General Chat

I haven't ventured out in the garden as I think it will be a bit soggy. It is 12 degrees now so hopefully it will dry things up if we don't have more rain. Friend coming at 2pm so no gardening then either. I walked down to post a letter then when I had finished my coffee I made a real effort and managed to finish all the sky on the jigsaw. there were two pieces misplaced but not where people thought before, one was right up the other end of the picture and I only found it by trial and error using the shape. Other than that I have been tidying up my files on my PC a bit and saving some stuff ready for when the fellow comes Friday to do the health check.

Just in for a break from gardening- Not serious work, just a bit of tidying to have something in the gardening bin for collection tomorrow.

It's really mild and lovely sunshine, so no coat or jacket needed, but very wet under foot after all the weekend rain.

Yes they will if they are in the conservatory and thats the best place for them. Enjoy your afternoon with your friend.

Its only 6 degrees here so your warmer than us but its nice out. Washings in the machine and I have to go and feed the chickens now as I have done other things this morning.

Temp gone up to 8 here now. It was obviously cold overnight in the conservatory but the plants seem to have survived.

Morning everyone ,

7 degrees here and the Suns shining ,more washing in the machine don't know where it all comes from with only the two of us well three if you count Max as his bedding gets washed regularly.
Doing a bit in the garden later we're just having a coffee then we'll make a start ,trellis to go back up and Colin is going to paint the brackets for the hanging baskets ,freshen them up a bit with some black hammerite .

good morning Mel and everyone.
Only 2 degrees here Mel, sun is shining and it must have only been a light frost, nothing on roofs but tops of cars outside frosted. Easy morning for me then friend coming this afternoon for a chat.

Morning all,

Nice bright frosty morning and I am up nice and early so hoping to get lots done today. Its 3 degrees here and pc says mostly cloudy Iso I hope its wrong.

Mandy some of my geraniums have gone a bit 'leggy, so I thought if I cut them down a bit and used bits from the tops as cuttings the main plant would bush out with new shoots. Rudbeckias are nice and I like Echinaceas too, but have neither. I have to stop myself getting carried away as I only have room for a few perennials among the evergreens. That's good your son is doing an after school gardening club. It's the age to get them interested. I remember watching my dad grow veg and mum always had a few bedding plants. My grandparents were gardeners and first OH's parents were very keen gardeners who sold bedding plants, Chrysanths and tomatoes as well as veg. OH's parents never grew anything to eat, but his mum managed a Co-op so probably got food discounts.

As long as you enjoy our photos that is all that matters Island. Sometimes in the past I have been concerned that I may be be sending them to someone and they didn't really want to see them anymore, but didn't like to say.

I tried some peat free compost a few years ago and vowed never to use it again AnnG. It had stringy, clumpy threads in it and seemed to dry out very quickly so seeds didn't germinate well at all. In the end I mixed it in with other compost and soil to use it up in my pots. It might be better by now though or maybe some brands are better than others.

Well Asda dropped the food off and went without ringing the doorbell again! I thought they were still unloading so It was a good job OH noticed the van had gone. I'm not popular as somehow I managed to put on and remove OH's bread! He got the seeded one but not the one he likes for sandwiches.:-S Only a couple of subs and 2 out of stock this time so better than usual.

Doesn't Lewis look great?

Our local Primary School has an Easter Bonnet parade.

Many boys and girls take part and there is a prize for best efforts in I think 3 age categories, but all children who take part receive a small token prize.
Consideration is given to reward work obviously done by the pupils.

At least, this is what has happened in recent years.

Sometimes parents help them to make the actual hat.
Tall top hats and one shaped like a large Creme Egg have featured in the past.

Mel I didn’t have a choice most garden centres seem to be going pest free now.

Mandy It will be interesting to know if there is a prize for the best hat. Years gone by there would have been however these days maybe it would be frowned on.

Island always good to see you on here <3

I'm not sure if they having competition Anng dil just said he needs a easter hat so I said I'd help him to decorate it .
I ordered some Redbeckia Autumn Forest in my seed order .

This week son is doing an after school gardening club with some of the children
Lewis is doing it and I think son said he would have 10 children altogether.

Ann I'm just going to repot my Geraniums I never thought about taking some cuttings from them ,I'll have to see if there any bits I can get off them .

Just started raining here now.

I have never tried the peat free compost either. Its a case of getting it where you can and Mole Valley don't do it and niether does the shop up the road.

Lewis's hat is fabulous Mandy. I hope there is room for my couple of bits but quite understand if there is'nt.

Nice to see Island pop in, sending love <3

Spent most of the morning trying to clean something up and then got lunch and now I have to wsh up before going back to myraft. I also want to have a go with my birthday present and see if I can make some silicone moulds, bet I mess it up.

Folks, I have said before that I have eye sight issues so reading long posts is not easy and takes too long. I have enjoyed your photos but perhaps don't respond as often as would be liked. If anyone doesn't want to share photos - sorry I have nothing to share - just say so please.

I meant to say Ann. I was thinking just that about Monyy when I was planting my seeds just now. He has a potting shed and can have his seed compost in a big open tray, I have to work taking the compost from the bag. Although this time I did put it into an old washing up bowl as I had to work it until it was fine enough as in the bag it was compacted until it was flat and solid. I am not sure I like the peat free stuff, it seems to have a lot of bits of straw like stuff in it. It will be interesting to see what the seeds grow like in this stuff.

Ann I would normally just plant them as they are but mine are very old now and not looking very food so, being I don;t want extra work if things are not going to be any good I may throw them and buy some new. I did have one cutting that has grown OK but that is an Ivy geranium from T's old plants. Mine that are not surviving well are a butterfly pelargonium and a scented leaf one. Neither are that easy to over winter but have done so for 3 or 4 years until now. I think, this year they have dried out too much, still I will leave them in their pots and see what happens by June.

Mandy I did say in my email return to yours how impressive Lewis's hat is Do they have a competition with them, I am sure he would win if they do.

Afternoon Everyone,

We just had rain for a while so OH is muttering it always rains when the food drop is due!

Nice to see you Island........I thought it might be the same company you said were good for seeds. While tidying up in here yesterday I came across a little Spring catalogue for www.dtbrownseeds.co.uk and they seem quite good and have some dwarf runner beans you can grow in pots like french beans.

Mandy doesn't Lewis look great in his Easter hat. It's just the right size and looks perfect with the colours. As I said in my reply to you I love how the feathers intertwine too. Thank you for getting a photo!

Oh Vera it sounds like the gin didn't help you sleep, unless as Mandy said, you needed another glass! lol I didn't sleep quite as well either so must be getting less tired. OH has hoovered the bungalow this morning, but like you with the dusting, I can see bits he's missed, but at least it does look better so I'm not saying anything either.

I saw Monty last night and his seed planting AnnG. I was surprised he wasn't using something recycled like supermarket food containers for his seed trays. One thing he has that most of us don't have is loads of space to do things and places to store things. Mind you we only see what the camera shows us!

On the subject of gardening ladies, about the Geraniums. Do you plant them up as they are, or do you use the old plants to take cuttings from instead? I have some cuttings that are doing well that I must see if they need repotting soon.

Better get the kitchen ready for the food that needs wiping down next and sort the freezer.

I have just planted some for indoor windowsills. Maskotka cherry tomatoes, I thin the Makotka I had last year were bigger than cherry but couldn't find those on line. Also planted a few Rudbeckia. didn't plant the whole packey of 500 seeds!!!!

Sorry Island Sent now .

Looks more like rain so just got the washing in and we've now lit the fire going to sit and watch a bit of midsummer at 2 o'clock and make another little pig ,Lewis went home with the tiny one yesterday .

Anng, I bought my seeds in January from Premier seeds direct as per - good value and quick to arrive. Won't be sowing just yet but made a start on clearing last years debris from the raised beds - a little each day.

I think my little piggie went to market. :-(

O Mandy I thought you wouldhave had the parcel by now as I sent it first class. What a nuisance. I hope they are not too big to fit on the hat as there are three things and some coloured daisys you can cut apart and stick on.