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Post by Geumlover on Sept 16, 2016 12:55:41 GMT
Rain over night and keeps going black, but so far only a few drops in the wind. Wind is a bit cold.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 14, 2016 13:44:05 GMT
Picked a box of Blackberries. Was intending picking the Bramley apples for store, but they are wet and not drying off despite the heat. They will not keep if stored damp. Could also do with picking the Katja apples, but in some ways they keep better if left on the tree. However, we are losing a fair number as windfalls. We can use them but they need processing straight away as they bruise when they land. The Cat's head apples are also ripe, very early, they usually do not need picking until next month. It is all go on the fruit front. Did manage to get some Marjories seedling plums, but need the big ladder to get any more so they will have to wait until the Boss is able to help. She is busy puréeing apples, juicing them, freezing Courgettes and making Naan bread. Multi-tasking gone mad.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 14, 2016 13:38:34 GMT
Misty this morning at 7 am, but gone by 8. Now very warm and sticky.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 13, 2016 20:07:41 GMT
Cloud burst type rain much of the day so not even been outside, except to pick some apples for my dessert (And got wet getting them!).
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 13, 2016 12:44:00 GMT
One which is filled with sharp sand into which clay pots are 'plunged' This keeps the roots moist and cool and is used for plants which do not like having wet foliage. So mine are filled with Saxifrages. Primula allionii and cushion plants of various kinds.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 13, 2016 10:52:09 GMT
High level cloud, but quite warm. Did rain for a few minutes at 9 o' clock, just as we went out shopping.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 12, 2016 14:18:47 GMT
Book is now 'in process' Takes a couple of days to appear on Amazon. Still get a thrill from this.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 12, 2016 10:44:17 GMT
Just picked another 12 kilos of Damsons.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 12, 2016 9:39:22 GMT
Dull cold and windy. (The weather too!)
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 11, 2016 19:46:21 GMT
I don't think so. The squirrels and for that matter, the mice leave evidence of their activities in the form of empty nut shells, but there is nothing at all round any of the trees. Not a sloe either and very few Haws. The wild plum at the end of the lane was full (not now, I ate most of them).
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 11, 2016 16:54:01 GMT
Weeding, cutting the grass on the Lollipop lawn and the Summer House. Will try and do the Vista and the top lawn tomorrow. Used to be able to do all the grass in one day, now takes two days for me and two days for the Boos.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 11, 2016 16:50:58 GMT
Lots of sunshine here, but a bitter wind. Needed my pullover on even while cutting the grass.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 11, 2016 10:58:28 GMT
Did my normal morning walk today. Struck me that there are hardly any Hazel nuts in the hedgerow. I collected about 6 where I normally get pockets full. Wonder why.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 10, 2016 14:42:31 GMT
The garden is just under an acre in all. It was designed (as we went along, rather than sitting down with pencil and paper) so that where ever you went there was always a choice of route and unknown bits leading you on to explore further. The full tour takes about 2 hours and if you like plants then it can take a lot longer to wander about. I will post what it looked like when we came here 21 years ago, next month.
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Post by Geumlover on Sept 10, 2016 13:21:00 GMT
Building Staging. Plunge bed type The first stage was to construct a wooden framework. I used 3 in. by 3 in. tanalised fence post for the legs and for the cross pieces. This strength was needed to support the 2 feet. by 2 feet pressed concrete slabs which form the base of the staging. Before fitting the slabs all the wood was painted with a preservative paint. To give added stability I added metal cross pieces between each pair of legs. The metal bars are in fact pieces of spare green house staging. Each set of staging has 3 pairs of legs. All of the joints are simple butt joints with brackets to hold them together. I am no carpenter. The slabs were screwed to the framework with stainless steel screws, though their weight makes them unlikely to move. Next I used tanalised and painted 4 ins. by 2 ins wide planks to make the sides of the plunge bed. This was fastened to the slabs with stainless steel brackets I then covered both wood and slabs with black PVC. This was to keep moisture away from the wood and so that water would drain away more slowly. Finally the plunge material was added. This is sharp sand. Plants added! Given a few years it could look like this. or this
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