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Roger Parsons
23 December 2024 16:28:01
Me too - on my way to get the bird and chipolatas from the butcher!😁
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
roadrunnerajn
23 December 2024 16:28:22
After yesterday’s wind the grass was nice and dry so I gave it a good cut.. again. The daffodils are out and so are the primroses. Most of the bulbs are already showing green shoots. I saw a agapanthus in bloom yesterday as well..very mild even for down here.
Germoe, part of the breakaway Celtic Republic. 80m asl
StoneCroze
24 December 2024 08:00:00
Garden suffered quite a bit with the recent longevity of strong winds. 
Going to have a look in the raised bed in the greenhouse later to see if the Jersey Royal spuds are ready. 
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
24 December 2024 09:25:51
Yes, the winds played havoc here recently too. The neighbour's fence went, so when they replace it, I'm inspired to re-landscape two parts of my garden. I'm looking at transplanting a large standard bay to a place where a rose arch looks the worse for wear. In the bay's place, I'm planting an 'Evereste' Crabapple tree. It gets no sun in the winter but plenty in the spring and summer.
The barest of peeks from some early daffs, but no signs yet of snowdrops. Certainly no agapanthus.


Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
Bolty
24 December 2024 17:35:32
Yes, my little winter garden is coming on quite well. I planted a Christmas rose and a few hardy cyclamen in the patch and it's surprising how much it brightens things up at this time of year:

UserPostedImage UserPostedImage
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
Bolty
26 December 2024 12:37:05
Quite a few bulbs coming up already. It's the first time I've noticed loads of green shoots all over my garden.
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
Retron
26 December 2024 12:44:00

Quite a few bulbs coming up already. It's the first time I've noticed loads of green shoots all over my garden.

Originally Posted by: Bolty 


You've just had the "life in southern Britain" experience! Mind you, even though there are various bulbs with buds here, and some primroses happily flowering, there are no daffodils yet. Further west, at the wolf centre near Reading, there were so many daffodils in flower that the owner cut some and put them on her Christmas dinner table! That's a new one on me...
Leysdown, north Kent
NMA
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02 January 2025 12:44:03
Fig and almond trees thriving in UK thanks to fewer frosts, RHS says
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/02/fig-almond-trees-thriving-uk-thanks-to-fewer-frosts-rhs 

UserPostedImage
It’s this kind of article that slightly annoys me. I’ve posted a screen capture above in case the article is
re-edited with a Ficus carica instead of a Fig leaf gourd (cucurbita ficifolia) sic image. 
Someone else is bound to notice. I’m surely not the only person.
Yes, we get less frosts nowadays but when you see this story on Figs and Almonds growing in the UK due to fewer frosts, it’s a bit of a misleading article. The photo of a fig gourd masquerading as a Fig)  (I’m 100% sure the writer meant Ficus carica), merely shows sloppy research.  I know a little bit about figs. Roger if he reads this knows even more. But anyway I’ve grown them in England in the last century with great success and know they were grown in Britain probably by the Romans and certainly in medieval times.

Almond trees were introduced to Britain I believe in the 1350s. The implication/message of the article is of course that gardeners have only recently been able to grow these two plants in Britain because of fewer frosts.  That’s misleading. Whether it’s written on purpose or with ignorance, who knows? But one thing is certain, good editors are a declining species.
Rant over.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
StoneCroze
09 January 2025 12:15:03
Chilli seeds sown this morning in heated propagators.  
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
NMA
  • NMA
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09 January 2025 12:56:35

Chilli seeds sown this morning in heated propagators.  

Originally Posted by: StoneCroze 


Very good. Hope germination is fast.
Yesterday I was able to mark out with string and pole to make a suitable half circle bed for my crab apple ‘Evereste’. A lot of thinking went into this tree. Getting the right rootstock (MM106) was an issue because many nurseries and garden centres leave this off their description and they can be coy about they’ve used.   I don’t want a huge tree but on the other hand not a very small tree. The rain/sleet and snow began as I finished the groundworks. Perfect timing. I’ll be using a mycorrhizal fungus to improve its root growth.  

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/maintain-the-garden/mycorrhizal-fungi/ 

First time for me and it’s teaching an old dog (me) new tricks but I’ve become increasingly aware of their importance in ecosystems. It was a German who first opened my eyes to their importance in the soil a long time ago. So I now have a packet I’ll add to the roots and planting hole when the soil is OK for planting. Frozen still.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
StoneCroze
10 January 2025 11:42:50

Very good. Hope germination is fast.
Yesterday I was able to mark out with string and pole to make a suitable half circle bed for my crab apple ‘Evereste’. A lot of thinking went into this tree. Getting the right rootstock (MM106) was an issue because many nurseries and garden centres leave this off their description and they can be coy about they’ve used.   I don’t want a huge tree but on the other hand not a very small tree. The rain/sleet and snow began as I finished the groundworks. Perfect timing. I’ll be using a mycorrhizal fungus to improve its root growth.  

https://www.gardenersworld.com/how-to/maintain-the-garden/mycorrhizal-fungi/ 

First time for me and it’s teaching an old dog (me) new tricks but I’ve become increasingly aware of their importance in ecosystems. It was a German who first opened my eyes to their importance in the soil a long time ago. So I now have a packet I’ll add to the roots and planting hole when the soil is OK for planting. Frozen still.

Originally Posted by: NMA 


I think I saw Monty Don extolling the virtues of mycorrhizal. It was in a white powder form.

I planted 20 hazel trees last autumn but the incessant winds this winter have taken their toll. One olive tree is nearly totally bare and my myrtle tree is very burnt.  
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
DEW
  • DEW
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12 January 2025 09:15:50
Despite the cold snap, hazel catkins beginning to 'blow' and daffodils well in bud though not yet yellow
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl
Roger Parsons
20 January 2025 07:32:07

Despite the cold snap, hazel catkins beginning to 'blow' and daffodils well in bud though not yet yellow

Originally Posted by: DEW 


There is a Lincolnshire saying: "Plant your beans when you see the first drunk coming home from Boston Fair!"
Photos wanted to celebrate fair's 900th birthday
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c7vde7gl7vzo 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Bolty
21 January 2025 21:38:44
I've started some orange coneflowers and night-scented phlox off in seed trays today. I might order some carnation seeds off of Amazon and see how they come along.
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
Roger Parsons
22 January 2025 05:53:23
Have you looked at your lawn? Wormcasts here are exceptionally impressive. Driving to a neighbouring village yesterday I was struck by the number of huge molehills too. Clearly the wet but relatively mild winter has required considerable excavation and housekeeping for subterranean creatures. Must visit one of our local badger setts and see if they find that too.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/worm-casts-in-lawns 
https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/moles 
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
22 January 2025 06:59:24
Thanks Bolty for the reminder on night-scented phlox. One for my garden this year.
No moles in my garden but they are active on verges around here.

I have sweet cicely in the fridge chilling out before I sow it. Rock samphire seeds in a bag in the office. I should have sown last autumn but garden and house works have prevented that. Now the fence is up again (neighbours) it will be all go on the garden again. My crab apple went in a couple of weeks back.

I have a gardening assistant who began work with me on Boxing Day. Cleared one pool of some prime fish and almost all in another before I took preventative measures. But he or she won't take no or feck off for an answer. Talkative as hell but I can't understand heronspeak. Just stands there talking on a ridge or where ever it can see me and talks.
Would come in the office if I left the door open and see what i'm doing but after its rich dinners I wouldn't want to house clean after it.
Just hope it isn't like a parrot and can learn phrases.
UserPostedImage
UserPostedImage
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
doctormog
22 January 2025 07:05:01

Have you looked at your lawn? Wormcasts here are exceptionally impressive. Driving to a neighbouring village yesterday I was struck by the number of huge molehills too. Clearly the wet but relatively mild winter has required considerable excavation and housekeeping for subterranean creatures. Must visit one of our local badger setts and see if they find that too.
https://www.rhs.org.uk/lawns/worm-casts-in-lawns 
https://www.rhs.org.uk/biodiversity/moles 

Originally Posted by: Roger Parsons 


No chance here, I think we have developed permafrost. 🤣

In all seriousness, the ground seems to have been frozen for the vast majority of the year/month so far. Any hint of spring seems a long way away in the garden.
Windy Willow
22 January 2025 07:05:45

I've started some orange coneflowers and night-scented phlox off in seed trays today. I might order some carnation seeds off of Amazon and see how they come along.

Originally Posted by: Bolty 


Oh this is good to know, I wasn't aware that there was a night scented variety (I'm still relatively newish to flower growing). Thanks for this, I may have to get some seeds too.
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn't swallow the hypocrisy.

Barry White


It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) - R.E.M.
Roger Parsons
22 January 2025 07:10:53

No chance here, I think we have developed permafrost. 🤣

In all seriousness, the ground seems to have been frozen for the vast majority of the year/month so far. Any hint of spring seems a long way away in the garden.

Originally Posted by: doctormog 


I was out and about yesterday with no jacket - only a sweater needed. What a contrast! The micro-climate of "the horseshoe round the Wash?"
RogerP
West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire
Everything taken together, here in Lincolnshire are more good things than man could have had the conscience to ask.
William Cobbett, in his Rural Rides - c.1830
Bolty
22 January 2025 16:30:26

Oh this is good to know, I wasn't aware that there was a night scented variety (I'm still relatively newish to flower growing). Thanks for this, I may have to get some seeds too.

Originally Posted by: Windy Willow 


These should be fine: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/304408110624 

The seeds themselves are tiny, but they're easy to germinate. Just keep them in a propagator on the windownsill and you should see little green shoots within a week or so. 👍
Scott
Blackrod, Lancashire (4 miles south of Chorley) at 156m asl.
My weather station 
StoneCroze
28 January 2025 11:48:39
I noticed this morning an agapanthus in flower.
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
NMA
  • NMA
  • Advanced Member
28 January 2025 12:15:36

I noticed this morning an agapanthus in flower.

Originally Posted by: StoneCroze 


That is early. Mine in pots are all slimy yellow leaves.
It will be April before the new leaves show here I think.
And the flowers sometime in early July.
Snowdrops appearing though.
Vale of the Great Dairies
South Dorset
Elevation 60m 197ft
StoneCroze
28 January 2025 13:11:39

That is early. Mine in pots are all slimy yellow leaves.
It will be April before the new leaves show here I think.
And the flowers sometime in early July.
Snowdrops appearing though.

Originally Posted by: NMA 


In the front garden we have loads of the things, well drained sandy soil they are in the beds in the ground. They have leaves on all year round, easy to split and propagate and act as great weed suppressers.
Alderney, Channel Islands. (previously known as Beaufort)
Windy Willow
28 January 2025 13:49:51
Does anyone have a good, none chemical cure for soil gnats? I have diatomaceous earth on top of the soil, quite a deep covering and the yellow sticky things but my goodness they are a pain. They're in all four of my amaryllis pots. Any advice is welcome on dealing with this.
South Holland, Lincs 5m/16ft ASL

When I saw corruption, I was forced to find truth on my own. I couldn't swallow the hypocrisy.

Barry White


It’s the end of the world as we know it (and I feel fine) - R.E.M.
DEW
  • DEW
  • Advanced Member
28 January 2025 13:50:00
First (roadside) daffodils out here - not a special variety
War does not determine who is right, only who is left - Bertrand Russell

Chichester 12m asl

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