artjak

Latest posts by artjak

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Flowers we don't like?

Posted: 05/03/2013 at 10:55

Years ago a friend took me to an RHS show in Westminster; we walked through the wrong door and saw an exhibition/competition for flowers. 'Oh', I said in ringing tones, 'It's just a show of paper flowers!' At this point my friend clapped a hand over my mouth and dragged me out of the hall; it was an exhibition by very serious Begonia growers. I have to admit I don't much like them, the pom-pom ones look fake to me, but the ones I have seen growing all year round in Barbados look great.

March in your Garden

Posted: 05/03/2013 at 10:49

Just saw a ladybird on the patio rose; Shining Light

Flowers we don't like?

Posted: 05/03/2013 at 09:43

In the summer I love a bunch of rust coloured chrisanths in a big honey coloured vase in the fireplace.

What you haveeaten today?

Posted: 05/03/2013 at 09:39

A light but grown-up ginger cake; I invented recipe for a party last Saturday and now have to email friends with the recipe, it was pretty scrumptious (I can't find a face that shows false modesty!)

Oven on at 180 degrees centigrade

Prep 23 cm springform cake tin; grease/line/grease

1 jar (354grams) of stem ginger retain 3 pieces. The rest + syrup whizz in the food processor.

Add 250 grams ground almonds, 1 shredded/grated dessert apple, juice of half a lemon, 200grams castor sugar, 6 medium eggs, 1 heaped teaspoon of baking powder.

Whizz well between ingredients.

Pour into tin and cook for 40 minutes, test with clean knife, may need a little more time.

Allow to cool on rack

(Optional) mix enough marscapone with creme fraiche to cover top then sprinkle those last bits of ginger coarsely chopped on top.

March in your Garden

Posted: 05/03/2013 at 09:24

GG; mine is 1 metre tall and wide, but a lot that I've seen are 2metres tall and 1 wide.

Barrel Greenhouse Giveaway

Posted: 05/03/2013 at 09:23

Dove I agree with you; he was open about his affiliations, not a sneaky spammer.

Best tasting early peas

Posted: 04/03/2013 at 22:42

Last year I borrowed gutter from neighbour, theirs were germinating well in polytunnel, mine did not germinate so well in new greenhouse but those that did I planted out and nothing much happened. Is there some way that I should be preparing the soil for them? We do have a lot of pigeons around here, but they mostly feed from what is dropped on the ground from the bird feeders; about 25metres from the veg beds.

March in your Garden

Posted: 04/03/2013 at 22:37

Shropshire lass, please give us feedback when the Tree Peonys bloom. Also photos!

Slugs

Posted: 04/03/2013 at 20:28

My raised veg beds are all surrounded by pea gravel; that could explain why I only have a minor problem with slugs. my main problem is on the flower bed.

March in your Garden

Posted: 04/03/2013 at 20:23

Ah Hah! Once you have seen one you cannot live without it! I bought mine from a nursery about 8/10 years ago (sorry to other readers, this story has been on another thread) and it said on the label that the flowers were 100/150 mm across yeah right I thought. Next May I saw from my kitchen window that someone had thrown a big white plastic bag onto the tree peony. I went storming down the garden to find that it was a flower about 200 mm across. So breathtakingly beautiful that I now, when there are about 30/35 flowers of this size on a plant that is 1 metre high invite the neighbours around for a drink and an 'Ahh', in early May. Google Tree peonys and you will be amazed. I give it no special care at all except a bit of water if it is really dry. (but it knows it is my favourite)

451 to 460 of 989