Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May: Alternative potting shed thread

[funnyperson]

On the grounds that potting sheds should admit those of all cultures here is an alternative potting shed thread. Probably makeshift and not as posh as the other one. Definitely subversive and open to gardeners of all capabilities.

[MyNightWithMaud]

Wait a minute, Geoff. You were on Screen Test? I used to love that! Perhaps I saw you. My best friend was on Why Don't You Switch Off Your Television Set And Go And Do Something More Interesting Instead.

The one consolation of failing to eradicate bindweed is that it is so pretty. Touch wood, I seem finally to have vanquished it last year with paint-on glyphosate.

[parsnipthecat]

A honeysuckle I bought from Aldi 2 years ago and recently transplanted from a pot to the ground is now climbing an arch, flowering and smelling lovely. I maybe overuse that word, as on our walk home from the childminder Little Parsnip stops at every flower and says, "mum, come and smell this, it's LOVELY!" in a Sussex accent. As a northerner I find it quite funny. It takes 15 minutes to get past one particular garden.
On the other hand there are some giant furry leaves taking over one end of my border. I think they're from a wildflower seed mix I scattered, but I've no idea what they are

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Wow, Screen Test? I loved that! Did you have to answer questions on Lady and the Tramp? It always seemed to be that one...

[Callmegeoff]

I'm afraid I can't remember the actual filming, what I do remember is a very long train ride to Manchester with another girl and our teacher, tea in some sort of steak house which I was very impressed by and Michael Rods autograph on a BBC paper cup. I have no idea why I was picked to be on it. The photo of me and the other 3 contestents is in our loo, people always think its Dh!

parsnip your honeysuckle sounds lovely

I've just used a hedge trimmer for the first time

[Rhubarbgarden]

Maud that's really kind of you to offer some seeds, thank you.

Totally up for HC preview evening next year!

Humph I can sympathise about everything needing so much work. I'm despairing at the moment - I'm just not getting any time in the garden and the summer hols are almost upon us, when I'll get no time off whatsoever.

I have however this afternoon emailed round a bunch of friends to see who wants to go to Gravetye for afternoon tea for my birthday.

[MyNightWithMaud]

Just PM me your address, Rhubarb. What do your DC like to eat? I'll then see what I've got.

My best honeysuckle has gone mouldy and bald in the drought. It's not looking its best. The verbena bonariensis, though, is getting better day by day.

And how delightful, Parsnip, to have a child who takes notice of lovely flowers. Mine barely notices them.

::parental fail::

[HumphreyCobbler]

Your child takes amazing photos of the flowers though Maud!

I was supposed to go on the school's annual trip up the (small) mountain today but it was postponed until tomorrow due to the rain, so I got a lovely couple of hours in the garden I did the kitchen border and cut back all the geum rival that was looking v dead, cut back all the Hilltop Beacon geum and alchemilla mollis in the pigscot borders, tided up all the pots around the greenhouse, pulled up all the bolting rocket and re-sowed and picked raspberries. So I feel a bit better now, although as you all know, the list never ends!

I loved Screen Test!

[MyNightWithMaud]

Granted, Humphrey, she does look at gardens through the lens of the camera. You got a huge amount done in just two hours! It's drizzling here now, so hopefully the garden will be refreshed.

[DoreenLethal]

Do you lot know which popular vegetable is part of the bindweed family?

Yes. There is one.

I've got more of the garden done tonight, planted out some held back plants in the areas that were previously under weed fabric/slate. The garden path is coming together nicely now. One more corner to knock off and I might just post a photo...

[DoreenLethal]

Oh - a very good friend of mine is the head gardener in the Heritage Walled Garden at Hampton...I might just make it down there next year if we are having a gathering...prod me hard in May and I might book a ticket.

[MyNightWithMaud]

Sweet potato?

[DoreenLethal]

Yes. No googling I hope Maud!

Off to collect some seasoned lime wood today for community projects to use; part of the hundreds of trees that the City Council cut down for a new tram line. Hundreds more were cut down for a road widening project. At least these ones will find another use in the city to be made into something useful.

[MyNightWithMaud]

Certainly not! I have a good memory for Latin names and remembered that sweet potato is ipomoea batata. It's one of the things I'd like to grow, having seen Bob Flowerdew do it on GW ages ago because, obviously, being an ipomoea it is a beautiful plant.

[funnyperson]

A friend of mine has some lovely out buildings and an outside loo made from reclaimed wood.
I'd love some wood to make into an outside potting shed
All my unused plastic pots and hose and stuff need a shed of sorts

That honeysuckle sounds lovely!

Humphrey you've done such a lot! Everything here needs pruning and cutting back and the roses need deadheading and the weeds are thriving. I hope the washer episode has resolved with your DS.

I think it would be lovely to meet up at Hampton Court next year for the fireworks, and then there is an Autumn Malvern show too isn't there?

[HumphreyCobbler]

ToddlerCobbler got the all clear thanks funnyperson. Still no idea where the lead came from though.

[Bramshott]

It was my birthday yesterday, and I am now the proud owner of a Bosch cordless pruning saw from DH, two pairs of gardening gloves (one thick, one thin) from my DM, and two echinacea plants from DD2 (8) who remembered that I like them! Now i just need it to stop raining so I can get out and start pruning/planting....

[funnyperson]

Any ideas for a new thread title?

[MyNightWithMaud]

What fantastic presents, Bramshott. A cordless pruning saw us just what I need too, as I'm a bit feeble with the low tech type as my mangled apple tree will testify.

[funnyperson]

I'm not sure I'd trust myself with a cordless saw but one could do such a lot with it, and its a brilliant birthday present.
Oh well, doctor says no gardening for another 4 weeks. The front looks absolutely terrible so I'm going to go for low maintenance planting there in the autumn in case this ever happens again. Lavender rosemary and sage: drought resistant deep rooted plants.
Heart op tomorrow.
Anyway here is a nice poem

In Defense of Our Overgrown Garden
By Matthea Harvey

Last night the apple trees shook and gave each lettuce a heart
Six hard red apples broke through the greenhouse glass and
Landed in the middle of those ever-so-slightly green leaves
That seem no mix of seeds and soil but of pastels and light and
Chalk x’s mark our oaks that are supposed to be cut down
I’ve seen the neighbors frown when they look over the fence
And see our espalier pear trees bowing out of shape I did like that
They looked like candelabras against the wall but what’s the sense
In swooning over pruning I said as much to Mrs. Jones and I swear
She threw her cane at me and walked off down the street without
It has always puzzled me that people coo over bonsai trees when
You can squint your eyes and shrink anything without much of
A struggle ensued with some starlings and the strawberry nets
So after untangling the two I took the nets off and watched birds
With red beaks fly by all morning at the window I reread your letter
About how the castles you flew over made crenellated shadows on
The water in the rainbarrel has overflowed and made a small swamp
I think the potatoes might turn out slightly damp don’t worry
If there is no fog on the day you come home I will build a bonfire
So the smoke will make the cedars look the way you like them
To close I’m sorry there won’t be any salad and I love you

[HumphreyCobbler]

Oh best of luck for tomorrow funnyperson. Sorry about the lack of gardening.

I adore the poem

[MyNightWithMaud]

Great poem.

Hoping all goes well tomorrow, funnyperson, and you'll quickly be fit and gardening again.

[LostInMusic]

Good luck, Funny - you'll be back gardening in no time!
I've been English GCSE marking, so keeping a low profile...but, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I spent a lovely afternoon pottering in the garden today. I weeded my brand new borders, planted another Choisya and potted on about 100 Nepeta seedlings. I've grown a mix of 'Border Ballet' and 'Faassenii', which I'm planning to mainly use for under planting the roses. The stars in my garden at the moment are undoubtedly Crocosmia 'Lucifer' and Dahlia 'Bishop of Llandaff' - I really think that this time of year suits a splash of bright red!

[MyNightWithMaud]

Oh yes to a splash of red now. My crocosmia Lucifer are looking a bit sparse, so I plan to add more next year.

[parsnipthecat]

Hope all goes well, Funnyperson. Love the poem.
Our crocosmia is just starting to come out. I've pulled some up as it overshadows everything underneath. Lobelia and petunia, lavender, climbing rose and apple tree doing well. Hoping our hydrangea 'hot chocolate ' flowers.
My parents gave DH a hedge trimmer for his birthday last week ????