3: Gardening Diaries ...

[alp]

Still can't get over how beautiful @Zenj 's begonia and gladiolus are!

@Upsy Daisy - my clump of leaves and a few cosmos cupcakes. Very disappointing

All the others Easter Stars are yellow little daisies - another let down.

Two precious mirabelle plums

Group 2 clematis

Last year's salvia amistad - very sad. Stems came up a month ago and before that, it's like totally dead. Now ONE flower and one bud

How come the leaves behind are so clear??

Salvia Patens

It's so nice looking at photos on Mac - such so much more details and lucidity!

 

[alp]

Felt a bit patronising when I suggested @Mark56 stake his plants after the torrential rains which lasted for 2 to 5 minutes, I went out and saw this

The main stem of this salvia Amistad broken lying down. I was trying to hold onto it. By the time I moved 2 feet away it snapped. In the end, I had to take tons of cuttings. No idea if they will take; but if I had to chuck it into the bin, I might as well take some cuttings.

Very sad as this didn't come up until last month and I thought it was dead. I kept watering it and threw ash from the bonfire on it to stop slugs eating the young shoots. 2 strands of buds appeared and ONE flower opened which I took a pic of this morning and now the main stem is no more! Then, the weather man said that there were sudden strong winds.. I said to myself, you bet! The plant is in the middle of a border and protected by a big patch of winter jasmine and a big clump of unflowering dahlias .. and yet it's snapped by the wind.

 

[Mark56]

Oh no Alp I’m so sorry, it is a terrible feeling walking out to the garden to find such disappointment in one big heap! Just like my Agastache 2 weeks ago and Upsy’s poor shrubs. On the positive, hopefully you will get plenty of free plants as cuttings. We are due more rain this weekend, are you? Might be best to stake stake stake!

 

[Mark56]

ALSO, your grass looks impecible compared to my straw

 

[alp]

This joke really woke me up, @Mark56 ! I was trying to create a webpage with the folders everywhere they shouldn't be and that sent me to deep sleep, which I did.

My grass exposed cracks and there are 2 major bald patched.

So what happened to your Agastache? Did you take cuttings? I have 5 in 3 to 5 pots. RHS Hyde Hall were selling them 4 for £10!

Apparently, we are going in for more terrible winds.

Daily Express: here

“People with outdoor plans should perhaps try to squeeze them in on Saturday morning.”

Early forecasts show the possibility of a return to warmer, drier and sunnier conditions later this month, she added.

I think I will take note this time.

 

[alp]

Have you had rain, @Logan ?

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Yes @Mark56 , we had torrential rain today, I was at my Dad's and his lawn and patio were actually under water...half expected to see his Koi swimming up and down the garden

We had brilliant sunshine to end the day with


While I was at my Dad's we had a totally unexpected visit from the vet who has attended to several of his dogs ( and did the final sad deed) ,he came to check on my Dad to see how he was coping and stayed chatting for a while. He even promised to pop by to see my Dad's fish as he loves ponds!!!
How lovely was that!!!

He was also willing to take all the unopened dog food and treats for us to the animal charity centre too.

 

[alp]

Yes @Mark56 , we had torrential rain today, I was at my Dad's and his lawn and patio were actually under water...half expected to see his Koi swimming up and down the garden

That's nice of the vet!

You must be very happy now, @Upsy Daisy ! I reckon you will have tons of rain on Sunday! Put pots in safe places. Even I am scared.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Sad to see battered plants, some of ours look a tad sad too
Apparently hubs says that although it was very windy the rain we had our way wasn't as heavy as at my Dad's today?

Yes @alp fingers (and toes) crossed for a decent soaking on Sunday

Yes it was lovely of the vet, it was his day off and he even had his daughter in the car as he was giving her a driving lesson !!

 

[Mark56]

After the rain they all came out again. Some even braved the rain. Dahlia Bishop of York and then Eupatorium Atropurpureum as recommended by @Perki. Will be getting more of it next year for definite

Agastache Black Adder I took cuttings of and managed to salvage some of the rest with stakes!

 

[Perki]

Oh eck alp shame about the salvia. I the bees / butterflys love the eupatorium but mine is half the size this year, I moved it this spring but still would of expected it to get bigger, its about 4ft now last year it was more like 8ft.

 

[Leeski]

Morning all
My fav time of the wk watching lasts nights G W with a bacon butty and a pot of tea

 

[Logan]

Morning all, yes @alp had a thunderstorm at 3pm and heavy rain at 4pm yesterday. Just missed the storm from walking the boys.

@Upsy Daisy that's very kind of the vet to pop in on your dad.

It's like a autumn morning, very cold and grass is frosty in places.

Have a good day all.

 

[Logan]

Morning all
My fav time of the wk watching lasts nights G W with a bacon butty and a pot of tea

That sounds lovely, I watch it later this morning.

 

[alp]

Sad to see battered plants, some of ours look a tad sad too
Apparently hubs says that although it was very windy the rain we had our way wasn't as heavy as at my Dad's today?

Yes @alp fingers (and toes) crossed for a decent soaking on Sunday

Yes it was lovely of the vet, it was his day off and he even had his daughter in the car as he was giving her a driving lesson !!

Yes, I'm pretty sure that you will have quite a bit of rain today. After seeing yesterday's disaster (I actually didn't hear or feel any wind, well-tucked in indoors as it poured down very suddenly) It was when I went out to try to sort out the tangled mess of my tomatoes and melons or what that I saw the whole of the main stem toppled. Very sad, just came into 2 strands of flowers and I took one his morning!

I am 100% sure that you will have rain, @Upsy Daisy !