Rhubarb Appreciation Society

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Going with Rhihaf's thread name suggestion, following on from the first rule of gardening club is thread.

Pull up your kneeling pads, crack open the elderberry wine and the blackberry gin and come and join us. No real experience or gardening know-how needed.

[Blackpuddingbertha]

I thought the one with the nettles looked very much like the end of my garden actually. But without the boat.

Next thread is up and running please join me I'm feeling lonely. Going to find some nice pictures to tempt you in with...

[funnyperson]

Just me then. Maybe they were better in reality than on camera.

[funnyperson]

Perhaps they have a researcher for the programme who lurks on this thread. If so, please could there be something about peonies and tree peonies when the time comes. Violas are lovely though- there were some really fantastic pots planted up in a local Dobbies garden centre last week.
I saw GW on an actual television today and I have to say that Carol's teeth are terrible Almost worse than her hands. I know appearances aren't everything but really, I had to draw my chair back a bit. I wonder what happened to Rachel and her army garden. Monty looked nice.
Is it just me or did anyone else think the Malvern show gardens were uninspiring? I think the front and back gardens of a lot of the people on this thread are probably much nicer.

[HumphreyCobbler]

We had a wonderful day at Malvern today. The show gardens were fascinating. It was particularly nice to go without the DC, so relaxing. I bought lots of seeds, some fabulous cream and yellow geums, some veg and tomato plants, a huge tin bath for £14 and an old stone angel to sit on the shelf.

I was proud that I recognised about half of the plants I was looking at. If I could have, I would have bought an really massive olive tree. They were lovely.

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Ok, new thread set up here

[Blackpuddingbertha]

I'm off to start the new thread before we get locked out of this one. Will be back in a bit with the link.

lady love the circle!

[MousyMouse]

oh wow, lady looks great even though it's still vey new.

there is another interesting thread in chat about all the lovely parasites you can catch in the garden, I'm itching all over

[LadyMud]

Thanks for asking, BPB! I've just uploaded some photos, as "a picture tells a thousand words".

As you'll see, it's a series of raised beds, planted mainly with evergreen shrubs, with smaller things like heucheras to fill the gaps, and sedums, etc for ground cover.

It was supposed to be low-maintenance - hahaha [giggles hysterically]. That's how naive I am, horticulturally speaking

[Blackpuddingbertha]

One of us is actually Monty. Come on, who is it?

[RakeABedOfTyneFilth]

I'm watching... Is it just a coincidence given our viola conversation up thread that there are a lot of violas so far in the programme?!

[cantspel]

watching the brighton game tonight so i will catch up with Monty later on iplayer

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Sorry, meant to ask LadyMud to tell us about your garden. Please

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Dawnywoo if you're about then feel free to start the new thread as you suggested the title

Constructed the arches for the runner beans today as they are springing up nicely. All I have to do is agree with DH about where the arch is to go. I want it by the gate to the back garden so you have to walk through it as that would be the obvious thing to do with an arch! DH I think would prefer me to tuck it out of sight .

Who's up for a potting shed party at GW time tonight? I have elderberry and some blackberry vodka...

[Dawnywoo]

rhihaf that's what my dad does, boils the sugar syrup on the Aga! We go to the cash and carry and buy about sixty kilos of sugar. Probably not much has changed in hundreds of years regarding beekeeping, though maybe a few extra rules and regs from the British Beekeeping Association.

That fish sounds a bargain. Dad also does a lot of fishing although sadly doesn't catch such interesting fish!

Hello and Cheers right back at you LadyMud

[LadyMud]

Doh! Only just realised this isn't about rhubarb

I spent last year working hard to create a lovely new back garden. I hope you ladies will help me to relax and enjoy it this year. Cheers

[rhihaf]

Just saw that Flaming June pic Maud. I love that women have real-sized arms in 'olden days' paintings. I bet Monty appreciates such things in women, he's a robust sort of man's man, isn't he? [inappropriate daydream of Monty's manhandling]

[rhihaf]

Wynken have some . For what it's worth, I think you're doing a brilliant job. xxx

[rhihaf]

Thank you Dawnywoo and MouseyMouse for all the bee tips, it's really bringing back memories . I used to tog up in all the gear when I was about 12 to help Dad, I remember catching swarms and there being great big vats of sugar syrup on the Rayburn to feed the bees during the winter. I do love bees.
I don't ever remember any spring or autumn cleaning of hives though, maybe that's where we went wrong.

It's raining again here, but I cheered myself up by going to the fishmongers and spending a ridiculous amount and haggling for a bargain - a whole brill and a lemon sole (mahoooooosive!) for £30 instead of £42

Ah, GW.....

[cantspel]

I use Provado Ultimate Bug Killer as it is safe for bees

[WynkenBlynkenandNod]

Busy day but just had to run in quickly and say the standard olive trees in my local Tescos are now a tenner. Needless to say there was one less in the store when I left.

[RunDougalRunQuiteFast]

I've got lots of lily beetles here too - got 7 off my lilies this morning, after clearing about 10 two days ago. Is there anything systemic you can use on the lilies without harming other bugs?

[cantspel]

I have just done the morning battle against lily beetles as the little red bastards are having breakfast in my lily bed. Think i am going to have to blitz them with bug killer or stand guard over the lilies to protect them from the evil things.

[funnyperson]

St Martin on the Hill in Scarborough has William Morris and other gems. I dont know why I know this.
mouseymouse I see your family planting snowdrops and crocuses for the bees in my mind's eye.
wynken Sometimes I dont know whether to think of it as a lingering death or a comfortable old age. Probably the latter.

[echt]

The new thread title sounds lovely. Amazing how the spring thread fills up so quickly, and with so many new posters, too.

It's rather warm here, which is lovely on the one hand, but provoking masses of weeds. Still, the soil is warm for more planting. I'm trying to restrain myself and get on with painting the fence/wall exposed by the removal of the shed before planting more climbers.

[MousyMouse]

wynken a home like that seems ideal.
I think I would like it. living independently if I want to, but to be able to access care and eqipment if it is needed. good luck.