Dovefromabove

Lesser Celandine

It does have such lovely sunny little faces 

I'll get my coat ..........

composting

I happily put moss on my compost heap and have not found a problem.  I would not put ivy on there - I've had enough problems trying to get rid of it I wouldn't want to run any risks.  As for the rhodo leaves - they seem to take for ever to break down in woodland, so I presume they'd take for ever in the compost heap too.  I think I'd put them in a brown bin or burn them, or if you have enough room for a really wild corner then I'd put them there for hedgehogs etc to use when making nests/hibernacula etc.

Pruning

It will only grow as big as the roots will let it.  It might need some fresh compost this spring -  if you can't tackle getting it out of the pot and shaking off as much compost as you can then repotting, you can scrape as much compost as you can from the top of the pot and replace it with some fresh.  John Innes No 3 is best for plants that are going to stay in their pot for a good long while.  

It's a lovely shrub with great autumn colour and I want to get one for the garden we're creating here in our new home 

Pruning

I wouldn't prune it at all, it's much more attractive if allowed to grow naturally.  It'll soon be leafing up and looking much better 

TPO and mature Sycamore - to buy or not to buy

That's quite close, the surface roots will spread over most of the garden.   If I'm right the tree is either on the south-east or north-west boundary.  If it's on the Northwest then it won't shade the garden too much, but if it's on the southwest boundary it'll keep most of the morning sun off the garden if I've got it right .  It wouldln't suit me - I'd think long and hard about it if I were you .... sorry.

Fork Handles

Dead easy and one of the nicest cakes I've ever made - OH has just had two slices  http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/10500/rhubarb-and-custard-cake 

I roasted the rhubarb yesterday when I was cooking supper.

TPO and mature Sycamore - to buy or not to buy

One of the problems will be from the surface roots - it will be difficult to have flower or veg beds where the roots are, and shade will also be a problem.   Is it to the North, South East or West of the garden? You will also have to rake the leaves every autumn and either make leafmould for the garden or otherwise dispose of them.

On the plus side a tree will attrack all sort of birds to your garden - we have two large ash trees at the bottom of our garden, and they are always full of birds. 

Fork Handles

Well, the sun came out a bit so I went out and tidied up the clematis and rambling roses, hoed the herb garden and watered the lettuces under the big cloche - I also had a very careful peek in one of the hedgehog houses - definitely occupied  .... and I've made the week's bread and a Rhubarb & Custard cake, and there's a shoulder of lamb boulangere in the oven and a bottle of Rioja just coming up to room temp   It'll be ready about 7pm - anyone hungry? 

Thoughts on Nesting Boxes

I've (sorry, We've) put up tit boxes in this garden and they're being inspected 

but we're not going to put up the open-fronted type until we've got plenty of cover to put them behind - we're planting honeysuckle, clematis, rambling and climbing roses as well as other climbers to give the birds plenty of cover, then we'll put the nest boxes on the fence behind thick tangles of creeper and fire water pistols at the cats and magpies 

pond cover

kerri wrote (see)

with regards to the plastic heron it deters them as they dont really ''fish '' where another heron is standing ,good luck

Apparently it works most times of the year, except at this time of year when they're looking for mates ..................... 

Hosta flowering - shall I or shan't I?

Butterflies

Hellebore Addiction

Hedgehog Watch!!!

The average gardener

Growing giant pumpkins

Back to the top?

Windchimes

Battening down the hatches

Signs of Spring!!!

Protecting the outside tap from frost

Ash tree disease!

Weeding - a forgotten skill? Discuss ....

Berry-eating birds will need more help this year

Strange seed pods - any ideas?