Phew!

[4pygmies]

Oh, so nice to be in the garden! Finally made a start on the humungous pruning I have to do everywhere. I've attacked the rampant Honeysuckle (again), seriously cut back the Pyracanthus and neatened up the Choisya and Purple Elder. I now have a patio by the back door. And some bare earth......... I also made a start on the front bed that runs all along my barn which was a real mess. It gets full sun so it's been miles too hot for weeks to do anything. I filled 5 wheelbarrow loads with the trimmings of the variegated Jasmine, Hibiscus, Purple sage, nettles, Savory, Geranium, and miles of horrid Vinca. That stuff is a PAIN. Then I had to mow the grass (AGAIN). OMG I am so Knackered........think I'll treat us to a takeaway tonight! Hope everyone else has had a good gardening day.

[andy]

4pygmies said:

Oh, so nice to be in the garden! Finally made a start on the humungous pruning I have to do everywhere. I've attacked the rampant Honeysuckle (again), seriously cut back the Pyracanthus and neatened up the Choisya and Purple Elder. I now have a patio by the back door. And some bare earth......... I also made a start on the front bed that runs all along my barn which was a real mess. It gets full sun so it's been miles too hot for weeks to do anything. I filled 5 wheelbarrow loads with the trimmings of the variegated Jasmine, Hibiscus, Purple sage, nettles, Savory, Geranium, and miles of horrid Vinca. That stuff is a PAIN. Then I had to mow the grass (AGAIN). OMG I am so Knackered........think I'll treat us to a takeaway tonight! Hope everyone else has had a good gardening day.

;D ;D ;D.....you want to try doing it as a 5 day a week job. I mowed the front lawns of the garden i look after yesterday with a petrol flymo and it took 4 and a half hours instead of the usual 2 and a half.....all because the grass was so long !!!

Mind you, it ain't arf worth it in the end

[4pygmies]

Hey Andy, I did used to do it for a living! I was younger and fitter then though........

[Dr Bill]

Well I have spent the day clearing out the garage
Not much fun

[Deleted]

We moved house four months ago and have just formulated plans for the new garden. I have a sun trap courtyard with a lovely curved wall which has low level lights installed at intervals. The wall has a narrow border (less than 1 metre) all the way along it which has plants that have run amok. Yesterday I removed a honeysuckle (on its way to world domination), a garrya (planted in front of one of the lights!) and have started on the pink geraniums (endressii?), variegated grass and ground covering vinca. Next to come out will be an escallonia, phormium, cistus and a huge clump of mixed kniphofias. Fortunately I have a friend in the village who needs some plants to help fill a large garden and I've already put together a shopping list to replant the area. I've just bought a book on climbing and wall plants to help me out. My bulbs have just arrived so I'll have to find somewhere cool to store them until I've got some of my new plants. Looks like I'll be busy for a few weeks.
I've ordered some clematis to climb up the walls and daphnes to fill the area with scent. I'm having so much fun looking for plants.

[Chuckles]

Sounds lovely shadylady, any forthcoming pics ??

4p I'm jealous, I started some clearing out beginning of Sept, then had to leave off for 2 wks hols which got extended to 3, then I got this dreaded cold bug. So, after 4 wks of doing nothing in my gdn I'm getting withdrawl symptoms.

Andy, that must have been some lawn.

Roll on nxt wk, I'm praying for fine weather.

[4pygmies]

Crikey Shadylady, that sounds like hard work. Good you've got a home for your unwanted plants though - guilt free clearance! I have a monster Honeysuckle too. I love the flowers but it's destroying a shrub rose, which it takes hours to untangle it from and has worked its way over the wall to my purple smoke tree, wayfaring tree and weigela. I also discovered in the thicket it's made that an Ash tree has planted itself so my job for the morning is to clamber about underneath and try and dig that out - it's got to over 10 ft tall without me seeing it!
Morning Busybee, hope the weather does hold for you now your lurgy is going. I do love to garden but get so little proper time these days that I always feel under pressure. Don't get much chance to enjoy it as I'm always slogging away at the massive nettles, couch grass etc. I LOVE my garden but it's so big and I'm losing control of it! There always seems to be a long list of back hurting, hard labour things that I have to do before I can sit down and look at the plants. I really need to go berserk with my strimmer!

[Deleted]

Hi BusyBee, thanks for reminding me that I should be taking before and after piccies. I'm a bit busy this week but will see what I can do. I must read up on how to post photos.

4pymies - You must really have a monster honeysuckle if it's hidden a 10 ft ash tree! Mind your back when you have a go at the tree. Their roots go down a long way. I'm also plagued by ash tree seedlings.

[Cheerypeabrain]

Well I was GC hopping all yesterday afternoon with my sisters....I had National Garden Centre vouchers burning a hole in my pocket...bought LOTS including a v nice pretend ammonite made out of concrete or sommat....wanted a garden ornament that fitted with the fern-bit of the garden....there's a photo of it in the gallery (CPB's garden)

Today I was in the garden all day apart from a few minutes to bolt down a salad!. I've been clearing the border (apart from a few still glorious dahlias and cosmos)...been dividing perennials and propagating alpines...fetching in tender stuff etc. I've had a wonderful time...my fingernails may never be clean again and the knees of my trousers are thick with mud...perfect.

CPBx ;D

[4pygmies]

Hello all, It really is a MONSTER honeysuckle Shady lady - I hack it back every year but nothing stops it!
Hey CPB - glad you had a good day. That ammonite looks really lovely but will look even better when it's weathered a bit! Well done for actually spending your BD money on yourself XX

[Deleted]

I've now posted some piccies on the garden gallery.
I went with OH to a local garden centre and we've now made a start on the fruit garden with one grape, two blackcurrants, one redcurrant and a gooseberry. I only bought three plants because they didn't have what was on my wanted list.
Bought rather a lot of bulbs today though!

[Cheerypeabrain]

Just had a look at your pics Shadylady...fab ;D

[Deleted]

Hi CPB I've just spent some time looking at everyone else's gardens - They're really wonderful. I'm hoping that mine will be as colourful in a couple of years if not sooner. Can you tell me what the name of the soft fern is that's growing in one of your pots? Is it a polystichum of some sort?

[Cheerypeabrain]

Sorry Shadylady...I missed your reply!...I'll dig out the labels at the weekend and send you a PM with the details. (I have them all nice and safe in a tin....somewhere...) ;D

[4pygmies]

Your pictures are lovely Shadylady. What a lovely wall to have as a backdrop. I look forward to the revamped pictures.
Just as an aside I went into the Tesco's plant tent (usually avoid it) this morning and bought a massive Miscanthus (Zebra grass) that was more than half price. I sawed it up this morning into 6 plants which I worked out have cost me just over a pound each. I love a bargain!