He who dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose

[Blackpuddingbertha]

New thread for the potting shed crowd using Rhubarb's rose suggestion and Squeaky's quote for the new title.

Spring is underway with promises of summer in our gardens big and small.

Elderberry wine for all

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Previous thread here

[jellybeanlover]

I love the,quote

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Hi jelly.

[Aethelfleda]

Hoorah!

[Blackpuddingbertha]

It counts as one of your five seven a day Aethel as it has berries in it.

[mousmous]

love the title!

[Bumbez]

Room for a small one large one ? Great thread title :)

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Fantastic thread title!

I have tulips in bloom and have just found my first rosebud.

[Castlelough]

Hurrah! Happy new thread! Well done Squeaky and Rhubarb for thread title!

[LineRunner]

I have hundreds of tadpoles!

[echt]

Lovely thread title. I really am sitting here with a livener. Well the sun's over the yard arm.:o Nearing the end of a knackering first term. School's out tomorrow, and I'm looking forward to lots of gardening.

We'll be busy looking at dwarf fruit trees - deciduous only, as we want winter light to get to the veggie beds which, by the way, are going bonkers with planting that went in only two weeks ago.

I would love a tiny pond, if only to attract the divinely named pobblebonk frog, though I fear it might lure snakes.

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

I think I would do everything within my power to attract a pobblebonk frog into my garden.

[Squeakyheart]

Hello everyone, welcome Frank a blank canvas sounds great!

I am still trying to catch up on the weeding and am bizarrely excited that its only a week till the council start collecting the green bins as I have bucketfuls that won't fit in.

May risk a trip to Aldi as would like some small cheap fruit trees for pots. I grow all my trees in pots due to size of garden and because I am still waiting for DH to put in the new garage base and flags to drive down so can't fully plan things yet. Have waited three years but am optimistic for this June!

On a happy note my rose geranium survived outside and my forget me nots are flowering.

ECHT I think I might buy a frog ornament and call it pobbledonk!

[Rhubarbgarden]

Hello new thread. Pobblebonk frog - want one.

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Love the title! I was jealous enough at Linerunner's tadpoles but the idea of a pobblebonk frog takes it to a whole new level...

I've just picked up a piece of trellis friend was getting rid of and stuck it on she'd behind my fairly new Clematis Jackmanii . Fair few tulips out now but I want my frilly ones to open.

[FrankUnderwood]

Thanks for the lovely welcome everyone.

The apple trees are mystery unknown ones, who'd lost their labels at the garden center. They were cheap and I felt sorry for them! DP makes cider so if they're not good eaters or cookers, they'll still get used.

Anyone know how long Dutch Bulbs (J Parker Wholesale) take for delivery? I'm impatient to get going on the flower bed, now we ahve some post-work daylight hours.

[HumphreyCobbler]

Frank, if anywhere near you does an apple day you could probably get your apples identified. We got the whole orchard done in this way, they are amazingly clever!

My white tulips are open in the front borders and are looking really nice, although the borders need edging which is fretting me somewhat. I would really like to add an orange tulip into the mix, but I can't find an early flowerer.

I am hoping for tadpoles by next year Linerunner.

[MyAngels]

Just popping in to the new thread after promising myself I'd stop lurking - I've been enjoying reading all your garden adventures so much.

Have been spending far too much time (and money) on the garden lately - today I planted new Clematis Montana Elizabeth (DDs name - a good enough reason to choose it I suppose), and my new Trachelospermum Jasmoides in the pot by the front door - looking forward to the scent..

Also picked up two reduced hellebores, and some drought tolerant plants for my pots in the front - I'm hopeless at remembering to water things!

Wisteria is in purpley shaded bud - so flowering can't be long (am on North Somerset coast) and Victoria plum in full blossom - hoorah - last year we had no fruit at all, the year before thousands.

Thinking of Rhubarbcat - would be in a similar mess if mine was poorly. Mind you she brought in a goldfinch this morning which we managed to get off her and revive, but there are still a lot of feathers to hoover up....

[Bearleigh]

Bonjour tout le monde! Pobblebonk. Pobblebonk. Pobblebonk.

My white tulips are out too Humphrey, and as I planted them two years ago I am hopeful they are stayers. If you can't find a suitable orange tulip how about an orange crown imperial fritillary - mine is just out too, and deliberately clashing contrasting nicely with the shocking pink wallflowers.

[LineRunner]

Liking the pobblebonk too!

Today we got all the new fencing and trellis up - last lot ruined in the great winter of storms - so it's digging for victory all the way now with peas and beans.

[Rhubarbgarden]

Thank you MyAngels. Found out this afternoon that it's as we feared - aggressive form of cancer. Have had her referred to a specialist oncologist who we will go to see on Monday. Heartbroken.

[HumphreyCobbler]

Oh Rhubarb. That is awful. So sorry.

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Have we all googled the popplebonk frog? Great name. I'd love a pond too, it's on my dream list.

First tulip out in my garden too.

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Oh Rhubarb

[ComeIntoTheGardenMaud]

Oh Rhubarb. Sniff.

Humph - How about Orange Brilliant tulips? Mine are in flower now.