Shrinking Violet

What's the weather like in your area?

Grey damp and dank again for most of the day.  It did brighten up briefly this afternoon - but the forecast isn't very clever. 

On the plus side, driving across Exmoor this evening, the moon was huge, yellow and was an amazing sight.  May have been weather related or just some sort of atmospheric phenomenon - but pretty spectacular nevertheless!

What's the weather like in your area?

Frank - pleased to hear that the sunflower is doing well.  I remember when my son had to grow a daffodil when he was a Beaver Scout.  We put the pot outside with minimal protection - but it did so well, we had to photograph it to prove that it had grown enormous and had flowered weeks before he was due to take it back to show the leaders and other Beavers!  I expect your GD is as proud of her horticulture as he was at the time.

Obs - glad that you are making progress after the surgery and back problems.  It is so frustrating to know that you want to get out and do stuff in the garden, and yet not be able to do so.  Hope you continue to make good progress!

Oh, and I was surprised to find that the wet stuff stopped, despite all expectations.  Went out and was followed around on the patio by a strange thing.  I then realised it was - my shadow!!!

Floppy Rose

Wow!  I knew that there would be someone out there better organised than I am.  So why, I wonder, did I think it was an American thing?  Either I dreamt it, or there was some form of link to an American website  But, whatever the case, many thanks Dove to  have followed up on my (poor) memory.  (Note to self:  save it!  Reference it!  Remember it!)  Thank you again

What's the weather like in your area?

That's what we need Frank - a bit of HRT (Horticultural Retail Therapy).  I wouldn't mind a drop or two of your sunshine either.  I can't see the hills the clouds are so low and the rain looks like it's set in for the day.

What's the weather like in your area?

Ditto David.  Also alliteratively, dank, so feeling downhearted awaiting downpour!

no apples!

It was reported in the paper the other day that commercial orchards were suffering, too, and that it was expected that the harvest will be pretty poor this year.  My apple tree, usually reliably pollinated by next door's tree, is barren this year. 

Floppy Rose

I read of a technique in America where the arching stems were effectively "trained" into arches around the central stems by pinning them down (think pumpkin shape).  The stems then sent up flowering shoots which gave a thickened and prolific appearance.  I wish I could remember the name of the technique or guide you to a website, but it was some time ago.  I meant to earmark it for future reference.  Full of good intentions, me!

Plant Identification

They self-seed everywhere, courtesy of the birds, I guess.  The flowers are pretty inconsequential, but the bees love them.  I have one (cotoneaster, not a bee!) just outside the kitchen door.  It is alive with bees atm - when the sun shines, that is.  I let it flower, the bees do their thing, and then I prune it back, sacrificing some of the berries but keeping the plant in check.  If left, it can get a bit unwieldy in my experience.

My dream garden

I shared that dream.  And then I woke up to the sound of rain pounding down, and I swear I could hear the weeds growing, too.  So perhaps that was the dream as well.  Or was I dreaming that I was having a dream that . . . . . ummmm lost meself there! 

But it would be nice to have that sunshine.  1976 - oh, yes I remember it well.  I lived in North London, and commuted to work every day to the centre of town.  Hot didn't beging to describe how dreadful the journeys were.  (If you've ever stood on a crowded tube train pressed up against an unsavoury armpit, you'll know just what I mean).  And the city was hot, hot, hot.  And the suburbs were hot, hot, hot.  And the garden wilted. 

The rain, once they'd appointed a drought Tsar (sound familiar?) didn't stop.  And that's when I had booked my holiday.

What's the weather like in your area?

Grey clouds. Rain. Grey clouds again. Rain again. Grey . . . . . . . . . . .

Well, you get the picture!  Fed up with this.  Going on holiday to Cornwall next week.  Probably be as much fun as .......... grey clouds and rain!  Again! 

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