Potting shed summer party

[Blackpuddingbertha]

Following on from the Blooming into Flaming June thread and all others before it.

The potting shed is open for summer. Elderflower wine aplenty and room for all. Monty will be along later...

Re nails: Garden gloves are essential really. And ones that don't soak through with mud the minute you look at the garden closely.
Congrats to all the garden prize winners and many thoughts with all the babies and to-be babies and other amazing children.
My own are growing up to be quite extraordinary though I say it myself.

I agree about wearing gloves while agdening being the best way of preserving your hand and nails. I have a combination of cheapo cotton ones with those sticky spotty palms that I wash after every burst of gardening, and some grass green plastic coated ones for when it's wet/heavy, which works well for me. And a post-gardening hot bath and scrub with nail brush, followed by Body Shop hemp handcream, which is the best I have come across.

I had a happy time yesterday morning tidying up in the (sunny) front, especially admiring my nicotiana mutablilis, and then taking lots of cuttings of fuchsias and geraniums.

Here is a lovely write up about nicotiniana mutabilis
www.deborahsilver.com/blog/tag/nicotiana-mutabilis/

Taking notes here in the nail front, thanks - feel sme shopping and more care of choice of gloves called for. Can see dyed black nails not a good look Maud !

FP, I hope your Dad is doing ok now. How flaming ridiculous about the Robinson's. Most of the people involved in Mum's care have been lovely overall. It's delays which have got me. The case conference was originally end of July. It got cancelled and was then tomorrow. SW went in holiday and has come back to emails from several key people cancelling so it now needs rearranging again. I guess with 10 people who will be there cancellations are inevitable. But my poor Mum now faces her 75th next week not knowing if she will be staying in the CH flat or going back home with live in Carers.

I found refuge after call to say it is cancelled in a copy of the David Austin catalogue I found in the cupboard.

Yes I keep plant catalogues at the ready for moments like that too. I dont have to order anything, just looking at the plant pictures makes me feel better.
Its horrid they cant get a quorum to have a meeting. I suppose getting all 10 will be unrealistic but they need some decision makers otherwise the whole thing will drag on far too long.

Thanks for the tips, Bumbez, will go off and research Ventnor. I think we'll probably go for a cottage rather than a hotel, but that place you linked to looked lovely.

Wynken, my heart goes out to you. I spend a lot of time worrying about my aging father so I can sympathise. I do hope it doesn't all drag on too long for you.

Thank you both. I think the guy from the SS Mental Health Act team couldn't come. Given my Brother still hasn't seen her (4.5yrs) and isn't coming but sending a solicitor, and has been told if he doesn't abide by decision the case will be going to COP, I guess SS feel it's really important to have this guy there.

I have woken up in the mood to dig up half my lawn and turn into raised beds for veg. Think that might be a stress displacement reaction so will hold off as may well regret it!

Is it an ok time t plant allium and Russian snowdrop bulbs ? I'll wait a couple of months for the tulips.

wynken that sounds so difficult. I have no idea re bulbs I thought you could plant them any time .

rhubarb happy to help I should warn you though Ventnor is very hilly. I always fancied staying at the lighthouse steephill cove but would feel a twat spending that much money to holiday half an hour from my house West of the Island is lovely too Brighstone, Shorwell. Tbh the island is so small it doesn't really matter where you are. Pm me if there's any thing else you want to know. We tend to avoid hotels too and stayed for the first time in a static caravan recently in Cornwall, it was lovely and dog friendly too.

There is a shrub springing up all over the garden it's attractive in a weird way. I'll try and put a picture on my profile and would be gratefully if anyone knows what it is. Lots of seeds too in the form of squishy berries so I suppose you can just plant them if anyone wants any? I think somebody up thread was looking for a crimsony plant this might do. It seems to grow any where. bet its a weed

I think Allium are garlic related and Monty was planting garlic on GW so possibly ok to plant now. None of my bulbs have gone in yet except the anemone blanda blue shades. Will do it this w/e.

I think that's right. Daffodils and alliums (and other things) can go in now and tulips in a few weeks' time.

Thanks, will have a go this weekend at the bulbs hopefully. Have joined Echt in the Carpal Tunnel club.

Oh no, Wynken. That sounds painful.

Ouch. Feel for you Wynken. My CTS has cleared up, as it did last time, within days. Very painful for a time, though. Last time I ended up doing an expensive test to tell me that neurologically I was tip-top.

Back to the garden, the tiny abutilon I planted a two weeks ago has grown 4" and sprouted flower buds. Yay!! After complaining about the cold dry spell, it has flogged it down with rain so v.happy as the mulching will be completed this weekend, then we can advertise the detritus in the drive as free, and someone will come and take it away.

It's not very painful thank goodness at the moment, just the bottom of my arm is numb and my elbow inflamed. I promised I would rest it though.

Nothing like a good bit of mulching Echt, have fun.

I'm resting arm with a copy of Joy Larkom's Creative Veg gardening. Am fairly sure in my mind that I'm going it give up the allotment p, though won't make final decision till spring. So am looming at my garden through my veg growing eyes now that we get more sun with the big conifer gone.

finaly after about 3 weeks it was dry enough to clear the jungle mow the lawn.
plan to do some tidying over he weekend, esp in the front garden.

can I trim back the Hydrangea now or should I wait? it is taking over the flowerbed.
can anyone recommend a good tool to get dandelions out of the paving?

My veg plot desperately needs a clear out but we have a really hectic weekend. Just when the sun shines too.

Not sure about the hydrangea Mouse but it may be better to spray the dandelions if they're difficult to dig out. I need to spray the drive as the oxalis weed stuff is taking over and that is impossible to dig out too.

Does anyone want some electric daisy seeds? Have just collected a handful from the pew planters. They would make good ground cover annuals if you like yellow and are very entertaining to make people eat

Yes please Bertha if you can spare them :)

I have around a hundred flowers going to seed and got a handful of seeds off less than ten flower heads today so I have plenty! PM me your address and I'll send some over.

I don't want to spray as the water runs into the flower bed, don't want to ruin my roses.
would boiling water work?

yep, lots of oxalis (another one I had to google) here too. I find it reduced since I started just pulling at it before it flowers.

I'm thinking of getting a lean-to tall cold frame. Has anyone got one and what are the thoughts regarding wood vs metal frames?

I bought quite a cheap wooden three storey cold frame from Robert Dyas and so far have been very pleased with it.

Leave the hydrangea alone and until at least feb if you are in the south and a month or so later if in the cold north but if you want to take cutting now is a good time to do it.

Mouse i have a little tool i bought from wilkos for £1 which is great for hooking out dandelions.
www.wilko.com/hand-trowels+forks/wilko-get-gardening-weeder/invt/0134749

Bertha i would love some seeds if you have any left.

Wish me luck as if the rain holds off my oldest son is going to help me put up my new greenhouse tomorrow.

I'm having a Saturday night Monty party - two episodes of GW back-to-back. And I bought two big hellebores this afternoon for £2 each. I am happy.

Sorry, £2 for both. Wouldn't want you to think I was being extravagant.