WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2021

Hmmmm...if the frosts were finished, I'd be tempted to clear away all the dead leaves and see what is going on under there, but it sounds as though they'll need the protection for a while yet! Did they flower, Lori? Usually, they self-seed so there's always a new generation coming along to replace the older plants. If they didn't get around to flowering, just have to hope that they do this year and you'll be able to harvest some seed.

 

Thank you @noisette47 . No, they did not flower last year. We might still get some frosty nights but I've got a means of covering them.

So what I did in the garden today... roughly groomed my foxgloves and will do better when I find my smaller nippers.


Pulled out a candytuft from the front garden. It has never been nice looking. It was a "rescue" plant from years ago and when I did not know it is a perennial.

 

If your foxglove is still solidly anchored, no molluscs or woodlice lurking, it might flower yet

 

I don't know what wood lice are but I figure molluscs would find it a rough go to traverse to them. The plants are really solid so I'll cross my fingers that you're right, flowers may come.

I kept one of the tall stalks of hollyhock out in the garden over winter because I read somewhere that birds and things forage gardens in the winter for seeds. Well, they didn't touch them so today I cut it off and then I ripped off some of the pods and sprinkled their contents along the fence edge. If they grow, great, if not, it's no loss.

 

Morning Lori (or not....what's the time difference there?) https://www.google.com/search?gs_ss...6i13j0i13l7.6439j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
https://www.google.com/search?q=woo...hUKEwj9jo-NwfXvAhWxhv0HHfe3AyIQ4dUDCA0&uact=5 Project for next winter...learn how to shorten links

 

Morning

The plan was to dig some more of this boarder up (north facing taken on 4/4 at 15.30)


but it’s snowing while the sun is attempting to shine in Birmingham.

I know last year we had this kind of glorious weather but after watching Charles D’d video on fleece/mesh covers from 2019, it looks like this wet/cold weather is more normal



Need to remain patient but damn it! I want to plant out my second early potatoes

 

didn’t know this. Might help with foraging

 

Took the dead bits out of a bamboo (those that pulled up easily) so it looks neater. Also found a few snails (caracol here) after the overnight rain so removed them to the orchard ...





When we moved here, the old lady Otavia down the lane used to come here after the rains and collect my snails (put them in her apron pocket) to have for lunch or dinner. Apparently you just boil them with herbs. We have a snail farm about 3kms from us. In season, bars and restaurants put signs up saying "Temos Caracois" or "Ha Caracois" ... (we have or there are snails). You just have a big bowl of them with hunks of fresh bread. NOT for me I hasten to add!

 

Don't the Portugese clean them first, Victoria? My neighbour puts them in a cage and feeds them flour, bread, rice or pasta for a few days, then cooks them. Not for me either! They're only glorified whelks, nothing without lots of garlic and parsley butter

 

I am Grenich minus 5 hours.
Yes, I have seen those wood things. And they have a right to be out the old there as the raised beds are starting to really deteriorate because the wood is 33 years old.

It is raining so I will be working inside. I have a television in the basement so I will be watching my Corrie Sunday morning 6 episodes omnibus down there whilst emptying the grow areas so as to wash and refresh the capillary matting. Then put everybody back. Might be a good time to take pics for the What's looking good thread

 

Vicky !!!!.....I couldn't even hold one let alone eat a deceased cooked one.

 

Potted up some Liatris Spicata and some Red Hot Pokers.
Did some much needed watering ( probably have a downpour tomorrow now!!).

 

Not much in way of gardening for past few weeks. Either prohibitive weather or busy with other stuff. On nice days I have managed a few small jobs, but still have many large jobs to do.

Earlier today there was hail stones and sleepy showers. Now there is glorious sunshine, although a bit chilly. Say on Patio at moment trying to decide if I can motivate myself into doing some gardening .

If I were to fill the raised bed on the patio with soil would it need to be changed at all? Might sound like a dull question, but I've never had a very large container with soil in. I'm thinking it would be self sustaining with regular mulching?? Currently the container is filled with compost, which needs changing.