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.

I have just been removing fallen leaves from the bed, as some of the earlier perennials are starting to poke through and I don't want them to have soggy leaves sitting on them. I almost filled another recycling sack today with leaves, weeds, and half the lawn that came away when I raked up the leaves.

Gardening observation of the day - a watched daffodil never opens.

Ah yes and my watched hyacinths are JUST growing bit! Sorry for accusing you of being the horticultural police Sugar

Another tiring long work day.

Its nice hearing about all your doings in the garden.

Rhubarb do you think you are doing the right thing depriving yourself of that Actinidia ? Last month, I think it was, you passed by an Edgeworthia in a sale from Architectural Plants. Are you allright? Do you need to look after yourself more?

No garden doings for me today, although I did have a nice walk in the park and saw the ducks. Tomorrow I may have another potter in the garden.

I know,funny, it's not right is it? Totally skint. V depressing. Also totally drunk right now following local committee meeting - must leave tinternets NOW before I overshare and reveal life story completely.

But first... I had a man round today to quote for rebuilding my collapsing garden wall/turrety thing and we got chatting about greenhouses. He has just aquired a second hand Hartley Botanic and his mum has an Alitex. The Alitex is in another league from the Hartley. So I thought that was interesting. One day. One day...

I saw a small greenhouse for £348 online. I am surprised at the variation in price for similar items, and also some companies offer free installation, others charge almost as much as the greenhouse. There are quite a few greenhouse offers atm. I see that both those makes have brick bases in the photos. The upper Victorian look is great but I'm not sure about the brick, I think it could subside and need pointing and stuff over the years.

But I know what you mean about funds. I have only really been able to buy what I like since the DC graduated as all spare funds went on their education for ages.

www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardenprojects/3322672/How-to-plan-for-a-life-under-glass.html

Ooh - can you link to any greenhouse offers you've spotted funny? I really MUST replace my crappy polycarbonate greenhouse this year. It was totalled in last winter's storms and I really missed it last winter. It's got to be a more solid glass one where we are I think because it's quite exposed and windy.

Oops - really missed it last SUMMER, not winter! Although on a cold day, pottering into the greenhouse out of the wind is also a not to be underestimated pleasure....

My garden still has the brick plinth and stone floor with lovely cast iron drain covers, from a Victorian greenhouse that used to be there. DH wants to have it rebuilt but I can't help thinking that beautiful as it would be, it would also be pointless given that he has no interest in gardening and I currently have enough to keep me occupied with the rest of the garden before I start needing a greenhouse! (Also, our kitchen has a glass roof, and there are some glass roofed undercover bits outside, so I have plenty of places to bring on seedlings/put tender plants in the winter.)

For those who are broke, and those who are not, I bring news of gardening bargains. 99p Stores have aisles full of gardening stuff. I no longer trust their shrubs, but I got several rolls of sticky copper tape for slug-proofing pots, so am pleased with that.

Please tell me that I don't need to buy 15 aquilegias from Hayloft for £15.

Thanks MaudantWit
If anyone sees any stackable plastic trio planters in their pound shop I'd love to hear. The last lot I bought were from Poundland some years ago. I've seen the quad ones in there more recently but they won't fit my existing tower

If I get stuck they still seem to be available on eBay etc (for a lot more +p&p)

Countess I would be unable to resist rebuilding a greenhouse over an original floor like that! You lucky thing.

Maud, you need those Aquilegias. You know you do.

I finished the digging today, finally. It was hard work - the last bit was all round a mature conifer so full of roots and I was hungover. Several Alliums had appeared too, so I carefully got those out and replanted them elsewhere.

Tomorrow morning I will be planting like a maniac to try to get all the remaining plants in before the weather changes tomorrow to rain for the next four days, and half term means no chance to work for a week.

I don't usually look at pots because I have too many but I'll keep my eyes open. Generally, I think Poundland is better than the 99p Store, but that's what we have locally. I'll be interested to see what happens once Poundland take over!

What you didn't say, Rhubarb, is that I want them even if I don't need them. I still have three McKanna hybrids waiting to be planted, but these are Barlows, including my beloved Black Barlow.

Is rain forecast? I've just been watering the pots but will ease up now.

Well my phone forecast says rain on Friday and for three days after that. How reliable that is remains to be seen, of course. I hope it does though - my new plantings need watering in.

Thank you! I'm slightly excited at the news of the Poundland takeover as I prefer it to 99p Stores

We already have Poundworld but no Home Bargains or Poundland

I think rain is forecast for the SE Fri/Sat/Mon.

My plant knowledge is rather rudimentary. I'm enjoying googling people's purchases and learning

We all started with rudimentary plant knowledge, HaveYou and then some of us became obsessed so don't be disheartened!

We don't have some of the bargainous places sometimes mentioned on MN - Home Bargains, for example - but we have two 99p Stores locally and Poundland farther afield. Poundland seems better to me, too, although they have recently poshed up our 99p Stores.

I plan to be sowing some Sarah Raven aquilegia lime sorbet seeds i have left over from last year so wont get the Hayloft ones but must admit they are very very tempting. Very very very tempting.
I've gone off poundland plants ever since I planted some gladioli muriel bulbs: 20 for a pound and nothing happened. The same thing happened with their lawn grass seed. The thing is that spot in the garden then failed to deliver.
I'm also beginning to doubt the aldi fruit sticks (pear and plum) which I bought 2 years ago for a pound each which havent really done anything. This winter I have pruned and shaped them but if they dont blossom they are coming out to be replaced with real fruit trees.

No greenhouse online bargains can match the Victorian wonder of rhubarb's choice make Hartley but here is the bargain I spotted

www.suttons.co.uk/Gardening/Garden+Equipment/Garden+Equipment+Clearance/Popular+Horticultural+Glass+Greenhouse_588555.htm

We got a 12 by 8 greenhouse for half that price off eBay. Was a bit of a FAFF to deglaze but aluminium poles can go on a roof rack so actually not too bad.....

I've never bought plants, seeds or bulbs from the pound shops, for some reason I don't trust them!

I rate them for small, ubiquitous garden bits and pieces.
Not so keen on the gaudy decorations

That's terrible, funnyperson Did the spot ever recover?

I bought a blackberry plant from Aldi in the late summer/ autumn and planted it immediately. It's looking a bit sorry for itself but I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

My raspberries were a wilko bargain and did well the second year. Which reminds me I left my new red currant in the back of the car

Greenhouse direct came and fixed the greenhouse at work when we were let down by a fitter. They were great and would recommend them. I just remember having to dash out to try to tie down a GLASS greenhouse that was lifting in a strong wind as the fitter hadn't bolted it to the base!

No not Hartley; Alitex is my greenhouse porn of choice. Although like the landscaper who came to quote for mending my wall, if someone were to offer me a cheapy second hand Hartley right now I would not be looking a gift horse in the mouth despite them not being in the same league as Alitex!

Right now even a pop up one would make me very happy.