Gardening

[Sue]

My garden in Rochdale is about to burst into flower. usually the rain arrives just in time to rot all the buds!

[Stanley]

It could happen again Sue. The forecast for the next few days is colder and rainy. I haven't got any flowers but the herbs are enjoying the weather. We could do with a bit of rain but without wind and cold please!

[Stanley]

It looks as though someone heard my request.... we have light warm rain this morning....

[Wendyf]

I lifted my garlic crop this morning...the smell in the polytunnel is divine! i had forgotten that I planted elephant garlic.



A harvest of spring greens and baby turnips, lettuce and pak-choi thinnings and a bag of spinach leaves.



Everything in the tunnel is doing well at the moment:



My fennel has a long way to go though...

[Sue]

Fabulous garlic Wendy. Yes we have returned to a garden full of flowers, and veggie plants growing well. We have had the best week ever in the Lakes, good weather even today.

[Marilyn]

Just what the world needs...elephant garlic! What on earth are you going to do with it all? There is enough there to clear the London Underground...

Produce looks lovely, Wendy. (Apart from you know what)

[LizG]

Very impressive crops Wendy.

[Stanley]

Lovely and a just reward for all the hard work Wendy. Produce like that doesn't just happen.....
Front garden is growing well. Not a lot of blossom on the lilac but fewer leaves attacked by leaf curl. The mint died back a bit in some places over the last few years but seems to be spreading again. I reckon it's the horse muck wot did it.....

[Wendyf]

Garlic keeps very well Maz, as long as you don't put it in the fridge......cold encourages it to sprout apparently. Last years crop lasted us well into the spring.

[Stanley]

I thought the longest day was a good time to do a record shot of the front garden.... Not bad considering the cold season.
Looking back at the 2014 pictures, very similar growth but a better show of Lilac blossom last year.

[Sue]

Bob took some photos of the garden in France last week. We don't often see this as normally we don't manage to get to France in early June.

[Sue]

And another

[Cathy]

Looks lovely Sue, very very nice

[LizG]

Beautiful Sue.

[Stanley]

More flowers than me...... Looks good!

[Sue]

Unfortunately the lawn had grown just as vigorously ! In 27 degrees it took two days to cut

[Wendyf]

Its very pretty Sue.

[Stanley]

Sheep Madam...... Who said that about hawks.....?

[Stanley]

The recent warm weather and light warm showers have done wonders for the garden. I suspect the horse muck has had an influence as well!

[Marilyn]

Its looking good.

I watched my across-the-road neighbour prune his Roses yesterday. He went way too far and reduced them from 5ft bushes to 6inch sticks. Got a bit carried away, I think.
Easily done if you are enjoying yourself...
Unfortunately I don't have a lot of gardening to do at present, as nothing seems to be needing attention.

[Stanley]

Maz that's how some roses are pruned over here in winter.

[Sue]

For you Stanley, recently trimmed and neaten end up

image.jpg

[Stanley]

Looks healthy Sue! Just like mine, I trimmed mine back to the bottom after winter as usual and it looks almost exactly the same.....

[Sue]

I didn't trim mine back thus year but have tidied it up this week giving it a nice rounded shape

[Stanley]

I leave ni9ne all winter and then cut is back to the bottom growing shoots each spring just before growth starts. It looks as though I have murdered it but comes back thicker and more vigorous. The one at Hey Farm wasn't pruned and was a big shrub!