What's a growing this dry April?

 Hello m' dry Aprils,

How are you doing? I shall keep my Long Mizzle correspondence relatively short and sweet this week. Less talking, more cuppa drinking, that's the way. I am worryingly behind on cuppa drinking and biscuit dunking. So have you got your cuppa? Brill. Let's see how the garden's growing today -

 Forget-me-nots, 'Spring Green' tulips and apple blossom

 

Tree Echium Flowers

Photinia 'Red Robin' in flower

Forget-me-nots and Fennel

Narcissus 'Rose of May' - beautifully scented!

'Green Wave' Parrot' Tulip

Narcissus 'Smooth Sails'

Last Friday I received a cardboard box through the post from Halls of Heddon, filled with little dahlia plugs. I loved the way they were wrapped in paper and sphagnum moss, as opposed to nasty plastic.

The next day I potted them up and popped them on a window ledge. All of them perked up pretty quickly. Later on today, they will be graduating to the greenhouse.

 

What of the dahlia tubers that I started back here (Flowers for Frida) ? Well, the three that have sprouted are being hardened off during the day and spending the nights in the greenhouse. Two tubers have no sign of growth at all. This happened last year. One tuber even rotted as I mistakenly over watered it. 

The Echinacea is being hardened off, along with some sunflowers and carried over Penstemons. Every year I sow sunflowers too late. Not this year! 

Sow along: I wasn't going to do the Gardeners' World 'sow along with Monty', but then my kind neighbour gave me these dahlia seeds. So, here they are, three weeks behind Monty's & Vix's. (These are small bedding types, not the large stemmed cutting varieties of my tubers and mini plug plants)

Another kind neighbour gave me some Rhubarb seedlings -

 

We've had some night frosts so the tomatoes in the greenhouse have been covered up to keep them sweet. I am growing three types: Plum, Moneymaker and Cherry Minibel.

The globe artichoke seeds are over eight years old, but I'd thought I'd give them a go. 

Hmm, we shall see.

 

Crystal Lemon cucumbers are officially back at Long Mizzle, in addition to Burpless ..

both do really well outdoors here.

 

Finally, I went on a little chazza trawl this week. This is the first time in a non-essential shop for me since the start of December. It was tremendous fun. I walked under this beautiful blossom to get to the sprawling chazza on this small industrial estate, on the edge of Falmouth. If you can get over the stench of fish from the unit next door, it really is a great chazza.


I picked up.... two granny blankets...possibly from a speed crocheting granny....


 

...a rusty cake tin and pudding pot for making fairy gardens (see Fairy Garden post here) 

 

...and some lovely bone china plates for picnicking in the garden with ginger cake.

 

Oooh, before you go, you must check out the loveliest cold frame, made from glass bricks and an old stained glass door, over at Winter Peach Photography.

That's all from me today folks. I've got lots of seed sowing still to do, and a rusty gate to paint.

What are you up to this weekend?


Lulu X


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Comments

  1. Ellie Foster23 April 2021 at 07:26

    Dear Lulu
    I have just sowed some dahlia seeds too - it will be interesting to see whether they catch up! This weekend, I have some re-potting to do and watering my plants in pots as it has been so dry.
    Have a good weekend
    Best wishes
    Ellie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:04

      Hello Ellie! Only one dahlia seed has sprouted thus far for me :0
      Hope yours are doing better, and that you had a good pottering around session.
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  2. Elderberry-Rob23 April 2021 at 08:37

    Hi no April showers here! it's been sub-tropical in the Touchwood garden today but not much gardening going on, just sunbathing - those granny blankets are beautiful - what a lucky find :)
    I like the way the dahlia plugs were delivered - very eco :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:06

      We had out first sprinkle of rain last night Betty.
      I'm really chuffed with those blankets, they seem to be increasingly hard to find for a good price. Granny chic!
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  3. Allie jane23 April 2021 at 22:34

    We have had a few, but they don’t last very long. The garden men started only to keep hitting the water mains . I am so sick of them already. Paul came home as he works away, and gave them marching orders, so we are now looking for new men. My friend has put us on to a really good team so fingers crossed, they will do the job right!!
    The cherry blossom is still blooming which I love, and I seem to have adopted a few violas along the way!! My mum told me about how you lot are still getting frost on the morning who would have thought it in April as well!
    I am glad you are back to the chazzas, we went chazza shopping and I picked up a few bits and pieces as I am a bugger for clothing as my size is hard to get in japan . Unless you are a twig!! And I am not!! Those damn Italian genes! I wish I had my dads Japanese genes then I would be fine.
    Take care and keep safe.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:12

      Oh no Allie jane, you can do without mains water eruptions! An old work friend had his hit when workmen were doing his conservatory and it made a right old mess. April has been cold and dry - very strange. Good to hear the blossoms are still blooming away over there. You make the most of those bella good Italian genes!
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  4. Winter Peach Photography24 April 2021 at 08:27

    Hi Lulu, Your garden is really bursting into life! Love the spring green tulips/forget-me-nots combo. What a fabulous charity shop haul! Those old china plates are beautiful. I did have quite a collection - also for garden picnics - but I'm down to my last three (that's why I can never buy expensive crockery). I need to get out there and hit the charity shops once more. I think I'm still stuck in my lockdown ways - emerging gradually like a snail from its shell. :-) I'll be interested to see if your globe artichoke seeds take. Thanks very much for the mention too. Have a lovely day! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:16

      Hello Claire, I'm not one for precious matching sets, so chazzas and carboots (when they're on) suit me fine. Two of the plates are hand painted, which is always a treat. I too took a long time to emerge from my shell following our first lockdown. Being out and about just felt weird. Hope you manage a chazza or two. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  5. Cherie24 April 2021 at 09:45

    Good evening chuck. I saved your post for the weekend as I knew it would make me smile. It's not rained here in ages and the gardens could really do with a proper drenching.. Of course once it starts it forgets to stop up here in the frozen north. I'm sporting a great sun tan at the moment It's usually rust at this time of year.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:20

      Alreet m' cocker. How nice to be 'something for the weekend' Cherie ! ;) I've got a bit of a David Dickinson tan going on at the moment too. Have a great week and happy gardening.
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  6. bahnwärterin25 April 2021 at 00:39

    pretty plates and very sweet blankets - and i cant wait to see the newest fairy gardens!
    rain stopped here a week ago and nothing in the forecast - istead FROST! grrr. but your garden looks wonderful und lush with all the tulips, narcissus and forgetmenots <3
    how exiting to see the seedlings come out and to have lovely wrapped plants in the post! my new rose came wrapped in golden straw - loved that - and used it instantly to mulch the new planted flower........
    happy sunday! xxxxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:34

      Thank you Beate :) Oooh, a rose wrapped in golden straw, sounds wonderful. I can't wait to see your rose scrambling up that wonderful window frame. We do need to have a good fairy garden sesh followed by a picnic. Hope it starts to warm up for you soon.
      Lulu xXx

      Delete
  7. Vix26 April 2021 at 02:00

    I've forgotten the last time we had any rain - you wait, it'll pee it down when we go out tomorrow now I've said that!
    Love seeing your garden change from week to week. I'm excited about your dahlias. I bet yours will soon catch up with mine and Monty's! Keep me posted.
    Cracking scores in the chazza. The speed crochet granny sounds like me! xxx

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:23

      Thanks Vix! Oooh, I not so sure about the dahlia seedlings. I think I may have to start another batch ... or buy some in and pretend I grew them! Haha, yes, I bet you are a dab hand with speed crocheting, but less of the granny, more of the chic. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  8. The Small Fabric Of My Life26 April 2021 at 02:53

    I love the way your garden changes. I've just planted tomato, courgette and carrots this weekend.
    Those blankets are fabulous. I need to crack on with the blanket I am knitting for my son's baby due in June. X

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu28 April 2021 at 03:29

      Thank you Jane :) You have reminded me I need to crack on with my carrots :0 My mam tried to knit me a jumper when I was a kid, but by the time she finished the sleeve, I'd already outgrown it and it was up by my elbow. Happy knitting, your blanket is going to make a wonderful gift. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  9. Ivana Split28 April 2021 at 04:51

    I think this is the first time I'm seeing the Narcissus 'Rose of May'. I had to google it, such a beautiful flower. Your garden is looking amazing right now. It's great your seeds have taken so well. Good luck with planting the remaining seeds and painting your rusty door.
    P.S. Love the crocheted blankets, such a great find!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu1 May 2021 at 03:15

      Hello Ivana, it is the first year I have grown 'Rose of May' and they smell gorgeous! It has been a bit chilly these past couple of weeks, so the blankets are ideal. Thanks, very kind of you. Lulu xXx

      Delete
  10. Kezzie3 May 2021 at 14:52

    I love your gardening posts! The blooms in your garden are looking wonderful!
    I'm very happy because I bought some Dahlia bulbs in March and didn't plant them but I noticed 2 weeks ago, that the tubers had started to sprout in the bag! So I soaked them and planted them in pots and I'm very happy how well they've grown in 2 weeks! I HOPE so much that they survive and grow...as well as all my cucumbers, tomatoes and courgettes which are all terribly leggy! The courgettes are sprawling all over the floor from their small pots!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lulu5 May 2021 at 10:08

      Thank you Kezzie :) Sounds like you have some good dahlia tubers eager to spring into life! A couple of mine are still yet to sprout and I fear they have gone into deep hibernation :0 I don't know if you're aware, unlike other plants, tomatoes can be planted deep right up to their first set of leaves, and they develop more roots up and down that leggy stem bit. Your courgettes sound much more further along than mine. Happy gardening, Lulu xXx

      Delete

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