WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

I've been trying to catch up with cutting back my Clematises. I don't know when I'll be able to get around them all, I have so many and left it a bit late this year. Most of them are growing rapidly but are far too tall now and getting in a tangle.

 

Its been a marathon day in the garden today loads and loads of planting out moving and evicting plants to the garage site etc . Been out since about 10 am and come back in about 4pm then back out later to do some more bits and bobs . I've made a big dent in the plant stash I see some of the ground . Did some more lawn work fork the most compacted bit and over seeded the entire lawn then a feed ready for tomorrow rain to water it in. Weeding as well sycamore seedling everywhere .

Still didn't manage to get the spuds planted maybe tomorrow if the weather holds off

 

Nothing today it's raining

 

Can't face any more weeding or cutting border edges in pouring rain so it's looking at my dahlias sprouting in greenhouse and watching for germination on all the seed trays. Have sown some morning glory today, 3 varieties. Did loads of weeding Sunday, took out lots of comfrey just leaving about 35 plants that are flowering for the bees and tons of ox eye daisy came out too as far too much in borders and grass. Can't have hundreds of them everywhere. Potted on 4 new dahlia tubers so that makes it 188 jostling for space in greenhouse, on the staging and on the floor. 3 pots of zinnias, 2 trays of tomatoes and all the new cosmos seeds have germinated and are growing well. Will have a chat with the chickens too and decide which sunflowers to grow this year. Probably 6 packets, will try not to grow 14 varieties this year! And now sun is out so have potted on several scabious Black Knight and shall do yet more weeding.

 

We've had heavy showers so I tidied the shelves in one of my perspex shelters by the old garage, and checked all the plants. Took some that have been overwintering in the house down there too - Dracaena cuttings, Maranta cuttings, forest cactus cuttings, Christmas and Easter cacti (not flowering this year ) and some Spider plants and Billbergias ...
Put some rods across the woodden beams to hold hanging baskets with forest cacti in them, and to hang tools from (in the hope I'll be able to find them easilly !)

Chatted with a lady from the bungalow up the little road that passes the back of my garden, and lifted Bella up for her to see and say hello, Bella did her best to ignore the lady as she does with everyone

During some heavy showers I could hear the rain clattering on the perspex roof of the shelter, it was wonderful - I love rain

 

Sat out of the wind in the greenhouse, sowed seed of cucumber, melon, squashes, courgettes, more lettuce, basil, cauliflower, winter brassicas and remembered I'd still not got any leek seed.

 

Dug up some Virginia Blue Bells, wrapped in newspaper, then in a paper bag, and then in a good box. Mailing to someone in Georgia, USA. who wants to buy them from me. Now back outside to whatever.

 

Been in the GH as well today been a rotten day typical for a bank holiday monday . Potted on some seedling and put a few more plants outside . I've been have a look at a few plants in pots I have in the GH stored over the winter , I've lost both my Agapanthus very disappointed and surprised one is suppose to be on the hardy side as well , I fear I've probably lost all my Salvias in there as well now. I don't like to dwell on lost plants I usually see it as a opportunity to try something different , its just the amount of plants lost this year and not just in my garden it seem nearly everyone has lost lots of plants

 

After working in the garden yesterday I thought I had been bitten on the ankle by something, however, when I woke up this morning, it appears I may have Shingles. Obviously, my immune system is run down after having had Covid (not yet fully recovered from that either).

 

OMG get well soon Jocko. Looking forward to some gardening tips from you once you're better.

 

Get well soon, @Jocko

 

Thanks for everyone's concern. I saw my GP this morning and she confirmed they are bites. maybe a spider. Anyway, I am now on a course of antibiotics. Seemingly it is highly unlikely that a person will get Shingles after they have had the vaccine at 70.

 

Glad to hear it was just a fright, @Jocko

 

That's good news @Jocko and good that you had the vaccine.

 

Nothing today it's been raining, so i caught up with some house work.