Magazine style - all inclusive

[alp]

It's so dark outside and thank heavens, we're much warmer. Took more pentstemon cuttings and some Love and wishes cuttings as they might be killed by Friday's frost

Was thinking of removing the grass to put in more raised beds, but this incessant rain predicted has put a damper on it. Yesterday, it was drizzling and moist the whole day. Didn't rain much, but just drizzle and the sun was shy!

Repotted my thalictrums into 3 different pots. Might sow some grass seeds. This kind of weather just limits my gardening. Read in the newspaper that some parents saw via baby monitors that their toddlers talking to their departed relatives. I reckon if future owners of this place put in camcorder in the garden, they might see me talking to my plants and organising my thoughts. They have been warned! LOL!

 

[alp]

Got some bulbs fro C bulbs and last time, one of the trilliums looked dead, but I just planted it. This time, one looked so dead that I complained.

The Grandiflorum looked the worst. Roots dead, and felt soft to the touch.

Also bought some Crocus Sativus 30 of them and hopefully, there are stamens to be harvested.

Went out to plant them and added tons of gravel and sharp sand and then heavens opened. Would love to go to Turkey as well, Zenj! Can understand why Perki sworn his bike as my garden has been so flippery and there are potholes on the roads everywhere. No laughing matter!

It's so nice to be a bit warmer.

I feel so sorry for you guys living north of me.

Watched Real Garden and was surprised to see a very young and pretty Anne Marie Powell. Love that lady who was a beautician and her husband creating a dream of their own in Devon. Shame the series are not in HD and there are just repeats every other day! We have tons of channels, but they are all repeats, some are kinder, repeated within a week. Some every other day or every 2 days! Oh, actually within an hour! LOL! We should have a discount for TV licence! I might cancel it and wait till next year to watch TV as there will be NEW repeats!

Going to be freezing on Friday. Keep warm, guys!

 

[alp]

The weather is soooooo crrrrrrazy! All sunny (hasn't been this sunny for a long time) and yet pouring down. Stolen some dry spells to plant out Abelia Sparkling Silver, Euphorbia Glacier Blue, Aster Purple Diamond, Aster Aqua Compact. (taken some Aster cuttings - not sure they will work, but stupid not to do it!) A low compact conifer. So nice sitting next to the bay window to soak up the warmth of the strong sunshine. Comes Friday, the whole of UK will be cold but sunny and this might last for a few days! NEWS INDEED!#

Rain stopped. Going out again!

 

[alp]

Well, got out I did and I planted my beloved Crinodendron Hookerianum and split a clump of Stipa Giganteum into 8 plants. It was dry until I came in.

I'm dreading tomorrow's frost! I must dig up some salvias and dahlias and take Aster Monch cuttings. A very busy day ahead.

 

[alp]

Woke up late as I have made it a point not to get up until the central heating has kicked in.

Stripped the grass at the back as I need more area and to mow the lawn with an even longer extension is not my idea of fun. Also, I might get rid of the lawn altogether. I need to think clearly as to change my mind would be time wasting.

Planted out 2 pyracanthas at the back. Hopefully, today starts a drier day for all of us.

Yesterday was a bit spitty, but mostly dry

Looks like a decent day.

Son's video of those lovely birds. It can be viewed in 4K if you change the quality to the top choice. They are very flighty - also flying away suddenly or zooming in when least expected, but beautiful and happy.

One lone rose

Penstemon Arabesque F1

Five of these Aster Monch blooms

Dainty but full of details viola

New buds aplenty on my Alstroemeria

The most boring of all Hellebore picotee

 

[Perki]

Hard frost this morning and for the coming days, planted out some pansy/viola and some wallflowers yesterday in pots , cut a lot back yesterday as well even though it were raining.

Sad scene down in London again some people are truly monsters glad the public and police dealt with him, sad for the victims who have dead and the rest of the casualties .

 

[alp]

Yes, cold and frosty. But I actually had a lovely day yesterday. My left knee seems to know it's going to be cold and has already been causing me discomfort. Did quite a bit yesterday. Draped over my Amistad and dug up my duo dahlia and suddenly, the whole garden seems quite bare and bright. Hope all your throats are OK. Son has been coughing for days now.

At least, it's not raining. The whole country needs some dry days. Even France and Italy.

I came in 4.45 and turned on the laptop and saw the news. I initially thought it was a review of last year's killing. Then I saw the word today! People are brainwashed by cult and believe in an eye for an eye! Imagine the man had had a genuine bomb vest. Thank heavens we had some courageous people. Last time, a police chief hid instead of responding to the crime. Travelling up to London means more money for any job. But these days, it's just not worth it.

I remember years ago, one of the autistic kids was moved up north as his mother said if he stayed, he would be in MORE trouble. I hope they are keeping well. In the countryside, there are now country lines. My friend said this borough is full of this kind of operations as we have a lot of parks here. Who would have thought?!

Going to finish my grassy plot, dump the horse manure on top and mulch it and cover it. Going to sow more Sweetpeas. I already have a tray going. Last night, I actually use a thermostatic heater for the lean to. Going to see check my lecie readings.

Keep warm, and keep dry and keep well!

 

[alp]

Yesterday was very cold. Frost was hard and deep. I finally removed all the grass, turned over the soil, add well rotted wood chips, leaves and some compost. All my horse manure gone. Now I just let the area rest and hope the worms will do the job. Had 2 pairs of socks on and the toes were still tinkling with chill factor. Wonder how they survive in Alaska! Watched quite a few episodes and they made exciting viewing. The ways they use animal furs and meat are so different to our approach here. Here, a blind man got told off for having a guide dog . This really brings home the meaning of adding insult to injury! This person should be made to be blindfolded for one day to instil some empathy in him/her!

Hope my agapanthus is OK in the allotment. Been quite worried. I think my dahlia is called Edinburgh.

I'm going to join the National Dahlia society in April and hopefully can get some £2 bargains when they have excess to sell off. Must dig up all the rest in the garden. Can't bear missing my Kelvin Floodnight, Cafe au lait..Crazy Days Heartbreaking!

Cold and bright, folks! Wrap up well and enjoy the sunshine and dry weather!

 

[alp]

Seemed to be very cold. I seldom felt cold under a tiny blanket, but I did. When I heard the central heating groaning, I decided to get up. Boy, it must be cold in Scotland. Allegedly, there might not be gas supply as the mercury plunged to -5c! Imagine how they function in Canada.

No wonder I felt cold!

Hamamelis seed exploded last night! Found one seed on the floor this morning! Seeds are interesting things!

When we were 400 yards to the gc, there was a long queue and I thought it was caused by car accident. Turned out to be the queue for gc! We opted for the other entrance and it was much quicker. Once inside the shop, there was already a long queue of people waiting to be served by probably 12 tills. The queue stretched right out to the pot area. Saw a peach Avalon Pride and a Peregrine. The queue and the price put me off. Only 3 lone souls in the garden. All the customers are queueing or browsing. Kids had a good time, trailing reindeer with a stick, the toy hopping along with kids giggling. So jolly!

My 3rd hellebore

Mother of Pearl

Ilex is showing up berries. Very pleased with this pair of Ilex.

Harvington yellow spotted.

Some hellebores with buds, but very few flowers!

 

[alp]

Very worried. Son usually home 7.30 and now it's 22.25. No news at all. I'm worried sick!

 

[Perki]

Very worried. Son usually home 7.30 and now it's 22.25. No news at all. I'm worried sick!

Is he back yet? Maybe the car broke down

 

[alp]

Yes, Perki. It's not even the car accident that annoyed me. It's the way he went quiet. He was sent back my met police and I think his car must have hit black ice. He told me he wanted to change lane to avoid traffic jam and then he's in a pickle! He told me the BMW police car registered -1c.

Glad that you sworn your bike. It's every parent's nightmare. Don't ever buy a Nissan Note - no ends of trouble. I had paid nearly £200 for all weather tyres x 2 last year. Might be cheap to buy the car initially, but had to fork out more money every time we had an MOT.

Now I know what the Chinese fleabay seller sent me

Hamamelis seeds instead of bird of paradise. I got a refund. But I didn't really know what they had sent me.

One more cold day and we're in for some rain! After 3 half days' solid work, I was totally useless yesterday. Took some forthya double cuttings, some peachy rose cuttings. Collected some pyracantha seeds. Sowed some more sweat peas - Kingsize Navy blue and trimmed off the other half of the straggly sweet peas.

I think I'm going to wear 2 pairs of trousers and dig out my woollen socks, albeit with a hole, from M&S and put them on top of my filmsy ones. Please keep warm, safe, and stay away from horrible coughs!

Greyparrot sent me her first hellebore Lily! Well, I don't even know where mine has gone!

This was 2 or 3 days ago! Wow!

 

[Zenj]

Very worried. Son usually home 7.30 and now it's 22.25. No news at all. I'm worried sick!

Glad he’s safe and sound I have 2 sons and one daughter all flown the nest now but had plenty of sleepless nights and worry when there were at home .afraid you never stop worrying about your children.
No frost today and seems warmer and dry for a change.

 

[alp]

Wish I had that many children. Was very relieved, but he could have told me. Think it might be warmer up north, for a change. Not too sure I want to see rain just yet. Trying to buy some veg seeds even though I have had a whole box of them. Madness!

Watched TV and they said that Silver Birch fights pollution very well. Stupid of me not to buy that 7 feet tall Betula?? for £10 in Wyevale. Wasn't that educated (by tv experiment) at that point. Then I thought of buying seeds. Walking around B&Q, decided to harvest some, and a bit of pyracantha seeds. It might take years and I might be dead .. Er, no! Mary Berry is starting a new garden and she is 84. I'm young compared with her! Though a deep pocket might help. Er, no! Resourcefulness is what I have always been proud of!

 

[alp]

Seems to be my turn to have the cold again. Had half a lemon juice yesterday. Lemsip and Strepsil are doing a roaring trade. In the supermarket, a young man had the most sonorous cough! Need to take some paracetamols to fight the bug. A lump of mucus has just been dislodged.

Yesterday was a tad warmer. Planted out the wallflower (self seeded in the allotment) in the front, Also a euonymus. Fleeced a bit of cutting and pressed the branches down and now I have 4 plants with roots.

Exactly like this! Very pretty. Hopefully, I will build up a hedge to fight pollution. Took some buxus cuttings, some rose cuttings. Not very keen on this buxus as it has golden edges. I like the flower/fruit of the other one. But £1 to £2 for a whole tray of 6 or 8, nobody could argue with that.

I planted the wallflower and euonymus next to each other and hopefully, I can get some colours at the front. Saw Charlie Dimmock make a pond yesterday. We do have some very good gardening programmes.

Saw this beauty on the fence yesterday

By the time I had got my camera, it disappeared. Very annoyed. It was bright yesterday and I had 2 pairs of trousers and socks. Didn't want to be totally useless again.

Wonder why snacks you guys have to cheer yourselves up around Christmas: We had already devoured a whole bag of KP peanuts, and a bag of cribbed crisps. On the temptation racks are Ferrero Rocha, Wether sweets, KP peanuts, Walker crisps, a whole duck from Asda, a beef joint from Waitrose, Pringle Sour Cream crisps, a bottle of Peri Peri sauce Medium and possibly a meal trip to Nando. My biggest challenge is NOT to open the box of Ferrero Rocha as once opened, I will finish the whole box in one go.

Might go and buy the Chamaecyparis lawsoniana x 2. Might go and buy those left behind. They had 3 standards at £12 and they had all gone! I bought one normal boring one for £3. Normally, I'm scared of trees even though it's not a Leylandii, this one was supposed to be planted right at the back. But watching Joe Swift in his Tree revival and saw this couple who actively controlled their trees by pruning them, so I can do the same.

This is such a lovely garden. So amazing and it's teeming with trees and shrubs. They just pruned them so that they didn't grow big or tall. I aim to plant my cone buxus before it dies on me in the ground. I will actively copy this picture.

______________________

Britons should EAT grey squirrels to keep population numbers down and stop them killing trees, says Forestry Commission boss

• Sir Harry Studholme said growing more trees is vital to curb climate change
• But Sir Harry said it was being hindered by the grey squirrel which strip bark
• He said if other control measures fail we should cull them and use them for food

+++++++++++++++

Would you eat a squirrel? If I could eat it, I could save a lot of money. I saw 5 a day, up the wall, on the top of my broken fence, even on my grass root ..

 

[Zenj]

Morning all my cold is over the worse they seem to last longer ,very jealous that you can still garden this time of year alp I have finished now until spring just too wet ,Yes Christmas a tub of roses and quality street gone mince pies and the better half’s tester Xmas cake, as originally from Yorkshire always have Xmas cake with cheese .Got Decembers gardeners world mag for the free Calender also got free 2020 year planner which is good different supermarkets seem to have different versions with different freebies.

 

[alp]

Morning all my cold is over the worse they seem to last longer ,very jealous that you can still garden this time of year alp I have finished now until spring just too wet ,Yes Christmas a tub of roses and quality street gone mince pies and the better half’s tester Xmas cake, as originally from Yorkshire always have Xmas cake with cheese .Got Decembers gardeners world mag for the free Calender also got free 2020 year planner which is good different supermarkets seem to have different versions with different freebies.

Reading your reply whilst coughing and the nose is telling me something. Had a lovely banana and 2 paracetomals. Here we go again. Glad that you're over the worst. Chocolate fest for all of us. I must get one 2020 calendar planner. I must go big. I saw Monty standing next to a whole swathe of echinaceas and realise that my ambition to grow things en masse is just a trickle.. I need an ocean! Now the nose has just started. I blame my son.. on top of that, we have no car! Thank heavens he's safe! It took him an hour to come home last night. Lesson needs to be learned. But still, nobody has been injured and that's the most important thing.

 

[alp]

Yes, I'm still gardening. I was actually feeling hot yesterday around 1 to 2 pm.The sun was shining and I had layers. Planted out a red/pink magnolia which looked rather sad and budless. Also finally put to soil my tiny Cornus Controversa Variegata. At some stage, I might have to dig it up if I moved. Separated 2 clumps of irises and they now are in 8 pots. Today, I will move...

Laptop went black again, TWICE! Disconnected power and internet and hopefully it will stay o. Nuisance.

Very cold in the lean to - only 8c even with intermittent heating on. Can't use the paraffin heater as it's too stinky.

I prefer sunshine to rain, but if I can have rain whilst you lot are spared, I don't mind. Unfortunately, rains like NE and NW! Hope there will be no more Fishlake or Mallard Field saga!

I will move my buxus to the front and build up a hedge, just to stop the pollution a bit. When the tulip bulbs go cheap, I will buy them and plant them outside in the lawn, as Sarah Raven did in Lawn episode yesterday.

I, too, have wet and slippery lawn, but the borders are higher up and I'm struggling whether to level the lawn or not. Any way, I will but 3 raised bed frames somewhere for planting vegs and some circles for flowers. When the temperature is higher tomorrow, I will sow some broad beans direct. I have already had 4 or more outside, but I can plant more when I fashion a cloche. I am going to sow onion seeds - Utah big Spanish onions and some Red Baron today. I do like onions, including spring onions, but yesterday, I had to stop half way cutting the onions. Son loves Aromatic Duck and raw spring onion is a chief ingredient. Tears welled up half way and I had to do something else. We also had a raw white onion. Love it in kebab, but felt horrible when I was given so much and remembered all the horror stories about kebab when I ate them. Had one 4 months ago. The last one was a chicken one. But really, I'm worried about what's in it!

 

[alp]

Very cold this morning. Icing on top of the rudbeckia flowers .. No sun!

 

[alp]

Have now a bit of a cough! Last night was a bit windy, but not windy enough to fan the incinerator.

Rain predicted. Don't expect much gardening today.

Planted out a double Syracuse hibiscus, the Deutzia Magicien, and a clump of buxus in the front and I can now hear the rain. Great for the planting yesterday. Also planted out a white tree peony. Removed 2 eryngiums to a hotter place or just leave one in pot.

Rain is with us, AGAIN!

Missed this double hellebore and it has now passed its prime!