WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2017

Planted a couple of recently purchased ornamental Rubus. Removed the sprouting broccoli plants and dug over that space. Moved HHA out of greenhouse to harden off. Moved Arum palestinum to another spot where it may be happier. Moved stapeliads to greenhouse, shaded from sun. To do plant out French and runner beans, move cacti to summer spot in greenhouse, water greenhouse.

 

Busy afternoon in the garden. Lovely sunny warm day
Potted on 12 begonia Crackling Fire into their final pots......3 per pot. Potted on several dahlias into 10 litre pots....ditto some cannas. Planted out gauras, carex comans bronze between helictotrichon and curry plant and more lilies. Potted on several agastaches and salvias into 5 litre pots. Tied in tomato plants. Pruned and fed lemon.
Cut grass again......looks like a few wet days to come so glad to get another cut done.
Ismene/hymenocallis now shooting so kept compost moist.

 

Today I've built a frame for my runner beans

 

A bit of general pottering about this afternoon - pulled out the odd weed here and there, not many about as it's been so dry here, removed a few patches of dead foliage from the spring crocuses and early tulips.

Potted up the Rudbeckia seedlings, I'm trying a variety new to me this year - 'Cherry Brandy', it will be interesting to see how they perform compared to my usual favourites, 'Rustic Dwarf'. Anyone else grown Cherry Brandy before?

Took some Pieris cuttings, never had any luck with these before; looked it up, standard practice seems to be to give them some bottom heat, so I'll put them in the heated propagator this time and see how they go.

Will probably finish off this evening giving all the pots a water and feed.

 

Drinkin, smokin an lobbin bottles in Willow's Garden

 

We've had visitors this weekend, so didn't get too much done.

They only have a v small garden, and try to grow so many things - many being plants and cuttings from us! So yesterday, had a wander around our garden with them, with a thorough inspection of the herb bed. They've just left with a cutting of marjoram, as well as a couple of chilli plants and a climbing yellow pear tomato. Oh, and a tarragon plant I'd bought for someone else, as the supermarket didn't have any yesterday.

Whilst they were out at the shops, I made a start on hand-cutting the bottom hedge, so as not to alarm any nesting birds.

Today was just watering pot-plants, and weeding the edge of a reclaimed bit of border, and cheering on the newly planted veg bed. Seem to have a marrow/courgette/pumpkin seedling coming up in the new veg bed - I guess the compost didn't run quite hot enough?! Currently hardening off courgettes to go out, and will be planting out my cloched tumbling toms hopefully this week...

 

You not been visiting Belgium, have you @Zigs ?

Woke up to find a broken wine bottle over the drive this morning - and the garden is gated and secure...

 

Beggar all!
I'm so very tired with all the *other* things life throws at us, plus being up at stoopid o'clock most mornings even when I don't have to be it is finally drawing its toll!
The only thing I have done on a practical level is to ponder over the forthcoming "drought".
Yes, the news is just beginning to touch upon it, but, I was tipped off by our @wiseowl 's photographs a number of weeks ago at just how low the water table was at Bewl Water (I may have the location wrong but not the water levels) and have been giving much thought on how to recycle household water in order to support the number of veggies I am trying this year. Kettle water is very much on the conservation list; bath water very much a no-no. But, instead of trying to find ways to harness the kettle water, the simple truth is, it will be a go-as-it-needs it effort. Have stale boiled water? Water a food bearing plant!
Liquid gold is going to be harnessed via the compost heap (every little helps ).
Washing up water will be harnessed for the shrub/flower beds.

So: basically, my thoughts have been more on water works than actual gardening

 

Not much in the garden today....watering and that's it. Baked a cake for neighbours bday bbq and initiated inebriated mode temporarily....sobered up now.

 

Spent hours washing the seedling pots from all I planted out. So satisfyjng to be ready for the winter.

It is Mum's day here today and even though I told my 40 year old something sons to stay home with their wives/mothers of my grand kids they still showed with nice cards.

My cup is full.

Tomorrow I start milkweed seeds to hopefully attract Monarch butterflies. And looking forward to thd humming birds too!

Does it get better?

 

Ooooooo! I like that cake snorky :rasp: