Gardening

[Stanley]

It has reached the topstone of the wall during the night.

[Whyperion]

We seem to have forgotten a lot about plants. but even their chemicals change with climate,soil conditions and so on, though we can make some generalisations.

[Stanley]

I think I remember Wendy saying it would have a yellow flower if she was right about it being a Smooth Sow Thistle. It looks as though she was right again. It is almost up to the top of the wall now and this weather should suit it!

[Wendyf]

It must have been Susan who foretold the yellow flower. You can see now that the top leaves are a different shape and wrap around the stem .... spot on for a smooth sow thistle!

[Stanley]

[Sue]

I continue to enjoy our established garden here that requires little work except cutting back at the end of the year. Every day different flowers pop open, yesterday it was the turn of my giant poppies and as luck would have it the wind and last nights rain arrived, say no more

[Stanley]

We had a bed full at Addingham Sue and you could guarantee their destruction most years!

[Sue]

At least there are still 12 buds. The plants are much smaller this year.

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[Whyperion]

One years seeding seven years weeding

[plaques]

Not with this type of poppy, Welsh poppies ,Yes, a real pain in the butt. Sue's garden is weeks in front of ours, very nice it is too.

[Stanley]

The Sow Thistle is happy!

[Sue]

Not with this type of poppy, Welsh poppies ,Yes, a real pain in the butt. Sue's garden is weeks in front of ours, very nice it is too.

Thank you for the compliment. Yes we have those yellow and orange ones too. I am always pulling them out from places I don’t want them. I am surprised my garden is so far ahead, perhaps it is the direction it faces and we have got a bit of a sun trap till late afternoon. Its blowing a gale out there at the moment. Its not safe or possible to do our daily walk

[Stanley]

I can't compete with you lot but here is my current interest. Still growing and it has 11 flower heads one of which will be fully open today I suspect when it gets the sun.

[Wendyf]

I wonder what the roots will be doing?

[Stanley]

Hee hee. That thought has occurred to me Wendy but I cannot destroy it, it would be like murder. I think we might survive!

[Wendyf]

It looks as if it is being well fed, it must have found a good source of nutrients down there...... Where does your sewer pipe go?

[Stanley]

To the left and it is a relatively new connection. Could be Jack hairs? Wool Shoddy was widely used as a fertiliser at one time.

[Sue]

I can’t believe the petals on my poppies are still intact after 3 days of extreme windy weather.

[Stanley]

God smiles on the righteous Sue.
Later, I see that the Sow Thistle has grown during the night and is now level with the top of the wall. Two more clusters of flowers developing.

[Tripps]

I wouldn't have known what it was called until recently, but I find that I've got one too.

Yours is better though. . .

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[Stanley]

I must be tuned in to Sow Thistles as well David. I spotted this one on Wellhouse Street yesterday. No doubt it is a Sow Thistle but very different from mine. Do they call it a sub-species? Only about two feet high. Mine is over the wall top this morning after a growing spurt in the night.



Here it is this morning. Above the wall.



The flower heads early this morning. We have good sun now and three are fully open.

[Stanley]

In case you're wondering.....



Looking over the wall now....

[Sue]

More poppies out yesterday, the giant allium and foxgloves are also bursting forth. Its looking very pretty. I had to water again last night. It looks like we may have strawberries in a week. My neighbour gave me two more tomato plants yesterday as she has run out of space, I just managed to find a spot in the greenhouse, which at the moment is full of my 30 geranium cuttings . The vast majority seem to have taken. I have had to put stakes in and tie my raspberry canes back as they are growing furiously, and drooping over the garden path. Its certainly the growing season

[Whyperion]

I must be tuned in to Sow Thistles as well David. I spotted this one on Wellhouse Street yesterday. No doubt it is a Sow Thistle but very different from mine. Do they call it a sub-species? Only about two feet high. Mine is over the wall top this morning after a growing spurt in the night.



Here it is this morning. Above the wall.



The flower heads early this morning. We have good sun now and three are fully open.

All that rabbit food going spare.

[Stanley]

You've got to admit it's a fine specimen, still growing as you can see. To quote Margaret yesterday; "You and that bloody plant!" (she talks to me like that...).