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Original poster

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

999 replies

echt · 12/01/2015 21:04

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
41
MaudantWit · 28/01/2015 21:15

Our fomer NDNs used to go on sprees at Archtectural Plants. They had some lovely things.

We have

stone hare on a plinth
stone (aka concrete) owl - given by NDNs when they moved away
two stone rabbits from same source, lost somewhere in the undergrowth
terracotta woman's head, needs repair following frost damage
terracotta green man
wire lizard
various other little wall plaques hanging with the wall pots

gohaze · 28/01/2015 21:45

Thanks Rhubarbgarden. I'm all ideas but no time. I've started some sweet peas on the windowsill as they are showy and not too difficult.
I have to admit to buying oh a garden gnome, but it was a joke as it's his football team ( better not say which one or no one will talk to me.) that's the only ornament. I'd quite fancy a nice fountain, but need to do a lot of work first.

MaudantWit · 28/01/2015 22:57

Ah yes, I do covet my friend's solar powered garden gnome with light-up hat. I've found some for sale online, but they're not as nice. In one of my window boxes is the little gnome that dd painted when she needed to do lots of close work because of her squint.

LightTripper · 29/01/2015 00:15

We have:

  • a rusty bird on a stake
  • two glass fisherman's floats (come inside in the winter, hang from the crabapple otherwise)
  • an orange plaster bunny, left by the previous owners (they left two, but one got smashed by a visiting toddler: they also left a statue of a boy that was so sinister I had to leave it out on the pavement to find a new home Grin )
Postchildrenpregranny · 29/01/2015 00:25

My lovingly fed and watered Camellias have huge buds and one is almost in flower Hope the predicted cold weather doesn't kill them off .It seems a bit early..

Callmegeoff · 29/01/2015 07:27

I have 1 stone birdbath left by the previous owners, they took all their naked statues unfortunately.

My Camelia, at least I think that's what it is, has fat buds too, it was rescued from a border having never flowered, and put in ericacious soil, I'm quite excited to find out what colour the flowers are.

Callmegeoff · 29/01/2015 07:27

Welcome to the newbies stay and tell us about your gardens :)

MaudantWit · 29/01/2015 07:43

Eek, you're right, the camellia buds may be at risk. I was congratulating myself because the camellia I pruned in a last ditch attempt to get it to flower had finally produced some buds. Maybe I'll cover it in fleece. Argh.

ppeatfruit · 29/01/2015 08:34

Oh golly I wish funny This is in a different area from the large 'open' caves. If you imagine a figure 8; the lower circle has the really high 'dug out' caves, it's divided by a sort of woodland bridge, which causes me sleepless nights because there's a 'fault' under it but that's another story!

The upper circle is a roughly rectangular bowl surrounded by smaller caves most of which are closed up (the open one leads somewhere but we are too chicken to go exploring! ) there's a honeycomb of connected caves under the hill field behind us and all over this area Shock.

Bramshott · 29/01/2015 10:07

Re: objects -
DH bought me a large metal and glass sculpture very like this for my 40th birthday last year. I have it at the top of the garden and it's a lovely focal point (although we have taken the glass out for the winter).
Aside from that I have a few glazed balls in the borders, and mirror with a metal surround on the patio.

Other than that it's just the broken slide, under-used sandpit, mouldering playhouse and over-large swing set Hmm. I am trying to ditch the sandpit and slide this summer now the DDs are 12 and nearly 8. Might be able to ditch the swings too if I can rig up a decent tyre swing in the tree instead.

I have a camellia in the middle of the lawn, but it doesn't like our chalky soil, and whilst I can keep it looking fairly healthy with regular applications of camellia feed, I don't think it will ever flowe.

funnyperson · 29/01/2015 20:28

cor ppeatfruit there could be anything in dem caves: ancient prehistoric wall paintings, old soldiers stuff from the wars, smugglers treasure, old tiger bones....anything!

funnyperson · 29/01/2015 20:29

If it was me I would be getting one of those miner hats with powerful torches on them!

HumphreyCobbler · 29/01/2015 21:18

wow ppeatfruit that is amazing! Sounds very Alan Garner-ish.

A miner's hat and a very long roll of string..

Blackpuddingbertha · 29/01/2015 22:09

Garden objects:

Climbing frame
Playhouse
2 almost dead scooters
Big adult swing

There's a theme there isn't there?

What I would like is something by David Harper

Original poster
echt · 30/01/2015 06:40

The pobblebonk or banjo frog, though the ones I heard distinctly said "pobblebonk", not just "bonk">

www.youtube.com/watch?v=F3ivv7pQkWQ

Although my favourite has to be the eider, a sound I haven't heard in years

www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b03bkcwq

Very Julian and Sandy :o

OP posts:
MaudantWit · 30/01/2015 09:04

Ooh, are there some fans of Julian and Sandy here? Bona.

hyperhops · 30/01/2015 10:37

morning all
wow caves sound so amazing!
garden objects:
stone hare
ornamental bird bath
small ceramic mushroom (don't ask - kids bought it for me!)
playhouse now converted into my secret hideaway filled with gardening books!
hideous trampoline which the kids love with huge mud patch underneath that the dogs insist on digging in so now huge mud patch full of massive holes too Hmm

I would quite like to acquire some more items this year though (and somehow loose the trampoline Wink)

ppeatfruit · 30/01/2015 10:42

My goodness funny you have 2nd sight !!!! Our ex neighbour who's granddad and great uncle went down the caves, (They got lost and had to be rescued by the pompiers!). Said that 3 German soldiers went 'missing' down them and were never found . This was an occupied area. There are oubliettes dug to catch animals for the pot. (I assume!) So you really need to know what you're doing unless you end up down one. There are other macabre stories associated with them but I won't go on…...

One of the great things about the WWW is hearing Round The Horne on BBC extra I LOVE Julian and Sandy Grin

SugarPlumTree · 30/01/2015 18:01

Welcome to newbies, lovely to meet you Smile

I have in my garden:

Milk churn belonging to my Opa
Rusty birds on stake
2 terracotta jugs from Mum's garden
2 glazed balls and mushrooms
Metal cat planter

Any chance of a picture of the caves Ppeatfruit? What fascinating action though rather macabre history to them.

Please join me in celebrating DH'S new job, he starts next week Wine what with his interview and my Mum having a bad week there has been no time for gardening. However we have ended the week on a great note with his job, Mum rallying and her CH promising not to kick her out until the new Dementia home opens.

I have found some of my new crocuses have appeared and the first flower is open on the Camellia.

Callmegeoff · 30/01/2015 19:12

Wine lovely news sugarplum

Yy to a picture of the caves, it must be a real worry when children and puppies visit!

The eider clip has made my day!

Blackpuddingbertha · 30/01/2015 19:52

Joins Sugarplum for Wine in celebration

I have snowdrops out. Very happy.

Rhubarbgarden · 30/01/2015 20:08

Clinks Wine with Sugarplum.

Ppeat those caves sound fascinating. I would be unable to stop myself having a little explore. With a good ball of twine, obvs.

I am knackered and aching because I spent all day on the Showstopper bed. I finished digging the long side of the L shape, raked it level, positioned all the plants and FINALLY started the planting. I got about three quarters (of this side) done. Hopefully I will be able to finish that off this weekend, which will make my clients happy.

Then there's the digging and planting of the short side left to start, but that's got a mature conifer in it which takes up a chunk of space, so with a bit of luck (weather forecast looks ok) I should be able to make good headway with that next week.

funnyperson · 30/01/2015 20:19

Wine congratulations! on new jobs to sugarplum and snowdrops and stuff.

I enjoyed those clips echt I havent the foggiest who Julian and Sandy are

That tweet from radio 4 about the eider duck was nice. Co-incidentally I have been listening to radio 4 this week in the car, with very funny feminist jokes on at about 6.30-7 pm and a very interesting desert island discs about Ebola virus this morning.
The caves were just a guess ppeatfruit! The guess followed a comment on the radio I heard yesterday about how occupied areas have secrets and deceits which other countries don't have, and how Churchill spared the UK that fate!

funnyperson · 30/01/2015 20:34

YOu got a lot of digging and planting done rhubarb! Its mild weather round here so I think I'll do some planting too.