What Jobs Are We Doing In The Garden Today 2019

Hi,

Thanks Logan. One thing surgeries and hospitals have in common once they get hold of you they don't like to let you go; I think you'll be right about tablets for life but thankfully he's still here to take the tablets and hope continues to do so for many years yet to come.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hope all is ok with your friend @Retired .

Those measurements of the waterproofs look a bit dodgy I think.

 

Why didn't you put them in the charity bin, especially as they were new? ... we have them all over the place here. Such a shame as someone less fortunate would have appreciated them I'm sure.

 

Hi,

Thanks Upsy; I just hope my friend heeds this warning once he's up and about again; he's a grafter and started his successful business from scratch; how do's anyone with such a work ethic back off?

Yes the waterproof measurements definitely look strange; they were incredibly tight on me and I'm built like a stick insect.

Thanks for your welcome suggestion Victoria; Bron and I don't generally trust charities any longer. Before marrying; Bron worked as a volunteer in a school and was told that should she ever want to be employed full time a job would be hers; when we married and half the country went onto short time working with the other half on strike Bron was desperate to help but now the school having used Bron free of charge were no longer interested. Where was the charity for us when desperately needed

Bron secured a job and I was doing three different jobs a week in order to pay our mortgage; a collector for The British Heart Foundation used to call weekly and we donated £1 per week which we couldn't afford but thought it worthwhile; that was until the area manager for the heart foundation ended up in prison for fraud.

If we place items into the charity bags for roadside collection we then end up with charity bags dropping through our letterbox like confetti. Good suggestion though with good intentions but sadly no longer for us. On a happier note we do give to two charities we know and trust so we aren't totally mean.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

We get a lot of charity bags and i use them for the pedal bin in the kitchen.

 

Planted some of the wallflowers.

 

The pet hotel has very good reviews and the lady who runs it is very nice person. I checked it out before booking and was happy with the set up. Spotlessly clean! The buns who were staying at that time appeared happy enough.

I did take Chippy to the vet before our holiday as noticed he had lost a little weight. He was fine in himself and eating well. Dave couldn't find anything obviously wrong with him, internal organs felt normal and no response to pain stimuli, but agreed with me that Chips was likely a lot older than I had been told. He was a rescue pig. We discussed a blood test after the holiday although that can sometimes give inconclusive results and possibly a dental to see if anything going on at back of mouth. He became ill quite suddenly and was taken to a vet immediately who thought he may have had a tumour. I also though a stroke from the symptoms described to me. I don't blame the lady in any way for Chippy. She did the right thing.

What I'm struggling to understand is how she missed the weight loss in Amber and Sebastian. I have 6 buns and they have all lost weight but to a much lesser degree than A and S. I put it down to a certain amount of stress as it was the first time away from home. The hotel is a long way from Anglesey and because of the travelling time and expenses involved I didn't book them in for a few days prior to our holiday so they would know I was coming back for them. I think I convinced myself that as the hotel only board buns and pigs and the set up was so good that they would be fine. They took toys, blankets, etc from home with them so familiar items with their scent on. I did expect a little stress as their first time and unfamiliar environment, etc and discussed this with the lady. She said she would keep a close eye on them!

Amber and Sebastian were born into the wild and came to me at approximately 4-5 weeks old. They could not be returned to the wild due to the nature of their injuries so they have found an alternative life as pet buns. They are no different to domestic rabbits except they startle a lot quicker and because they were once wild they are prone to become stressed more quickly. I think the lady didn't handle them as worried about stressing them maybe, although they are quite handleable. But, even without picking them up the weight loss is very obvious, jutting hip bones and prominent spine are a bit of a give away. The first couple of days back home they didn't stop eating. They are still very thin but improving. The other 4 are also eating lots and are gaining weight. Domestic rabbits generally have much thicker fur so weight loss can be less obvious. A and S have fine fur. I think I am of the opinion that I shouldn't have any more holidays.

 

Had a quick wander around the garden yesterday. It's gone completely mad whilst I've been away. Plus, I've done very little all summer. There is so much to do . I wish I could afford to pay someone to help me. I pulled out lots and lots of blanket weed from the pond. Decided to check two of the houses and found a dead mouse in one of them . Wondering how it ended up in the house. could have caught it maybe. Poison occurred to me - I've had poisoned rats go into houses to die in the past . Mouse was in the sleeping chamber on top of the hay. Nice job for me today to clean it out and bury mouse!

 

In the greenhouse I split up my auriculas. I've never done this before but followed the advise given by Woottens nursery who specialise.
Just general maintenance in the garden. The dahlias are still looking lovely so just a bit of deadheading for them. The young Bishops Children dahlias were late to flower and I'm uncertain whether they are mature enough to overwinter. A bit of advice would be welcome please.
I pulled up some of the Purity cosmos which had been battered by the recent rain. The pink cosmos have been infested with black aphids although the flowers are still looking lovely. I left the aphids for the ants and other predators. Strange that the white cosmos weren't affected

Over my sandwich lunch I read the RHS Garden magazine and saw that The old vicarage at East Ruston is open free to RHS members this month so I've arranged to go there next week. It's an inspirational garden any time of the year but I haven't visited in the autumn before so I'm looking forward to going there.

Alan Gray the co-owner describes it:-
"We strive to offer as much autumn colour and interest as possible with soft light and fiery foliage, vibrant asters, hardy chrysanthemums and colchicum. Plus a bounty of autumnal fruits and containers overflowing with fabulous foliage plants - all of which ensure the season ends with a bang"

I can hardly wait.....

 

Cut down the cosmos, I only had 2 plants that flowered all the others just a lot of foliage and very tall.

 

Hi,

I've been test driving my new waterproof trousers this afternoon and they are brilliant. As usual my personal black cloud Blackie was here putting down drizzle which was being blown around by his sister Gale; normally I'd have suffered another soaking but this time wrapped up in heavy "site" coat; pair of shortened wellies; waterproof trousers and hat I worked in comfort against the wet cold blast. Goodbye Blackie & Gale I can now work when I want to not when you allow me to. Should have done this many years ago; I'm now set up for winter gardening apart from blizzards and snow. :rasp::rasp::rasp: I've enjoyed an hour weeding up the mountain; hoe; hoe; hoe.

Kind regards, Colin.

 

Hi,

Thanks ARMANDII; I like your thorn proof waterproof suit; you must buy WD 40 5L at a time as I do.

Kind regards, Colin.