Carolyn's Outbox

I know what you mean about point system. And I hate the crunch feeling when you dont see them and its too late.

However today I found the strimmer again, and tidied up the garden edges etc, well overdue and so rescued a few slugs and snails, put some in te compost bin like you. Hopefully as grass down now they wont be as bad for a bit , anyway whilst in homebase today getting a few bits, decided to try some bird food, grub like stuff, suppoosed to atract robins etc that eat snails, saw this on gardeners programme on friday evenings the other week, I shall be avidly checking to see if more birds appear. I have only noticed a pigeon and a blackbird so far.

Nice photos very clear

great couple, great colours and shapes

check out the buddlea photos on my garden site. Yes pruned in autumn/winter lots but not in summer. Now growing again. Looking forward to it flowering again.this one is at least 7 years old. I moved it when I first moved, it was proberly a year or so old then.

oh how gorgeous

Me too, thanks.:) I shall start with the easy teabags one.

cool! I am doing more stir frys too these days, with pak choi and chard being plenty. I dont have the chickens though to be as thorough as you. Bon Apetit

No I dont think there can be too many, I love looking through them, but I think its nice to know where you last looked so you dont miss any I think is the point maybe. I like you Blodyn skip through them and pick out the occasional ones that catch your eye.

Thanks. hhmm may well try out of curiosity, but wont give to anyone else for dinner! lol

Thanks, am chuffed with progress so far.

I think I will be so relieved when its done that I will put a photo on lol.

Yes I did feel guilty I put so many on, might be an idea. But I wanted to bench mark the garden, and managed to nab the camera from my partner, he has been hogging it recently to do his own project. However I have done the same thing of you, noticed other people do also put lots onthis from time to time, guess some people just have big gardens! lol

A very pretty garden.

The lupins look fab, I have some I must put it not that big yet. Your cat looks all soft and fluffy.

I have noticed a cat has knocked down a few things recently and trod across my plot ggrr, so maybe I should consider, thanks for tip my inlaws are real cat lovers and so better not discuss it near them.

Ah yes your right, vibernum. Thanks.

I made jam like that once, a bit dissapointing but tasted good. Think it was a Nigella lawson recipe. Wasnt sure that it would last well as it didnt set.

Your dinner sounded fab. Truly a domestic goddess lol

The seat looks great. Something I should do.

Notice the poly tunner thing too, where did you get that one, is it local ? might be an idea for next year. I have cut up lots of plastic bottles this year as best I can to keep things warmy. :)

Good idea with the fridge things, I have had problems with cats a little! and love to recycle things, think I might have some bits in the shed, such a horder hee hee. My stawberries are looking good big but still green as yet, how are yours doing ? I have netted mine this year, dont want the birdies to get them!

I love gunneras but never grown succesfully, is there a special thing you do to these pots perhaps to keep them damp ? I recently found a tag by the pond with gunnera on it, reminded me I think I put one there about 6 years ago.

Great thanks for that might have a go this year, have a large lavender bush/hedge in the front garden and always been meaning to do something with it.

What a great quirk of nature.:) I was just looking at this type of daisy yesterday with my mum ( spotted on a walk) she wants some but hasnt been able to find the, that is the plane ones, did you find the name of them ? think they were in her wedding arrangements/decorations and its her 50th anniversary this year so would be good to get some.

Glad you clarified this point, thought it was the case, but I have just trimmed down some leaves on mine but only a few and I didnt actually plant them so not too worried, might think about digging them up though if I get a moment and putting them in a pot perhaps.

Havnt noticed any real frost ! I did put fleece all over too but better safe than sorry I guess. Today more chance of waterlogging, but I guess we need a bit of rain. Ooh and noticed my clematis now shooting up a little again, thought it was gone for good but now ooh at least 3/4 inches! lol And good news is there are not nearly as many snails and slugs as last year or I have mananged to depleat them or the frogs have. The passion flower is pulled down that used to house a lot of them it was on the fence that blew down.

see your strawberries going red already, I have just put on some nets on my 3 pots, they are all growing but still green at the moment. And I am a southerner!

She looks fab, what a great colour dress suits her.

Your brave! Must be exciting though.

Thanks for the warning, I think I have some fleece somewhere just in case, and I check the weather on bbc perhaps I willl start looking more often and now at night!

I rescused a slug this morning and put it in the compost heap, feel good about that, sure he will be happy munching away in there where I dont mind him doing his best.

I am now trying to find lots of see through plastic bottles too as cloches, it does seem to be helping them grow too as well as ward off any nasties.

Have salad leaves now for a green salad.

Hi I did pull them out but couldnt bare to throw them out so replanted elsewhere thats why so many. But guess a few will take.

My wild corner has snails in too. Good idea though. I do have a butterfly bush that is growing back slowly from its cut back last year. Anyway I just checked the packet, and ok for animals and children which is good but it doesnt say birds! or frogs //toads for that matter (I do have a few) am feeling bad now, as I have noticed more birds this last year or so, maybe as more trees around. I do put fat balls out for them. I wonder if too much salt would be bad for birds like it is humans, as my partner just suggested stickly tape with salt on it round the perimiter, and I guess soot is carsanogenic.

It looks very impressive, I have some more squash seeds to plant and now feel good I havnt planted them yet! I will put in my plastic greenhouse to start off though. Scotland is a great place to visit I imagine, and I am sure you will get quality time when you do so to visit. Plus its so easy to keep in touch these days, phone/computer then letters/postcards/photos are a great old fashioned form of keeping in touch, its so nice when they drop on the floor and they arent a bill!