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Post by Shrubrose on May 31, 2008 6:30:55 GMT
Ah well, RF you could always let your tomato-killing neighbour have a few of your toms as a reward for good behaviour. He might not be so inclined to water yours to death then ;D
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Post by Rosefriend on May 31, 2008 6:39:09 GMT
I think he has got his eye on them anyway to be honest - he asked last weekend when toms normally ripen....it was the glint in his eye that made me uneasy!!
RF
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Post by Tig on May 31, 2008 15:44:41 GMT
Ooh, is he likely to do a bit of tom thieving in the night RF?
Pleased to hear you got your 'meadow' neighbour to see sense at long last!
x Tig
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Post by Rosefriend on May 31, 2008 15:56:13 GMT
Well he does like to sit in the dark and have a drink late at night.....mind you - I water his beloved wine that has so many flowers this year.....mmmh - sort of tit for tat isn't it!!! I will certainly give him some toms anyway.
As far as my other neighbour is concerned , we have had a neighbourly bet amongst ourselves - will he mow again this year or not. The loser organises the BBQ!!
RF
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Post by Jasmine on May 31, 2008 17:16:10 GMT
Our neighbour (we only have one but he makes enough noise for at least 3 or 4!) is the complete opposite RF - he has a schedule and every Saturday he mows his lawn and then he strims it. Both things are done with petrol machinery and he wears those ear muff protector things - the rest of us just listen to it. It takes the whole day too. I was sitting in the garden a few weeks ago and was just about to have a conversation with/bellow at my OH about how anyone could make so much noise for so long when he stopped and popped his head over the hedge for a chat!  Their lawn does look great but I would just love a bit of peace sometimes - I cringe when OH is on night duty. |
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Post by Spruance on Jun 5, 2008 14:24:32 GMT
On 21st May I took advantage of T&M's young plants sale, and ordered some Gazanias, Laurentias, Geraniums and Antirrhinum Madame Butterfly. Half of of the Geraniums arrived on 30th May having been posted on 26th May. The other half along with the Laurentias and Gazanias didn't turn up until four days later on 3rd June, by which time the Geraniums were as good as dead (Complaint email sent off!). There was no sign of the Antirrhinums though and T&M have yet to let me know what has happened as I feared that these may also have been mailed on 26th May. Today a box labelled Antirrhinum Mme. Butterfly has arrived, but containing Bedding Begonias! (begonia sempervirens)  The Antirrhinums were described as reaching between 24 and 36 inches (60 to 90cm) tall, and were ordered with the back of the border in mind. I don't think Bedding Begonias are going to be any good there are they T&M? I sometimes wonder if T&M's packing staff know anything at all about plants.  Anyway, it seems that they have run out of the Antirrhinums, so it is a pity that this wasn't pointed out to me when I originally placed my order by phone (due to a website problem). Similarly, why are they still being offered on T&M's website today I wonder?  |
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Post by Jasmine on Jun 5, 2008 14:51:39 GMT
I had a problem with T&M's recently too and I emailed their customer services department - I think it took a week to get a reply just to that. I was complaining about the state of some plants - courgettes and pumpkins - whose stems had been broken in transit by the packaging that was supposed to be protecting them. When the first parcel arrived there was a card in it asking me to let them know how long the parcel had taken to get to me. I thought it was interesting that they were concerned about timing and not condition as well. Eventually got my plants replaced but the second lot looked very sad when they got here.
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Post by Shrubrose on Jun 5, 2008 18:08:21 GMT
Just a thought - they could be having problems with their courier service?
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Post by Amo on Jun 5, 2008 19:31:36 GMT
Im afraid This Post just about says all I need to about T&M. RHS or not, they about the cr*pest supplier out there! |
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Post by nightowl on Jun 5, 2008 19:57:54 GMT
I don't know what's gone wrong with T & M in the last 2 or 3 years  They seem to have lost the plot  I used to think they were one of the better mail-order companies, if a tad expensive, but last year I wished I hadn't bothered All the refunds and replacements must have cost them a fortune I've had disappointments with all of them and try very hard not to get tempted |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 6, 2008 3:56:03 GMT
Being in Germany I can only order seeds from them and I honestly haven't had any problems whatsoever - all the seeds have been good - or have I just had luck?
RF
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Post by nightowl on Jun 6, 2008 7:55:42 GMT
No RF, their seeds are still good  I think companies should stick with what they're good at All the plants are grown in the Channel Isles by the same people for all suppliers, so they are pretty well all the same. It all goes wrong when the silly bu**ers despatch them on a Friday, cos then they sometimes sit all weekend in a Royal Mail distribution depot and don't even go to the Delivery offices til Monday and get delivered Tuesday I used to get really agitated about pallets of tiny baby plug-plants in March and April, sitting by the open loading-bay doors all night (and sometimes for a couple of days) getting blasted by cold winds  |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jun 6, 2008 8:44:54 GMT
I bought Geranium plugs from Crocus Nightowl, and they were excellent, you could try them next year.
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Post by Spruance on Jun 6, 2008 8:53:22 GMT
No I have no problem at all with T&M seeds. The last ones I ordered - this time in the seed sale - arrived quicker than the young plants! This morning I have received a letter from T&M confirming completion of my order and inviting me to write to them if there is a problem using the supplied freepost envelope. I am quite tempted to print off the email and send that!  |
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Post by Tig on Jun 11, 2008 9:52:18 GMT
Twice now I have bought what was supposed to be a pink with brown centre oriental poppy!! Twice I have had orange ones!!! Last time it was exactly the same as already grows in the front border, at least this time it is a fringed one, so here is my 'pink' papaver  I give up! x Tig |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jun 11, 2008 11:15:27 GMT
Never give up Tig ;D
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 11, 2008 11:18:48 GMT
I know how you feel Tig - things like that drive me mad - my White Iris Ensata was purple last year and I was actually given a white one free and that has gone rotten....sod's law isn't it.
RF
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Post by Tig on Jun 11, 2008 12:08:51 GMT
I've kept the packaging off this one, I'm in half a mind to try and track down the original supplier or take a photo into trading standards!! It stands out like a sore thumb in the border, at least the pink one would have been more subtle (not that I do a lot of colour planning - I tend to just bung it in and hope for the best  ) x Tig |
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Post by Tig on Jun 13, 2008 18:35:17 GMT
Wind had blown my variagate eleagnus over and I couldn't get to my compost bin!! Just been out with loppers to sort it out  Wasps nest!!!! I'm still having palpitations I had cut several branches and ragged them out before I cut the branch with the nest in and moved it to the side of the apple tree. Suddenly heard a loud buzzing, saw the queen and whoooooosh, I could have won a grannies race if I'd been at the school sports day. Oooheeeh I hate wappies I will be having a G & T, or something stronger in a mo! And I didn't even think about getting my camera out! x Tig |
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Post by Plocket on Jun 13, 2008 20:04:50 GMT
Oh Tiggy I hope you've calmed down a bit now.  |
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Post by Shrubrose on Jun 13, 2008 22:40:27 GMT
Have you seen the pic of mine Tig? Been out to look at it again tonight and it's got bigger |
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Post by Tig on Jun 13, 2008 23:54:05 GMT
If I hadn't seen the pic of yours Shrub I might not have got so anxious (well really bl@@dy scared!!!) I can feel my heart rate increasing just thinking about it!!
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Post by owdboggy on Jun 14, 2008 6:07:19 GMT
Wasps nests are not that hard to deal with. Thereis a spray sold called Wasp Destroyer Foam (Rentokil). After dark, when they are all asleep, you spray the stuff into the nest entrance and it kills them all. I have used it a couple of times on quite big nests with good results.
Sitting in the evening on our wooden swing seat is quite unnerving, listening to the wasps scraping away the wood to make their nest. Not managed to find where this years build is though. The only nest I have found this year was in an unued nesting box, so I taped over the hole, (after dark).
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Post by Tig on Jun 14, 2008 19:54:47 GMT
But I hate wasps - had I known what was so near my compost bin I might just get some of that stuff in, OH can deal with them if we have anymore! (but I hope we don't!) Thanks for the tips OB |
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Post by Amo on Jun 14, 2008 20:19:06 GMT
I got stung today. One and a half times. Well there were two puncture marks one bigger than the other so it just missed first time. It was my fault I accidentally batted a bee into my arm. Sad now coz they die afterwards and it was only doing it's thing on my cotoneaster flowers.  I did have 32 wasp stings when I was 10 when my mother set light to a nest at the bottom of the washing line post. I was holding the petrol can and wearing a bikini at the time. Even had two between my toes. Over night stay in hosptial but no reaction at all. My first OH however is highly alergic and has an Epipen for them. |
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Post by Weeterrier on Jun 15, 2008 9:00:34 GMT
I found a very tiny wasp's nest yesterday. I thought it was an old one, but when, out of interest, I looked inside, it was full of pupae, all white and wriggling.  At that point, the adults started buzzing around me, so I put it back and scarpered. |
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Post by Tig on Jun 18, 2008 10:37:15 GMT
Once in a season - well OK! But twice I bought this in March - for my pink border (the one with the bright orange poppy in it now from my previous whinge!)  Just been to tie a few things up that the wind is catching and spotted this ....  OK it is still pretty, but it isn't what I purchased!! Hummmph Tig |
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Post by andy on Jun 28, 2008 7:25:43 GMT
 ...Last year, the wind absolutely crucified my garden....particularly my 15 foot high Japanese bananas !!! This year, i've had the same problems but with my gorgeous tuberous begonias. I even potted them into fairly large clay pots to give them a bit of ballast but not for the wind we've been getting....it made short work of every begonia i've got knocking some into the pond and some onto the ground smashing up both plant and pot. Think i'm either going to have to pot them into big tubs or throw them away !!!
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Post by Weeterrier on Jun 28, 2008 8:40:13 GMT
I know how you feel Andy, because for years, it must have been wet at this time. I have had my roses and paeonies battered without exception. And Tig, you're not having much luck |
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Post by Rosefriend on Jun 28, 2008 8:41:54 GMT
I have just come back in after seeing what the wind did to the garden yesterday ...roses are down and ripped off - lots of stuff....always makes me angry.
RF
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Their lawn does look great but I would just love a bit of peace sometimes - I cringe when OH is on night duty.
They seem to have lost the plot 
I think companies should stick with what they're good at 
)
