Is it just me or does anyone else feel that things seem to be galloping
into flower, going over and almost getting ready for autumn? With a
few things it feels almost like a 'blink and you'll miss it' flowering
period! I remember that when we were discussing the cold spring,
someone said they thought this might happen.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

"Sacha" wrote

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that things seem to be galloping
into flower, going over and almost getting ready for autumn? With a few
things it feels almost like a 'blink and you'll miss it' flowering period!
I remember that when we were discussing the cold spring, someone said they
thought this might happen.

Certainly some of our maincrop potatoes are looking like they are going over
which is a month early at least. Very strange considering they have been
well watered and other maincrops appear to be still growing well, lush
green. Our Kestrels also went over some weeks ago which is not usual. And
it's not Blight before you all mention it.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK

My Cyclamen hederifolium are flowering. It's officially autumn.

On 2013-08-05 20:30:13 +0100, kay said:

Sacha;989226 Wrote:
Is it just me or does anyone else feel that things seem to be galloping

into flower, going over and almost getting ready for autumn? With a
few things it feels almost like a 'blink and you'll miss it' flowering
period! I remember that when we were discussing the cold spring,
someone said they thought this might happen.


My Cyclamen hederifolium are flowering. It's officially autumn.

Oh heavens! That IS serious!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On Mon, 5 Aug 2013 22:56:53 +0100, Sacha wrote:

My Cyclamen hederifolium are flowering. It's officially autumn.

Oh heavens! That IS serious!

10.3 C outside ATM, might get below 10 C later. If so that will be
the first time since July 2nd. I'm half expecting the heating to kick
in during the evening but it hasn't yet, last time the heating came
on was at 1600 (when the set point changes from 18.5 to 20 C) on July
5th for a whole 23 minutes...

--
Cheers
Dave.

On Mon, 5 Aug 2013 15:11:35 +0100, Sacha wrote:

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that things seem to be galloping
into flower, going over and almost getting ready for autumn? With a
few things it feels almost like a 'blink and you'll miss it' flowering
period! I remember that when we were discussing the cold spring,
someone said they thought this might happen.

My japanese anemones have been in flower for a few weeks. I don't ever
remember them flowering in July before. Once they flower I usually
think that summer is on the way out!

Pam in Bristol

On Tue, 06 Aug 2013 08:40:05 +0100, Pam Moore wrote:

My japanese anemones have been in flower for a few weeks. I don't ever
remember them flowering in July before. Once they flower I usually think
that summer is on the way out!

Flowering here too now.

The weeks of intense heat, coupled with high winds and hail, have given
everything a ragged, autumnal look. Not to mention we had a vicious
thunder storm while away -- lost contents of fridge and big freezer,
phones still out over a week later -- and there's lots of wood down
including an elm lost. Certainly adds to the dishevelled look! Been
hard work with the chainsaw, too, when there's lots of weeding that
really needs catching up with.

-E

--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 2013-08-06 08:41:54 +0100, Martin said:

On Mon, 5 Aug 2013 22:56:53 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 2013-08-05 20:30:13 +0100, kay said:

Sacha;989226 Wrote:
Is it just me or does anyone else feel that things seem to be galloping

into flower, going over and almost getting ready for autumn? With a
few things it feels almost like a 'blink and you'll miss it' flowering
period! I remember that when we were discussing the cold spring,
someone said they thought this might happen.


My Cyclamen hederifolium are flowering. It's officially autumn.

Oh heavens! That IS serious!

It definitely has an autumn feel this morning, after a big
thunderstorm last night terminated the heat wave.

Same here - and the air has that scent to it, too. Oh dear, it IS too
early! Some of the family are off to Cornwall today and the sun is out
with some white fluffy clouds, so I do hope it stays sunny for them.
The excitement is way ott!
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 2013-08-06 08:40:05 +0100, Pam Moore said:

On Mon, 5 Aug 2013 15:11:35 +0100, Sacha wrote:

Is it just me or does anyone else feel that things seem to be galloping
into flower, going over and almost getting ready for autumn? With a
few things it feels almost like a 'blink and you'll miss it' flowering
period! I remember that when we were discussing the cold spring,
someone said they thought this might happen.

My japanese anemones have been in flower for a few weeks. I don't ever
remember them flowering in July before. Once they flower I usually
think that summer is on the way out!

Pam in Bristol

!! That's just what I said to Ray yesterday. Ours started flowering a
few days ago and I always associate them with autumn starting.
--

Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
South Devon
www.helpforheroes.org.uk

On 6 Aug 2013 07:57:41 GMT, Emery Davis wrote:

Not to mention we had a vicious thunder storm while away -- lost
contents of fridge and big freezer, ...

How long was te power off, fridges aren't particulary critical for 24
hrs provided you open it as little as possible. Freezers should
manage 12 hours or longer, again don't open it. Unless you *really*
have, think ahead when the power goes can help. In the case of the
fridge take a bottle of milk out and wrap it in a wet tea towel.

... phones still out over a week later ...

France Telecom not the fastest then.

... -- and there's lots of wood down including an elm lost.

Nice bit of fire wood for next winter. B-)

Overnight min 7.1 C, unless the room warms up a bit the heating will
come on this evening. Sunny intervals so it probably will just get
warm enough to keep the heating off, plenty of warmth in the sun so
20 C outside.

--
Cheers
Dave.

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ill.co.uk...

How long was te power off, fridges aren't particulary critical for 24
hrs provided you open it as little as possible. Freezers should
manage 12 hours or longer, again don't open it. Unless you *really*
have, think ahead when the power goes can help. In the case of the
fridge take a bottle of milk out and wrap it in a wet tea towel.

Yup - freezers (and fridges) are the main worry in my power cut scenario.
Especially when they mainly contain home- made produce on which hours of
time investment has been
expended. Golden rule must be not to open the door of either until the power
is restored. (not getting out bottles of milk etc - lol)
In the case of the freezer, best left for a day - door unopened after the
power is back.

Two other tips - try to keep the freezer as full as possible even if that
involves storing frozen water in addition
to edible stuff. Secondly, keep a plastic milk bottle half full of frozen
water in the freezer, only store it on its side once frozen.
You will then be re-assured when you return from a holiday or other long
absence when you see the vertical edge of the water therein
on your return.

Pete

On 06/08/13 11:14, Peter & Jeanne wrote:
Try to keep the freezer as full as possible even if that involves storing frozen water in addition
to edible stuff.

Yes indeed.

Also consider putting blankets over the freezer to act as thermal insulation.
But don't, of course, cover the hot radiator!


Secondly, keep a plastic milk bottle half full of frozen water in the freezer, only store it on its side once frozen.
You will then be re-assured when you return from a holiday or other long absence when you see the vertical edge of the water therein
on your return.

Nice trick!

On 06/08/2013 11:58, Martin wrote:
I'd guess that a good freezer has enough insulation to make that
unnecessary.


think you only need to cover freezer in the event of a power cut
otherwise won't you be keeping in the heat from the motor?

--
Janet T.
Amersham

On 06/08/13 11:58, Martin wrote:
On Tue, 06 Aug 2013 11:27:18 +0100, Tom Gardner
wrote:

On 06/08/13 11:14, Peter & Jeanne wrote:
Try to keep the freezer as full as possible even if that involves storing frozen water in addition
to edible stuff.

Yes indeed.

Also consider putting blankets over the freezer to act as thermal insulation.
But don't, of course, cover the hot radiator!

I'd guess that a good freezer has enough insulation to make that
unnecessary.

In a power cut, every little extra might make a difference!

By comparison, my hot water cylinder is insulated by foam,
but I was pleasantly surprised how much difference an extra
insulating jacket made (even though I only heat water
to 42/44C)

In article ,
says...

"Dave Liquorice" wrote in message
ill.co.uk...

How long was te power off, fridges aren't particulary critical for 24
hrs provided you open it as little as possible. Freezers should
manage 12 hours or longer, again don't open it. Unless you *really*
have, think ahead when the power goes can help. In the case of the
fridge take a bottle of milk out and wrap it in a wet tea towel.

Yup - freezers (and fridges) are the main worry in my power cut scenario.

We (fortunately) had just bought a new high efficiency
fridge/freezer, before the big power cut on Arran. I kept the freezer
shut and the house was unheated. Our house got power restored (by
generator) after three days and that's when I opened the freezer to
survey the damage. To my amazement, everything was still icy hard;
perfectly safe to defrost and either eat, or cook raw meat/veg and
refreeze. We lost nothing at all.

keep a plastic milk bottle half full of frozen
water in the freezer, only store it on its side once frozen.
You will then be re-assured when you return from a holiday or other long
absence when you see the vertical edge of the water therein
on your return.

That is a really good tip, thanks.

Janet.