Lindak's Outbox

This is a far better way of solving the overpopulation of pigeons than having to reduce them by other means. We've had a pereguine falcon reducing some of the pidgeons locally. One of the youngsters from a breeding pair on the Derby catherdral. I have been watching the pair right from laying the eggs to when the babies have taken flight. It's been great to watch them on the cameras they have erected on the tower. Lindak,

this flower border was full of mint when we took the garden over and took an immense amount of digging to get rid of it.

It's hard work being a mother bird isn't it.....

Look at the beak....the siskin has a thinner beak that the greenfinch and the male siskin has a black head. could be a juvenille or female or just a greenfinch. Hard to tell.

suckers will mostly grow from under the bush with loads of prickles on. The rose leaves have more on the sucker than on the bush so top marks gardener......

digging without breaking your back is the answer. I know its a smaller item but I had mint everywhere here and just kept at it for a couple of years and IT GAVE UP not me.

When digging bulbs up you can either find a space in the garden and bury them with the foliage still showing until it dies off or just leave them to dry out in the actual pots then knock the soil from them and store until end September and replant either in frest compost in pots or in the garden.

I tried twice to grow this in my garden, and I thought that I did all the right things but they just died and I wondered if they didn't like the soil.

it's lovely that you have a few iris at the edge of your pond as it's a haven for the frogs etc to hide in.

Looked in my book Lori and there are beetles very similar called darkling beetles that scavenge on decaying vegetable or animal material. Some prey on small insects. Some of the lavae eat the plant roots......but there are many different sorts around the world.

I still rescue bees from the greenhouse bare handed but I wouldn't recommend anyone else doing that themselves.

the little bank voles and woodmice love these old stone walls to live in

This peony is lovely. I have red and white ones in our garden. The only thing is I wish that they would last longer when in flower. The foliage is different though and keeps through the summer. Lindak,.

I love this shed. When I first got married I lived in a garden shed for three months but it was nothing like this. we had a blow up lilo to sleep on and a 12 and sixpence plastic hanging wardrobe from Woolworths to put our clothes in......It's a long story....Gave up jobs...moved to I.O.Wight....House fell through....Lived in shed in relatives garden....bought another house and did it up.....and so on.Lindak.

The vet should advise on when the injections are due and check him over.Lindak

I know you get callouses on feet but this callas plant is superb. Lindak.

This is of the penstamon family.....don't think I've spelt it right but thats what it sounds like. Lindak.

Peter has just had his miximatosis injection and is awaiting another one for another disease. I make sure that he keeps up to date with flea and tick gel as well. It's worth it to keep him healthy. Lindak.

This little cherry is about twenty years old. Lindak.

Bit late Jacque ....sorry I don't know the flowers name but I'm sure someone out there does.....Lindak.

these roses perform every year anad the perfume is wonderful. People walking past remark about it.

Perhaps this lovely walking stick
maybe for the dogs to lick
Perhaps it needs a walkabout
with the dogs on a day out.
If you leave it in the ground
it will take root I'll be bound
Faries round may make a wish
to turn it into a great fish
that swims around your lovely pond
in deep waters and green frond.
Perhaps you ought to use your stick
before the fairies use it quick!!!!!

I love cosmos and they flower for such a long time attracting the insects as well. Lindak.

Lovely coloured antiryhnum....sorry can't spell it....LIndak.

This is an unusual flower is it of the periwinkle family Lindak.

I woud scarify the lawn now and plant some seed in the bare patches mixed with some compost and sand and keep it damp. I weed feed and mosskill the lawns in late March then scafify beginning of April. Hope this helps Lindak.

Do you cut your lilac bushes at the wrong time of year as it is a tip bloomer. If you cut it cut after it has bloomed about now (June then the new foliage should produce blossom next year. Try giving it some feed in the autumn. Lindak.

I usually take cuttings from most plants and shrubs about late July. About five inches and take off a few of the leaves then sink that into the pot and water well. Let it dry out a little so that they don't get too wet and then water again. Hebes are usually quite easy to take cuttings from. Lindak

You can plant out the tomato plants into your soil halfway through June when the nightime temperatures are above 10 degrees. You can place them out in pots but make sure that they don't dry out on the very hot days. Don't forget the take the little sideshoots out so that it gives all the energy into producing the tomatoes on the flowers. If you have a variety like Tom thumb or one of the multiproducing ones just leave them to bush. Lindak.

Sorry, can' remember Chrispook. This clematis always puts on a good show. I cut my clematis back in the winter to about 18 inches put a thin layer of compost on the top and they seem to like that and every year we get a good show. I give them a feed in the spring. Lindak.