No mounds for the rockery or grass humps then..... Adds relief to a level surface....

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No mounds for the rockery or grass humps then..... Adds relief to a level surface....

No space to dump any of the soil. When we dug the original pond in 1994 there was some waste ground at the end of the road so we would go out after dark with wheelbarrow loads of soil to dump it, so we had no need to hire a skip.

Now, that waste ground has new houses built on it, so a skip is the only answer.

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"I'm just sitting watching flowers in the rain......."

 

 

 

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Wonder how much fruit is left on my mini orchard after all this wind....

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The winds left the fruit on the bushes. So that was a bit of luck. The Sugar snaps are doing ok. The garden peas. are clambering up some sticks..   Keep away slugs and snails.....

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My beans and toms in the garden are not doing too well but I suppose it's the cooler conditions and my hanging baskets are not coming on as quickly as usual either for the same reason.  Everything puts on a bit of a burst on a warm day, then slows again but once it does get warm I'm sure everything will catch up.

Planted some bedding out in the borders this afternoon but the soil is very dry so I've had the hose out to water them in.  We've had a lot of wind in the past couple of weeks and not a great deal of rain in the past couple of months.  Not really good growing conditions but fingers crossed summer is here.

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Wind dried plant were watered again today. Tomatoes in the growing room got moved to the front to increase the light. They are strong  but  would like them a little bit taller.. This time of year I am thinking of what to  remove and put in something new... More Heuchera required of the variegated kind.    

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Growing has started again slowly since I last posted, although we have had a couple of really cool days but with some warm ones in between.  It's also been raining for the past 24 hours, which is what we needed.  The local farmers have been irrigating fields for the past couple of weeks, so they'll be grateful of the rain.

My hanging baskets were sat on the patio where it gets most sunshine but I've had to hang them up today because the blackbirds are stealing the coir liners for nesting material again and I had visions of the compost and plants collapsing through the basket wire! 

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The pond is progressing, the hole is finished, bought the paving to go round the edge on Thursday and Friday. Had to make two trips because of the weight of the paving slabs. The next job is to buy the butyl liner and the underlay.

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More photos of the pond please Eric! 

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More photos of the pond please Eric! 

Will probably post more photos around next weekend when hopefully the liner will be in place.

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Looking forward to seeing some progress on the pond Eric! 

Would you believe that cheeky female blackbird that's been ragging my hanging baskets is still taking the liners even though the baskets are now hanging up.  Not only are they close to the house on the front of the veranda but Meg, our cat, was sat on the veranda watching it. 

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Bought the butyl rubber pond liner and the underlay this morning, but no other progress.

Have covered the hole with a tarpaulin to keep the rain out.

Going on holiday for a week next weekend so I can`t see the job being finished before the middle of July, weather permitting!!

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My pond is looking good right now but at this time of year it overgrows quickly and I have to thin out the plants regularly otherwise I can't see the fish.  I'm off on holiday on Wednesday for two weeks so it will be in need of serious attention when I get home.  I'm leaving my youngest and his girlfriend in charge of watering the baskets and tubs, so they'll probably suffer too, despite the precise instructions I give them. 

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Put the pond liner in place yesterday and filled it about three quarters full of water. It was a busy day (making the most of the nice weather)

I installed the heavy duty underlay yesterday morning then my son came round to help me install the 1mm thick butyl liner which is very heavy.

Still a fair bit to do cementing the paving in place round the edge, and laying the beach side of the pond with pebbles in morter.

Will post a photo tomorrow or Friday.

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Sugar snaps are doing well in this weather.. Had to cut down some wayward sycamore  growth for pea sticks. Only got 4 tubs of them. Some more staking done for the  dwarf beans just to stop them flopping about I any heavy rain or wind. Courgettes are growing well and looking forward to produce. Tomatoes have been  tied   in and doing well with flower buds beginning to  get bigger. Hope the growing room is going to be big enough.. Herbs are being used regular . Some nice lemon mint tea has been appreciated. Will do go down well in the coming foretold heat...Lemon trees now in bigger pots.. Growing well . Fruit trees do have a lot  on them .Already ate some of the cherries. Blackberries are rather plentiful so hope they colour well later..... 

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Some spectacular roses this year....

 

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Lovely Bloom...

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Great in the growing room tomatoes are climbing and reached the top. Lid left open all the time now. Flowering well and giving a shake and a buzz. Mange tout is being harvested a few pods enough each day. Dwarf beans are growing well. Mint and herbs are being used for a Tisane..  Chives are coming on again as used a lot along with the rosemary.  Tarragon is pinched back to make shrubby..... Fennel leaves is used in salad and on fish..   Orang/lemon trees are sprouting new leaves now. .....

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I'm currently in my annual war against the weeds - and I'd be grateful for any suggestions on how to deal with one in particular - mare's tail!

Dock and nettles I can deal with but this one has appeared around the raised vegetable beds. It seems impervious to any conventional weedkiller - suggestions welcomed please!

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