Blooming into Flaming June

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Keeping the potting shed party going from the previous Rhubarb Society thread and all threads before it.

Please feel free to join in all gardeners, whether novice, professional or aspiring. Plenty of blackberry gin for all.

hi sand
yep, everything is a few weeks behind in the se as well. I remember viewing our house a year ago and the bluebells were already gone and the strawberries had fruits...

fewer maybe I will try this next weekend if nothing is visible till then.

In SE too and the ornamental flowering fruit trees are a month late.

My wallflowers are glorious and are going on in this cool weather forever.
Camelias a bit later than usual.
We have forget-me-nots, tulips but bluebells are grown though not yet in full bloom..
My May once blooming noisette rambler will be late and the climbers will probably be in June as they were last last year - noemally from May.

normally (roses)

This morning whilst i waiting for number 2 son to do his footie training i had a wander around the garden centre. A nice young lad was further reducing the plants in the rejects corner so i managed to get 3 pots of viola for 50p each, a pot of english bluebells for 50p and 6 standard fuchsias for a £1 each.

sandripples i am on the south coast and the garden is about 3 to 4 weeks behind were it should be. I dont do veg only a few peppers which are still on my kitchen windowsill.

I'm on the south coast and things are late. My Early Sensation Clematis is looking sensational but is definitely not early.

If anyone needs/wants a Magnolia there's one for under £4 if ordered before midnight. It's yellow though so not everyone's cup of tea. I'm not sure where it's going yet but it is ordered.

My strawberries are by the Rhubarb, I just lobbed them in. Can I pretend I knew they go well together ?! I'd like to have another go at rose cuttings this year. I managed a couple of years go to get 3 rooted from a climber which I was pleased about but I want to do more. I have been nice to my roses for the first year ever so hope to be rewarded with lots of them.

I got a free packet of Morning Glory seeds I'm going to put into modules tomorrow. I already have about 20 of the Black Knight variety which is a dark colour and this new lot are blue. If they come up I'm going to have loads. Haven't grown them before so need to decide where to put them, maybe to cover the bare expanse of wood on the side of the raised deck.

Sowed second attempt at cucumbers seeds today and spring onions, spinach, pumpkins, spaghetti squash, achillea, cornflower and rather optimistically chucked some French bean seeds in outside.I can't imagine quite imagine ever planting out my courgettes and sweet corn looking at the weather. Oh , I went mad and decimated a Cornus as the stems were brown not red and it had a lot of dead wood. DH and DC's are horrified.

Here's a better offer - a Magnolia, Tree Peony and Hibiscus for £5.60. Not sure they will actually grow at that price but who knows.

Wynken I have thanks for the link. I have ordered one which will fill a gap in the woodland garden very nicely.

My strawberries are by the rhubarb too! How fortunate, had no idea.

Things are late here, but mean that we are going to have apple blossom out at the same time as cherry blossom, which we have not had before.

You did lots of planting this morning Wynken. I got a few things in - some basil and coriander in pots, the tomatoes and cucumber went in. We scrounged a big old water tank to put the tomatoes in, hopefully that will work well as we added lots of manure. I sowed basil all round the edge of there as well. It was lovely in the greenhouse, I listened to the Archers Omnibus edition on my new clockwork radio as I was pottering around. Talk of mixing pleasure with pleasure!

For that price i have ordered both. Worth taking the chance for the tree peony alone.

I ordered both. But I think it was T&M who sent my Tree Peony that doesn't flower - maybe second time lucky ?

Wynken - my French beans were planted outside a couple of weeks ago and I've yet to see one germinate. I'm giving them another week and then I'll try again.

Planted the first of my cucumbers into the grow bag holder things in the conservatory today. Also planted out some courgettes that were too big for their modules. The remainding courgettes (reserves) and some weird squashes for the DDs were potted on and are outside too but under cloches. I also did some mulching and weeding in the long bed, things are starting to get going finally.

I had three asiatic lilies in the corner bed which I moved when I put the arbour in. Unfortunately I only found two and they're coming on nicely in the long bed, however, today I found the last one. It is quite happily growing in the pile of earth I dumped beside the compost bins in the wood. Should I leave it or does anyone know if it will be ok if I move it now?

My God Bertha, you're arch and arbour are glorious! and Bravo!

sorry, YOUR, not you're.

LadyMud cake and recipes using veg

Thanks Wykken! Nearly fell down the stairs trying to order in time! I forgot to change the code as advised but the order confirmation came through at the right price.

I think I would move a plant at this time, but taking plenty of soil from underneath it do not to damage the roots.

Mind you, I'm having doubts now. Apparently it is a fast grower, the magnolia, and every size from 20-30ft has been quoted online. I don't really have room for another tree!

Any suggestions? Still. not regretting the hibiscus.

I'd do what Onefewer said with the Lily. Have the hole sorted and well watered, then move with as much earth as possible.

My plan for the Magnolia is a very large pot - think someone on the last thread said they have one in a half oak barrel? And to keep it pruned once established. That variety is supposed to be a smaller one than some some so hoping with roots contained it won't go mad. If it does I'll donate it to one of the DC's schools, they've plenty of room in the grounds to cope.

My favourite magnolia is the evergreen " Grandiflora", which has saucer sized perfumed flowers, but is spreading and often used to climb up a house wall.

Oh WOW!!! Thank you, MrsP . . . recipes for Carrot & Spinach Brownies and Banana & Cauliflower Bread . . . I'm soooo excited!

Some old friends are coming round for Afternoon Tea on Wednesday, so I'll be busy baking tomorrow. Courgette cake is already made (thanks, BPB) and funnyperson's Herby Cheesy Scones are on my list.

I really like it here!

My T&M courgette seeds (Black Forrest) and sugarsnap peas (Sugar Flash) have failed spectacularly to germinate, while other seeds are tearing along now.
0 courgettes out of 5, and about 10 peas out of 150 have germinated.

Has anyone ever gone back to T&M with this problem? If so, how do I go about it?
It's not so much the cost (a grand total of about £4) as the principle - I spent ages trawling through different varieties to choose the ones I wanted.

Thoughts please?

the council have cut down all the cow parsley along the verges. It was JUST coming into flower. and .

Why do they do this? All the wild flowers GONE. Visibility is fine along our lane, it is wide. I have the rage.

rhihaf, I have struggled with courgette seeds in the past. I don't know if mine were not warm enough?

Hateful council... a v common problem, I fear.

My T&M Black Forest courgettes have germinated, but my second lot of beans have shown no signs of life at all. I find seed sowing rather a dark art.

That's very sad about the cow parsley

I've had problems with courgettes in the past too and my second lot of beans in the greenhouse are yet to appear - though a furtle did show signs of life. Might be worth firing off a complaint email to T&M and see what they say.