WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Full of good intentions to get some serious work done today, but ended up pottering After watering on the terrace, watered and weeded in the polytunnel and harvested the gherkins, cucs, toms, chillies and aubergines. Weeded the strawberry bed and ate lunch at the same time
Finally got around to 'pruning' the massive Sambucus 'Black Lace' which has quietly been getting on with becoming a tree rather than a shrub. It's much better now....all the shade plants underneath have reappeared and I've left a few big trunks for the height and dappled shade.
Deadheaded the roses using my new, rapid method....a battery hedgetrimmer Good for tidying perennials too!
I discovered a come-back bid by the couch grass that I spent 2 years trying to eradicate, but that will have to wait for another day and less breeze.

 

Hm. I was going to look today, but it will have to be some time tomorrow, hopefully. Rent for 1/2 an allotment is £12.50. I guess it would take me 3 days work to clear the trees, removing roots as far as needed, just for starters. I don't know, I really don't. Still. I will look again. At least it's not covered in wretched plastic, all mixed with the soil, like my current (*chock full*) 1/2 plot.

 

Potted on some more wallflowers and picked some blueberries.

 

I'm thinking of blackberry and apples grumble- yum, yum

 

Picked the first blackberries, they'll go in the freezer to use later for crumbles.

 

Weeded the two borders on the east patio, and trimmed + deadheaded the plants in them. Tidied up all the potted Fuschias that also share this patio. Weeded and removed another bucketful of self seeded Verbena Bonariensis from the shingle path leading to this patio area.

Picked more Blackberries and Strawberries for tomorrow 's breakfast. We don't freeze fruit anymore since our brood all left home..16- 20 yrs ago as hubs and I don't eat baked puddings or jams.
We love fresh fruit salads and fresh fruit on our breakfast. So tend to pick daily sevings.

 

Mow de lawn, watering and feeding a few pots, hacking back the odd bits and pieces that have out grow their allotted space.
Got some black berries that need picking, got about a kilo and a half two days ago but more ripe again now.
Talking of old stuff @shiney .
I've got a few bottles of loganberry wine I made in 1979.

 

I've been cutting back a big American Pillar rose and a Zephrine rose, and some overgrown Clematises. I don't know if this is the time to do it but I've done it anyway - they had finished flowering and had become too much of a tangle to leave.
And I've potted up two small Heucheras that the sun scorched when we had that heatwave earlier in the year, and planted a new bought one in their place.
When they've grown a bit I'll find somewhere else in the garden for them.

I was hoping to do more but my knees have told me I've done enough for today

 

If you eat them all @shiney you definitely will keep going, going and going!!

 

Been thinning out the grapes...again ! Trouble is I feel wasteful doing it ( yes I know that it must be done to get a good crop),so I end up doing it numerous times, even now I know more must come off.
Have to say though that they are a lot sweeter this year...thank goodness. At last they may be edible!