popular What have you done today in the Garden?

I agree it's curious. Maybe they are seed grown and there was a cross, as you suggest.

 

Started clearing out the pond but I got cross with it and got the tractor out

 

Hubs and I had a busy morning in the garden. He was clearing away a big pile of branches that we had previously lopped off various trees/shrubs.
I set about thinning out plants that have a tendency to take over borders, they got let off last year......so this year I'm in ruthless mode.
Did what I hope to be a final leaf sweep of the 3 patios.

Just letting lunch settle before heading back out.

It's grey and very squishy underfoot and a tad nippy as we are in a bit of a ' wind tunnel'....even a gentle breeze can feel like a brisk one at times but the best bit is that apart from a couple of spots earlier it has stayed dry.

 

I had enough for today , had a thumping migraine since yesterday. I thought a day in the garden would clear it but I think all the bending down has just made it worse.

I have tidy up the couple of borders that run along our circular pathway. One is our pets cemetery ....so I'm very careful when digging around in there!!!

I have also been in battle with Brambles too...they must've been lurking amongst the flowers and shrubs. I think I now have more thorns on me than they do!
Ouch! ouch!! ( I'm not one to suffer in silence)

 

It was 10F this morning, and got into the 30s. It is to be 9F tonight. I have not done much outdoors the past few days. It is too cold. Sometimes the sun is out and it is lovely. And then the dark clouds move in. We have not had more than a few light rains since last June...

I did have a flock of common flickers in my yard this afternoon. They were scrounging in the leaves for bugs I guess. I had not seen them around in awhile.

 

Had to Google them @AAnightowl , we don't have them over here but apparently they belong to the Woodpecker family.

 

It's damp but +7c.
I turned my two jukeboxes over by playing a few sides on each and changed their re-chargeable dehumidifiers I bought for them over a decade ago. I have four of them, two on charge, two in each during the cold months as well as their 60w heaters.

Whilst that was happening I pruned off some more small dead branches and "ends," off the two acer palmatums.
It's the same every year. There's always more than I noticed when I did it the first time a few weeks ago. But there's plenty of new growth from the top and lots of new buds as usual.

 

Finished getting cross with the pond (Tetters made me stop before I pulled everything out of it with the tractor )

 

Needed to put a frame up to train the fruit trees as they're starting to weigh down the branches when they're fruiting.

I slapped some cuprinol on some old Elm hop poles last year and decided it was time to get them put up

 

I used my mate Brian the Auger to drill the holes, about 18 inches deep...



Once I had 4 posts in I wired some other poles to them to make the frame.



Then today I added some Hazel poles as laterals and tied in the Apples and Cherry.



We need to replace 2 trees, one which appears to have died and another that we have no idea what it is and looks like a coconut going supernova.

We're looking at a Marjory's Seedling Plum and a Braeburn Apple as replacements.

 

Sorry to hear of your migraines…. yikes I to seem to get migraines in winter . My doc mentioned that changing air pressure especially the drops associated with cold weather, cold fronts and storms is a major trigger for winter migraines. Who knew… it creates pressure differences in sinuses affecting blood flow and brain chemistry.

So wudda ya do.. I drink plenty of water , staying hydrated - first sign . If not it’s the first sign of a migraine coming on for me . I also use a humidifier to combat the heater - drying out the air inside. Some supplements may help, ask your doctor what is best for you. If you can obtain migraine meds that can help stave them off before they really set in where it’s a matter of becoming non functional , meds may become a freeing factor.

 

It's mainly dry today so i weeded the rhubarb patch and put a lot of old compost around them from 2 large containers that i grew the tomatoes in last year. It wasn't very warm to do it and my hands were very cold, but i wanted to do something.

 

Only thing that I've done is to hang out more laundry today.
Now in the city enjoying a hot chocolate overlooking the Solent.

That 's good @Logan much nicer being out in the garden than stuck indoors.
It's surprising how quickly you warm up...our main garden is virtually shaded all day at this time of year so very use to working in cooler temps.

 

Hazel poles ? @Zigs I had to look that up nice fence . I see now what you mean. The brown horizontal poles mid level in your fence are wooden poles taken from hazelnut trees. interesting. Hazelnut trees grow wild here and just cut down a few that were a serious threat to the garden via the hazelnuts that attract wild life especially those ground squirrels that build burrows below and live under ground and have caused serious damage to my garden. They are the size of a small cat.. not your average small cute little tree squirrels or chipmunks.

 

Thanks @Oreti it was my hands that were very cold or i would have stayed out longer, i do have gloves but hubby was wearing them to prune the roses.