WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

The weekend started with a thriller when I was downing my first coffee around 7am. The Child heard the garden waste lorry approaching and screamed to alert me- we had forgotten to pull the bin With a mad dash I managed to get the bin out just when the lorry turned to our street!

Then it was general re-potting and dunking hardiest chillies into the grow box- tree blowaway greenhouse between the toms. Any spare space had a sprinkling of carrot, beetroot and romaine lettuce seeds, all the same variant, "free seeds with every issue".

Both the Sweet Olive and Big Mama toms are fruiting. First Black Hungarian chilli has been eaten and with a big ceremony, the first radish from the washing up bowl cultivation area. (Can I call it my kitchen garden? )

Most uncharacteristically I did something I have never ever done in my life. I staked tall plants before it's too late! It must be an age thing. Honestly, what's next? Labelling?

I also tied down the upright stems of the Climbing Iceberg roses and managed to lodge a thorn deep into my finger. It's rather painful, poor me! Only one stem broke and is now in vase.

I had an unexpected country life moment when pottering about in the front garden. A clip- clopping sound approached, lifting my head I saw the young man who keeps horses and chicken near our daily walk path clip- clopping past. The horse was clip- clopping, I hasten to clarify, the young man walks quite normally.

In true countryside style I slowly raised my hand for a greeting and he raised his. The moment was oddly surreal, especially considering that we are 10 mins metro trip from Newcastle city centre

 

Hi,

Another busy day; strimmed the grass AGAIN this morning it's only a few days since I last strimmed it then some tidying; this afternoon I got the ladders out and attached the bird scaring reflective tape to two oak tree and a very large blue spruce.

An hour or so ago another manure spreading pigeon was on our window cill totally unawares it should be scared; if the tape doesn't work then plan "B" is evict the pigeons by removing their two nests high in the spruce tree; I've no chance of reaching the nests they are too far out on the branch ends but I can use a bow and arrow to fire a string over the nest branch then pull a heavy rope over allowing me to bounce the branch up and down; the pigeons have been asked politely to leave so if they carry on causing so much mess I'll lean heavily on them.

My wonderful wife and I are bird and animal lovers but these dirty pigeons have pushed me too far; I'll not physically hurt them but they've got to go.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

So what happens if they have young in the nest.

 

Not much at all today, just dug out a Lysimachia clethroides and Knautia arvensis from a border and replaced them with a Cistus ladanifer. The lysimachia never seemed to do well, I think it was partly its placement in a south-facing border and partly the plant not getting a good start at the nursery. The Field Scabious had some sort of fungal issue which it would probably have overcome when given its own space but I already have plenty of scabiouses, so it felt redundant.

Nick

 

Hi all, just catching up after a busy week,
Today I’ve planted out my pea seedlings and some very sorry looking spring onions. I’ve potted on my cabbages (first time trying to grow brassicas). I painted a bit of fence my neighbor kindly reinforced and slatted for me to give us some privacy.
I then pruned some overgrown bushes and finished hiding the remaining extra topsoil (from my stupid over-calculation) all around the garden. I’ve attached photos of my new raised beds now they finally all have something growing in them.

The other photos are of my north facing border at the side of the house, where hostas and a weigela which has always looked a sorry state is suddenly thriving (on neglect ).
I don’t know how I doubled up all my photos. Whoops!

 

Hi,

Excellent question pete I expected it to pop up. No problems about fledglings in the nest; the squirrels are leaving plenty of eggshells in the garden.

I wouldn't knowingly hurt anything; the amount of dirt these pigeons spread around is a health hazard; it gets on our shoes; on our clothes if we brush against handrails and shrubs; our local cats are wandering around in it then licking their paws; I've just returned home from shopping to find a pigeon on the garden steps below the bird scarers.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Clearing the border along the footpath, died down hyacinths, tulips, forget me nots and pulled up the old wallflowers.

 

Hi,


Pigeon scarers in the trees and on the hand rails.


They are winding the big key up in my back.


Keep it up and you'll end up being evicted I'm thoroughly sick of your dirty habits; pigeon on top of hut; pictures just taken with bird scarer reflective tape and reflective CD's nearby. They create such a mess I've only just pressure washed the paths; patio and driveway; they are bombing again also they delight bombing the car immediately I've washed and dried it; every day I'm cleaning up after them. Bird lovers who don't suffer this mess and think ill of me I'm more than happy to let you adopt these pigeons as long as the mess go's with them.

Kind regards, Colin

 

I'm planning on staring at the various plugs, to see if that produces flower buds.

 

I find plants are better planted out before flower buds form,I know garden centres sell them in full flower which is why often they go backwards once planted.

 

[QUOTE="Retired, post:
Keep it up and you'll end up being evicted

Kind regards, Colin[/QUOTE]
I have a few very often in my garden. I just let poo to dry and scratch if off. I don't like them very much, ecpecially when they are making a spa in bird bath and leaving all their mess behind. It's a real struggle, I want to maintain bird bath for litle birds.

 

Hi,

I have a few very often in my garden. I just let poo to dry and scratch if off. I don't like them very much, ecpecially when they are making a spa in bird bath and leaving all their mess behind. It's a real struggle, I want to maintain bird bath for litle birds.[/QUOTE]

Thanks Alisa; whoopee; the sun is shining and no sign of the pigeons due to the reflecting tape and CD's doing their job; if the pigeons leave our handrails and back of bungalow alone I'm happy for them to remain residents after all I don't wish to hurt them; however if the problem remains until Autumn after the nesting is finished I'll remove both nests; I won't be happy doing this but the pigeon problem is causing so much unwanted daily work.

We've got lots of blackbirds & magpies also I've got a little friend whilst I'm in the garden; a robin has become my buddy giving me lots of pleasure. We usually enjoy a good chat together.

Kind regards, Colin.