and have replanted some of my hellebores. I am quite worried as most of my plants are in pots and it will take ages to sell a house. Who has money AND will buy my run-down house. I wish I had not paid my son's accommodation fees. I could have used that money to do up the house.

The last half hour we worked in the fine spit .. not exactly rain. But such weather is fine for my gardening as I am a heat-generator. I turn hot very readily.

 

[Logan]

Are you cold @Logan??

A bit thanks for asking, had to put the fire back on. Especially when sitting around not doing anything. It's not that cold outside and when we come back with the boys we have to rub them down with the towel that make me hot.The ground was drying up nicely for them not to get muddy paws.
Might have to put the extra quilt on and hot water bottles tonight.
How are you getting on with your brother, Upsy?

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Pm you later, very traumatic and sad

 

[alp]

What's wrong, Upsy sweetie?

 

[Logan]

Morning all

 

[alp]

The sun is already out and hopefully, a happier and hopeful day for us all.

It rained a bit last night. I had to top up my duvet as I removed the other 4.5tog and left with another 4.5tog and I was freezing. After putting a blanket on top, it was much better.

This should have been in the Weather, but Logan hates Daily Kadtras/monarchy worship, so I stick it here. Just looking at the tulips is worth looking at the article. Who is that lucky happy boy!? A boy in a candy shop!

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5653175/Britain-set-10-day-heatwave-month.html

Beautiful Norfolk