flowering rose

help with kumquat tree!

I have a kumquat and they do not like central heating.they like special food in winter and rain water.mist lightly and water once a month in winter.

sweet peas in toilet roll inners

once the sweet peas have come through plant out into position with toilet roll holder device in place.They do better now to be planted out(advice given to me)and the cardboard in time will disintegrate.The mould is because of over watering in  a closed area.

My crab apple has become an apple....

personally I would keep it as a crab and make some lovely crab apple jelly and they are useful for the strong amount of pectin needed in other jams and jelly's.

Gardening For Wildlife

plant  plants that are useful for butterflies,all sorts of buddleia ,sedums,e.t.c,pants that are similar to out native ones that attract wildlife and birds.Holly,hazel,hawthorn.You can make a really good beginning by planting what would make wild life attracted to your garden.Avoid being to tidy and using gravel ,make a shelter for birds and foxs  at the bottom .You have a pond ,do not put fish in it,and with time and ever gaining experience you ll have a garden to sit and watch nature at its best.

Garden aspects. N,S,E,W? Which is best?

sounds a bit like that film with cary grant

Rodents

My daughter has chickens and has problems with rats(who does not),she left poison out for the rats in containers and they took it back to their nests but some dead ones were found in the cage and out side.The best way and kindest is to use dogs trained for a instant kill or as one pest controller told me to put glass in a choc bar (in the rat box)this kills them as they bleed to death not nice but nor is poison.The wildlife is not effected by the last two as is the poison if it gets into the food chain.

perennials I didn't get round to planting

well,I have just planted "Cassandra" but most clematis will be OK in the pots till you decide to plant them long as they do not dry out the others somewhere where the frost wont get them,frost will do more damage than anything

Lets hear it for the houseplants.

This is one small part of my indoor plants,this sun room is full and every room and window sill and porch has plants.Its obsession that I love.

Is this a weed as it is spreading rapidly

so do I,its a lovely plant.

Talkback: Winter shelter for wildlife

mice or rats might be cute but in a house they will chew wiring and cause no end of damage as well as spreading disease.I had rats in the past and believe me they are not nice live with.Of course there will some outside always but you need to discourage them by not leaving food available or nooks or uncovered drains or holes.Rats are becoming immune to poisons.They do not like the smell of bleach so a bit down the drain helps.spiders on the other hand help to eliminate bugs and flies e.t.c so if you kill them you ll have more bugs.Ugly might not be cute but cute wont be friendly.

breathing life into faded plastic chairs.

Talkback: Plant diseases and busy Lizzies

is re-cyling your green bin ,a good thing?

The weather

Talkback: Edible dahlia tubers

Talkback: Orange ladybirds

squirrel shot for coming to the table.

down at thefrozen pond

what you find when out walking

new years resolution

wildlife in the city

Ford Abbey near Yeovil

Talkback: Hedgehog rescue

slugs in the kitchen

christmas tree