Palaisglide

Geraniums (not Pelargoniums)

Spare a thought for us older gardeners Yarrow, we knew all the old common names then they decided to reclassify plants under their Latin names so we learnt all the Latin names and I thanked my school Latin classes for that.
Then those who decide such things reclassified them all again because seemingly a lot of plants of the same genus had been wrongly classified? says who?
So African Marigold became Tagetes erecta, Bellflower Campanula, California Poppy Romneya and Lambs Tongue Stachys Byzantina to name but a few. I can understand new gardeners reading several books being well and truly flummoxed.
Do not worry too much because plants can look after themselves as I found out after six weeks in California, apart from a good weeding some dead heading everything was fine.

Frank.

What's the weather like in your area?

Weejenny, I spent a wonderful time in Northern Scotland a couple of years back, from crossing the border in heavy rain the sun came out and shone for ten days on the bits I visited. Inverness, John O Groats, Fort William, Loch Lomond, Glasgow and home, it started to rain as I crossed the border back into England.
I have happy memories of Dumfries and Galloway my late wife had relatives there, Ayr and Arran the isle of, plus Edinburgh a lovely city. We had great times also I am one of those people midges steer clear off for some reason. I love Scotland and even forgave them for assaulting my ears with "Blue Bonnets over the Border" on the pipes every day when I was stationed in Scotland.
Teesside today started dull but "hey" the Queen comes today to our town of Stockton so the sun is shining and blue sky although there is a heavy weather front over the coastline at the moment.
I ask is it possible they do lay the weather on for her??

Frank.

Grass solutions

Stevie, as a very old gardener I ask why???
Grass is notorious for growing all by itself in any conditions apart from arid.
One of my lawns was put down just before Christmas one year and was up and running by Spring, it was totally the wrong time but nature has its own rules.
I have seen the grass growing greenhouses in Lincoln and Norfolk, that is because they grow it all year round for the instant lawn market and they may give extra daylight but that is only a guess.
Optimum time for sowing lawns is Spring or Autumn and no aids are needed apart from bird scarers. Rolled turf can be put down almost any time apart from very dry or frosty conditions.
I would ask when it is the longest daylight period why use lamps and if heat was the idea a good easterly would ruin that. Now some one will come on and educate both of us.

Frank.

Thankyou

Hello Sue, have seen the weather forecast for tomorrow and you are due another storm, your plants get flattened and washed out but we gardeners are optimists so keep planning for the next month or year.
Never lose heart is the way to go, my garden has had two days of the big clean up and at the moment looks very squared away. We are told we are due some fine weather so I will start filling pots again, even sow some seed, we can get a few more salad items up and running before the Autumn.
My granddaughter was here for tea and had her photo taken with her Sun Flower, the class sowed them and it came to me for recuperation it is now taller than her, she will take the photo in to school tomorrow and boast, she did say she will tell them granddad did it?

Frank.

Not all bad news in the garden

My crocosmia Have gone mad, they do like well drained soil with plenty of water in summer, this year has certainly provided that because it has been warm even in driving rain.
Going round the garden pulling weeds that were hiding among the plants I found they came out easily from damp soil. There are ten bags of green waste to go next week and I could add more.
the ivy got chopped some bushes reshaped and the general clean up plus lawn cuttings. Discovered a bramble from next door that must have been 20 feet long with off shoots, as I pulled the bushes down the border were waving about which gave a good idea of what I would end up with, gloves needed and still got scratched.
Now the Jet stream has found its way home the Tomato's and veg should look up and about time. It was nice sitting awhile in the sun this morning, the longer you sit the more jobs you see, thats gardening for you.

Frank.

dogwood in containers

ronan q wrote (see)

Would cornus sanguinea be suitable for planting in a large container. I was hoping it would be ok if I kept it well pruned it should be ok. Any suggestions?

Thanks

 

The idea of growing Cornus (Dogwood) is for the coloured stems to liven up the garden in winter so go easy on the pruning.
They do nothing but leaf up all summer then drop the leaves and colour up from bright red through the spectrum to green depending on which type it is. With mine I cut them right back in spring then as they reach the height i want run the hedge trimmer over them and that does it until the next spring. They sit next to a single bush of Golden Privet which offsets the red of the stems and certainly brightens up part of the winter garden which can get quite drab.
Geoff is correct, all you need to do is watch the watering and some feed early spring with a bit of mulch in summer.

Frank.

What's the weather like in your area?

Used to have pigs that often got a cob on Zoomer so livid wild boars must be a sight to see. I did learn from an early age there are no dumb animals, they can be as placid or upset as we can, try pushing a milking cow into the wrong stall for milking and you had one very upset cow.
Teesside had early morning sun, still has though it is clouding over a bit. The windows are open and a warm gentle breeze is wafting through the house. Today is a pottering day, a bit of dead heading, pluck some weeds, rake in some mulch then prepare Sunday lunch on a Tuesday for the Grandchildren coming from school, that will be the highlight of my day seeing my Granddaughter who will not eat meat at home finish off the beef.

Frank.

My weather forecast has gone!

Teesside, sunshine and cloud, just managed to get the lawns cut yesterday before the rains came.
My weather forecast is always there, I just look out of the windows, north south east and west. The weather front is normally hovering along the coastline, the hills give some idea of the day we will have and to the west we can see almost to the pennines as to what we are about to receive. Our local weather forecaster is well and truly foxed by the diversity of the area, it can change three times from one side of the Tees to the other ask our own "RAIN" with the outdoor swimming pool that was.

Frank.

What's the weather like in your area?

Shrinking Violet wrote (see)

The mind boggles at your swimming cozzie, Frank! 

 

I Lass but I am a dab hand at reversing the horse drawn bathing machine into the water.
Zoomer what made the boars wild???

Frank.

What's the weather like in your area?

Florence Nightingale Posh, mine has to be by self administration these day, not quite the same though.
I thought if we do get any long term sun being only twenty minutes from beaches both sides of the Tees I would get my one piece prison striped costume that goes to the ankle out (modest I am) it would have to be a stick on droopy mustache though it may wash off with a big wave.
The lawn is cut blades up then blades down filled several bags for green-waste, it is lovely and green though, likes this warm damp weather. Had to get it done today as the grand children are expecting a full Sunday lunch served on Tuesday after school. I had to buy strawberries as mine are rubbish this year, I will start again with new plants next year.
give OH my condolances.

Frank.

Poetry Thread

Get Rid of your Lawns

Not all bad news in the garden

Gardeners world weather