I'm sure I've already started a thread on this ....but I may be losing my marbles!

I bought 45 taxus bare roots last Novembernot one of my better ideas - preparation for a hedge 

Anyway I planted them all up in MFB and they are all doing brilliantly.

Now I was wondering if I could make some into some lovely topiary - I'm sure I remember VC saying make some chickens  Or chess pieces.

Anyway - when would you start?

Should I make chicken wire sculptures to sit over the tree and cut it when it sticks out? What would you do? They are still small but putting on good growth now. 

I did go on you tube but they don't seem to show any starting from a small one foot stick. 

Someone on the island has put up pin hole cameras in lots of different locations. We had one on our fence post from winter equinox to summer equinox. 

This is the result.

   

I think it’s pretty amazing.

As usual, I have ended up with more tomato plants than I need. 

They're too leggy to give away and I know from experience that, if I plant them outdoors, they'll be blighted. 
Can't add them to the compost because.............every plant deserves a chance!
There's some empty space in GH No 2 where I usually grow toms - its about 8' long and I could plant 4/5 toms there - but which to choose - they're all equally deserving?
There's only one fair solution - plant them all and let the strongest toms win.
Result - 27 plants in a bed 8' x 2' - no pots, in old compost approx 4" deep.  About 7 plants in a 2x2 square.

       

Does anyone make their own willow supports???
I would love a go - I'm sure it would be reasonably straightforward but it's getting the sticks that bother me. I'm not cutting down my tres and I just had a little google at buying them and they cost a fortune!!!

What do you use as supports? I think the willow ones are beautiful as a feature in the garden. Most of mine are makeshift. Some not to be seen. 

Most plants that I grow need supporting in someway. I definitely favour cottage garden plants and they are often tall, sometimes floppy  and need a little help. 

I've just got myself another order of 6mm steel rods - wish I'd just bitten the bullet last year and bought loads when I did as the price increase was huge this year.

They charge for cutting - but I can't get 6metre lengths in the car   so even though cutting and delivery worked out the same for 40 rods thought I would get them delivered so that I didn't just have them in 3 metre lengths and can cut  some in 3 and have 2metres per support. A couple of my neighbours had some so it's worked out well having them delivered to be honest.

Any ideas what’s doing this to our lawn? It’s all over the grass...we are in the countryside here so maybe pheasant or deer or something else? No animal dropping anywhere to give us a clue! TIA

   

   

Afternoon just wondered if anyone could identify what’s wrong with my chestnut saplings? Fungal, sun or something else? One of them has lost its leaves completely but is still nice and bendy. TIA

   

Bottled my rhubarb gin today, so obviously I had to try some   .

   

Share your delight at having saved some seeds this year.
List them, inspire us

       

Scarlet Tiger Moth resting on the shed. Don't remember seeing one before.
https://butterfly-conservation.org/moths/scarlet-tiger

Has anyone mastered the technique of growing red onions from sets without them running to seed early?

I grew red onion sets many years ago and had problems so stopped growing them Two years ago I tried autumn planted red onion sets (thinking the sellers may have got their act together by now) and actually got a decent crop off them.
This year I did the same and  the majority have bolted.

I don't think I am alone in this as other plot holders onions have suffered the same fate.

I tried red onions from seed but they are a bit of a faff on so have given up on these too. I do have red torpedo onions grown from seed but they are way behind where I think they should be growth wise.

Has anyone had any joy with the more expensive heat treated red onion sets and are they worth a go?