Magazine style - all inclusive

[alp]

Shame that you've had and will have rain and rain. Time to visit the children and grandkids, perhaps, Zenj!

Rain has stopped here and I'm diverting water to various parts of the garden, especially the beefsteak toms! Nice to work in this temperature though. I was hot early yesterday morning in the allotment. Well, get ready for a cold blast.

 

[alp]

Farmer Gracy:

Enjoy free delivery* with code SBHW
Valid until 31 August 2020

 

[alp]

It rained last night and folks, be careful as tonight, it's going to very cold your way. Don't know about DrCase in the States! Snowing in Australia.


This year, I planted out my dahlias too late and some of them are still thinking of joining the party.

Thinking ...

Thinking ...

See how late this is. One of the Wishes.. or Amante

My first chilli and already consumed with my noodles. Hot enough for me.

Sowed some Thai Basil, radishes, Pak Choi, planted out some fennels. Saw George Anderson's big fennels on Beechgrove, I felt very ashamed as my seedlings were tiny punny strings. His was showing the root ball. Wish they had told us WHEN to sow the seeds, rather than planting them out.

Really like that Cullum Clooney's allotment - he's a young pro! Everything was perfect ..

 

[alp]

Courgette saga:

The RHS says cases of poisoning are still rare but the risks can be reduced by not saving seeds from one year to the next and only buying brands that carry the RHS Award of Garden Merit.

I had tried to sell my overgrown courgettes and 2 had been stolen. As my sis said, it didn't matter if they were stolen as we couldn't eat them all. I might feed some to the worms. How RHS turns this saga to their own advert!

A most grotesque beefsteak, but boy, so delicious.

Can't believe this hibiscus is flowering sooooo late!

A thornless raspberry and obviously overwhelmed by the giant toms everywhere around it. It was delicious. Eaten soon after the photo was taken. I bet it felt pain when harvested!

These chrysanthemums are varied and interesting!

Thank heavens the sun is out. Just started tons of laundry.

 

[Perki]

Well its stopped raining and been a fine day , I were going to go out to the GC but couldn't be bothered . I had a looked down in B&M and Lidl and picked up some tulip bulbs . My eupatoriums have come right over and squashed quite a few plants , rather disappointing I am hoping to pick up some more steel plant supports and more importantly get the in early.

 

[alp]

Good morning: At least the sky is greyish blue, just a hint of blue. But it's a lovely colour to start the day. We are going out to eat. The last day of the bargain and last day of little emperor's holiday.

Winds have been such a problem and my Thalictrum Double Hewitt double snapped right at the base even though I had a metal support as I thought that would be enough. In the end, I rescued it by tying the slender plant to the stick.

We went to Clockhouse, Enfield yesterday and one big greenhouse was full of all sorts of bulbs

As we won't be going there any more this year, I splashed £70 plus on bulbs and seaweed feed. And there goes my TV licence fee. I won't be renewing it this year. It's just not worth it. I'd rather spend it on my plants and garden.

Little structures in Tesco

So cute!

I think I had bought something similar from Farmer Gracy last year.

Bought some icecream tulip and some unusual ones. Not this one, but took a photo to share!

New strand of delphinium just ruins my love for the genus.

These were on sale yesterday and the tubers were dead as dodo. Some were very fresh. Come on, Taylors! Don't sell dried out shrivelled tubers. Literally, no chance of a happy bloom!

A whole sea of choices and there is even a counter to indulge your whims. XLL bulbs were on sale.

Glad that they had truly stocked up this weekend as we won't be there until after February or March. Binged on 2 episodes of Beechgrove.

Went to my beloved Summerhill as well. Got my replacement Fritillaria Imperialis bulbs x 3. Now just need to fill the pots and make sure I staple the names to the pots.

 

[alp]

I am binging on Beechgrove now. In episode 1, George Anderson said he would prune a very sad hydrangea right back and no flower the following year. A lady presenter said she would do half and half so there might be some flowers. The other 2 presenters had a cheeky smile on their faces. I nearly sprayed my screen with tea!

Don't think George had a happy session. I like him very much though! LOL!

The great man himself with his brilliant idea! Double the heat, humidity ..

 

[Perki]

That is quite a collection of bulbs , quite expensive some of them £4.99 for daffs or tulips .

Its been a really nice day for a change today sunny all day , its chilly in the morning though feels like its October .

 

[alp]

If you come to where I live, these are normal prices, Perki! Everything is so much more expensive here in the SE.

One of the best nurseries Riverside and it enjoyed panoramic views

Scented Echinaceas

These two went home with me.

Expansive views - most serene and there is a marina if you look closely.

It's heartbreaking to see elecampane flaring its yellow flowers on Beechgrove Garden and yet I have only leaves to show for them.

Ace of Hearts dahlia have forgotten its collarette!

Purple delights Agapanthus

Salvia

2 Fancy Pants. Now that I have Fancy Pants, I have lost my Honka Obsidian!

 

[alp]

It was very cold last night here. Or it could be me, not the weather. To compound the matter, I didn't renew my TV licence and was staring at youtube at the barrel. Then I googled and it turned out that you can use any channels, including itv, c4, c5 as long as you don't watch live or record. Only iplayer is not allowed for even catch up. That's so simple. I watched Doctor G in dplay and they were brilliant.

My promise to myself: no more bulbs: tulips, daffs, allium, crown imperialis from now on. I spent half a day potting E70 up and it was exhausting and time consuming. From now on, only recycling. I also potted up 40 saffron crocus.

When I saw this flower in Riverside, it had a label nearby, saying Smell me! I did and it smelt like a perfume. Yesterday, I smelt it again and again and realised it smelt like a Dior perfume: Diorissimo, no less.

I smelt the red one. I don't remember a scent. But in the sunshine and heat, this one does smell like a perfume.

See my intellectual THINKER! They are going to miss the party. Still in bud form. Or I should call them Miss/Mr Attitude, after my rooster who would never do as told. He's going to be pampered with yet more old ladies. I'm going to have 6 old hens to see them through their old days on 12 September.

Apricot Lemonade are very happy.

So was Chrysanthemum Eastern Star.

These are Rainbow mixed.

Two years ago, my Salvia amistad's heart was ripped out by the wind. The whole centre came off like a brolly. I took tons of cuttings. This year, I took no chance and keep trimming the taller branches, but still it has kept growing and it is now taller than the Rudbeckia behind it. I wish I had more of these yellow statuesque plants and the colour is just screaming at a distance. I don't necessarily like magenta or deep red, but this zesty, cheerful yellow is definitely me!

 

[alp]

In the allotment, Paul has tons of comfrey. The only reason I knew it was comfrey was because of its distinctive flower. One day, I accosted him and asked for a bit of it. Fed up with buying fertiilisers. He smiled and said he would do it one Saturday.

I saw him 2 months ago and felt a bit hurt that I hadn't been given the plant. Just a polite hello. Last month, I saw I had an extra plant amongst my horse-radish and irises and to this date, I don't know if that was comfrey. LOL!

Was dividing my hellebores yesterday to pave way for another structure: either a coop or greenhouse. I can't bear it. Friend's house is like a ghetto and mine IS a ghetto. I don't need help in that respect. But staring at my extra plants and my pocket, I might just need that.

Surprise, surprise! It rained last night. What a sweet surprise. Just when I thought the soil was exposing its dryiness.

Alstro bought as a packet

This beauty should be given AGM. Big bold, beautiful and resistant to SLUGS/SNAILS! RHS please take note! Wonderful Omega, blooming for dates and no blemishes!

Enormous beefsteak to which I poured bucketfuls of water. Will do it again next year? Yes! 100%

This stunning flower is robbed of its details. Sorry! Don't even know the name!

You see what I mean? This come out late and as soon as it unfurled its petals, the SS have had a party!

Ah, sweet surprise v SS!

 

[alp]

Good morning to all: Grey start but it's might be humid, like yesterday. Even though it rained, it was so humid.

Some photos are repeats, but I just want to see the performance of the small new camera!

Salvia La Mancha

Salmon Dance

Coreopsis

Cafe au lait: I have bought this about 3 times. Most of the times when they were £1 - dry and shrivelled and I kept thinking they would not make it.

This is a most undesirable alstro. I bought it because it was reduced and a big clump. Well, hopefully, the bees will have cross pollinated them.

The back of Fancy Pants.

Dyson's Joy

Eastern Star from Sarah Raven

From Kings Seeds

In between the petals, there are some yelllow bits.

I need to find out the name of this unique plant.

 

[alp]

It was cold last night. and I bet your folks up north have switched on the radiators. I had 2 tops on, which was a record. Sad that the weather is mostly cloudy. Before, the temperatures never seemed to be that low and sunshine always made up for it. No, not this year. It was lovely catching up with GW on youtube. I have a little confession to make: Adam's carrots were the same sizes as mine. I should have used garden soil, with clay as they would have made for better crop. My carrots were even smaller because I forgot to water them. Would I do it again? You bet! They were sweet multi coloured and Purple King. They were cooked soft and were so delciious. Reminded me of the tiny carrot used by haute cuisiine - very tiny, glazed and used as garnish to beautify the dish.

My dahlias are thinkers and not willing to share the joy, so more repeats:

A lovely low growing alstroemeria

Teesbrooke Audrey which I have been prepping for seed collection.

aster novi-belgii dark purple - Late bloomer, but beautiful enough.

Make no mistake - not Apricot Lemonade, but Xentho!

Cupcake has split into trefoil - all 3 of them

This has now become more intense in its yellow.

Twister. Bought the little plant perhaps this year, was very happy that they are flowering.

 

[Perki]

I've been out today in the garden, pruned the wisteria thought I best get it done and pruned the apple tree while I was up there . Tidied up the tomato plants cutting moldy bit off which is expected now with damp atmosphere in the GH , tidy up any other vulnerable plant in the GH as well mainly fuchsia and pelargoniums.

Found a rat in the GH sitting around looking very unwell clearly been poisoned, I moved it out of the way under a shrub, its not nice seeing an animal suffer a painful death no matter how much people don't like them.

Fed all the pots / tomato and dead headed.

Thought I see if I had any potatoes I weren't expecting anything seen as the frost got them in spring and the plants had been pitiful, got half a bucket of spuds not much but much more than I were expecting . I planted the wallflowers in that bed to grow on until they go into there final spot .

Been painting some aluminium to match the GH , its so I can attach the wire to it for the grapevine.

Got some bulbs yesterday from the GC and lidl are getting in bulbs now.

Has Your parcel turned up Alp ? I were expecting it to on saturday . If not should be there Monday.

 

[Perki]

took some pictures today its been a while , I give up to trying to stand the plants back up.

My echinacea have been like this all summer , I am changing them next year for E.pallida

dahlia Red Labyrinth first flower.

Ensete bit shredded but still standing

My brugmansia haven't really come good , after the wind ripped their heads off its been a long wait , the one of the left is getting there but by the time it big enough to flower I'll have to lifted it. one on the right had it i think the slugs keep getting it.