Horse chestnut in full bloom

That is enormous would take up most of our garden lol......

It's the biggest tree we have, so I'm glad it's where it is! The leaves fall all over the lane and our car park, and they're a pain to clear up, but it's a lovely tree.

Beautiful.
I remember when I was a child my granfather would cut a couple of twig which had those big, sticky buds and put them in a ontainer of water so that I could see the leaves develop.

We always did that at school when we were 'allowed' to have a 'Nature Table' in the classroom!!!

What do you mean "when you were allowed to". Surely a nature table is harmless enough!

In came the National Curriculum, and out went Nature Tables, Toto. :-(((

Utter rubbish I say.......

Sorry Dotty but I believe her!

Thank goodness I'm out of all that now! :-)))

Ha ha Toto, Barbara I bet you are, I worked at a play school for more years than I care to remember, the changes were unbelievable, all different again now, back to how it was when I first started, (emphasis on play and mixing) and about time too!!

Oh dear! The next thing will be competative sports where someone is allowed to win and kids grazing their knees. Where will it all end. We should think about the poor lawyers and parents who may not be able to make lots of money from compensation claims.

I hate all this 'PC' and 'Elf & Safety' nonsense. A pub in Somerset had to remove all its beautiful hanging baskets in case they fell on someone...how??

Lots of old traditions aren't allowed any longer, either. Crazy. We'll all be sitting wrapped in cotton wool soon in case we trip over! Grrrrrrrrr.....
Sorry - rant over!

Please carry on ranting, you are only expressing the thoughts of the vast majority of people who want to be left alone to enjoy their lives.

How true, Toto! Lucky we haven't got 'thought police' or I'd have been carted off years ago!

You've been reading too much Orwell although we do have the old sixties group, "The Mindbenders" which now inhabit the Palace of Westminster.

LOL....

i love the flowers on these barbara, so many round here and have gone mad with flowers this year ;o))

There do seem to be lots on the tree this year - the wind today is blowing blossom everywhere, though. :-((

yes does seem more and so much hawthorne blossom to which looks stunning along the lanes, shame the wind blows it off so quickly,

I was hoping that my hawthorn tree might still be in flower next week, but it won't be if the wind keeps up!

what a shame barbara are you having open day?

Yes - 3rd and 10th, plus a group of New Zealanders on the 9th.

thats great barbara, wishing you all the best ;o)) xx

Thanks. I just watched the local 5-day forecast...rain, rain. When is OH going to get the grass cut? :-((((

oh no barbara, its forcast here tomoz so not happy i was looking forward to being in garden after work, but should be getting better again mid next week they say, hope its not going to be continuous rain this summer, hope you get the lawn cut

Thanks, Sandra. I've got my fingers AND toes crossed! At least I can get my Plant Stall plant labels written up tomorrow - I need to do that job...and even do some long-neglected housework!!!! ;-/

housework! whats that barbara lol i do as little as possible during spring and summer, hate it, give me the garden any day ;o)

Haha - there are cobwebs in all the corners! We do get a lot of spiders in such an old house...Henry also kindly donates his hair all over the place. LOL.

BTW, it IS raining, so I'll have no excuse today. BOO.....HISSS.....!!!! Out with the broom and duster. ;-((

raining here to barbara that fine stuff but think its good tomorrow fingers crossed, im going to dust off the hoover today hahaah

Well - it's stopped raining, I've written all my plant labels, and stuck them in the pots - but have I done any housework yet? Nope. I will, though! :-/

lol barbara, glad you got your labels done ;o))

Next problem - how much to charge! (???)

;o/ not sure as ive never been to any barbara, you have though havent you so you have an idea to what they charge, or maybe someone on here may advise you, like andrew

Usually, they have a Nursery who sets up a stall, and only some have their 'own' plants for sale. I've had to get a local Nursery to do a stall this year, too, because my friends who ran the stall last year aren't well...:-((( It makes it more difficult for me to price my own plants.

can understand that barbara, just do what you think is a fare price, whatever they price theirs at is sure to be more if they are selling for their nursery, hope your friends soon better x

Thanks - S. has had two bouts of flu, and J. has angina, so they're just not up to running it this time. They did it so well last year, and they ran my part of the stall, as well. I'll miss them!

what a shame, i wish you lots of luck and hope all goes well barbara ;o) x

I expect we'll talk before Thursday, but thanks, Sandra! :-))

yw ;o)