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Post by felonious on Jun 5, 2019 19:04:37 GMT
So....Mrs Md spotted a ruby throated humming bird last Friday as she left for work at 6 am. He let her watch him feed until she tried to get a camera (of course) Usually once they have found the feeders that’s the charm but nothing more yet. In other news we have a pair of skinks. I had thought that they were blue tailed skinks but, apparently, the blue tail skink is native to Australia. The North American skink is just a skink with a blue tail. Anyhoo, they were having a lovely bask in the stone chips next to my (cough) “water feature” so I am hoping to get a few nice pictures if they will co-operate. Just looked up your skinks not expecting a lizard..... that's a strikingly blue tail.
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Post by Northy on Jun 5, 2019 19:38:33 GMT
Delamere forest getting a mention on springwatch
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 5, 2019 19:46:00 GMT
Extremely windy today but I do seem to have survived the homegrown Blue Oyster Shrooms.
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Post by marylandstoke on Jun 5, 2019 20:20:01 GMT
But not the cowbell.
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Post by potterinleeds on Jun 13, 2019 8:15:02 GMT
Steady-as-you-go run along bridle paths this morning, in a thick, murky drizzle. Although I won't be saying this tomorrow when I am working out in it in Swaledale, I don't mind the odd day of summer rain. Yesterday's wind has completely gone, and the drizzle softens and smudges the edges of the landscape, deadening sounds, bringing a sense of stillness. No larks had gone up (at least none I could hear) and even swallows were sat on barbed wire fences, ruffling their feathers. All the cow parsley, grass and buttercups bent over with the weight of raindrops. The only slight tinge of melancholy for me was seeing wild foxgloves in flower. Up here at least, they always seem to come out just before the summer solstice, reminding me that time keeps on moving on.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2019 10:39:23 GMT
Steady-as-you-go run along bridle paths this morning, in a thick, murky drizzle. Although I won't be saying this tomorrow when I am working out in it in Swaledale, I don't mind the odd day of summer rain. Yesterday's wind has completely gone, and the drizzle softens and smudges the edges of the landscape, deadening sounds, bringing a sense of stillness. No larks had gone up (at least none I could hear) and even swallows were sat on barbed wire fences, ruffling their feathers. All the cow parsley, grass and buttercups bent over with the weight of raindrops. The only slight tinge of melancholy for me was seeing wild foxgloves in flower. Up here at least, they always seem to come out just before the summer solstice, reminding me that time keeps on moving on. By 'eck, Leedsy! Zap out the second sentence all but for its last two words plus an odd other word or two here and there (eg. what I've italicised) and change 'me' in the last llne to 'us'...... And you could publish that as poetry! Absolutely brilliant stuff. 11/10.
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Post by felonious on Jun 13, 2019 11:05:22 GMT
Steady-as-you-go run along bridle paths this morning, in a thick, murky drizzle. Although I won't be saying this tomorrow when I am working out in it in Swaledale, I don't mind the odd day of summer rain. Yesterday's wind has completely gone, and the drizzle softens and smudges the edges of the landscape, deadening sounds, bringing a sense of stillness. No larks had gone up (at least none I could hear) and even swallows were sat on barbed wire fences, ruffling their feathers. All the cow parsley, grass and buttercups bent over with the weight of raindrops. The only slight tinge of melancholy for me was seeing wild foxgloves in flower. Up here at least, they always seem to come out just before the summer solstice, reminding me that time keeps on moving on. I was over at Tittesworth on Monday and the swallows were seriously active in the rain literally flying within a few metres of me along the path up against the tree line. Just a few weeks back the very same area was awash with butterflies but this weather has cleared them away. I've got the foxgloves here in abundance at the moment I never quite understand the logic of bi annual plants.
There were two fabulous Jays on the lawn right outside the window this morning, a proper cheery sight.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2019 11:44:31 GMT
Steady-as-you-go run along bridle paths this morning, in a thick, murky drizzle. Although I won't be saying this tomorrow when I am working out in it in Swaledale, I don't mind the odd day of summer rain. Yesterday's wind has completely gone, and the drizzle softens and smudges the edges of the landscape, deadening sounds, bringing a sense of stillness. No larks had gone up (at least none I could hear) and even swallows were sat on barbed wire fences, ruffling their feathers. All the cow parsley, grass and buttercups bent over with the weight of raindrops. The only slight tinge of melancholy for me was seeing wild foxgloves in flower. Up here at least, they always seem to come out just before the summer solstice, reminding me that time keeps on moving on. I was over at Tittesworth on Monday and the swallows were seriously active in the rain literally flying within a few metres of me along the path up against the tree line. Just a few weeks back the very same area was awash with butterflies but this weather has cleared them away. I've got the foxgloves here in abundance at the moment I never quite understand the logic of bi annual plants.
There were two fabulous Jays on the lawn right outside the window this morning, a proper cheery sight.
That's a good point - I wonder where butterflies go in the prolonged spells of rainy weather? I love foxgloves - the plain wild pink ones - one of my fave plants. Love seeing bees going in & out of the bells. Used to have lots but they seem to have pretty much vanished. Obviously time for a trip to Bridgers to get some more.
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Post by potterinleeds on Jun 13, 2019 12:50:33 GMT
Steady-as-you-go run along bridle paths this morning, in a thick, murky drizzle. Although I won't be saying this tomorrow when I am working out in it in Swaledale, I don't mind the odd day of summer rain. Yesterday's wind has completely gone, and the drizzle softens and smudges the edges of the landscape, deadening sounds, bringing a sense of stillness. No larks had gone up (at least none I could hear) and even swallows were sat on barbed wire fences, ruffling their feathers. All the cow parsley, grass and buttercups bent over with the weight of raindrops. The only slight tinge of melancholy for me was seeing wild foxgloves in flower. Up here at least, they always seem to come out just before the summer solstice, reminding me that time keeps on moving on. By 'eck, Leedsy! Zap out the second sentence all but for its last two words plus an odd other word or two here and there (eg. what I've italicised) and change 'me' in the last llne to 'us'...... And you could publish that as poetry! Absolutely brilliant stuff. 11/10. You're too kind Murph . Although I say so myself, my prose (work and private) is good now I feel, but poetry has always eluded me. I do have a notebook where I keep having a go, but it never quite gets there to my mind. I do have a distant friend who is a well-known published poet, so maybe I should show a few to her ….
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Post by Northy on Jun 13, 2019 14:13:40 GMT
Heading into the big smoke, meeting n after works drinks, just passed Arsenal FC with a double handed double V sign, about the only thing sweet this week. I've been to Reading, Bracknell and Stevenage.
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Post by cheeesfreeex on Jun 13, 2019 17:25:55 GMT
Steady-as-you-go run along bridle paths this morning, in a thick, murky drizzle. Although I won't be saying this tomorrow when I am working out in it in Swaledale, I don't mind the odd day of summer rain. Yesterday's wind has completely gone, and the drizzle softens and smudges the edges of the landscape, deadening sounds, bringing a sense of stillness. No larks had gone up (at least none I could hear) and even swallows were sat on barbed wire fences, ruffling their feathers. All the cow parsley, grass and buttercups bent over with the weight of raindrops. The only slight tinge of melancholy for me was seeing wild foxgloves in flower. Up here at least, they always seem to come out just before the summer solstice, reminding me that time keeps on moving on. I was over at Tittesworth on Monday and the swallows were seriously active in the rain literally flying within a few metres of me along the path up against the tree line. Just a few weeks back the very same area was awash with butterflies but this weather has cleared them away. I've got the foxgloves here in abundance at the moment I never quite understand the logic of bi annual plants.
There were two fabulous Jays on the lawn right outside the window this morning, a proper cheery sight.
Another thumbs up for the Foxglove. They're a crazy thing to try to 'falsely' propogate. A mind of their and quite particular about conditions. I've never had any success from neither seeding nor transplanting. {Though after a couple of decades there's the odd one outside my garden, roadside etc popping up. Yet up the folks' Brown Edge they're weed like. On walls, cracks in paths etc etc. There's an old stone cottage at the back of Rudyard {Green Lane?} I had several seeds/plants of yellow foxgloves, not Evening Primroses, but yellow foxgloves. Had one year of success, then gone. Always like to think the seeds may be lying dormant waiting for the right conditions, or might respond to a shake and rake one day. Just from casual observation but I think some foxgloves do several years of flowering from the same rootstock. I'm really not sure how they work other than if you've got them you have, if you anner yer wunna.
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Post by chuffedstokie on Jun 13, 2019 18:42:16 GMT
Heading into the big smoke, meeting n after works drinks, just passed Arsenal FC with a double handed double V sign, about the only thing sweet this week. I've been to Reading, Bracknell and Stevenage. Apart from The Arse and Stevenage a reasonable day out. My son was born at the Lister.
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Post by felonious on Jun 13, 2019 18:59:44 GMT
I was over at Tittesworth on Monday and the swallows were seriously active in the rain literally flying within a few metres of me along the path up against the tree line. Just a few weeks back the very same area was awash with butterflies but this weather has cleared them away. I've got the foxgloves here in abundance at the moment I never quite understand the logic of bi annual plants.
There were two fabulous Jays on the lawn right outside the window this morning, a proper cheery sight.
Another thumbs up for the Foxglove. They're a crazy thing to try to 'falsely' propogate. A mind of their and quite particular about conditions. I've never had any success from neither seeding nor transplanting. {Though after a couple of decades there's the odd one outside my garden, roadside etc popping up. Yet up the folks' Brown Edge they're weed like. On walls, cracks in paths etc etc. There's an old stone cottage at the back of Rudyard {Green Lane?} I had several seeds/plants of yellow foxgloves, not Evening Primroses, but yellow foxgloves. Had one year of success, then gone. Always like to think the seeds may be lying dormant waiting for the right conditions, or might respond to a shake and rake one day. Just from casual observation but I think some foxgloves do several years of flowering from the same rootstock. I'm really not sure how they work other than if you've got them you have, if you anner yer wunna. I've got a gap of 4/5 inches between the front lawn and a low retaining wall that I have to weed. At one end beside the drive there are always several foxgloves that I have to leave until the end of season. The evening primrose however are a law unto themselves and turn up wherever they fancy but the season long flowering is magnificent.
The red hot pokers are having a magnificent season. I've got two clumps that flower at different times and the second is in full bloom and I've never seen so many flower heads on it. There's a lone foxglove right alongside it.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2019 22:19:15 GMT
I was over at Tittesworth on Monday and the swallows were seriously active in the rain literally flying within a few metres of me along the path up against the tree line. Just a few weeks back the very same area was awash with butterflies but this weather has cleared them away. I've got the foxgloves here in abundance at the moment I never quite understand the logic of bi annual plants.
There were two fabulous Jays on the lawn right outside the window this morning, a proper cheery sight.
Another thumbs up for the Foxglove. They're a crazy thing to try to 'falsely' propogate. A mind of their and quite particular about conditions. I've never had any success from neither seeding nor transplanting.
{Though after a couple of decades there's the odd one outside my garden, roadside etc popping up. Yet up the folks' Brown Edge they're weed like. On walls, cracks in paths etc etc. There's an old stone cottage at the back of Rudyard {Green Lane?} I had several seeds/plants of yellow foxgloves, not Evening Primroses, but yellow foxgloves. Had one year of success, then gone. Always like to think the seeds may be lying dormant waiting for the right conditions, or might respond to a shake and rake one day. Just from casual observation but I think some foxgloves do several years of flowering from the same rootstock. I'm really not sure how they work other than if you've got them you have, if you anner yer wunna. Same here, Cheesy --- I tried to set trays of foxglove seeds a couple of times about 15 years ago & not a single thing grew so I gave it up as a bad job, admitted defeat and just bought the fully-grown plants, mainly from Bridgers, although they were unfortunately not cheap, & into the borders they went, grew well & looked brill. For perhaps 2 or 3 years thereafter they seemed to self-seed & were fantastic, but then after that.....ppppffffttt. Zero, zip, zilch, nada. Must get some more, though. You guys all got Forget-Me-Nots? Love those too, and they DO grow!
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 13, 2019 22:29:00 GMT
By 'eck, Leedsy! Zap out the second sentence all but for its last two words plus an odd other word or two here and there (eg. what I've italicised) and change 'me' in the last llne to 'us'...... And you could publish that as poetry! Absolutely brilliant stuff. 11/10. You're too kind Murph . Although I say so myself, my prose (work and private) is good now I feel, but poetry has always eluded me. I do have a notebook where I keep having a go, but it never quite gets there to my mind. I do have a distant friend who is a well-known published poet, so maybe I should show a few to her …. Au contraire --- I meant every word of it, Leedsy! I'm not into poetry, but that description of the countryside during your run was corkin' ! You should definitely send a print of it to your friend who's a poet - I'm sure she'll be knocked out by it! Gaaaaaaaarrrrnnn! I dare you!
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Post by Northy on Jun 14, 2019 14:24:42 GMT
Heading into the big smoke, meeting n after works drinks, just passed Arsenal FC with a double handed double V sign, about the only thing sweet this week. I've been to Reading, Bracknell and Stevenage. Apart from The Arse and Stevenage a reasonable day out. My son was born at the Lister. He must have got out before the mutation genes started Had a very nice Korean meal there on Wednesday, strange place though, in a little row of shops on an estate www.gangnamstevenage.co.uk/
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Post by chuffedstokie on Jun 14, 2019 16:56:36 GMT
Apart from The Arse and Stevenage a reasonable day out. My son was born at the Lister. He must have got out before the mutation genes started Had a very nice Korean meal there on Wednesday, strange place though, in a little row of shops on an estate www.gangnamstevenage.co.uk/Looks ok. There used to be a great curry house in the old town, opposite the outdoor shop. Regular stop off after hockey when we played Stevenage, dirty b@$=@%ds.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 16, 2019 9:11:03 GMT
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 16, 2019 9:19:58 GMT
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 16, 2019 10:00:53 GMT
Ok, back to foxgloves. Watched a very good C5 prog about the history of the Nile last Friday, 9pm & in case anyone's interested there's another this Friday --- BUT --- when it went off there was a very brief trailer for a C5 gardening prog this Tuesday featuring Carol Klein (WOT! I thought she was only BBC) - anyway, in its very brief mention I just happened to catch her referring to 'self-seeding foxgloves', so we might get some useful info. Checked the TV schedule and it will be 'Great British Gardens, Season-by-Season' C5 @ 9pm. See you there.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2019 20:06:28 GMT
Ok, back to foxgloves. Watched a very good C5 prog about the history of the Nile last Friday, 9pm & in case anyone's interested there's another this Friday --- BUT --- when it went off there was a very brief trailer for a C5 gardening prog this Tuesday featuring Carol Klein (WOT! I thought she was only BBC) - anyway, in its very brief mention I just happened to catch her referring to 'self-seeding foxgloves', so we might get some useful info. Checked the TV schedule and it will be 'Great British Gardens, Season-by-Season' C5 @ 9pm. See you there. I don't want to seem to be like Monty Don but I've never had any problems growing foxglove seedlings. They've been one of my "dead-cert" plants to grow, together with Verbena Bonariensis, lupins, cosmos, poppies, salvias, and quite a few others. They usually do self-seed and grow well for about two or three years and then die off, but by then the others that I've grown have established themselves quite well so I've always got two or three areas with foxgloves. I've even had a try with chinese lanterns this year and they're growing quite well. I've got two trays of wallflowers just coming through ready for planting out in October ready for next year. One of the only ones that I can't seem to grow from seed for some reason is penstemon, although I can successfully take cuttings and grow them on. I'll certainly watch Carol Klein on Tuesday to see what she says. I've also got her book "Grow Your Own Garden" which is full of tips and "how to do" for all sorts of seeds and cuttings. Well worth adding it to your library. Edit Coincidentally I was watching some of the Gardeners World live programme this afternoon, and good old Carol Klein showed a new "perennial" foxglove - "Firebird". Could be worth investigating. link
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Post by felonious on Jun 16, 2019 20:12:04 GMT
I was over at Dimmingsdale yesterday. It pissed down all the way over there so I thought I drive to the Ramblers Retreat and have a pot of tea and a piece of cake until it subsided. Sitting outside while it hammered down for 40 minutes was magnificent. Quite a few people were doing exactly the same and a fair few with sorry looking soggy dogs.
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 16, 2019 20:16:53 GMT
I was over at Dimmingsdale yesterday. It pissed down all the way over there so I thought I drive to the Ramblers Retreat and have a pot of tea and a piece of cake until it subsided. Sitting outside while it hammered down for 40 minutes was magnificent. Quite a few people were doing exactly the same and a fair few with sorry looking soggy dogs. Well were you outside but under cover, Fel?
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Post by Northy on Jun 16, 2019 20:18:10 GMT
Ok, back to foxgloves. Watched a very good C5 prog about the history of the Nile last Friday, 9pm & in case anyone's interested there's another this Friday --- BUT --- when it went off there was a very brief trailer for a C5 gardening prog this Tuesday featuring Carol Klein (WOT! I thought she was only BBC) - anyway, in its very brief mention I just happened to catch her referring to 'self-seeding foxgloves', so we might get some useful info. Checked the TV schedule and it will be 'Great British Gardens, Season-by-Season' C5 @ 9pm. See you there. We've got a foxglove growing out of the top of a dead tree fern stump (died in the bad winter in 2010)
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Post by Northy on Jun 16, 2019 20:21:04 GMT
My lad is reporting the term colonies are struggling in this weather, many adults dying, egss being blown out of the ground nests and chicks dying of hypothermia
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 16, 2019 20:30:41 GMT
Ok, back to foxgloves. Checked the TV schedule and it will be 'Great British Gardens, Season-by-Season' C5 @ 9pm. See you there. I don't want to seem to be like Monty Don but I've never had any problems growing foxglove seedlings. They've been one of my "dead-cert" plants to grow, together with Verbena Bonariensis, lupins, cosmos, poppies, salvias, and quite a few others. They usually do self-seed and grow well for about two or three years and then die off, but by then the others that I've grown have established themselves quite well so I've always got two or three areas with foxgloves. I've even had a try with chinese lanterns this year and they're growing quite well. I've got two trays of wallflowers just coming through ready for planting out in October ready for next year. One of the only ones that I can't seem to grow from seed for some reason is penstemon, although I can successfully take cuttings and grow them on. I'll certainly watch Carol Klein on Tuesday to see what she says. I've also got her book "Grow Your Own Garden" which is full of tips and "how to do" for all sorts of seeds and cuttings. Well worth adding it to your library. You bar steward, Dees. Jealous to death now. D'you grow the foxgloves from seed? (I gather you don't leave them to DIY…...) How do you do it? You've clearly got the touch, which Mellors hasn't. Not for growing foxgloves, anyway. Lupins! Another bad word. I love lupins but gave up on them about 25 years ago when I'd finally had enough of the greenfly world regarding me as their Escoffier equivalent & having them constantly award my garden 5 Michelin stars. Oh, poppies - gorgeous! Apart from the years-old clumps round the garden I've got some of a totally different variety which suddenly appeared, all on their own, last year in the long herb bed (ie. a little distance away from all the other clumps of perennials) and they've come back this year. Quote: "Yesssssssssss!!!"
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 16, 2019 20:46:55 GMT
Ok, back to foxgloves. Watched a very good C5 prog about the history of the Nile last Friday, 9pm & in case anyone's interested there's another this Friday --- BUT --- when it went off there was a very brief trailer for a C5 gardening prog this Tuesday featuring Carol Klein (WOT! I thought she was only BBC) - anyway, in its very brief mention I just happened to catch her referring to 'self-seeding foxgloves', so we might get some useful info. Checked the TV schedule and it will be 'Great British Gardens, Season-by-Season' C5 @ 9pm. See you there. I don't want to seem to be like Monty Don but I've never had any problems growing foxglove seedlings. They've been one of my "dead-cert" plants to grow, together with Verbena Bonariensis, lupins, cosmos, poppies, salvias, and quite a few others. They usually do self-seed and grow well for about two or three years and then die off, but by then the others that I've grown have established themselves quite well so I've always got two or three areas with foxgloves. I've even had a try with chinese lanterns this year and they're growing quite well. I've got two trays of wallflowers just coming through ready for planting out in October ready for next year. One of the only ones that I can't seem to grow from seed for some reason is penstemon, although I can successfully take cuttings and grow them on. I'll certainly watch Carol Klein on Tuesday to see what she says. I've also got her book "Grow Your Own Garden" which is full of tips and "how to do" for all sorts of seeds and cuttings. Well worth adding it to your library. Edit
Coincidentally I was watching some of the Gardeners World live programme this afternoon, and good old Carol Klein showed a new "perennial" foxglove - "Firebird". Could be worth investigating. linkHmmmmm..... thanks for that, D.... Interesting - with its almost jagged, clipped-off bells it looks a bit like a foxglove which has gone a bit wrong - it reminds me a bit of parrot tulips, whose streaks of colour originated when they had a disease (and individual bulbs went on to cost more than houses in Holland during 'Tulip Fever') - I wonder if that's how these were developed? I still just like the ordinary pink wild foxgloves most of all. Oh - I tell you what I do get self-seeding easily.......... buddleias!
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Post by Deleted on Jun 16, 2019 20:55:02 GMT
I don't want to seem to be like Monty Don but I've never had any problems growing foxglove seedlings. They've been one of my "dead-cert" plants to grow, together with Verbena Bonariensis, lupins, cosmos, poppies, salvias, and quite a few others. They usually do self-seed and grow well for about two or three years and then die off, but by then the others that I've grown have established themselves quite well so I've always got two or three areas with foxgloves. I've even had a try with chinese lanterns this year and they're growing quite well. I've got two trays of wallflowers just coming through ready for planting out in October ready for next year. One of the only ones that I can't seem to grow from seed for some reason is penstemon, although I can successfully take cuttings and grow them on. I'll certainly watch Carol Klein on Tuesday to see what she says. I've also got her book "Grow Your Own Garden" which is full of tips and "how to do" for all sorts of seeds and cuttings. Well worth adding it to your library. You bar steward, Dees. Jealous to death now. D'you grow the foxgloves from seed? (I gather you don't leave them to DIY…...) How do you do it? You've clearly got the touch, which Mellors hasn't. Not for growing foxgloves, anyway. Lupins! Another bad word. I love lupins but gave up on them about 25 years ago when I'd finally had enough of the greenfly world regarding me as their Escoffier equivalent & having them constantly award my garden 5 Michelin stars. Oh, poppies - gorgeous! Apart from the years-old clumps round the garden I've got some of a totally different variety which suddenly appeared, all on their own, last year in the long herb bed (ie. a little distance away from all the other clumps of perennials) and they've come back this year. Quote: "Yesssssssssss!!!" No tricks or secrets murph - I follow the instructions on the seed packet - main thing is to ensure they get the right temperature for germination, and that the seed compost isn't too wet, but just damp. Some do self seed but I always grow a new batch every year "just in case" the ones in the garden don't self seed. As for lupins - I plant a clump of chives close to them (I do the same for my roses) and the aroma keeps the greenfly/blackfly well away. I grow my poppies from seed and also from root cuttings - really easy if you read Carol's book. I see you've been to Bridgemere for some plants - we go quite often although their prices were always high but they've gone absolutely stupid this year. We go, get some ideas for plants, and then go elsewhere and get them cheaper. Our best "bargain" this year was for a magnolia stellata (white flowers) which was £62 at Bridgemere. We went to Jackson's nursery near Bagnall, and the same plant, same size, better specimen, was £12.99 ! Kerching...thank you very much !
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Post by murphthesurf on Jun 16, 2019 21:41:28 GMT
You bar steward, Dees. Jealous to death now. D'you grow the foxgloves from seed? (I gather you don't leave them to DIY…...) How do you do it? You've clearly got the touch, which Mellors hasn't. Not for growing foxgloves, anyway. No tricks or secrets murph - I follow the instructions on the seed packet - main thing is to ensure they get the right temperature for germination, and that the seed compost isn't too wet, but just damp. Some do self seed but I always grow a new batch every year "just in case" the ones in the garden don't self seed. As for lupins - I plant a clump of chives close to them (I do the same for my roses) and the aroma keeps the greenfly/blackfly well away. I grow my poppies from seed and also from root cuttings - really easy if you read Carol's book. I see you've been to Bridgemere for some plants - we go quite often although their prices were always high but they've gone absolutely stupid this year. We go, get some ideas for plants, and then go elsewhere and get them cheaper. Our best "bargain" this year was for a magnolia stellata (white flowers) which was £62 at Bridgemere. We went to Jackson's nursery near Bagnall, and the same plant, same size, better specimen, was £12.99 ! Kerching...thank you very much ! Yes, Bridgers prices are basically stupidly expensive - it's since they were bought by the Wyevale (? sp / I think) group. I can recommend another place for good quality and very reasonable prices - my pal Susie put me on to them - I think they might be called Garners, but I'll have to check on that. Yes, I've used Jacksons at Bagnall for years, and have spent a fortune there in the past, although I don't think I've been there for probably 10 years now. I think their delivery chap (very pleasant) was called Barry. One time I needed 10 tons of topsoil and specified I wanted the highest-top quality available It arrived & was great, all even and almost like the texture of compost. A few months later I needed another 5 tons so placed another order with them by 'phone - we all knew each other very well as I'd given them a PILE of business & bought loads of stuff over about 5 or 6 years while I was redeveloping the garden - anyway, the second load of 'topsoil' arrived and I was so bluddy glad & relieved that - for once - I just happened to go out there before they'd tipped it out because when I saw it in the back of their lorry I had an awful shock (and nearly throttled the guy for having the brass nerve to bring it) because it was all huge rough clods with loads of grass clumps in it. 'Finest quality black Cheshire top soil' my foot - it looked as though somebody had used a JCB to scoop some earth out from a patch of rough ground, which I was certain was exactly what had happened, by the look of it - it was a disgrace. I was 'far from happy' and told the guy to take it right back. Since then I've always bought topsoil from a place called Acresgreen, and it has always been fabulous quality plus I have only the highest praise for how they look after their customers. They're apparently a family firm, and it really shows.
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Post by felonious on Jun 17, 2019 6:28:07 GMT
My lad is reporting the term colonies are struggling in this weather, many adults dying, egss being blown out of the ground nests and chicks dying of hypothermia I haven't spotted them at Tittesworth yet this year either.
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