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Hi
Apr 13, 2008 17:06:29 GMT
Post by grannyannie on Apr 13, 2008 17:06:29 GMT
Hi, I'm Ann, a very amateur gardener in Castle Vale. Our little piece of England faces south, but has plenty of shady patches. We've had a compost bin for over 10 years, only £10 from Birmingham City Council and worth its weight in gold. We also have a water-butt, fixed to the back drainpipe. I joined after seeing the feature in ValeMail. Are there any other gardeners in the B35 area? I've 3 small but sturdy hellebore orientalis plants, which I dug up as seedlings last year. They will probably be dusky pink, but my hellebores tend to cross with each other so it's anyone's guess at the moment. I will try to get to the Castle Vale Farmers' Market, to offer them to anyone interested. They're very easy to grow. Our garden is very bird-friendly - "our" resident robin has recently starting bringing his mate with him!
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Apr 13, 2008 19:28:13 GMT
Post by loutigger on Apr 13, 2008 19:28:13 GMT
Hi ann! im an amature garden too and not far, im in erdington, ive heard of this farmers market you have but thats as much as i know about it! i too have a compost bin and splashed out on the base as i didnt know where we were going to put it, its amazing how quick i filled it with the guinepigs hutch stuff and various other bits, oops reminds me forgot to ask my dad for his grass clippings.... anyways thought id say hi ;D lou x
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Apr 13, 2008 19:42:21 GMT
Post by grannyannie on Apr 13, 2008 19:42:21 GMT
Hi Louise, I don't know anything about threads but it does seem a bit of a chore to keep going backwards and forwards. Still, when there are more members I expect this website will get a bit more sophisticated! I don't know how you have time for an allotment with the children and animals etc! Still you seem to be doing fine. I usually grow tomatoes in pots but last year's were pretty awful because of the weather, and my chillies all died. The year before they were fine, I gave some to my neighbour & she pickled them. My partner's brilliant at cuttings especially penstemons and scabious. We grow the "Chilli Black" scabious.It's great and lasts right into November. I got the original plant years ago when my daughter took me to Tatton Park Flower Show for a treat. It's a very deep purple. The Farmers' Market doesn't have an awful lot of stalls but I've had some lovely lamb From Lyon Farm and there's bread, fruit, veg, eggs, honey etc. Good to hear from you, Ann
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Apr 13, 2008 20:02:03 GMT
Post by loutigger on Apr 13, 2008 20:02:03 GMT
my growbag toms were useless last yr too, and the chillis that other people didnt manage to kill for me (dont ask!) were fine, but got a bit big for theyre pots i think, but they only died when i put them outside at the end of the season, id kept them in the conservatory which they seemed to like! oh cuttings i am useless with cuttings!!! ive got some rooting hormone now tho so fingers crossed i get better at pinching bits of my mums plants and the farmers market still sounds nice even if it only has a few stalls, i like to potter round such places even if i rarely have the funds to purchase anything! which is more a reflection on my purse than the actual prices, which had i got it id gladly pay, if that makes sense? much better than supermarket produce oh and the allotment entertains the kids... 2 birds one stone sort of an affair, tho it does generate a rediculous amount of washing!!!! but so far theyre enjoying every minute of worm hunting stone collecting puddle hopping and potato planting, we just wish for more dry warm days to spend down there as we dont have a shed to shelter in :S and the toilet blocks as far away as it possibly could be.... i dont spend nearly as much time as i should there given that im clearing it of couch grass but we enjoy the time we do spend hopefully some time this week weather permitting... the scabious sound lovely, tho being a novice im a bit clueless as to what theyr are but deep purple and long lasting too im just hopefull the sweetpeas make it to flowering this yr (please oh please!!!) weve so little light in the garden tho its anybodys guess! lou x
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Apr 13, 2008 21:18:50 GMT
Post by grannyannie on Apr 13, 2008 21:18:50 GMT
It would be great if this website let you upload photos, then I could show you the scabious etc.; maybe that'll be a feature of the future, too. A.
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Apr 14, 2008 18:47:06 GMT
Post by loutigger on Apr 14, 2008 18:47:06 GMT
that would be lovely, altho i should probably just "google" them i guess, but they do sound rather pretty!
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Apr 14, 2008 19:42:45 GMT
Post by grannyannie on Apr 14, 2008 19:42:45 GMT
:)Hi Louise, Yes of course - it never occurred to me! I've googled & found I misspelled it - it's Chile, not chilli! Anyway the first 2 websites on the google list have super pics of it. Ann
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Apr 19, 2008 12:17:59 GMT
Post by ziggylo on Apr 19, 2008 12:17:59 GMT
hi Annie - good to meet you today at the Farmers Market in Castle Vale and thank for bringing the hellebores - next time I'll make sure I bring some swops so I can run away with one. I'll bring copies of the allotment info to Thursday's plant exchange, otherwise come into CVCHA on the High Street and have a cup of tea and get the info. regards Lynn
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Apr 19, 2008 12:43:58 GMT
Post by grannyannie on Apr 19, 2008 12:43:58 GMT
Hi Lynn, Now I can put a name to your face! I've got another hellebore going begging, so I'll bring it to the Sanctuary on Thursday. I've dug up 2 tiny seedlings this week, & potted them up, so they should be ready next year. I'm sure there'll be more, but it's too cold to go & look ! Regards, ann
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Apr 19, 2008 14:32:56 GMT
Post by Michael Sloyan on Apr 19, 2008 14:32:56 GMT
It would be great if this website let you upload photos, then I could show you the scabious etc.; maybe that'll be a feature of the future, too. A. Hi Ann, Sorry I missed you at the Farmers Market...I was sent on errands. Despite the awful winds it was a good day and we had a good list of enquiries about Gardening Exchange. I am going away for a few days but on my return next week i will start a gallery on the website so people can add pictures of their gardens and things they would like to share etc. I will make an announcement as soon as it is done! Best wishes, Michael
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Apr 19, 2008 16:19:01 GMT
Post by grannyannie on Apr 19, 2008 16:19:01 GMT
Hi Michael, Great news, I'm really pleased about the gallery. This website is definitely taking off, and I was delighted to meet SallyAnn and Lynn at the Farmers Market. Perhaps you and I will meet next month - and in better weather! Regards, Ann
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Apr 21, 2008 13:04:29 GMT
Post by Sallyann Rose on Apr 21, 2008 13:04:29 GMT
Hi Ann
It was lovely to meet you too. Hope to see you at The Sanctuary next week I am meeting with lynn this afternoon to finalise the day and time.
regards
Sallyann
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Apr 21, 2008 20:23:50 GMT
Post by loutigger on Apr 21, 2008 20:23:50 GMT
ive just looked up the scabious chile and they are GORGEOUS! let me know if you decide 2 exchange any spares and ill be down the market sharpish! lol! elsewise where did you get them were they grown from seed? sorry 2b so nosey am a novice!! bomb proof plants are needed in my silly garden!! thanx again, lou xx ps whats the sanctuary? lou xx
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Apr 21, 2008 21:23:52 GMT
Post by grannyannie on Apr 21, 2008 21:23:52 GMT
Hi Louise, I've just found out what lol means - had to look it up on Wikipedia, being a novice on net lingo. Anyway, the original Chile black came from Tatton Park Flower Show about five years ago, and we've just planted out all our cuttings, but there could well be some more later on. I'm sure my beloved will do some, and then I'll save you 1 or 2. The Sanctuary is a sort of meeting place/venue for small events, e.g. kids' after-school computer sessions, daytime groups & clubs, advice centre - all sorts. It's on Tangmere Drive on the Vale. I split up some golden oregano this afternoon. It had started spreading over one of our borders so we potted it last year, but it got cramped. Now I've got 5 little pots of it, which I intend to offer at the Plant Exchange. It smells lovely, looks gorgeous, and is great for low ground-cover, or as a windowsill plant - and you can use it as a seasoning. Very versatile little plant! The only drawback is that it gets a bit woody in the ground as it gets established, and can be difficult to keep under control - you have to be ruthless! Bests, Ann
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