There are loads of these poppies growing on some of the vaccant plots...stunning to look at.

Might try some seed saving if anyone is interested

   

   

   

To cut flowers for the house or to leave them in the garden? That is the question and one I struggle to answer!
If I cut them, they'll die within  a few days - and that feels like cruelty.
One way to ease my conscience would be to treat flowers like vegetable crops - to grow them purely for cutting.
What easy to grow, long-lasting in a vase, flowers would you recommend, that can be grown from seed and, if possible, sown now. Would you grow them in rows?
Sorry Scarlet, but not dahlias or geraniums or anything that has to receive special treatment over winter.

I have a cherry tree I planted about 3-4 years ago, it’s 5 different type cherry grafted onto a common root stock. 3 sweet and 2 savory. I’ve had great blossoms every year on it and last year there looked to be loads of cherry buds starting but looks lovely me the local bull finches had a party with the buds. This year however after a great cherry blossom i then had some strang happenings. There seems to be the buds dead, and the leaves seem to have picked up a disease. Any ideas ?

           

MrPP has been paid for a quick fix-it job in hen's eggs so I suddenly have two dozen delicious free range fresh eggs to use up in a main dish or two (or three!). We've had a lot of quiches, baked eggs and shakshuka recently, but beyond that my mind is a blank  I don't much like omelettes, just to be difficult   and it would need to be vegetarian, it being a weekday 

What egg-based recipes do you lot cook?

Interesting article about what an allotment has meant during Covid https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-57438179
What do you think?

A place to add wildlife information links. 

First up is the adder

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/animal-...ut-adders/

I’ve learned something from this. I didn’t realise they had hinged fangs like a rattlesnake.

When walking round the garden today I was watching the bees going about the garden, they were darting in and out of the fuchsia, I also have some trailing begonias close by, though not fully open but made me wonder if anyone could tell me, do bees get pollen from flowers that don't set seeds?

It wasn't in a pond but I think they are classed as pondlife.

3 times this week I've opened the door of a brick outbuilding and come across a toad. The first time I saw it I thought it must have followed me in so I took it outside and put it in some long grass. But the next 2 times it was definitely inside when I opened the door and I wondered how it got there and why as it is not damp and there is nothing for it to eat.
I suppose it is possible that 3 toads followed me the once but, if so they were all the same size.
I do occasionally get mice in there but I have assumed they climbed up the walls as we often get them in the attic.
How big a hole would they be able to get through I wonder and can they climb?

Are these red spider mites on this potted rose in my greenhouse?  Lots of dust-sized specs scurrying about through their webs.

I've taken the pot outside into the fresh air and given it a soaking.

Any suggestions, other than to nuke the greenhouse from orbit?

Thanks!

   

The grass has been littered today by birds, sprawled out in the sun. I've seen Blackbirds, a thrush and a chaffinch. At first glance they look injured but, having seen the chooks doing the same thing, I wasn't worried - only to keep the dogs away.
Their favourite spots are flattened molehills where its just dirt, no grass.
I've put a tray of water with pebbles in, near their dust baths, so they can freshen up afterwards. 
https://garden-birds.co.uk/information/bathing.html