Daintiness

Is this spring worse than last year's?

Spring officially arrived today - I took my coat off while gardening today!

I do hope that is the end of that east wind as it has been so cold for so long. Planted marigold seeds today and have moved some seedlings out of the house and into my unheated green house.It was into the 30's in the green house today and the automatic vent opened for the 1st time this year. Things are on the up!

Frogspawn 2013

My toads have turned up today and are 'very active' - all paired up and at th bottom of the pond or sitting at the surface. Really pleased to see them as in all the years I have kept records they have never spawned in April, never mind half way through the month.

The frogs too have produced some more spawn other the last few day.s

 Spring is here!

Frogspawn 2013

I have had some more frogspawn in the last few days while the earlier lot seems to be suspended in time and hasn't developed very much - waiting for warmer weather like the rest of us...

I, however, haven't seen a single toad this year (so far). They usually spawn a couple of weeks after the frogs but so far not a single toad, never mind strings of eggs. My newts are now active  and hopefully they are  'doin' their thing'.

I don't think a visiting heron and now a pair of mallards from the local park is helping with frog/toad/spawn survival much either this year!  

Aldi garden stuff

I agree with Red Dahlia, the Garden line seed/cutting compost is lovely. Got 20 trailing lobelia plants for £2 - great plants that should be flowering by the end of the month (sunshine permitting!)

Begonia Aricot shades

I keep mine from year to year. I do  it the lazy way - I remove the dying foliage and then let the tubers dry out in their pots under shelter. I check for any dreaded vine weevils around them before putting them in the garage under some cardboard for insulation until spring.

Then I dig them up and start them in fresh compost in the greenhouse disgarding any soft or rotten ones. Usually have a good percentage that survive. Hopefully I'll start them off ths weekend -- I can't wait any longer and it will be in the house this year too - now, that's a first!

What annuals can I sow for summer colour?

Cosmos, marigolds, nastursums. Go for open flowers not doubles or pom poms to attract bes.

Forum names

Loving this thread as I did the equilivant one on the old beeb forum.

My name comes from a Camellia in my garden whose name I could never remember and came over with me from the beeb site. Never tried to use my real name - Janet, but by the sounds of it, I might have needed Bev to help me with the numbers needed to  follow it.

My Camellia usually flowers in April - possibly later this year... I'll post a picture or change my pic.

ground cover

I'm on London clay and mine does really well, I have underplanted with daffodils for spring colour and the leaves die down as the geranium flowers take over

ground cover

Holle hock,  Geranium macrorrhizum will grow anywhere. I have it in growing in dry shade, damp shade and in sun. There are pink flowers in May, leaves take on autumnal shades in autumn, scented leaves and so easy to propagate. You just break off a piece and replant. Also easy to rid of (and you can't say that about too many ground cover plants. Roots are not deep and I just pull it out when it encroaches.

There is a varigated version and a smaller white flowered one too. I have found them alot less vigorous and not as good as the original in other aspects too.

Vistors had a party yesterday

I have had Lesser Redpolls on my feeders for the first time ever this winter.However, the Coal Tits and Great Spotted Woodpeckers seem to have deserted me. Several weeks ago, something - a sparrowhawk, I presume, grabbed a bird off the feeder before my very eyes with such speed I couldn't believe or id. it.

Is this spring worse than last year's?

Frogspawn 2013

Which? Compost reviews

Growing hyacinths in water

Cornus Kousa

Salt and Vinegar

Help - pricing toms

New Lawn - cracks

sand for plants?