3: Gardening Diaries ...

[alp]

Oh dear looks like hard work there @alp.

The next border that want to work on now has shade all morning so I have been digging up the Pelargoniums and repotting them for winter storage. The border is now in full sun, so off I must go

It is hard work. I felt sorry for the clematises. A whole ball of roots and in the end, after much cutting, I repotted it into a plastic and smaller pot. I still have another biggie to sort out. I have washed a lot of pots and wanted to cry when I saw Astrantia Star of billions? I haven't seen one, let alone billions. Astrantia is one of those I have never had even though I bought the blessed plant.

Seeing Perki's lovely Tupa lobelia, I have bought a packet of seeds for 50p. Keep my finger crossed. Washed a lot of pots. Factory is out for 3 days..Oh, pure bliss ... Buried a lot of pots in the raised border and shifted a lot of pots on the forever sunny border, including all the fruits. Hope the heat keeps them happy in the bleak and cold winter.

 

[alp]

After an hour's struggle broken into 2 attempts by lunch break

Blue Bayou

I thought I only bought one Rajman Firecrackers! There are about 8 flowers

Such striking colours. A real gem!

 

[alp]

All quiet on western fronts everywhere. Thank heavens and I could do with that. Doing a big laundry round as the weather is there to dry the clothes. Going to tidy up and plant out more pot contents. Will reduce more pots and tidy up the back as another evaluation is coming on Tuesday! Need to pay real money this time.

Son got me this snippet app and now I can use this correctly on Opera Browser. Brilliant, son! 5 days of about 20c. Brilliant, too!

Month's worth of rain forecast to fall in just three days over the North of England, West Country and Wales

• The West Country, the North and Wales are set to be hit with a month's rain
• First wet weather is due to arrive in North West England and western Wales
• Forecasters are warning of the 'spell of heavy and persistent rain' will also hit Northern Ireland and western Scotland on Friday
  
  Source
  
  Hello! Don't forget East London please!

 

[alp]

What a lovely day ahead

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Morning everyone....have had internet problems, but all is sorted now

Another nice day today ,but our temps aren't as high as yours @alp We are also fortunate enough to have some rain coming our way over the next few days!!
This will be brilliant because once the soil is nice and wet I can layer on the mulch for winter....perfect timing.

Trouble is we are never satisfied with the weather are we..I so want a nice frost to not only kick start some plants into dormancy mode but to kill off the nasty bugs too!

As lovely as it is.... these higher temps could have a negative knock on effect on the garden next year

Righty Ho!!! Off to wage war on the Triffids

Have a fantastic day everyone

 

[alp]

Yes, a massive Windows update. Gave me a warning this morning and I choose 9.40 to restart. Just now, the laptop couldn't restart and had to collect info. All OK now.

@Upsy Daisy You don't want it to be that hot. I had sweat dropping from my forehead whilst weeding the dreaded chamomile seedlings and the omnipresent oxalis which sprouted from in between the tiniest of space in the slab paving. It's only 11am.

Supposed to pick up some free bubble wrap and the man said it was OK to collect it today, but where? Need to see if the giver has yielded up his domicile secret!

Very happy, the single blue hibiscus has flowered. 5 years after staying in a pot! I am such an embarrassment! All because I wanted to move with it.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

No it wasn't the Windows one,we had that a couple of days ago.....some server was down this morning for a couple of hours.

Well still haven't be able to do anything outside yet as we visited my Dad this morning. Then somehow managed to endure a BBQ at lunchtime, but ( I know, I know...whimp that I am) for the 2nd day running we are being bombarded by Ladybirds ( Ladybugs ).Can't bear it ...up nose, in ears, on my hair , using my sunglasses as a landing runway, up my traousers and down my t-shirt......you name a place they found it!!!!

The lawn is covered with and so are the windows, tables ,chairs and sunshade!!! Hubs laughs at me because for some reason ( just like wasps) it seems to be me they are after.....and they bite me too
https://www.lep.co.uk/read-this/ladybirds-invading-homes-uk/

 

[Upsy Daisy]

As you may tell, I'm in a grumpy mood Such a beautiful day has been spoilt .... and I have a sore throat to add to my misery too

Hope everyone else is having a better day out there

 

[Perki]

Cheer up upsy it been a lovely day today like summer, strange you said ladybird's cause I've noticed loads today one did try crawling down my t shirt, someone asked me how to get rid off them cause they were swarming and going in the house, I just said I don't know and there good for the garden

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Just braved the Ladybirds to take theses pics a few moments ago.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Went for a walk around the lakes near my Dad's house. My older sister and I always went there with him to walk our dogs when we were young children....its very peaceful. Saw a Heron there today.

 

[Upsy Daisy]

Yes I know @Perki it's been gorgeous, shame about the bugs though, especially the biting ones!!

 

[alp]

No it wasn't the Windows one,we had that a couple of days ago.....some server was down this morning for a couple of hours.

Well still haven't be able to do anything outside yet as we visited my Dad this morning. Then somehow managed to endure a BBQ at lunchtime, but ( I know, I know...whimp that I am) for the 2nd day running we are being bombarded by Ladybirds ( Ladybugs ).Can't bear it ...up nose, in ears, on my hair , using my sunglasses as a landing runway, up my traousers and down my t-shirt......you name a place they found it!!!!

The lawn is covered with and so are the windows, tables ,chairs and sunshade!!! Hubs laughs at me because for some reason ( just like wasps) it seems to be me they are after.....and they bite me too
https://www.lep.co.uk/read-this/ladybirds-invading-homes-uk/

There was an article two days ago about the explosion of ladybirds because of the warm spell. I saw two and took a pic. Apart from that, haven't really seen a lot. Apparently, they said they like to stay around windows and doors. They must have found you attractive, @Upsy Daisy !

 

[alp]

Just woken up watching Medical Detectives. Lovely weather. Did a lot today. Lovely photos, @Upsy Daisy !

I have found that my plants are now probably flowering. The cupcakes are smothered with flowers and so are the Dinner plate orange dahlias and the mixed colours ones. The one that really makes my heart sing is the aster white. Prolific and compact and so beautifully. Even the pink gaura have more blooms than before. Apparently, everybody else has rain, apart from me this weekend. Son was remarking the strong wind speed of the menace called Michael in the States.

 

[alp]

Good morning: That's a huge lake and love the three tall trees in the middle .. Five days ago, article about the bloom of ladybirds

GIANT swarms of ladybirds hit British homes: UK's roasting summer leads to increased numbers of red-black bugs hunting for place to spend winter

• Hundreds of ladybirds have begun swarming around windows and doors in UK
• The bugs usually descend in the autumn, between September and October
• Scientists say small red insects are mostly harmless, and will leave on their own

According to the article
It's likely that the UK's sweltering summer boosted the number of insects, Professor Helen Roy at the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, who organises the UK Ladybird Survey, told the BBC.

She said reports of an infestation started in the north of England when the weather first turned cool.

My hope for rain is dashed, yet again!