What have you been doing today?.........

Richard, I have been on this computer most of the day !!! Except for a short time out in the garden watering the pots, the grass is actually greening up in places, suprise suprise, and everything is crisping up a bit too! My marguerites are huge so I dont need cuttings, in fact I should dig some of them up, but I like them. Going to have tea now ! Hope the new carpet looks good. ={)

Thanks Grandmage. The time flies doesn't it when you start on the computer, there are many posts to catch up with. It has been a lovely day here I still need to water in the GH and windowboxes. We had loads of rain in the last few days so no need to water the garden today. ;-)

I have been clearing up one of my paved areas, I removed all the Feverfew plants weeds and moss it looks a lot better now.Also I have sorted a couple of my pots ready for the winter pansies to go in .Still got loads to do but no rush so now I am going to have a cuppa. Weather wise it has been one of those nice days more like late spring than high summer though, but that is better for gardening.

I've been stripping ;-))))
Wallpaper stripping with the aid of a wallpaper stripper - 'what' amazing devices they are .... it's a fairly large area of hall, 2 sections of stairs and 2 landings :-///
I ache like hell now :-(

After that i lightly trimmed a couple of hedges ..... am ready for bed now !
Exhausted :-(

have a guess? gardening, lol, at last a day without rain so we could mow the lawns, my hubby mowed the lawns and i have done some tidying and weeding :^)

Deadheading, moving pots of propagated plants around and playing with my nine week old puppy, while my wife and in laws have been visiting relatives.
Fantastic mellow day.

I've been out in the garden nearly all day, weeding ,dead heading and doing the edges OH mowed the lawn oh and potted 2 Amaryllis that were shooting.
Came in to do dinner ......

Gardened for my Mum this morning ... have a very bruised finger from a Pyracantha thorn entering it ... cut back some of my neighbours Berberis & wore garden gloves ... seems today was a spiky plant day !

you have been busy richard, how do you do cuttings richard and what do you put them in plez ;o)

I asked the question here Sandra the other day as I wanted to know how to propagate Marguerite's and had a very full answer from Nickyt08 here is a link to the question and answer:-
http://www.growsonyou.com/question/show/30710
Ouch Shirley! hope your finger gets better soon.
Thanks all -It is really interesting to see what everyone has been up to today.. ;-)

thanx richard ;o)

you're welcome Sandra ;-)

Well done in trying the cuttings Richard seems you ve been busy with collecting photoing and painting, don't forget don't lean on the opposite side of stair way, less you ll be painted yourself lol.

I did get some paint on me Sixpence but luckily I had my old clothes on....lol ;-)

finished the wallpaper in my bedroom,mowed the lawn and did the edgeing and the weeds,which seem to grow better than some of my plants and took penny for a little walk

The weeds really grow well Ladybug it's a shame we can't use them for something.I expect the wallpaper is looking good ;-)

Em...what did I do yesterday?? I recorded some songs into the computer, and popped on to here for a while to catch up....then wandered into my garden and did a bit of tidying up....a nice quiet day for me yesterday, but some of you sounded very industrious! Couldn't agree more about the weeds though~feel I am fighting a losing battle with bindweed!! Nice blog Rich.....

Busy you, funny i was just thinking today about doing my stairs etc about October time as sometimes theres not alot to do in garden then.

Got so much done today as it has been gorgeous,and very warm.Spent all afternoon in the garden,used up most of my lettuces today,and pots emptied,washed and back in the loft.Just a few Lollo Rosso left now,but haven't bought anything since May,so well pleased.Going on Holiday in 3 weeks,so trying to get all in order beforehand. Crocosmia Lucifer finished too,so all trimmed back.Just to harvest the last of potato's in tubs,so everything going to plan...Oh,and washed and ironed,dusted and vacuumed throughout....early to bed I think..Yawn...Lol.Quiet day tomorrow,meeting up with a friend..my treat for being a good girl.:o)))) well,not so much girl...

I have been in the garden and greenhouse this afternoon too Bloomer it has been sunny all day here in Leicestershire, My GH was a disgrace so I took everything out of there washed it down,cleaned and washed out about a dozen A4 size plant trays, numerous pots and put some of the plants back in, some in the compost bin and gave our daughters rabbits a couple of cabbages that I had growing in there:-)
Thanks Flori -glad you had a peaceful Sunday.:-)
Things are growing a bit slower now in the garden Carol ;-)
This morning was spent tidying up landing ready for carpet coming on Thursday.

hi rich ,seems every 1 bin busy. and so have we. bought a grape vine. built a very large trellis ,from lots of branches we had from trimming trees. and a rustic arch 4 my pink rambler on the stable. looks much nicer now. got a job lot of york stone 4 a patio area on the banking to stop the weeds . and put the swing on.and in between washing cleaning walk the pup. and was toooooooo tired to cook,
sooooooooooo went out 4 an italian .......... ( meal that is ) lol. fianally fell into bed at 9 30 .pewwwwwwwww. hows ur carpet, got it yet !!!!!!!!!!

You have been busy too Cristina your garden sounds great. Don't forget to take a pic of it for us to see. Your new patio area sounds good you will be able to have a BBQ on there.
It sounds like you had a nice Italian meal . Our carpet is coming on Thursday ;-)

have u seen my blog ,aught garden. the only troub is theres to many plases to sit lol ,carnt make up my mind lol. but hoping it will b nice. oh says its like a jig saw lol.

Just pm'd you, Rich...x

I had a look at your blog just now Cristina :-) I like your different colour themed pics. Your garden is looking very colourful you have very green fingers ;-)
Thanks Flori ;-)

I am chatting to you and Cristina through pm's this eve, and on open forum~I really am multi talented!lol~have popped a reply back my friend on pm. :~))

Oh I forgot I went to car boot got a racing track lol for birthday present and christmas and 4 collectors cars for grand kids, and took photo of shire horses and two foals and other horses, then went to dinner at sons

You have been busy then Sixpence. Thanks Flori ;-)

I would nt class it as busy to me that is a day out, like a holiday for me hehe.

Lol Sixpence ;-)

:o)))

..I went out in the garden this morning collected a few more pansy seeds then it started raining. Then I continued with the painting in the hall, landing and stairs -nearly finished now...I will be glad when it is all done. I have to get all the paint off myself now have a shower then we are going to a friends for a BBQ so hope it will be fine ;-)

It;s jolly cold here, got winter woolies on !!!!!! Enjoy BBq

It is pouring here in Newcastle now ,yet it has been quite a nice day cool but nice enough to garden,I am still weeding and clearing pot"s and beds.

Thanks grandmage ;-)
Ha ha there is always so much weeding to do Mavis...never ending job ;-)

Talk about weeding! Down on the allotment as soon as we have the lightest shower of rain up they pop in their 1,000s! In the last few days we have had a few light showers & the pesky things are covering all the ground! I just don't have the time to get rid of them all!

Pity you weren't a bit nearer Balcony as you could have had our old carpet to put down on your allotment that would get rid of the weeds. People up here put them down on the allotments as paths :-)

The weeds tend to creep up on you, as soon as you clear one part the weeds are back somewhere else. As for today I am dead heading and tackling a rather obstinate bramble.

Mavis that is one thing that has grown with a vengeance in the drought and thats brambles, ouch they are sharp too !

Brambles are a real nuisance Mavis and Grandmage we have one at the top of the garden I am sure it seems to grow a few inches each day at this time of year. I have to look out for it when I'm weeding.
Not done any gardening today just finishing off painting in the hall, stairway and landing. All finished now - new carpet coming tomorrow ;-)

We should have a party for this new stair carpet, Rich, you have certainly worked hard enough getting it all ready~bet it will look a treat when it is fitted. As to Brambles, yep, we have the odd one or two that have sneaked in amongst the plants, and yes, I always get stung too! How is it weeds thrive no matter what the conditions, while our poor plants struggle??? lol!

I have tried cutting the brambles right back Flori but they keep growing like tentacles ready to scram your arm..lol We get a few blackberries from them though. :-)

Think I need a machete for ours, and full riot gear come to think of it! And armed backup!!!!

lol flori me 2 , only its dock and brambles haha . knee pads arms pads head gear lol thout gardening was meant to b fun . haha i put carpet down to kill the weeds but have to keep moving it around as not got much.lol

I did not get the Bramble it lives to fight another day ,it was to wet to work on that part of the garden, instead I have been tying up the Gladioli and moving some containers.I am now looking for some spring bulbs.

me to mavis. try the £ shop .got lots last year they are fab.

Yes Cristina and Mavis £ shop and wilkinsons I have had some lovely daffodil and tulip bulbs from there they keep coming up every year ;-)
Flori -machette sounds good for this job......lol;-)

Some years ago I took over the Red Cross Centre garden here in Huntingdon. The place was just a riot of bramble & it took me a very long time to clear it away. I learnt a lot about how to deal with them there & I was armed only with a pair of cutters & loppers. No protection at all. I started on the outside, well I couldn't really start on the inside, now could I ? ;-), & gradually worked my way through it all. One thing I did though was to cut out as long a branch as I could & then cut it up in to pieces no longer than 30cm (1 ft) then I went after the next one. Makes it sooo much easier to dispose of later! No more fighting to cut the branches down to a manageable size & getting scratched all over again a 2nd time!

One thing that is necessary is to cut it as close to the ground as possible but then it will still grow again the following year from underground stems. Also if it has been there for a very long time you will find that the tips have also rooted & they need to come out if you ever want to free yourself from them!

The centre has now been closed for over a year & the brambles are recovering the territory I wrested back from them!

What I have been doing with the little rotters is as Balc. says, cut them right near to the ground as poss, then I squirt a little of the ready made up weedkiller, I use resolva, just onto the root and fingers crossed I am hoping this will keep some of them from re-growing. I hate them.

Thanks for all the information and advice Balcony ..What an episode you had there and now it seems it is back to where is was. It was a shame that it closed no doubt you miss it from reading between the lines of your message.
Thank you also Grandmage the brambles are a big nuisance in our back garden too. It sounds as though you have the measure of them now though ;-)
I have had quite an easy day, clearing up pots and trays in the garden,collecting pansy seeds, watering plants and thinking about what seeds I can start off at this time of year. Anyone got any ideas what seeds I can sow now?

"It was a shame that it closed no doubt you miss it from reading between the lines of your message. "

You are very perceptive, Richard! I do indeed miss the centre gardens. Though after looking after them for about 3 years I found I couldn't continue to look after it as much as I used to, principally because I changed jobs & was doing shift work. Also our daughter moved out of our flat & there was no-one to look after our 5 little dogs (all dead now :-( ) when my wife went to work before I got home from work. So I had to leave the garden but no-one else took it over. On the odd occasion I went along for a little while & did a little tidying up but by then some of the brambles were beginning to make a comeback & I had no time to spend there cutting them out. About 4 years ago I stopped even these occasional visits. Then nearly 2 years ago the centre finally closed down & is now awaiting demolition.

The bramble I am having the problem with is between fences so both myself and my neighbour tackle it as best we can. It is good advice Balcony to chop it up as you go thanks...RichardPeej Ihave bought some bulbs today I got 100 snow crocus for two pound at Morrisons also four Chrysanths and six Wallflowers they where just three pounds for both. A good buy I thought.

That was a very good buy Mavis you did well to come across all those bulbs and plants for that price.I am sure they will look a picture in your garden, don't forget to take a pic of the Wallflowers and Chrysanths :-)

That is interesting Balcony it is good of you to share a bit of your background with us all as friends on here can relate to these things. It was a shame that the gardens closed down but I suppose that gives you more time to do similar work but this time in your allotment and on your balcony which must be still looking a picture :-)

I haven't done much today apart from making our daughters dinner, gammon, potato wedges and peas and making some corned beef sandwiches.

That's OK, Richard. I worked as a part time volunteer member of the Spanish Red Cross doing translation between the illegal immigrants, the Red Cross worker who attended them & the Spanish police force. Once I was asked to attend a court meeting where one was being interrogated. The police even came to my house on the odd occasion to take me to the police station & translate for an illegal immigrant.

Here in the UK I also worked as a part time volunteer in the British Red Cross shop in Huntingdon. At the same time I looked after the Red Cross Centre gardens. I even planted many of my Daffodils & Hyacinths in the gardens after they had flowered on my balcony - they still continue to flourish there & flower every year. It's a shame they will probably be dug up when the centre is demolished to make way for something else. :-(

Perhaps you can go and dig up the bulbs for yourself Balcony before the place is demolished, after all they were your bulbs in the first place.
I will be cooking the Sunday dinner today we are having roast chicken, roast and boiled new potatoes and some runner beans and peas from the garden. I usually make a rice pudding too but it is a bit warm for that today here. It is a sunny day in Leicestershire so far :-)

Well I have had a restful bank holiday. Did a bit of dead-heading in the garden, collected some pansy seeds and OH and I did a bit of spring cleaning as we have some friends coming tomorrow. We are all going down the local Indian restaurant for a lunchtime meal. The staff down there are really friendly and a good laugh ;-))
Please tell us all what you have been up to today....if it is printable.....lol ;-)

Glad you had a good Bank Holiday,Richard.I just did a bit of tidying up in the garden,had lunch..and fell asleep afterwards for an hour,..so our afternoon walk round our local park, was delayed somewhat,but as we went later than planned,it was lovely and peaceful.!! Made a fresh salmon salad and Jacket potato for tea,watered and fed the plants in pots,and have chilled out on here since..Russ washed up,and has just brought me a coffee and a chocolate Digestive.....Good day,or what ? :o)))))

My OH & I had planned on going to a town 5/6 miles away that has a great market on Bank-holiday Mondays. It has been some years since we last went.

I went down to the allotment to water the tomatoes in the greenhouse as they hadn't been watered since Saturday.. Just as I arrived there OH called me & said would I mind not going as she didn't feel too good. Well that suited me as I could then spend a few hours on the plot that I hadn't counted on! :-)

I planted more strawberries in my new bed. I had to dig some rooted cuttings up first but with all the weeds I found it difficult & had to do some weeding at the same time. So I only got about 20 new plants in place! I'll post a picture or two in the 2nd part of my last blog that I uploaded yesterday.

After making lunch I've spent the rest of the day sitting here at the computer,reading emails, doing a Spanish/English translation for a Columbian website dedicated to the conservation of birds. Then I spent a while on here before going to another gardening site I post on, all about allotments. I uploaded photos of my work on the plot & finally I've ended back up on here! :-)

Wow Bloomer a good day indeed can't fault it.
A bit of extra time on the plot is always good Balcony as there is always something to do..I see you have done plenty of weeding too reading your blog.
For me, today a workfriend and his wife came around this morning and we sat in the garden had coffee and later walked down the local Indian restaurant for lunch. We all had a jolly time and plenty of laughs. Then we walked back sat in the garden for a chat and I am still here, the friends have gone home now.

I had a birthday over the Bank Holiday and went to a Garden Centre on Sunday to spend my vouchers and cash on a cold frame and a Grow-house.
Shopped with daughter on Monday and gardened for my Mum most of today, all in all, a very satisfying Bank Holiday. It's been the most beautiful sunny day down here today. : o )))))

Glad you enjoyed yourself in the garden Shirley T. It is sunny here and I am sat in the garden today. Had a nice day chatting to a gardening friend this morning and had lunch in the garden after doing a few chores.