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Post by brightspark on Oct 12, 2021 8:29:13 GMT
Dan, what are the "Grues"? Are they geese of some sort? Vague memory - are they cranes? Yep, it's migration time!
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Post by moonraker on Oct 12, 2021 13:00:04 GMT
Hi brightspark, I have just come indoors for a nice cuppa and as i walked across the garden they are flying around in a large circle trying to sort out the direction north Africa is, (I am thinking of putting a sign up Paris 200 miles that way and Spain about 200miles this way and Holland 200miles that way and north Africa "turn right at the supper market and keep flying. Yes they are Cranes.
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Post by moonraker on Oct 12, 2021 13:06:45 GMT
Hi ambersparkle, It really is a shame you having the breathing problem and i was wondering if a small greenhouse might be of help? You'd be indoors and if you use a heater you would also be warm during the colder periods, Just a thought, I do enjoy your daily offerings
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Post by moonraker on Oct 12, 2021 13:50:29 GMT
Do you? Just a quick one, I was wondering if you had the radio on or any music while your gardening ?
I myself like the Irish radio music what about you?
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Post by moonraker on Oct 13, 2021 7:49:21 GMT
Dan, what are the "Grues"? Are they geese of some sort? Vague memory - are they cranes? Yep, it's migration time!
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Post by moonraker on Oct 13, 2021 8:28:57 GMT
I have just returned from my daily inspection of the garden, You can't beat that walk around to see what natures done over night to the garden, Cup of coffee in hand and dressed to garden I take in the start of the days weather (misty and cool but dry today) and the start will be picking up apples that have fallen, i have an orchard I both planted and some trees we're already here when we bought the old farm house "but" it had not been lived in for 25yrs and the complete garden was just well over grown and so i started off bit by bit clearing it and the first part was what is now the orchard, full of apple/pear/cherry/Peach and currant bushes,
When you think of fruit trees they are one of the best tree's to plant if you have room,
They produce fruit year after year and do not need that much attending really But just look at the price of fruit in the shops ?? And this will only tell you the good in planting your own.
I am making a mental note of whats to be pruned in the next couple of months to keep the trees in good trim and a good air circulation in the center of the trees,
I was reading about the advantage of the winter prune and its this, It's no good having hundreds of small fruit (apples/pears etc) by not keeping the tree pruned when for the sake of giving the tree's roots a chance to feed less wood and produce less but larger fruit) And it works,
So the note books now has what trees need a bit of pruning Around Jan/Feb/ 2022. I am also starting to clear parts of the veg and flower parts of the garden ready for turning over a putting lime powder down (Lime is one of the soil improving natural minerals that again do work, Not only does the Lime kill off a lot of bugs it also helps the soil to have a higher/richer PH value, (all good stuff) by adding Lime now when parts of the garden are clear of plants the winter weather will soak the lime into the soil,
"Note" read up we're not to use Lime pre planting such as the bed for your spring spuds, lime this area the year before planting spuds.
The bird feeders in our garden are used daily and all year "but with all this hedge trimming and pruning the birds are wondering whats going on, "why so much space? No branches hanging over our bird feeding house, "they'll soon get use to it "but it is important to keep feeding all winter long and keep the bird's water dish full and de-frost daily "they really do depend on food/water And they will pay you back by keeping the bugs down,
Well it's time i was outdoors doing what i enjoy GARDENING. Have a nice day folks.
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Post by ambersparkle on Oct 13, 2021 12:40:34 GMT
Thanks for your Advice Dan, but I do have a small Greenhouse, the trouble is, I am disabled, and at my Door, there is a long Ramp leading to that part of the Garden, In the Winter, it is slippery, and am too frightened of falling, as walk with a Rollator. Anyway, like you. I love my Garden, and I grow everything in raised Beds. I also have Heart Problems, so cannot expose myself to cold Weather. But grow virtually everything. This year still have a few Tomatoes, and picking lovely Spinich, enough Fruit in the Freezer to see me through the Winter, always a big saving.
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Post by brightspark on Oct 13, 2021 13:44:07 GMT
We have had the last of the tiny tomatoes sitting on a sunny windowsill - but we also have some bought baby plum tomatoes to use up. I mentioned to OH that I wasn't keen on the flavour of the mini plum ones, and he suggested I bring in the little 'marbles' from the windowsill. Oh my goodness, what a difference! Not only were they tastier, but they were still warm from the sunshine, such a delight!
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Post by moonraker on Oct 13, 2021 19:46:30 GMT
Hi ambersparkle, Thanks for your reply, I am glad you have a raised bed for growing veg, The raised beds really are a good thing for anyone who is not able to stand for a long time and the raised beds are easier to keep looking nice and also to weed, Now talking about toms, Has anyone tried the Russian ones ?? They are very dark "almost black" and you can get the cherry size ones (great for hanging baskets Or the full size ones both are a sweet taste and both are really worth trying,
Tip, Every car boot or if your here in France 'Brocant' Has on the stalls used colander's (as used for rinsing salad leaves) Well because of the way these are made with lots of holes already in the colander and the older ones are made of metal with two side handles, You are half way to having a great kitchen hanging basket, just add a piece of waxed paper and use the outside of the colander's holes as a temp plate to how many holes you feel you need for drainage and poke a sharp spike through them,
Fill the colander with compost add three chains or strong string for hanging the colander (around the outside kitchen window is a good place, and you have started your hanging colander experience, try all the Herbs or even geraniums, This colander idea will not only be a talking point "But it will last for years and cost very little to buy.
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Post by ambersparkle on Oct 14, 2021 10:27:51 GMT
Went to the Door to pay the Fishmonger, and noticed a lovely Patch of Nasturtiums sheltered by the Maple Tree, a lovely splash of brightness, on a very cold Morning.
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Post by ambersparkle on Oct 14, 2021 10:36:59 GMT
Sorting out some bits and pieces for the Birds, and my Pigeon, who has adopted me, he even goes to follow me into the House, I even buy him special Seed. I do have a bit of sliced Chicken, the irony of it, would never eat Pigeon. that I chop up for them, but do not do that often as it might encourage Rats. And the Seagulls, are upon it in seconds, as am near the Sea. And what an ugly sound they make, awk !awk!
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Post by moonraker on Oct 14, 2021 16:26:45 GMT
Dan, what are the "Grues"? Are they geese of some sort? Vague memory - are they cranes? Yep, it's migration time!
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Post by moonraker on Oct 14, 2021 17:23:12 GMT
Yes you can feel colder mornings and evening now, And again the gardens slowing down , Such as the grass cutting, I have put the lawn mower blades a little higher now as the the ground is staying wetter and longer,
That's another point to go in the must do "winter things" give the lawn mower it's winter service and all the tools also, It pays to look after your tools and it wont be to long for all the hand tools to get a good service, I stand the wooden handle tools (spade/fork/rake etc upside down and give the wood parts a good soaking with Wood treatment oil, Doing this lets the oil soak well into the wood.
Tip, I have an old oil drum cut in half (it is about 3feet high and a round shape) Ive filled it with sand and every time i service any of the oil change machines such as the car /lawn mower etc, I empty the used oil into the drum and let it soak into the sand, This half drum i have in the corner inside the tool shed and every time I have finished using what ever tools I have been gardening with, I push the likes of the spades blade /fork head into this oily sand , do this a couple of times and your cleaning and giving your tools a light film of grease, You'll never have rust on the tools. Winter is a good time to get the lawn mower into the lawn mower service shop, it will be ready to go first sign of spring instead of leaving the service/sharpening of the blades until Easter and a waiting game as to when you will see your mower again ready for that first cut.
When it comes to ordering seeds !!!!! have a think about what flowers keep pest off your veg ? Tom's can be prone to attack by white and green fly "But if you have a Tagete plant next to the Tomato plant these pest wont go near the Tom's Basil is again a good greenhouse herb that a lot of pests do not like the smell of and keep away from cucumber, It really is worth while to spend a little bit of the winters evening by the fire reading about natures way of dealing with pests (you will save a fortune. A really good long lasting plant from seed is one called "cosmos" these seed's are simple to grow and once in the garden they'll last all summer until early frost, They are a tall plant and a good border filler.
Well i am going to have a nice cuppa and sit in front of the wood burner with one of my best mates on the settee, Good night all.
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Post by moonraker on Oct 15, 2021 21:49:03 GMT
Evening all, It has been a nice sunny day and as always i have enjoyed the Gardening, Sometimes things can happen that bring the garden forward without you planning them, And thank to EDF deciding to upgrade the electricity wires and poles I had to cut down three large trees to the ground as they would cause problems with the new routed poles & wires , Hence i had to cut them down and now i have plenty to build a bon fire and burn the waste wood, So i have spent the day getting all this sorted out and ready to drag across the garden to the (what i call the waste area were i tend to store the odds and sods to be sorted out later) Next year all this spot of garden is going to be the chicken area.
I did shoot off into the village early on (We have a weekly street market and it's nice to see the stalls and folk) But other than what i have said about today !!!! It has been a nice day and one i have enjoyed.
Hope you folks have had a nice day and if so lets hear about it?
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Post by ambersparkle on Oct 18, 2021 14:14:30 GMT
I always plant a Tagetes in every Tomato Pot, and grow them everywhere, and never have a Problem, my Nan, was a wily old Bird, and she had me shadowing her with my little Trowel from an early age. Nan and Grandad also grew Stuff for the Shop, they had A Barbers Shop which Grandad was in charge of, and Nan ran the Greengrocers, back to back. Before that, Grandad, is down on my Parents Marriage Certificate, as a Tea Importer, he probably imported it from Stepney, as he sold it from a Barrow, on the Streets of London!
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