Apple/Plum/Cherry Trees are in blossom and the bees are are buzzing around them when the weather permits.....
Lilly beetles are rife in my garden this year. As they're fairly new to the British Isles, they have no natural preditors and are very difficult to control other than picking them off by hand. The little blighters are canny and fall off the leaves as soon as they sense any movement, so you have to be quick as they fall on their backs and are black underneath so you can't see them.
If you have lilly's that you've bought in pots, chances are you'll have the beetles as well as they overwinter in compost, so be vigilant clearing them away, otherwise they'll strip lilly leaves very quickly. At first sight they look like ladybirds, but are slightly more orange, have longer bodies and no spots.
http://www.gardenforumhorticulture.co.uk/pestwatch/lily-beetle.htm
The RHS are conducting a survey to determine their distribution.
With the ongoing extreme cold and wet weather since early April no signs of poppies growing in my garden, just old Spring bulbs and some weeds. At this time of the year poppies would be near or just flowering and finish by July. I had many red and large purple poppies over the past years.
loads of yellow poppies in my garden at the moment - it's the one real bit of colour currently
Next door poppies are in bud...
My climbing roses came into bud during the lovely weather in March but were checked back in April, now the buds are swelling again and there are lots of them. My pyracantha is starting to flower too. The hedgerows are looking really fresh and lush with cow parsley and hawthorn in heavy flower against the new green leaves. Absolutely beautiful!
Interesting connection - so wash your hands -
see - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18206191
Did cleared up the soil beddings from dead Spring bulbs so only 1 purple poppy plant survived the cold and damp weather by growing next to the fence and roots in the crack of the pavement and concrete fence support bar, this may had protected from the cold. Few red poppies in front of our drive way walls. Just puzzled why none of them grow in our bedding areas.
Edited by user 13 June 2012 10:10:38(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Cherry tree had a lot of blossom earlier.The weather changes caused the fruit some damage.Only a few cherries left which are beginning to turn red but the blackbirds are already interested in them...Lots of leaves though...Same with plumbs and the apples...Soft fruit is doing ok so far...
Just hung hanging basket in shed as gusts might do damage as basket is hung on wall.Sweet peas now begining to climb cane tepee so they have their pot placed in shed also...
Gardens beared up well no bad wind damage as yet, we have a slice of lawn at the bottom of the garden that becomes a shallow stream after heavy rain , I keep an eye on this for mowing reasons and sofar so good as the grass needs mowing, today it is dry; last month there was an even gleem of running water over freshly cut grass after the storms deposited a good 15mm.
Edited by user 09 June 2012 09:40:51(UTC) | Reason: Not specified
Nice to amble about the patio and put the plant back out from the shed.Swept up the sycamore leaves.Looked like Autumn out there.Did a bit of dead heading on the rain spoilt flowers.Some goosberies have come off the bush along with some apples.
Tying up the Honeysuckle.New plant sprouting and sending stems up the wall.More rustic string tied on Sweet pea wig wam as now gowing well.