Well after some torrential rain in the night we now have wind gusting to
well over 50 mph and forecast to get stronger.
Got 3 chrysanthemum beds prepared early in the week though it was rather
like stirring cold rice pudding, but with ground cover fabric down I
don't need to get onto the soil, though I can see me planting from duck
boards, though they do say next week will be better.
David @ a very wet and windy side of Swansea Bay

"David Hill" wrote in message ...

Well after some torrential rain in the night we now have wind gusting to
well over 50 mph and forecast to get stronger.
Got 3 chrysanthemum beds prepared early in the week though it was rather
like stirring cold rice pudding, but with ground cover fabric down I
don't need to get onto the soil, though I can see me planting from duck
boards, though they do say next week will be better.
David @ a very wet and windy side of Swansea Bay
================================================== =====


We have a mature May Tree just about to go over in the wind

Mike
Very sunny but windy South East Coast of the Isle of Wight



---------------------------------------------------------------
www.friendsofshanklintheatre.co.uk

On 10/05/2014 13:21, David Hill wrote:
Well after some torrential rain in the night we now have wind gusting to
well over 50 mph and forecast to get stronger.
Got 3 chrysanthemum beds prepared early in the week though it was rather
like stirring cold rice pudding, but with ground cover fabric down I
don't need to get onto the soil, though I can see me planting from duck
boards, though they do say next week will be better.
David @ a very wet and windy side of Swansea Bay



I know how you feel! I've got masses of seedlings and mature plants to
deal with but, despite sallying forth into the soggy gales twice, I've
got precisely nowhere. I'm back indoors now, feeling damp and chilled,
and wishing I'd never bothered :~(.

--
Spider.
On high ground in SE London
gardening on heavy clay

On 2014-05-10 12:21:34 +0000, David Hill said:

Well after some torrential rain in the night we now have wind gusting
to well over 50 mph and forecast to get stronger.
Got 3 chrysanthemum beds prepared early in the week though it was
rather like stirring cold rice pudding, but with ground cover fabric
down I don't need to get onto the soil, though I can see me planting
from duck boards, though they do say next week will be better.
David @ a very wet and windy side of Swansea Bay

Same sort of day here, David. The wind has gone now, thank heaven, as
has the rain though that was intermittent. The forecast for the w/e is
pretty good, I think.
--

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

On 10/05/2014 22:21, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-05-10 12:21:34 +0000, David Hill said:

Well after some torrential rain in the night we now have wind gusting
to well over 50 mph and forecast to get stronger.
Got 3 chrysanthemum beds prepared early in the week though it was
rather like stirring cold rice pudding, but with ground cover fabric
down I don't need to get onto the soil, though I can see me planting
from duck boards, though they do say next week will be better.
David @ a very wet and windy side of Swansea Bay

Same sort of day here, David. The wind has gone now, thank heaven, as
has the rain though that was intermittent. The forecast for the w/e is
pretty good, I think.


Well the wind has eased up a bit here, but we had 15 hours with it
gusting to 50 mph or over with 2 hours of it gusting over 60 mph.
The last 48 hours have given us over 1.5 inches of rain with more to
come overt the next few days, and the forecast is for wind till at least
mid week.
In this sort of weather it's easy to forget that things inside still
want watering.
David @ a battered side of Swansea Bay

On 2014-05-11 08:05:26 +0000, David Hill said:

On 10/05/2014 22:21, Sacha wrote:
On 2014-05-10 12:21:34 +0000, David Hill said:

Well after some torrential rain in the night we now have wind gusting
to well over 50 mph and forecast to get stronger.
Got 3 chrysanthemum beds prepared early in the week though it was
rather like stirring cold rice pudding, but with ground cover fabric
down I don't need to get onto the soil, though I can see me planting
from duck boards, though they do say next week will be better.
David @ a very wet and windy side of Swansea Bay

Same sort of day here, David. The wind has gone now, thank heaven, as
has the rain though that was intermittent. The forecast for the w/e is
pretty good, I think.


Well the wind has eased up a bit here, but we had 15 hours with it
gusting to 50 mph or over with 2 hours of it gusting over 60 mph.
The last 48 hours have given us over 1.5 inches of rain with more to
come overt the next few days, and the forecast is for wind till at
least mid week.
In this sort of weather it's easy to forget that things inside still
want watering.
David @ a battered side of Swansea Bay

Lol! From my window, I can see Ray out in the biggest greenhouse, doing
the watering. With everyone at it, it can still take a couple of hours
to get everywhere done. It's a bit breezy today with the odd flurry of
raindrops but a much better day than yesterday. The birds are dashing
about madly and the scent coming in the window from the Rosa Banksiae
lutea and the unknown Lonicera beside it, is just gorgeous. We have
some cardoons in one of the pond borders, beside the obelisks and their
rate of growth has been quite staggering. They're certainly extremely
eye-catching!
--

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

On 2014-05-11 09:19:55 +0000, Martin said:

On Sat, 10 May 2014 22:21:46 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 2014-05-10 12:21:34 +0000, David Hill said:

Well after some torrential rain in the night we now have wind gusting
to well over 50 mph and forecast to get stronger.
Got 3 chrysanthemum beds prepared early in the week though it was
rather like stirring cold rice pudding, but with ground cover fabric
down I don't need to get onto the soil, though I can see me planting
from duck boards, though they do say next week will be better.
David @ a very wet and windy side of Swansea Bay

Same sort of day here, David. The wind has gone now, thank heaven, as
has the rain though that was intermittent. The forecast for the w/e is
pretty good, I think.

We are travelling on the Rotterdam ferry tonight, both Humber and Thames have
Shipping Forecast gale warnings. Nothing new.

--
Martin in rural N Staffordshire

I was about to ask you if you were planning some sea travel. It never
fails. Never! I think you should give advance warnings before you both
set foot on a ship!!
--

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

On Sun, 11 May 2014 09:15:58 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 2014-05-11 08:05:26 +0000, David Hill said:

On 10/05/2014 22:21, Sacha wrote:

Lol! From my window, I can see Ray out in the biggest greenhouse, doing
the watering. With everyone at it, it can still take a couple of hours
to get everywhere done. It's a bit breezy today with the odd flurry of
raindrops but a much better day than yesterday. The birds are dashing
about madly and the scent coming in the window from the Rosa Banksiae
lutea and the unknown Lonicera beside it, is just gorgeous. We have some
cardoons in one of the pond borders, beside the obelisks and their rate
of growth has been quite staggering. They're certainly extremely
eye-catching!

I've always wanted to do cardoons. Any tips? I might try some next year.

The wind here has been positively viscious, lots of damage among the
young maple shoots unfortunately. Still, nothing terminal (excepts
shoots, heh) so that's something.

The rain has been so constant over the last few weeks that pots just
can't dry out. And I use _really_ free draining mix: it's mostly pine
chips, with coco chips and fibre, just a little compost. Some of the
potted maples are getting some blackening on leaves, never a good sign...

-E



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:
On Sun, 11 May 2014 09:15:58 +0100, Sacha wrote:

Lol! From my window, I can see Ray out in the biggest greenhouse, doing
the watering. With everyone at it, it can still take a couple of hours
to get everywhere done. It's a bit breezy today with the odd flurry of
raindrops but a much better day than yesterday. The birds are dashing
about madly and the scent coming in the window from the Rosa Banksiae
lutea and the unknown Lonicera beside it, is just gorgeous. We have some
cardoons in one of the pond borders, beside the obelisks and their rate
of growth has been quite staggering. They're certainly extremely
eye-catching!

I've always wanted to do cardoons. Any tips? I might try some next year.

Watch out for snails and slugs when young, and otherwise quite
easy. (based on one try). We tried them blanched as plants,
blanched in water, and still called them repulsant snozzcombers.
As bitter as gall.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On 2014-05-11 18:40:33 +0000, Emery Davis said:

On Sun, 11 May 2014 09:15:58 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 2014-05-11 08:05:26 +0000, David Hill said:

On 10/05/2014 22:21, Sacha wrote:

Lol! From my window, I can see Ray out in the biggest greenhouse, doing
the watering. With everyone at it, it can still take a couple of hours
to get everywhere done. It's a bit breezy today with the odd flurry of
raindrops but a much better day than yesterday. The birds are dashing
about madly and the scent coming in the window from the Rosa Banksiae
lutea and the unknown Lonicera beside it, is just gorgeous. We have some
cardoons in one of the pond borders, beside the obelisks and their rate
of growth has been quite staggering. They're certainly extremely
eye-catching!

I've always wanted to do cardoons. Any tips? I might try some next year.

The wind here has been positively viscious, lots of damage among the
young maple shoots unfortunately. Still, nothing terminal (excepts
shoots, heh) so that's something.

The rain has been so constant over the last few weeks that pots just
can't dry out. And I use _really_ free draining mix: it's mostly pine
chips, with coco chips and fibre, just a little compost. Some of the
potted maples are getting some blackening on leaves, never a good sign...

-E

We grow them purely for ornament, not for eating. So in our case we
just plant them and let them get on with it. They come back every year.
The only thing I'd say is that they're best in a spot which is pretty
much sheltered from the wind. This is because they grow so tall and
spread so well, that the leaves can be snapped. A cardoon in a suitable
sized pot would look spectacular as a focal point on a terrace or to
lead the eye to the bottom of a garden path.
--

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

On Sun, 11 May 2014 20:29:56 +0100, Nick Maclaren wrote:

and still called them repulsant snozzcombers.

I'll remember that! In fact I have some guests in mind to serve them
to. Actually was mostly looking at the ornamental aspects, but had
hoped to try cooking them. I wonder if it's a question of ripeness in
our not-so-sunny climate.



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

In article ,
Emery Davis wrote:

and still called them repulsant snozzcombers.

I'll remember that! In fact I have some guests in mind to serve them
to. Actually was mostly looking at the ornamental aspects, but had
hoped to try cooking them. I wonder if it's a question of ripeness in
our not-so-sunny climate.

No, because you blanch and eat the young stems - and younger almost
always means less bitter. But they do make a good architectural
plant, with impressive flowers.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

On Mon, 12 May 2014 09:24:43 +0100, Sacha wrote:

We grow them purely for ornament, not for eating. So in our case we just
plant them and let them get on with it. They come back every year. The
only thing I'd say is that they're best in a spot which is pretty much
sheltered from the wind. This is because they grow so tall and spread so
well, that the leaves can be snapped. A cardoon in a suitable sized pot
would look spectacular as a focal point on a terrace or to lead the eye
to the bottom of a garden path.

Thanks, good to know they come back. I have a dry and somewhat sheltered
place I've thought might be good for them. Last saw some in an Abbey
garden in the Loire valley, surrounded by high walls... No doubt to
keep the epicurious off!



--
Gardening in Lower Normandy

On 2014-05-12 12:18:44 +0000, Emery Davis said:

On Mon, 12 May 2014 09:24:43 +0100, Sacha wrote:

We grow them purely for ornament, not for eating. So in our case we just
plant them and let them get on with it. They come back every year. The
only thing I'd say is that they're best in a spot which is pretty much
sheltered from the wind. This is because they grow so tall and spread so
well, that the leaves can be snapped. A cardoon in a suitable sized pot
would look spectacular as a focal point on a terrace or to lead the eye
to the bottom of a garden path.

Thanks, good to know they come back. I have a dry and somewhat sheltered
place I've thought might be good for them. Last saw some in an Abbey
garden in the Loire valley, surrounded by high walls... No doubt to
keep the epicurious off!

Definitely worth planting as perennials but do bear in mind that they
take up a lot of space if they're happy. Dryish conditions and suny are
important. We've had them go to about 5' h&w here.
--

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