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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 28, 2007 15:58:09 GMT 1
I started the vegetable garden clear up today. I have sooo much to do, it's a tad depressing. Still I have pulled out loads of old nettles and cleared the aspargus bed, trimmed a load of manky plants out and started to sort out the old weedy beds. When it's done I should have an area about 30' X 45' at least. Plus the area the other side of the PT, which is about 12' X 30'. More than enough really to grow a good selection for my lot...... I managed to rescue my wooden fences and pulled out the fence posts without damaging them so I hope to re use them - I don't fancy making another batch although I shall have to build a few lengths I expect. There is always more work isn't there?  Ah well, as Karen said on her allotment thread - no pain, no gain.....but I wish I was 20 years younger again.... |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 28, 2007 20:55:12 GMT 1
Goodness 4P you've really earned a couple of can of cider today. ;D Do you know I haven't had one today...most unusual considering how hot I've been! I am having a honey and lemon day today.  |
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Post by madonplants on Oct 29, 2007 1:19:28 GMT 1
I have done a bit of general tidying up over the last few days. Have started attacking another ivy that was on the fence to the back of us. Took out another one that was growing as a shrub, near to the magnolia, that I am going to take out next month or as soon as it loses it's leaves, really. Not sure where it's going yet, maybe into a big pot, but it really needs moving, as it is so mishapen!  Why plant a magnolia 9 inches from a fence?  I was hoping to move the compost bins to where it and the ivy and two more (yet more) roses were, but that may entail lifting some slabs, so might think on that one! So that was 79 roses he had in the garden before us!! Most of the Daffs are in now, better late than never. Not sure where the tulips are going yet, that Jennifer bought at the same time we got the others. They might end up in a few nice pots to go at the front door, at this rate!!  Must go to bed, it's late and I need to be up to get Craig to school. Stephen has one more day, if he is 100% that is. He's still not there yet, very croaky today (yesterday), especially first thing. He has been very quiet as well, so he is definately not well! Keith |
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Post by 4pygmies on Oct 29, 2007 8:23:30 GMT 1
It's satisfying though isn't it Keith? I do love all this sorting out and rethinking of plans - nearly more than seeing it all coming together (as it rarely does..... : ). It's reallyreallyreally murderously hard work doing all the digging out but I do like looking at all the clear ground and future potential.....Now the hedge is gone I have a much better view of the whole garden, makes me wonder why I planted it in the first place! Hope Craig feels better for school too X |
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Post by madonplants on Oct 29, 2007 11:20:29 GMT 1
It's satisfying though isn't it Keith? I do love all this sorting out and rethinking of plans - nearly more than seeing it all coming together (as it rarely does..... : ). It's reallyreallyreally murderously hard work doing all the digging out but I do like looking at all the clear ground and future potential.....Now the hedge is gone I have a much better view of the whole garden, makes me wonder why I planted it in the first place! Hope Craig feels better for school too X It is and I am still not sure about lifting slabs to put the bins there. Does anyone know where to get old pallets from, as I was wondering whether to make my own compost bin to fit the place? Never done that before, but can't de too hard, can it? Every time I do the clearing, I always think my compost facilities are too small. Three plastic bins and one tumbler should be enough, shouldn't it?!! ;D Craig went in this morning, but Stephen still feels rough, better though than yesterday, but still just wants to watch TV! Thank G*d for Sky! Maybe try and get a Ludo game out of him later, I NEED TO BEAT HIM. Every game we played last week, Craig came first, Stephen second and me last.  Keith |
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 3, 2007 17:51:14 GMT 1
You men are all sooo competitive......s'only a game you know.... Anyway, I have had a really good afternoon doing lots of clearing and sorting out in the end barn. I dragged my potting table out of the end of the PT - getting fed up with worrying and flinching in there every time I do some stuff (rats obviously - I'm not a nervous wreck really ;D) and now it's in the corner of the barn opposite the back door along with all the composts and tools. This involved lots of web clearing, sweeping and throwing out of collected rubbish (WHY? Why do I keep all this utter tat?)...eeh, I'm nearly proud of it. So much so I almost posted a picture! : It makes me feel like a proper gardener.....And I found lots of seeds packets I'd stuffed in a drawer out there so they can be put away or sowed for overwintering. Tomorrow I shall fill black bags with all the fallen leaves and have a sort out of the other end of the PT........more flinching......oh dear.... |
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Post by maggyd on Nov 3, 2007 18:05:06 GMT 1
You men are all sooo competitive......s'only a game you know.... Anyway, I have had a really good afternoon doing lots of clearing and sorting out in the end barn. I dragged my potting table out of the end of the PT - getting fed up with worrying and flinching in there every time I do some stuff (rats obviously - I'm not a nervous wreck really ;D) and now it's in the corner of ::)the barn opposite the back door along with all the composts and tools. This involved lots of web clearing, sweeping and throwing out of collected rubbish (WHY? Why do I keep all this utter tat?)...eeh, I'm nearly proud of it. So much so I almost posted a picture! : It makes me feel like a proper gardener.....And I found lots of seeds packets I'd stuffed in a drawer out there so they can be put away or sowed for overwintering. Tomorrow I shall fill black bags with all the fallen leaves and have a sort out of the other end of the PT........more flinching......oh dear.... OHHH you fit young thing you ;D I have sat on my bum all afternoon surfing the web and flitting on and off here. J did some cutting back yesterday so I thought I hadnt better go out for a few days as there is sure to be an augument!! he just chops anything he feels like but I have lost all interest since it has turned chilly ive put a couple of pots in the GH planted some bulbs in tubs and retired for the winter. I think!! |
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 3, 2007 18:23:20 GMT 1
Fit young thing? I think 'thing' is the only correct term in there Maggyd!
You don't realise the squalor I live in though.......it's clean and tidy squalor out there now. Which is nice.
I forgot I found a net of daffodils too so I shoved them in pots ready to put in the garden too.....just got plant the garlic and sow some Broad Beans and that's it for me in the garden too - apart from all the digging and clearing......
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 4, 2007 10:08:00 GMT 1
How could I write such a silly thing? Of course I've found more things that need doing today....I must clear out the little beds by the conservatory as they are full of native plants flopping everywhere and trim up the Nepetas and Grasses buried underneath and then I want to bury some of the pots of Daffodils I have waiting for homes in there. And I expect I really ought to put some of the tender pots like the Chocolate Cosmos and Lilies in the GH which means finding some strong netting to protect them as I KNOW there are mice living in there atm.... and I MUST bag up all the fallen leaves....and just realised I really ought to go and collect some of the fallen manky San Marzano toms in the PT and dry the seeds off for next year...
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 4, 2007 14:17:27 GMT 1
This is turning into a 4P thread - so sorry to hog it but what are the rest of you doing atm?
I just finished my gardening stint for the day. I bagged up 7 bags of leaves from under a Cherry, an Apple and a Sycamore...amazing. Plus I nipped to our nearby nursery and found they are selling bulbs off very cheap so I bought Hyacinths (3 for a £1), Iris reticulata (15 for a £1), Allium nigrum (5 for £1), and English Bluebells (10 for £1). I could have spent a fortune.....I spent about £8 but she only charged me £6 anyway. Which was nice. I potted all of them up and split a huge pot of Primroses up too and cleared the two little beds I mentioned earlier. I'm a bit tired now.
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Post by Sleepy on Nov 4, 2007 14:24:58 GMT 1
This is turning into a 4P thread - so sorry to hog it but what are the rest of you doing atm? I just finished my gardening stint for the day. I bagged up 7 bags of leaves from under a Cherry, an Apple and a Sycamore...amazing. Plus I nipped to our nearby nursery and found they are selling bulbs off very cheap so I bought Hyacinths (3 for a £1), Iris reticulata (15 for a £1), Allium nigrum (5 for £1), and English Bluebells (10 for £1). I could have spent a fortune.....I spent about £8 but she only charged me £6 anyway. Which was nice. I potted all of them up and split a huge pot of Primroses up too and cleared the two little beds I mentioned earlier. I'm a bit tired now. I'm girding my loins to tackle some washing up. Had a spurt the day before yesterday and did quite well, but have now run out of mugs and plates again. Also planning a campaign on washing. Primarily to provide clean clothes for the week ahead, but if I can go beyond that then it will clear some bedroom floor space. Had a bit of an accident with a bottle of tomato ketchup last night so I plan to wash down the kitchen walls, a bit of the ceiling, the cooker and the floor. Also got to put a pair of trousers and a shirt into special soak. |
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 4, 2007 14:35:17 GMT 1
Ah well, it beats sitting in front of an especially entertaining film for the afternoon, cradling a glass of something alcoholic and sharing your cheese sandwich with the cats...doesn't it?
Let's hope for a thunderously rainy week so you can leave a bowl of dishes out before work and come home to find them all done, ditto the tomato sauce soaked clthes but I dunno about the stains on the walls...
Yes I do! Spray your entire kitchen tomato sauce colour and save yourself years of housework.....
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Nov 4, 2007 15:39:22 GMT 1
Well I'd better get off my lazy butt and dig out the two Brugmansia from the garden and bring them indoors. TODAY! It was 34° F this morning!
They still look good but we have snow predicted for later this week.
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 4, 2007 17:53:16 GMT 1
Well I'd better get off my lazy butt and dig out the two Brugmansia from the garden and bring them indoors. TODAY! It was 34° F this morning! They still look good but we have snow predicted for later this week. Snow? Yikes! I hope we don't get any for months (if at all...) Will it really snow so soon with the temperatures you're getting atm? The poor plants..... We are having a practically perfect Autumn here - really gorgeous weather but getting chilly at night. We have a beautiful sunset even as I write. I hope it lasts for weeks yet.... |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 4, 2007 23:15:44 GMT 1
This is turning into a 4P thread - so sorry to hog it but what are the rest of you doing atm? I just finished my gardening stint for the day. I bagged up 7 bags of leaves from under a Cherry, an Apple and a Sycamore...amazing. Plus I nipped to our nearby nursery and found they are selling bulbs off very cheap so I bought Hyacinths (3 for a £1), Iris reticulata (15 for a £1), Allium nigrum (5 for £1), and English Bluebells (10 for £1). I could have spent a fortune.....I spent about £8 but she only charged me £6 anyway. Which was nice. I potted all of them up and split a huge pot of Primroses up too and cleared the two little beds I mentioned earlier. I'm a bit tired now. I'm girding my loins to tackle some washing up. Had a spurt the day before yesterday and did quite well, but have now run out of mugs and plates again. Also planning a campaign on washing. Primarily to provide clean clothes for the week ahead, but if I can go beyond that then it will clear some bedroom floor space. Had a bit of an accident with a bottle of tomato ketchup last night so I plan to wash down the kitchen walls, a bit of the ceiling, the cooker and the floor. Also got to put a pair of trousers and a shirt into special soak. It's not just Craig that does those sorts of things then!? I remember, one day when he managed to spray the kitchen with ketchup. 'I had forgotten I had taken the lid off, before I shook it', he exclaimed!! Anyway, got some fleecing done today of the Gunnera and the banana. Sorted out the pond plants in the 'temporary' container and put some more rainwater into it. Stephen was a great help when I did the banana. 'Why are you chopping off those leaves Dad?', he asked! Just really have the pond to tidy up, an ivy (or 2 or 3) to prune and a few bags of rubbish to take to the dump to do! There are bound to be more, I know, but just let me dream for once! ;D Keith |
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Post by madonplants on Nov 4, 2007 23:17:25 GMT 1
Well I'd better get off my lazy butt and dig out the two Brugmansia from the garden and bring them indoors. TODAY! It was 34° F this morning! They still look good but we have snow predicted for later this week. Will it really snow so soon with the temperatures you're getting atm? The poor plants..... We are having a practically perfect Autumn here - really gorgeous weather but getting chilly at night. We have a beautiful sunset even as I write. I hope it lasts for weeks yet.... For Christmas, pleeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaase! Just for once! Keith |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Nov 5, 2007 0:19:49 GMT 1
Well I'd better get off my lazy butt and dig out the two Brugmansia from the garden and bring them indoors. TODAY! It was 34° F this morning! They still look good but we have snow predicted for later this week. Snow? Yikes! I hope we don't get any for months (if at all...) Will it really snow so soon with the temperatures you're getting atm? The poor plants..... We are having a practically perfect Autumn here - really gorgeous weather but getting chilly at night. We have a beautiful sunset even as I write. I hope it lasts for weeks yet.... Hi again. Snow is predicted for Tuesday. It is impossible to tell if we will get snow. The warmth from the lake is a tricky thing! *If* the wind is from the west more than likely we'll just get rain. *If* the wind shifts from the north we may actually get more snow than any one else because of the 'lake effect' snow! Time will tell. I dug up the Brug. from the front garden and made 28 cuttings from this guy too! Tomorrow the Brug. from the back is coming in as well. Mmmmmmmmmmm! S-N-O-W ! |
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Post by chickadeedeedee on Nov 6, 2007 1:21:16 GMT 1
WoooooooHooooooo! I actually did what I had planned today! Dug out the Brugmansia from the back garden. It was up to the roof line! I got about 20 something cuttings from this one and pulled the tree into the breezeway. I yanked out the lovely red hibiscus and placed him in a pot. He and the pretty pink oleander will over-winter on the breezeway (enclosed porch type thingy). The huge potted Passion Flower Vine came inside too, as did the planters with geraniums and other things. I also hauled in the roto-tiller and the hanging baskets. We are to have 2-3 inches of snow by Wednesday morning. Maybe not since we live right next to a huge lake. The warmth from the water may protect us for a while and we'll just get rain. We'll see. After that it was another orchid-a-thon and repotting them and putting them in the front door entry way. I see light at the end of the orchid tunnel. |
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Post by maggyd on Nov 6, 2007 15:40:18 GMT 1
PHEW reading these threads makes me tired ;D I have probably just killed my Weigela but I forgot to prune it after flowering so I have just cut out all the old growth, which looks like about all of it !so fingers crossed xx I really dont mind at all if I lose it I tried to give it to my Daughter but she wasnt bothered so if it goes I will have a lovely bare patch to plant something better.
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Post by maggyd on Nov 6, 2007 15:43:35 GMT 1
Still think that's a lovely hedge, The witch - wish we had the room for one like that. You can have it if you like Debbie. ;D You know The witch lookin at your hedge I think you might regret getting rid!! it does provide privacy and unless you are going to build a wall I think you might miss it, is it privet? I cant quite make out the leaf. |
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Post by cheerypeabrain on Nov 6, 2007 16:19:23 GMT 1
All I'm managing to get done in the garden atm is my morning ritual of opening the GH window, and the CF on mild days...then closing them up at teatime....
I did manage to rescue some of the munched delphinium seedlings, and potted on some pansy seedlings the other day...and weeded the veg patch of hairy hairy bittercress and dandelions.....but I've not done any real gardening....
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Post by 4pygmies on Nov 13, 2007 7:57:34 GMT 1
Nor me...cos of OH's party I haven't done anything except feed goats and open and shut the GH door for over a week.and I am getting really twitchy...I NEEEEEED to garden. I had planned to get some digging done today after the food shop but it's been pouring all night....sigh.......all I can do is sow a load of broad beans in pots really...and I still haven't got my garlic in. I suppose I might be able to do some work on the corner where I want to reposition the dalek bins but that involves mucking about with builders lathe to rat proof them. I don't think I'm feeling hardy enough for that....I always run out of time and energy about now...
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 13, 2007 14:16:33 GMT 1
Nor me...cos of OH's party I haven't done anything except feed goats and open and shut the GH door for over a week.and I am getting really twitchy...I NEEEEEED to garden. I had planned to get some digging done today after the food shop but it's been pouring all night....sigh.......all I can do is sow a load of broad beans in pots really...and I still haven't got my garlic in. I suppose I might be able to do some work on the corner where I want to reposition the dalek bins but that involves mucking about with builders lathe to rat proof them. I don't think I'm feeling hardy enough for that....I always run out of time and energy about now... You probably need to hibernate 4P. Go to sleep until April. |
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Post by mickthecactus on Nov 16, 2007 11:55:07 GMT 1
Change the 2 beds outyside the greenhouse over to Agave beds.
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Post by madonplants on Nov 16, 2007 12:04:42 GMT 1
Change the 2 beds outyside the greenhouse over to Agave beds. That would be nice, do you know which ones, yet? Keith |
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Ah well, as Karen said on her allotment thread - no pain, no gain.....but I wish I was 20 years younger again....
Why plant a magnolia 9 inches from a fence? 
