Stormy Weather II

[Serial_Apologist]

Didn't even think of putting washing out. Even if it hadn't been heavy items being cleaned before packing away for the summer(!) trying to keep the pegs and therefore clothes attached to the line seemed too much of an ask.

The only problem, with our washing lines is frequent visitations by squirrels running along them and depositing on any washing pegged thereon - particularly the lines at the shaded end. We had thought it to be carefully aiming wood pigeons, but one day I caught a squirrel "at it". The game is to occupy the more exposed lines before other flatholders get to them!

[LezLee]

The only problem, with our washing lines is frequent visitations by squirrels running along them and depositing on any washing pegged thereon - particularly the lines at the shaded end. We had thought it to be carefully aiming wood pigeons, but one day I caught a squirrel "at it". The game is to occupy the more exposed lines before other flatholders get to them!

You'll have to get a 'twirly' contraption. Big birds can't balance on them.
And there's always the greasy pole for the squirrels:

https://youtu.be/HmpeJGlbUCE

[Serial_Apologist]

My 4-mile afternoon walk this afternoon was one of the most pleasurable I can remember ever having. The woods (the ones bordering South Norwood Park) are at their most lush right now, though nettles, cow parsley and so on have not quite reached the stage where they are attracting butterflies and other insects. Passers-by all were friendly and either giving way on narrower parts of pathways or expressing thanks when one did so oneself. Crystal Palace provided a magnet for hundreds of people - in singles, couples and small groups, most sitting around leaving gaps of at least 10 metres all around, all without exception keeping the required 2 metres apart. Lot of the groups were enjoying picnics, which seems now to be acceptable. I saw no uniformed park attendants or police keeping an eye on things, and in any case people seemed to be cleaning up and taking their disposables away with them.

[Serial_Apologist]

You'll have to get a 'twirly' contraption. Big birds can't balance on them.
And there's always the greasy pole for the squirrels:
https://youtu.be/HmpeJGlbUCE

The tub of creamy stuff I use for my dry skin might be just the thing to apply to our washing line posts then!

[Joseph K]

My 4-mile afternoon walk this afternoon was one of the most pleasurable I can remember ever having. The woods (the ones bordering South Norwood Park) are at their most lush right now, though nettles, cow parsley and so on have not quite reached the stage where they are attracting butterflies and other insects. Passers-by all were friendly and either giving way on narrower parts of pathways or expressing thanks when one did so oneself. Crystal Palace provided a magnet for hundreds of people - in singles, couples and small groups, most sitting around leaving gaps of at least 10 metres all around, all without exception keeping the required 2 metres apart. Lot of the groups were enjoying picnics, which seems now to be acceptable. I saw no uniformed park attendants or police keeping an eye on things, and in any case people seemed to be cleaning up and taking their disposables away with them.

Sounds nice.

Cloudy here most of the day, though the sun came out a few hours' ago. I thought I had a cold, but it most likely is hayfever.

[DracoM]

Just been to inspect the damage done in my garden by the recent high winds.
Not a pretty sight.
Just have to wait and hope Nature is more resilient than I am!

[teamsaint]

Very warm and wall to wall sunshine here. Exercise of course is unlimited ( although for most of us of course it is self limiting ) so I filled my boots with a gentle run this morning , ( had to be gentle, slight tightness in left calf ) and a walk this evening. Running is an absolute pleasure in this weather, but digging a border to replace some geraniums with roses and hebes decidedly less fun. Looks nice now, though, so a good job.
S-As walk sounds nice. Everybody round here is being excessively careful about distancing when out walking, shopping etc.

[BBMmk2]

Some windy moments yesterday but I think it’s going to be a scorcher!

[oddoneout]

Just been to inspect the damage done in my garden by the recent high winds.
Not a pretty sight.
Just have to wait and hope Nature is more resilient than I am!

The damage in my garden isn't too bad, - possibly because lack of moisture has already reduced size and fragility of much of the plants' growth? - but unless there is some sustained rain soon the recovery to what might be expected at this time of year isn't going to happen any time soon. Growth has slowed right down, flowering is brief and things are looking unhappy - droopy - by early afternoon. No relief in sight in the forecast.

[LMcD]

The damage in my garden isn't too bad, - possibly because lack of moisture has already reduced size and fragility of much of the plants' growth? - but unless there is some sustained rain soon the recovery to what might be expected at this time of year isn't going to happen any time soon. Growth has slowed right down, flowering is brief and things are looking unhappy - droopy - by early afternoon. No relief in sight in the forecast.

Apparently we have a POP of up to 12% on June the 4th - I shall draw up contingency plans so that I can modify my watering schedule if actually rains (mind you, any rain will probably go down the river, or stay tantalisingly offshore, as usual).
One pleasant consequence of the changing weather patterns is that my gazanias, which I read are normally treated as annuals in the UK, have survived the winter and should be in full flower before long.

[DracoM]

Gazanias OVER-wintering? Blimey!!!!

[teamsaint]

Gazanias OVER-wintering? Blimey!!!!

Ours did , just left outside. Last summer they were wonderful .The leaves seem to have acquired a white deposit, and they now have a slightly scruffy look, but plenty of flowers already this year, although I think they have all naturalised back to orange. Or something....

[gurnemanz]

I was a bit worried about runner beans planted out last week but they seem to have survived the recent wind buffeting with only minor leaf damage and are starting to climb.

Roses look like being spectacular.

[oddoneout]

Apparently we have a POP of up to 12% on June the 4th - I shall draw up contingency plans so that I can modify my watering schedule if actually rains (mind you, any rain will probably go down the river, or stay tantalisingly offshore, as usual).
One pleasant consequence of the changing weather patterns is that my gazanias, which I read are normally treated as annuals in the UK, have survived the winter and should be in full flower before long.

As plant breeding improves overall weather tolerance of such plants - to reach wider sales potential - their ability to overwinter will increase. Several of the plants we grow as summer half-hardies are perennial in their country of origin and will express that given half a chance; lack of the very cold winters increases their chances although excess wet can be a killer. I regularly have geraniums overwintering outside, sometime tuberous begonias have survived both the vine weevil and frost, in tubs tucked against the house; at work a bedding geranium planted in an open border(albeit a dry sheltered one against the building) has survived two winters and in fact flowered intermittently through this last one, and a plant in a tub by my front door has flowered also during the winter.

[oddoneout]

Ours did , just left outside. Last summer they were wonderful .The leaves seem to have acquired a white deposit, and they now have a slightly scruffy look, but plenty of flowers already this year, although I think they have all naturalised back to orange. Or something....

Is it a deposit, or the white felting the leaves have evolved as a drought and heat protection? On young growth it can be very thick but as the leaves grow it gets progressively less.