What are we doing in the garden 2025

Good to see you back fairygirl and we seem to have had the same kind of stressful weather!
It was even more so for us as we live off-road, without mains water, only source a tank in a neighbouring field.
The kitchen table has been covered with dozens of bottles of drinking water for weeks and use of the shower was banned, only flannel washes allowed. The sheep struggled to find enough grass to eat, so we had to feed them at a time when they usually have more than enough.
We were very glad that a previous owner of the house had built a fire water reservoir, like a small swimming pool, as that was the only water supply once we had emptied all the water butts, and we have quite a lot! Soon we were carting buckets to flush the loo, something that soon lost its novelty but gave our arms plenty of exercise! We had worked our way more than a third of the way into the reservoir and I was fearful I would lose more of my plants, couldn't save them all, so I was overjoyed when it decided to rain. Daughter has been up the hill to check the water tank and there is finally water running in again, over half full, so with caution we can now indulge in such luxuries as showers and hair washes. The fire water reservoir is beginning to refill too, though we sincerely hope we will not need to use it!

 

Although yesterday was a bit cold and miserable, the rain was very much needed. We went to one of our favourite GC. Bought some Strulch to mulch the strawberries and Raspberries on the plots. Used one bag today on the strawberries, after careful weeding. I used to just buy a bale of straw from a local farm but the last 2 times I've ended up with a cereal crop in the middle of my fruit!
At home we need to get on with changing the tulips over to summer bedding in the patio pots. The trouble is the violas we planted round the tulips still look great., but I don't think they will survive being dug up and replanted.

 

My next door neighbour has a tree that mostly hangs over my greenhouse, its been pushed that way by a big old ailanthus next to it, both are over 30ft high and the one hovering over my greenhouse is pretty rotten.

I'm going to ask the neighbour if he minds if I get someone in to cut it down, its out of my reach, its a council house next door and I doubt anyone will be interested, so it looks like I will have to foot the bill.
Personally I'd have both trees chopped down as they are both left to just just grow, but I'm not paying for the big one.

 

I planted my Toms outside today and some more sweetcorn, we have only had a few mm of rain recently but its still damp underneath.
Just watered them in.

 

I had enough time before it rained to get out my new chain saw and cut down some branches that were shading my solar panels. Loads of fun. Then I picked up some black eyed susan plants that were offered by someone on Marketplace for only $5 and they turned out to be exactly what she said they were.

Now it's raining so I'll start working inside on a job for a designer.

 

@lizzie27 @pete unfortunately I know what the council here are like. Another tree died in the same patch and fell into the stream between our land and theirs, partially blocking it. Council just dismissed me, even though they are supposed to be responsible for smaller waterways (NRW look after bigger rivers). It's difficult to work out how far the big ash will hit, but if left it might take out my large shed for horses, excavator and utv - and maybe contents. ( It's towards my woods, not the house fortunately)
Looking at it positively, if I pay for it to be climbed and taken down, I have enough wood for my log burner for the rest of my life!

 

Would you share your stuffing recipe please?

 

I am now feeling weary, bashed, battered and bloody.

Started off waterig my nursery of pots as it's been dry lately. Then I pottered off to the polytunnel to pot up the iris sibirica Paprikash and sedum José Aubergine that came by post and a couple of other seedlings of my own. Watered all the seedlings and pots in the veg plot and fixed a leak in a seep hose.

Planted out 4 new dahlias and then went off to weed the "nursery" which has suddenly been overrun by huge weeds growing out of cracks in the concrete floor of the roofless barn as well as in the pots. The roses fought back so my arms look a bit shredded but it's been too hot to wear sleeves.

Hotter still tomorrow, getting to about 30C, so more watering after i've done the weekly shop.

Never seen a slow worm here but we do have lizards and western whip snakes. They don't bother us and are rarely seen except at mating time in May when they come out of their winter hideaway in our biggest compost heap and start a wriggle dance intertwining with each other.

 

I'm not surprised Obelixx, that's a lot of pottering!

Hope the scratches aren't too bad. It's been slightly warmer today but still quite blustery.

 

I can almost see and hear my seedlings in the conservatory growing they are growing so fast. I must get down to some potting on and planting out.

 

All day at the Allotments yesterday, all reported on the veg thread.
One note though, Apple sawfly is rampant this year, never had them before.

 

Thanks @ButtercupDays, and I can sympathise re the water shortages. Our last house had it's own supply [from a spring] but there was another back up source too. I don't know if it's been affected by the weird weather we've had over here, but we certainly haven't been 'short' as such, due to the reservoirs, and depth of rivers etc here, and the rain in the last week has pushed the totals back to virtually normal for May, which has thankfully doused all the wildfires.
Doesn't stop idiots using sprinklers of course....
I see in the south they've finally decided they need more reservoirs.
Words fail me with that, meanwhile customers are basically being extorted to keep the pockets of the 'high heid yins' full to bustin', while having tons of sh*te deposited in every available outlet at regular intervals. I saw yesterday they've now declared a drought in the NW of England - including Cumbria. Beyond belief.
Can you tell I'm angry!
I did a few bits of potting on yesterday, but it was wet most of the day apart from a couple of short, dry spells. Today is more promising for later on, although smirry just now, so I should get a bit of planting done and maybe cut my front hedges.
Hope that sawfly doesn't cause you problems @Allotment Boy . Is that another 'new' introduction due to climate? I'd not heard of it, but I don't grow apples now.

 

Sowed some poppies and hollyhocks outdoors. I know rather late but then who knows what will happen.
Picked some more strawberries. Doing really well this year. First pick of red currants before the blackbirds get them.
Had to cut the hedge on the road as encroaching into the road too much. Just wish the vehicle drivers would be more considerate and slow down without trying to hit us!
Next the hose needed to come out. The rain we had just wasn't enough and the veg plants are suffering.

 

We are not allowed to cut hedges between March 1st and August 15th whilst birds might be nesting.

 

@Obelix-Vendée We did check very carefully for any nests and we couldn't find any. We have birds nesting in other areas of our garden and orchard and have never, since 1978, had birds nesting in the roadside hedge. Obviously too noisy and too much traffic going past right next to the hedge as the road is just a single track so lorries, vans, cars etc are very close to the hedge.