When the hounds of spring are on winter's traces…...

[echt]

I realise it's later in the UK, but couldn't wait to start a new thread. If another title had been agreed, just tell me and I'll have this removed.

Other than that, seek out those deckchairs from the shed, check them for spiders and get nattering about the spring's promise.

Is there any equivalent of freecycle near you? I never see much evidence of recycling (beyond le tri) when I'm there, but do you have reclamation yards and the like?

I meant to suggest Freecycle for pots for funny too. A friend of mine has got loads of terracotta pots from freecycle. And ebay and flea markets, actually.

Oh yes, flea markets. I have never found anything worthwhile on freecycle (although I have got rid of some surprising stuff there) but got my lovely copper preserving pan and a hanging basket at a vide grenier in France. My NDN manages to find lovely things at car boot sales.

ppeat use the corrugated metal to make a compost heap? Although I expect you've already got one. Doesn't metal have some sort of value - you could sell it for scrap?

We have a local selling site -wightbay I've bought and sold loads on it. I have only seen tat at car boot sales so tend to avoid them.

I have a poorly dd1, which has given me a great excuse to curl up on the sofa with her, and finally watch Life Of Pie.

bearleigh those Yorkshire flowerpots look like just the thing: I will visit my local stockist as soon as possible!

Sorry I've been a bit quiet, I've finally started my new job

The builders continue to mud wrestle in the garden and spend my landscaping budget on boring things, like new soil pipes and fuse boxes. I've had a drama about the windows for the extension - I went for plain glass, as I love to look out over the garden, now I'm wondering if I should have gone for Georgian bars to add to the authentic cottage atmosphere.

I listened to a podcast of gardeners' question time on the train this morning, they asked the audience what the colour of 2015 would be? Over 80% said purple, which is good news for my 100% purple (by sheer fluke) garden.

How's it going in the new job, NANN?

I love purple, in the garden and elsewhere, so would be happy to follow that fashion.

Hello all!

Did a tiny bit of gardening at the weekend. Planted 2 pots of snowdrops (bulbs never seem to do anything for me so thought I'd try "in the green" as a final resort) and a sarcococca confusa as it was smelling so lovely I couldn't leave it in the garden centre. I've stuck it in the front garden but nearer my neighbour's path than mine, which may have been a mistake as I haven't managed to smell it since I planted it

Good idea about reclamation yards Maud it might be ok for a wall of a new compost heap but they're too heavy to be tops Geoff Thanks for the suggestions

Now it snowed here this morning (I tried to sledge in it but there wasn't quite enough !) AND I took some pix so you'll have to bear with me on my next post I'll try to post them. from my iPad.

Ok first one of the upper caves in the garden that has been cleared. Wish me luck!

Hooray!!! I'll try again

Back on normal computer now I couldn't post more than 1 pic at a time I don't know why! The newly planted rockery garden is in front of the house, admittedly it's impossible to see with snow , above. We need new shutters downstairs but each one costs as much as a door of course so we're having them done slowly!

Ppeat your house is beautiful and I really, really, want to go exploring your caves!

My hyacinths are really cheering me up

What rhubarb said about ppeat's house. How fabulous to have caves.

Glad the Yorkshire pots look the business Funny. Looking at their brochure, I want a Long Tom that's taller than me.

Thanks I'm glad I actually managed to post a pic.on line it's the first time ever!! Apart from FB which is easy of course.

Wouldn't a "Long Tom" be a bit hard to plant and move about though Bear?

The lon toms I really like are these from wychwood

long tom I mean.
That said, the lady in the garden centre last week said to me that pots with a wide base are better for plants such as azaleas or rhodedendrons or roses because then roots have more room to grow. The long tom shape is better for bulbs and climbers.

I mean whichford pottery not wychwood

I use smaller long toms for parsley since I read that, having a long tap root, they enjoy the longer root run. Pretty pointless, really, as my parsley consistently gets eaten by slugs long before it's ready to harvest.

When the garden dries out a bit, I'll post a photo of the rather fabulous pot I bought from Crocus for lilies.

Oh yes, please do, I love pots
ppeatfruit your house looks lovely and warm in the snow

Could we all come and camp in your garden, ppeatfruit?

Maudant rhubarb etc. You're all welcome to come and camp in the garden and caves (i've often said that to ds's free wheelin' type friends but no one has actually taken me up on it!!).

Yes funny it's sooo cosy with our wood burning stove, we go into hibernation mode; we're becoming natives! i'm getting the train to London in a couple of hours and I hate leaving this place!

Right, that's decided, then. The charabanc stops off at Rhubarb's first for a tour of the garden and then on to ppeatfruit's for a camp. I'm thinking Famous Five, with lashings of ginger beer. ::wink::

How long are you staying in London, ppeatfruit?

ppeatfruit - beautiful!