Re: Gardening Thread.

[bb1]

Nah, it probably thought, That Human hasn't refilled our fatball cage yet, I'll go and reminder her.

[Sabot]

Nah, it probably thought, That Human hasn't refilled our fatball cage yet, I'll go and reminder her.

This is highly likely if George is anything to go by. He starts squawking when he wants me to feed him.

Now there's a thought. I might give him a fat ball. That should shut him up for a bit.

[bb1]

That's a good idea, birds seem to go crazy for fatballs.

[Sabot]

That's a good idea, birds seem to go crazy for fatballs.

That is such a good idea, Bonny.  And thank you for that.  So much effort goes into varying his diet.  And stuffing his face every hour is a bit wearing.

I suppose that mainly I have been trying to teach him to feed himself which can be a bit difficult if you don't speak BIRD.  I don't think he understands, "Stop pissing me about, you little horror.  Or no more food for you."

[Sabot]

George's other Mummy comes back today. Huge sigh of relief because I am getting a bit worried about his lack of freedom.

He can now entirely feed himself from a dish, but he still likes being hand fed sometimes. Then he spits it out and roots for it later. Crow's answer to Hoarding, I think it is. But I do feel as though I have accomplished something.

My floor looks like a stable with straw all over the place.

I've also got Runner Beans. A bit little at the moment, but coming along. All in pots, as usual.

I read this article about watering vegetables with urine now and again, so I thought I would give it a go. I'll let you know later if there is any significant improvement to the crop. But I don't think I would do it with Carrots or Potatoes.

Two Squash plants still surviving, and looking as though they might go on doing so.

Raining again.

[bb1]

It's not raining here, just a bit chilly and gloomy, so, no change there...we seem to be in a pattern of one nice day, two dull days.

[Sabot]

Okay. Who wants to know how to preserve cut Hydrangeas? And it actually works. No more floppy flowers after only one day.
Mine are still beautiful after four days.

[lily]

Would love to Sabot.....

[Sabot]

One quart of tepid water.
4 teaspoons of sugar.
1 teaspoon of white vinegar.
1 teaspoon of mouthwash.
4 drops of any old washing up liquid.

Stir.

But first take a bucket of water when you go to cut the blooms, and immediately put the stems in it. Cut them a bit longer than you want them to be.

Fill a sink with cold water, and then cut each stem diagonally, under water. Very important that it is done under water.

Then leave all of the entire blooms under water for about six hours. Take off most of the leaves.

Take them out and cut them again diagonally, and then bash the ends with a hammer.

Stick them in a vase in the tepid mixture.

When and if they start to wilt, make a long cut into the pith, and stick them back in the now cold mixture.

It takes very little time for such reward.

PS. If you want to stop a bitch peeing brown circles in your lawn, put a dessertspoon of tomato juice in her feed every day.

[lily]

Thank you Sabot. I guess the mixture's good for cut ones from the store?

[Sabot]

Thank you Sabot.  I guess the mixture's good for cut ones from the store?

I would say so, Lily. But I would still soak them and recut them. But I guess the store must do something to them.

It appears to be something to do with the stem filming over and stopping them sucking up water. But the mixture surely must help to prolong their lives.

[lily]

Will give it a try when I next see some in the store.

It's not the right kind of climate for hydrangeas where I am now.

[Sabot]

Will give it a try when I next see some in the store.  

It's not the right kind of climate for hydrangeas where I am now.  

I have got loads of them, Lily. All colours. But cutting them has always been such a disappointment. So this means a lot to me. I can so very rarely afford to buy cut flowers. And now I have enough to last for the rest of the summer. And prune the bloody things at the same time.. Picking off dead blooms isn't much fun.

[lily]

No it's not much fun. So glad for you that you have all those lovely blooms.

[Sabot]

Why can't you grow Hydrangeas where you are now, Lily?

[lily]

I live in a tropical/subtropical area, Sabot.  It's too hot and humid..... 

You should see all my mangoes though.    

[Sabot]

You could try in a large pot, in the house, Lily. They are so easy to grow from cutting, and just need loads and loads of water, especially in a pot.
Lots of people around here have them in pots.

In fact, I might try this myself, indoors, as it were.

[lily]

That sounds good. I do like white hydrangeas the most and could try it on my shaded lanai. What do I have to lose - I might have much to gain.

Thank you.   

[Sabot]

That sounds good.  I do like white hydrangeas the most and could try it on my shaded lanai.  What do I have to lose - I might have much to gain.  

Thank you.   

I've got two white ones in the garden, Lily. One in a pot. This one is a cutting from the one that is planted out. The original is pure white, even to the centre button, while the one in the pot is a very pale pink all over.

I shall buy another pot, which I am forever finding excuses to do, and try either the already potted one, or a new cutting, in the house.

[Sabot]

I think I am going to have to go Off Line in a minute. There is one hell of a thunder storm brewing, and it is playing havoc with my WiFi

[bb1]

Good luck, Sabot, the last one here played havoc with my Sky box, etc. Wierd, it got scrambled, somehow.

[lily]

We have them virtually every day here for part of the day. Some are horrendous and people do get killed.

[Sabot]

Phew. Hailstones the size of golf balls, and thunder right overhead. But it is passing now, so I switched back on.
Not getting any emails however. Perhaps Orange is having a problem. But there are always ways.

[lily]

Those are some hail stones, Sabot.

[Sabot]

Those are some hail stones, Sabot.

It's that Global Cooling, Lily.

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