WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2021

Nothing today it's raining heavily

 

We had some ridiculously heave rain all morning, everything is nearly flooded. I guess grass cutting is off the list

Anyhoo, sowed some succulent and cacti seeds, Lapidaria margaretae, mixed Astrophytum and purple Opuntia. They should keep the windowsills suitably occupied until the big show starts in February.

The autumnal wreath is up but needs some more berry branches. The oak leaves don't look that good so some re-vamping will be done.


It has now stopped raining and I'm just enjoying the late autumn sun on my accidental pond






Red Robins are having a territory related discussion and a wren appeared to investigate the bird feeder.

It is still so unseasonably warm that Dahlias are in full swing so I won't lift them just yet. I'm waiting for my impulse purchase delivery of way too many bulbs to arrive soon to get those last two tasks done for this year.

 

Nice to see another who like’s cacti, is the purple opuntia called Santa Maria ?, I haven’t grown it myself yet, but the colourful pads look lovely, astrophytum’s are a lovely cacti with such a great shape.

 

It's Santa Rita, I hope to try it outdoors in a year or two if all goes well.

My houseplant cacti had the last watering of the year today, the next one is around February when the days are visibly getting longer. Only the leafy types might get a drink in between, otherwise it's shrivelling time.

Cacti and succulents are fascinating plants, very rewarding even though I can't give them cool place for their rest so flowering is a very rare treat. Some years ago a forum member (Paul??) posted a brilliant link to cacti in their natural habitat, that was an enchanting read. I'll try to find it.

 

Santa Rita I meant to say don’t know where the Maria come from
I’ve stopped watering 90% of my cacti, brought my seedlings indoors also. The hardier ones i cover with fleece on the colder days and nights.
I’d be happy to know how you get on with your Santa Rita , i definitely want to try it myself.
That sounds a great read, if you manage to find it, just let me know
Thanks Lem

 

Picked the last of the tomatoes and discarded them in the bin along with the cucumber plant and oversized yellow cucumbers fruit I never got round to picking , Did a bit more tidying in the GH while I was in there . While it stopped raining for once I went and dug the Ensete Maurelii out , always seems a bit sad to hack it down and prep it for storage its been wonderful this year . I think the dahlias will succumb this week to impending frosts .

 

You been busy there

 

I pulled my back a bit yesterday so going to take it easy for a few days, it's a shame because it's dry out there but a bit cold.

 

Be careful @Logan there’s always another day to work in the garden, take it easy and put your feet up

 

I'm mostly just moving all the tender stuff in pots closer to the house.
I'm always reluctant to move things under cover any earlier than I have to, once in there they stay for the winter and that can mean in poor light and dryish for 5 or 6 months.

I've cut down the Japanese yam, it was dropping leaves and stem tubers all over the place.

 

You’ve been busy Pete

 

Sorry to hear that @Logan, I hope you'll be better soon and able to do some gardening, but don't rush ... your health is more important

I agree, I leave it till the last minute, sometimes it's December if the weather is mild.

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I have been bringing my cacti into an old conservatory for the winter.
Some of them had mealy bugs which I thought looked rather thirsty so I gave them a nice drink of meths

I also planted some bulbs in pots - miniature Tete a Tete and a few other small varieties. I was going to plant them on Beryl's grave but it's gone too late now so I'll be able to see them here when they flower.

 

I have only a few items left outside that won't survive the cold. And I will have to decide this afternoon whether they will be overwintered or pulled and tossed because it will be going down to 32f (0c) tonight. I also need to drain the water hoses and turn off the water to the two faucets out there. I also have to find a "short" in the electrics out there as something is draining one of the batteries at high speed and nothing out there uses a high amount of watts. hmm, it's cold and windy. Maybe I'll leave that until a sunny and still day.

My son and some of his friends have arranged to get an apartment so most of my plant related activities will be helping move plants and their stands from his room (it is chocker block with his green friends) to the main floor and ready to go on Friday or Saturday. It makes sense to move them down there early so that any trimming and grooming can be done before going to their new home.

 

It's nice to know your son is interested in plants @CanadianLori

 

Thank you Lem and I am