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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

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

999 replies

Blackpuddingbertha · 02/04/2014 21:15

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 Wine

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pogglebonkgeoff · 18/04/2014 21:27

Loving the poetry - here's my offering Easter Grin

The Blue Bell

A fine and subtle spirit dwells
In every little flower,
Each one its own sweet feeling breathes
With more or less of power.
There is a silent eloquence
In every wild bluebell
That fills my softened heart with bliss
That words could never tell.

Yet I recall not long ago
A bright and sunny day,
'Twas when I led a toilsome life S
o many leagues away;

That day along a sunny road
All carelessly I strayed,
Between two banks where smiling flowers
Their varied hues displayed.

Before me rose a lofty hill,
Behind me lay the sea,
My heart was not so heavy then
As it was wont to be.

Less harassed than at other times
I saw the scene was fair,
And spoke and laughed to those around,
As if I knew no care.

But when I looked upon the bank
My wandering glances fell
Upon a little trembling flower,
A single sweet bluebell.

Whence came that rising in my throat,
That dimness in my eye?
Why did those burning drops distil —
Those bitter feelings rise?

O, that lone flower recalled to me
My happy childhood's hours
When bluebells seemed like fairy gifts
A prize among the flowers,

Those sunny days of merriment
When heart and soul were free,
And when I dwelt with kindred hearts
That loved and cared for me.

I had not then mid heartless crowds
To spend a thankless life
In seeking after others' weal
With anxious toil and strife.

'Sad wanderer, weep those blissful times
That never may return!'
The lovely floweret seemed to say,
And thus it made me mourn.

By Anne Bronte

Mine are definitely Spanish, I'll get rid when Dh has forgotten they are there, later in the year.

pogglebonkgeoff · 18/04/2014 21:32

My neighbours have that swing lush sadly our trees aren't strong enough.

HumphreyCobbler · 18/04/2014 21:33

That swing is fabulous Lush.

That is the first thing I have ever read by Anne Bronte. I knew of her existence but that was all. Cheers Poggle.

Blackpuddingbertha · 18/04/2014 21:40

Humph - tell me more about your tree house plans. I sooooo want a tree house. I've been looking at tree house websites for years, I just can't let the idea go. Just recently I've been wondering if we could make our own but not sure I trust DH's skills...

I think I may have had some worrying inappropriate thoughts when Monty started stripping off to use his pick axe on GW this evening. Must get out more.

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LushAndVerdant · 18/04/2014 21:42

Those horse swings always seem to be for sale at garden shows and I love them, but the only tree here that might be strong enough to take it grows in a border, next to a fence.

Another lovely poem. I will have to put my thinking cap on.

HumphreyCobbler · 18/04/2014 21:44

Arghh. Missed Gardeners World! Forgot about it.

The tree house will be essentially a platform with a fence round it - I don't see the point of houses with roofs up in a tree, I think the fun is in FEELING like you are up a tree! It will be anchored to the tree on one side and supported by two posts concreted in on the other side. There are a million youtube vids on treehouses and dh must have watched them all

LushAndVerdant · 18/04/2014 21:45

I must have been looking away when Monty stripped off. Curses.

Blackpuddingbertha · 18/04/2014 22:05

To be fair, he only took his jacket off, but I was hopeful for a second Grin

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Blackpuddingbertha · 18/04/2014 22:06

I've watched them too Humphrey. Still don't trust DH though. May have a quiet word with my maintenance man when he comes to mend my house next time...he's quite handy at carpentry.

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LushAndVerdant · 18/04/2014 22:11

I don't we sensitive viewers of BBC2 are ready for the sight of Monty shirtless.

LushAndVerdant · 18/04/2014 22:15

There's a missing think there.

HumphreyCobbler · 18/04/2014 22:18

I think Bertha begs to differ, Lush Grin

LushAndVerdant · 18/04/2014 22:24

Oh indeed, but I was just imagining the effect on the nation of Monty appearing shirtless.

Bearleigh · 18/04/2014 22:25

Haha. Mr & BabyBearleigh already think I am in lurve with Monty. I'd better not mention the HalfMonty tonight or I'll get banned from watching GW.

pogglebonkgeoff · 18/04/2014 22:32

I've just watched it I really liked the quarry garden.

I hate to tell you that Dh built the dc's a tree house at the last place, it had a roof, guttering, carpet and a window. The feckers would not play it it because it smelt funny Easter Hmm I used to like hiding in it!

Rhubarbgarden · 18/04/2014 22:42

I've been hankering after one of those horse swings for years. We have a big old copper beech at the bottom of the garden - I wonder if dd is old enough yet, hmm.

That said, I once got stuck fast in a tyre swing whilst on holiday in New Zealand with a bunch of friends many years ago. All the other buggers were getting drunk in the beach house and it was hours before anyone noticed I was missing. Bastards. I rather went off tyre swings for a while after that.

Blackpuddingbertha · 18/04/2014 22:42

I think I'd like to swap BerthaDH with PogglebonkDH please, or HumphDH.

I should point out that I started on the Pimms at 3.30 today (helps with managing the chocolate fuelled children I find) so this may be affecting my judgement on Monty pick axing in his shirt & braces.

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LushAndVerdant · 18/04/2014 22:51

Oh yes. Monty's braces. I do like Monty's braces.

::Further in awe of PogglebonkDH::

pogglebonkgeoff · 19/04/2014 07:20

I'm crying with laughter at Rhubarb being stuck in a tyre swing! What kind of tyre ? A wheel barrow one?

I wasn't meaning to show off about Dh, but point out how Dc's didn't appreciate their den. They'll not be getting another!

We had to move a couple of plants yesterday to make way for the decking - a 9 foot in flower damson tree and a Camelia. I hope they both survive.

LushAndVerdant · 19/04/2014 08:33

I didn't think you were bragging about your dh's DIY skills, pogglebonk, but nevertheless it was a further demonstration of his ability with a hammer and a saw!

I have often moved things at the 'wrong' time and generally got away with it. Needs must and all that.

Castlelough · 19/04/2014 10:41

Sprayed the wildflower bank yesterday. It was hard work! I had to fill the spray tank/backpack thing three times.
Am going to rake it today (another big job Sad) and sow seed later hopefully.
Am worried about sowing the seed. I hope the birds don't eat it all Confused!

Happy Easter weekend to everyone!

mousmous · 19/04/2014 13:55

have just dug out a couple of woodruff plants. am looking forward to flavouring drinks and jellies with it.

LushAndVerdant · 19/04/2014 17:32

I have loads of woodruff. I started with a little potful brought from my parents' garden and now it would carpet half my garden if I didn't yank out handfuls of it every year. But I never use it, either for cooking or making moth-deterrents. Does it taste nice? How do you flavour drinks with it - like mint?

Bearleigh · 19/04/2014 18:55

I believe sweet woodruff smells lovely, like mown grass, when it's dried.

mousmous · 19/04/2014 19:05

it has a subtle flavour, a bit like elder lower, but very distinctive. it s the 'green' flavour in german sweets.
the flavour is extracted my hanging the plants over night in alcohol (white wine).