Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum
General Subjects => General Forum => Topic started by: Matt T on March 18, 2015, 06:18:59 PM
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I can't believe we have got to the middle of March without anything to be happy about?! I'll start us off then...
Eight days ago, you will remember, we received bad news: http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12686.msg327455#msg327455 (http://www.srgc.net/forum/index.php?topic=12686.msg327455#msg327455)
After speaking to about 20 people, all with houses fully booked up with holiday lets, I have finally found a lady who is very keen to let her house to us from June onwards when we have to leave this old place. A plea via a Facebook group came up trumps, so modern technology ain't all bad. It's in a good location, nicely finished, happy to take dogs and NO DAMP! So, after a very stressful few days things have turned out for the best (better, indeed). This is it:
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We don't think the boats come with the house ;) but the ever-changing view across the sea/sands of the South Ford alone will make me happy (above and beyond having a roof over our heads).
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What a location! Congratulations, Matt.
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Wow, that looks like a very fine house and the location is spectacular. What a relief to have a resolution. Phew!
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It turned out well in the end! Relieved for (and envious of) you.
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Thanks, folks. Needless to say, we're chuffed. There will be space for guests if anyone should find themselves on these islands ;)
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Thanks, folks. Needless to say, we're chuffed. There will be space for guests if anyone should find themselves on these islands ;)
it looks an amazing location - pleased it has worked out for you - better not visit as last time I was on an island up there we got told off for playing football on a Sunday.............
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Oh! We're much more relaxed about that sort of thing down here on the 'Southern Isles'. The further north you go through the island chain, the stricter it gets. We even hang out washing on a Sunday :o A friend who grew up near the Butt of Lewis/Ness recalls the disappointment of the swings in the park being chained up :(
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Well done matt congratulations
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Looks a lovely place Matt.
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What a relief Matt, glad to hear this. Was just about to write about a lead in Kishorn!
We're chuffed too as the Galanthus gang was worried the season was over and now we can say we'll be posting many shots from June through July with luck. We had mountains of snow on the ground and got 20" more last night.
#1 Neighbour checking her tree for a possible late winter pruning job.
#2 My car is the lump just in front of Ken's truck. And no he is not delivering the stuff.
johnw :o
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Good result Matt. I wonder if there are otters there. Sea birds too?
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What a relief Matt, glad to hear this. Was just about to write about a lead in Kishorn!
We're chuffed too as the Galanthus gang was worried the season was over and now we can say we'll be posting many shots in from June through July with luck. We had mountains of snow on the ground and got 20" more last night.
#1 Neighbour checking her tree for a possible late winter pruning job.
#2 My car is the lump just in front of Ken's truck. And no he is not delivering the stuff.
johnw :o
Well, I suppose the chance to check upper limbs of the tree without needing a ladder is a plus point. ::)
Too much snow, for sure.
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That looks a beautiful spot Matt. I can imagine myself there right now... I'm just about done with hot weather and lack of rain. Give me a chill sea breeze and a grey sky! When can we visit? ;D
Will you need to build a an enclosed space for your plants?
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I think quite a few of us who are AGS members as well as SRGC members will know of Paddy Hinton, the Chairman of the Hampshire AGS group - and Ben Parmee the group Secretary?
Well, tomorrow Paddy and Ben are getting married ! Hugely exciting to have such lovely news to share and I imagine there will be a lot of messages winging down to the Bride and Groom with good wishes for their marriage.
Paddy has shared some super photos of the preparations - which she has masterminded and prepared to the last detail...and has given me permission to share them here too - you will be sure that the wedding party will be great fun, just by seeing these shots!
Lets start with the flowers - these all came from the Dutch flower market.... ranunculus, gypsophilia, paeonias, freesias.... so pretty
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What would a wedding be without buttercups? Be blessed with happiness Paddy and Ben. Hope your day goes wonderfully and all the very best for a long and VERY happy marriage.
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This is the room set out ready for the wedding breakfast
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Paddy made the cake herself, too ...
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here's a close-up of the very fab cake .....
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Now then, if the scene is not set for a wonderful day for Paddy and Ben and all their family and friends, I don't know how it could be better!
Sending them all the very best for a fabulous day, a wonderful party and a long and happy life as Mr and Mrs!
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What would a wedding be without buttercups? Be blessed with happiness Paddy and Ben. Hope your day goes wonderfully and all the very best for a long and VERY happy marriage.
So right, Cliff - with buttercups a glorious as these it must be a wonderful sign!
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That looks a beautiful spot Matt. I can imagine myself there right now... I'm just about done with hot weather and lack of rain. Give me a chill sea breeze and a grey sky! When can we visit? ;D
Will you need to build a an enclosed space for your plants?
When I retire I want a place like this. 8)
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Good result Matt. I wonder if there are otters there. Sea birds too?
Hi Ian, there certainly will be otters. These islands are crawling with them and they're not too difficult to spot with a bit of patience and luck. At low tide the sea retreats from the South Ford completely and it is a rich foraging ground for many waders and water fowl. We'll be in a good bird watching spot.
That looks a beautiful spot Matt. I can imagine myself there right now... I'm just about done with hot weather and lack of rain. Give me a chill sea breeze and a grey sky! When can we visit? ;D
Will you need to build an enclosed space for your plants?
Visit any time, Jamus! Although May-July are the best months for reasonable weather, wild flowers and wildlife.
The wind protection I built at the old house was mainly for the vegetable garden more than the alpines/bulbs. The timber is all being reclaimed to made wind fences and raised beds at an allotment site we have set up here. The bulbs, bulb seedlings etc are all protected in various frames that have been build to be portable, so they will simply be relocated. Other plants, i.e. alpine troughs etc are currently grown exposed to all the elements throw at them (no molly-coddling here), so they'll have similar conditions. I do have plans to build a new frame for Cyclamen, which are starting to encroach on space that rightly belongs to the Narcissus. ;D
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Love your new house Matt.
Have you always lived on these islands?
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The knot is tied for Paddy and Ben -
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We don't think the boats come with the house ;) but the ever-changing view across the sea/sands of the South Ford alone will make me happy (above and beyond having a roof over our heads).
Matt, really pleased that you got somewhere lovely to move to. I wouldn't mind waking up every morning looking out at that view.
Angie :)
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Matt, really pleased that you got somewhere lovely to move to. I wouldn't mind waking up every morning looking out at that view.
Angie :)
Yes, we're quite excited, Angie. Although, we are thinking of investing in some sand bags...
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No no Matt, that's sand BEDS! Very good for bulbs. ;)
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Silly me! ::) Of course, I meant to say bags of sand for the beds! ;)
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There was me thinking of anticipating high equinoctial spring tides. ::)
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There was me thinking of anticipating high equinoctial spring tides. ::)
Me too........ :o
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I think quite a few of us who are AGS members as well as SRGC members will know of Paddy Hinton, the Chairman of the Hampshire AGS group - and Ben Parmee the group Secretary?
Well, tomorrow Paddy and Ben are getting married ! Hugely exciting to have such lovely news to share and I imagine there will be a lot of messages winging down to the Bride and Groom with good wishes for their marriage.
The Bride and Groom - isn't this a lovely picture?
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I'm happy because a bulb I got nearly a year ago, and looks like a daffodil on steroids, is just about to flower. 8)
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Paramongaia, Anthony? Look forward to seeing that.
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The very one Matt. When it started producing leaves I thought I was in for another year without a flower, then slowly a bud started appearing. It will open tomorrow. Here it is tonight.
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Anthony - I have today seen a repeat of your team's winning performance on Eggheads. What happened to the £16,000? That was a lot of beer money, or did it go to the Cathedral?
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Anthony - I have today seen a repeat of your team's winning performance on Eggheads. What happened to the £16,000? That was a lot of beer money, or did it go to the Cathedral?
It wasn't the Cathedral choir that was involved. The team was drawn from members of the Rosenethe Singers.
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Friday was a good day my niece who is like a daughter to me has just had her last appointment , no more chemo or operations from now own. I am so proud of her. Just need to get my sister-in-law through this horrible disease and I will be even more happy.
Angie :)
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Hi Angie that is very good news, it is great that your there to help your sister in law, good on you.
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That is just wonderful news, Angela - and I know you have been a tower of strength for all concerned trough all this - you've made a huge difference to the family coping with this - as I know you will continue to do for your sister in law. You are a real heroine to many!
Lots of love,
M xx
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Thanks Maggi for your kind words :-*, just happy thats this chapter is now over for Lauren. I know you know how I feel as you had the same with your great niece.
Angie :)
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Marvellous news Angie,
you are right it is a horrible disease and no-one should to have to face it alone,
your niece and sister-in-law are lucky to be surrounded by so much love and support to help them through this difficult time.
Susan and Darren xxx
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Yes, we have been so blessed to have Christina get through all that treatment and operations and come through the other side to be a fit happy little girl - but all we did really was worry from the sidelines - you have been there all the time with not only moral support but practical help for Lauren and little Lola - you are a heroine, Angela. A real heroine. :-* :-*
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Thought I would share this. My great niece Lola said to me today. My mum had Cancer but my mum didn't like it so she told it to go. She then said I hope it found a nice home. Didn't have the heart to say that I hope in never. Aren't five year olds so innocent. Just wish she would keep being five.
Susan nice hearing from you. I now have more time now so will be on here more, sorry folks ;D
Angie :)
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On the topic of children saying things....
Young Esther (27 months) was on nursery helping Tom 'planting pa tay toes' and they were now 'sleeping in their beds'. Lovely image, can just picture them in nightshirts and night caps cuddling their teddy bears :)
Now Abi and Tom are living on site we are getting the chance to see Miss Esther more often as she joins us for lunch, she is such a sweetie and has all of us wrapped round her little fingers, definitely likes her plants, unfortunately she also likes collecting labels :-X
Susan
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The Scottish Rock Garden Club Web Team is pleased to announce that a feature to allow automatic resizing of photographs loaded to the SRGC Forum has been added. This will remove the need for forumists to resize photos before posting.
We hope this will encourage posting from those who found resizing difficult or time-consuming.
Many thanks to Fred C. our wonderful Forum Admin for this facility.
Great news for all those who find re-sizing a trial. 8)
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With many thanks to dear Fred for freeing up so much of my valuable time … and to celebrate I will post a random selection of images that would probably never have appeared on this magnificent forum …
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Beautiful photos, Cliff - this new feature will not only make life easier for our regular posters, it will, we hope, make posting a lot easier for those who are not confident in re-sizing and who have problems with it.
It will make show pix a breeze!!
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Here, here Cliff and Maggi if you cant beat them join them. I know Facebook users will have seen these, but. Just wanted to try the new feature:
Ourisia Cliftonville Crimson
Ourisia Cliftonville Damask
Hosta Blue Mouse Ears
Campanula zoysii
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Works perfectly, Lawrence. Lovely images.
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Just thought I'd try out the new resizing gizmo Fred has put on to the forum. Here are a few pics I took recently
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Works a treat! Brilliant! :D
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Pelargonium endlicherianum
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A selection of Watsonia.
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One more.
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Gotta try it!
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Me too!
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(Chipping station) By heck - it works. Fred - my respect ;) :-*
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(Chipping station) By heck - it works. Fred - my respect ;) :-*
Is that on the Liverpool Line, Anne ???
;D
cheers
fermi
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;D ;D ;D ;D
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Took my trusty nine year old Nikon D80 to a camera shop today for it's first ever sensor clean. The lovely lady in the shop informed me that the poor thing had taken over 77,000 images, had suffered two small stress fractures near the lens socket (probably from drops and/or collisions with Dolomitic boulders), had multiple scratches, blemishes, scars and dents and was, without question, nearing the end of it's operational life. This wonderful camera has travelled the world, has been stolen and returned to it's joyful owner (in truth I was in tears), has enjoyed untold variations in altitude, temperature, wind speed and humidity - and has captured so many images of flowers and gardens, mountains and seascapes, family and fauna … and, as my dear wife lovingly divulged had taken nearly a dozen excellent shots. I willingly paid the £35 for the sensor clean and escorted the old girl home (she carried the camera)!!!!
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Dear Sue is a perspicacious commentator! Quite why she is also concerned that you be preserved from nearing the end of your operational life is a mystery to me - just an exceptionally sweet nature, I think.
You must be pleased that for a fairly modest outlay of £35 - (I presume you have free bus travel for the elderly in Whitworth to get yourself to and from the camera shop ???) your beloved camera is once again "good to go".
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Happy? Perhaps not, make that hot. We have been locked in a Bermuda high for several days now with humidity, presently 27c feeling like 34c. Windows sky high day and night, fans roaring and no let up in sight. Maggi's 11c sounds delightful. So far the Meconopsis seedlings are holding up surprisingly well, one more day and they'll be moved to the root cellar for a breather.
john
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We had 15ºC and rain today, which is a comedown from Thursday last week, which was 18ºC.
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Quite taken by a friend's shed roof this afternoon, covered in British Soldiers. What a marvellous little garden up there.
john
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Name quite unfamiliar to me! http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/british_soldiers.htm (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/british_soldiers.htm)
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Name quite unfamiliar to me! http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/british_soldiers.htm (http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/british_soldiers.htm)
that is really odd
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New to me too. Lichens are a group not often mentioned. I tried to get spring/autumn watch to feature lichens, mosses fungi etc. without success. They hardly ever mention plants at all. Just the usual birds and badgers.
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I am REALLY Happy! On Friday 22nd August, our dear friend and a valued SRGC member and supporter of this Forum, Luc Gilgemyn from Harelbek in Begium had a kidney transplant operation - thanks, of course, to the forethought and generosity of an unfortunate person who was good enough to join the t organ donor scheme. Luc is still in hospital - but is making good progress and he hopes to be home soon. His wife Rita and daughters Elke and Wendy will be ready to spoil him when that happens I'm sure - it is Luc's birthday today and it is a pleasure to be able to wish him a happy new life after his operation.
Ian and I send love to Luc and all the family for a wonderful belated birthday celebration in the comfort of home, very soon!
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Many thanks, Maggi for keeping everyone up to date with dear Luc's operation and progress. I'm sure we all wish him a full and complete recovery and we all give thanks for the generosity of the donor and his or her family.
Our thoughts are with you, Luc … hope to see you soon at an alpine show or conference.
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Good news, Maggi.
I think it was you who said everyone needs some retail therapy from time to time. Well, on our way up to Aberdeenshire on Sunday we stopped in the Borders at Edrom Nursery. What's that phrase involving a kid in a sweetshop?
Anyway, here is a nice trug full of purchases.
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A nifty haul, Ralph!
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Good news for Luc, I wish him a speedy recovery.
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Great news about Luc, hope he's recovering well..... Ralph, Edrom is a super nursery, we are lucky to have them in our vicinity!
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Nothing to do with plants!
Carn Bhac, our 32nd and remotest Munro.
Photo now turned right way up!
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Looks b****y cold there Ralph, I was feeling quite warm until I saw that.
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Too right, David - the wind up there has blown them sideways - I'll go rescue them!
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Looks b****y cold there Ralph, I was feeling quite warm until I saw that.
5C, but with the strong north wind chill, probably below freezing.
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Wonderful talks this warm summer evening by a very charming and superb plantsman, Jiri Papousek. Luckily his lovely wife Ludmila came along as well. Poor souls flew into Halifax today to humid heat having clocked over 3000 road miles, yes by car, in past 7 days, they must be exhausted but showed no signs. The Crevice Gardens, Alpine Tufa Tunnels and Daphnes talks were introduced by none other than Maggi Young, much to the shock of the Papouseks. I'll have you all know he holds the Scots in the highest regard for their generosity, expertise and the help they've been to all in the Czech rock garden community.
Best wishes too to dear forumist Luc for a speedy recovery.
john - cooled to 16c with a heavy mist at 22:00.
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Well, I must say the "Alpine Parrots" are held in very high esteem by all the Scots who know them. 8)
I have been exhausted just thinking about the amount of driving around Canada that Jiri and Ludmila have been doing - thanks to Arie and Lee VanSpronsen for their kindness in this matter- a measure of how grateful they are for the Papousek's help in the Czech Republic at the wonderful, wonderful, Conference in 2013.
I'm so glad you've enjoyed the talks, John - I knew you would!
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Jiri & Ludmila are off to the Truro rock garden today to discuss plans for the new alpine house and tufa wall. Word has it the rockers will be enticing them to return next year for the wall installation! Exciting times.
john - a cool morning at 16c but going to 20c by this afternoon.
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I'm happy because of this. It's our Daphne x hendersonii 'Arnold Cihlarz'. It's always produced good displays of cherry-pink flower (usually 2-3 times a year) and the scent once even attracted a hummingbird hawkmoth - no mean feat up here!
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We've had this plant now for probably 10 years, where it lived happily in a rockery wedged in between some tufa rocks. But the rockery has become invaded by mat-grass, and so I decided to move everything that could be rescued to a new rockery in the front garden that we had finally managed to fence the sheep out from. Most of the rockery plants were easy to move and many will have benefited. But I was really worried about our Daphe. This was compounded when I stuck a spade under it and all the soil basically fell of the roots. So no chance of taking the whole thing undisturbed. I covered the roots with soil, wedged it in between two new tufa blocks, watered it in and crossed my fingers. That was in April.
Well, it didn't like being moved one little bit. It dropped a few leaves, then a lot of leaves, quite a lot of the tips died back and flower buds aborted. But then it slowly stopped dying back and moved into merely 'sulking' mode. Now it has put on a good flush of new healthy growth and even the odd flower bud.
I'm really glad that this old friend looks to have made it, and now it's got pride of place in a position where we can enjoy it every time we leave the house. I think we were lucky to have such a cool wet summer though.
I'll see if there is any regrowth in the bare areas, otherwise some strategic rock placement may be needed.
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Here are the Alpine Parrots yesterday at Peggy's Cove, Nova Scotia - Jiri & Ludmila. While Jiri was off the hook to give his talk in Gaelic IU was not about to let them both leave without bagpipe lessons, they agreed only after they were told Maggi had insisted.
Left this morning for Toronto (2.5 hours west) then on to Brussels flying back overhead this evening..... ::).... and on to Prague.
john
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You'll have the RSPB on you, John!
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You'll have the RSPB on you, John!
They'll more likely be in pursuit of the new Czech "virtuosi".
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Found these photo of fungus yarn-bombing - read more here (http://leighmartinart.com/2013/07/52-forms-of-fungi-19/) - thought they might amuse others too....
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Good, aren't they?
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Beautifully observed. Shows what you can achieve with some creative imagination and a good eye. These are better than my own effort:
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Those are great, Matt. 8)
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I would agree. I don't see mush room for improvement. ;D
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Sold 250 Box plants yesterday - in 7.5 ltr bags - glad to see the back of them - had to move them down off the nursery area to the front of the house - took 3 hours Friday night and most of Saturday morning - the landscaper also wants the other 200 that are left later in the year - I can see another new alpine house on the horizon and I will get all my 10 bulb frames back again [attachimg=1][attachimg=2]
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Wow that's a lot of box not to mention the work Graeme.
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Wow that's a lot of box not to mention the work Graeme.
I propagated them from cuttings about 7 years ago - I had bought a commercial propagator at a closing down sale and wanted to test it before I crated it for use later. Wife has done all the repotting so she is happy to see them go ;D - the landscaper is a friend who also has a nursery - and they are going to massive house that has been built nearby.