jo4eyes

What's the weather like in your area?

What a difference today-

Yesterday was patchy, thick fog all around us, west, central & south Manchester & North Cheshire. Cold & horrible, but of course out we all went....down to Dunham Massey's winter garden. Despite getting rather cold, OH has got some stunning pics of shrubs in flower, droplets hanging off flower buds etc. It was still lovely down there despite the swirling fog.

Then a nice cuppa & nibbles in the cafe there to warm us all up before braving the drive back. That took at least twice as long as normal, not much fun.

Very cold walk up to our local Italian last night, but definitely warmer walking back....or could it have been the vino?!

Today, yes cold out the back this morning & the odd patch of ice surprisingly at the front, which is usually warmer. Sun from the start & breezey so washing flapping nicely. No chance to 'potter' though. J.

Fork Handles

Oh hard luck Bjay.

We have 4 full size wheely bins to store. We're lucky as have space at the side/back of houses to store them, but some modern terrace types have to keep them at their fronts- not nice to look at, nor smell in one situation as South facing!,

Some people do have smaller ones for bottles & the paper collection. They must have struggled with it going from 2weekly originally to the now monthly. Still by May apparently, should all be on the 'new' times. J.

Fork Handles

Hi Inka, yes 7hrs of what?

The monthly collection of our waste paper wheely bin has not occurred today! Everybody's bin all neatly still outside their drives....

It is going back to fortnightly sometime soon- good- along with the bottle collection, but the general waste is going from weekly to 2 weekly & the garden/foodwaste will be weekly!!

Off to dish up meal now. J.

Fork Handles

S'alright, shall move them back again! J.

Talkback: How to make a composting trench

Yes, is the short answer.

Some years, eg last, I couldnt start my 'bean trench' for this yrs' crop until the next Spring. Ok, not all the vegetable waste that I'd used had completely rotted down, but by the time I dismantled the wigwam in late summer- very bad yr for growing for me- no sign of the trench filling remained & the soil was in good condition.

I now try & adopt the trench policy to improve any new bed that I start, which is usually from removing more of the lawn! J.

Fork Handles

Oh flipping heck! OH has now moved some of the propped up paintings to just where an accident is waiting to happen...... J.

Fork Handles

It's not a sliceable sort Bjay. Like an Eve's pudding but using ground almonds instead of flour in the normal sponge topping. Am hoping it'll be ok as first time done in this oven, so not sure of new timing. Will check soon. J.

Crocosmia Lucifer deadheading

I havent got round to cutting mine back yet & it is still standing 'proud' despite all the rain. This morning we had had a sharp frost & it did look good!

Sometime soon, not sure when, I need to get in there to sort!

I did move mine last year, but from a now part-shade spot where it wasnt happy, to a south facing, sunny top of well drained slope where it's totally happy. J.

Fork Handles

Happy memories of dog & cat in front of the fire when growing up. Not waking to ice on the windows inside though....

Curtains drawn, engineer gone. Now how to get up to rehang the clean, ironed, aired (!) bathroom curtains without standing on the edge of the bath as per normal........OH & taller steps maybe?

Gary- I've dug up all my outside strawberry plants. Garden not really sunny enough, nor space enough to justify keeping them. We've also got a good fruit farm not too far way, so apart from those in a pot & my alpines, which edge the fruit bushes bed & a rogue one at the edge of the lawn flower bed,  I will be lucky to get a bowlful I expect.

An apple & almond pudding is baking now. Licked out the magimix bowl-yum. J.

Fork Handles

Oh the Beano.....

I quite like the idea of growing strawberries in the greenhouse. Fewer slugs, there will still be some in my case, not to mention better 'weather'. Have got some small strawberry plants in pots & a large un-used terracotta strawberry pot to use........ My Alpines never make it into the house either!

It's gone dark here now.... J.

Care & maintenance of elderly Bramley apple trees.

Suggestions for planting in a sunny, boggy site.