WHAT ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2023

Dug the hosepipe out from the corner of the garage (wasn't a great idea to stack Christmas stuff above the poor hosepipe after all.. ) and gave a good proper soak to everything, not just newly planted things but also to the somewhat established stuff. We have only been here for 5 years so everything is fairly young and a good drenching at this time of the year makes a big difference.

I lost the handy connecting bit between the hosepipe ending and the kitchen tap when I charitably allowed some young lads going from house to house offering to clean the white bits high up with their equipment that connects to the aforementioned tap that had my precious piece attached.

So now I just cram the rubbery bit as well as I can to the kitchen tap and order the Child to sit in the kitchen to turn the tap off when the connection slips and starts to spray all over the kitchen.

Anyways, everything is now properly soaked and seen that tomorrow will be hot, followed by a week of 15-ish temperatures I hope I will only need to hand water the containers in some weeks to come.

February sown Sweet Peas have flower buds, Climbing Iceberg rose opened the first flower this morning to celebrate the Child's birthday and everything again is buzzing with life.

 

Happy Birthday to The Child @Selleri

 

Today I am going to be quietly pulling my hair out at where exactly to put everything! My germination rates were surprisingly high this Spring so I’ve more plants than planned, and still haven’t made a new planned border as my back has been feeling fragile.
So…I’ve astrantia, agapanthus, azaleas, heart’s ease, antirrhinum, lobelia and aquilegia I want to plant this morning at least.
Have a nice Saturday everyone.

 

We're in the same position as you're in @MrsRanunculus , I sow way to many seeds every year...and I swear I won't do the same the following year!!! I have offloaded quite a few to my sister.

Have fun space hunting!!

 

A lovely day is promised by the Met Office again, so mainly watering, tweaking, then enjoying the sun!

 

Yesterday did a lot of watering.

 

Snap @Logan !! We had to soak everywhere as the clay had big cracks in it!!

 

Hi,

Yesterday had a good clear out with a run to the tip so we're again clear of rubbish; I'd done a lot of weeding; the daffodils looked very untidy so I cut the tops off the lot of them filling a couple of heavy bin bags; I don't care if this stops them flowering next springtime; they look lovely in bloom but then look such a mess whilst waiting for the leaves to die back; everything seems to take so much time and working in our steep garden doesn't help.

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Pigeons are now really starting to annoy me with the constant daily clean up due to the huge mess they make; I don't want to hurt them but I've had enough of this daily time consuming chore so I've bought a roll of reflective tape to decorate our trees and handrail with; I hope this sorts the problem out because I've had enough.

I'm about to wander into the studio for a rare violin practice; I'm now learning to play "Scarborough Fair" and can play half the first line of the violin score; I've only played a couple of notes previously on the "A" string but this score has more "A" string notes which I need to learn; wonderful hobby though.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Yes @Upsydaisy the polyanthus have to be watered every day this dry weather. I've tried adding lots of compost but it doesn't make any difference, perhaps they just don't like it in that place,but i still plant them because they look so good in the spring but i have plants to replace them if they don't make it.

Did my hanging baskets earlier, with fuchsias, trailing geraniums and fleabane as a filler.

 

Hi,

Thanks shiny; yes CD's are recommended on YouTube; I'm usually polite and very friendly but when it comes to pigeons I often think a blunderbuss would be useful.

I've just wandered up to the top of our mountain and taken a few pictures from the adjoining lane looking down;

If it was any steeper I'd need oxygen by the time I reached the top; here's the top meadow just starting to bloom.

A close up showing lots of promise; in full bloom it's stunning; I just hope our usual dire climate doesn't ruin it again this year as it's done the last two years in full bloom; it's fully exposed here on the valley side.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Looking good Colin.

 

I've got lots of Cosmos seeds germinating on the balcony & that after they spent a couple of weeks in the freezer! I wasn't sure I'd get any but I have loads germinate! I've also got lots of Carnation seedling starting to put out their true leaves. There is also a seedtray with Calendulas germinating. These were seeds I saved from my own plants last year but somehow got lost over the winter only to turn up again a few weeks ago. To top it all - literally - the Morning Glories seeds saved from last year are also germinating fast!

At present the balcony looks like a plant nursery gone mad!

 

Planted more dahlias. Picked more sweet peas. Had flowers for about a month now. Most of cosmos planted a month ago as so much in greenhouse. Most flowering well. Planted out runner beans. Watched bees on my poached egg plants that have taken over some lawn. 18 foot x 4 foot so happy bees