Happy birthday FEW, put a ribbon and a balloon on your trolley.

What did you shout this morning when you looked at your garden? 
"May Day" the first day of summer,  or M'aider, "Help me". 

Just curious

We were talking about all the times we have moved and lived in different areas of England which got me thinking what makes us move and what we like about where we live.

We originally lived in the South West but we moved about a couple of hours away to Portsmouth area because of work commitments, moving 4 times but had tiny gardens and found we were looking for something larger.  We then decided to move to East Anglia which is a dry County and quite a good growing climate and we bought a cottage with the garden we were looking for.  We loved it and worked our socks off getting the garden how we wanted and grew lots of veg stuff and joy of joy it already had 2 good greenhouses.  

However itchy feet got us again and we moved to the North East.  Although the garden was on the small side we did manage to buy extra land from local farmer and started again in landscaping the garden.  Trouble was we found it was so cold and the growing season was too short so we had a rethink and decided to split our time between Spain and UK which was great while it lasted but by April/May it was far too hot!

So we moved back to South West England and love it, we grow lots of veg and fruits, on the whole the climate is good and mild winters.  This is now home and I can't see us wanting to move again.

So come on guys lets hear your story.

Love it or hate it?????
Also comes in polyanthus form.

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
       

I bough some mint plants at a plant fair about a month ago.... it had lots if white fly on it, washed them off and split them up to make extra plants. Its the variegated variety which I haven't got.

I've been very vigilant on what plants I've brought in but this morning I've spied a couple of green fly.  
Now what to do - i've squished the half dozen i could see. They are all around the mint. They have gone out....but the greenfly were on some tomato plants that were next to it.

Im tempted to sacrifice these black cherry toms...  I really don't want to battle with a ton of greenfly all summer.

Anyone know what's the matter with this little chap? Its windowsill companions are unaffected...

   

I thought I'd share this story. Not gardenjng related.
My cousin has had Lupus since her teens. She battles on and never moans. She's in her 40's now but had to give up work  sometime ago due to her kidneys packing in. She has a love of Dobermans - she has always gone into hospitals/old peoples homes etc with them as therapy dogs. This also had to stop due to her dialysis treatment taking up too much time.... anyway, she managed to bag herself a kidney  ..and she is in the news....its a fab read of a chance meeting. Its changed her life.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-6511...F2arydvCAo

Nice little perennial snapdragon that has overwintered despite the bleeding awful cold snap that we had. 
It’s a deep pink, very small upward facing flowers and darkish foliage.
Similar in form to “Pretty in Pink” that costs a lot more than I would be willing to pay for one snapdragon.
Hoping to be able to take a few cuttings from this one.

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
       

Rescued this little fella from the tunnel. 

Think it’s a powdered Quaker

   

Do you read gardening books or just use the internet! I love a good book.
I don't bother with veg books these days....its pretty much flowers.
I love the David Austin Catalogue  and Ive really found the Cutflower Sourcebook by rachel siegfried very informative. ...but I think I log onto chilterns seeds website once a week ti check how to sow something.
How about you? Any recommendations....