Excellent New Resource: A Midland Alpine Gardener's Diary

[Paul T]

David,

I read that first as "No, David, he just has a lot of ankles who don't know what to buy him for Christmas."

Was quite amusing for a moment there, but not for the reasons you intended.

[Diane Clement]

The second blog is now on line:

Midland Garden Blog No 2

Diane

[Gerdk]

Very informatory - especially the sowing method for Cyclamen - I'll note this for my next seeds.
Thank you, Diane!

Gerd

P.S.
Is there a new list from John Watson?

[Diane Clement]

Very informatory - especially the sowing method for Cyclamen - I'll note this for my next seeds.
Thank you, Diane!  Gerd
P.S.  Is there a new list from John Watson? 

Thanks Gerd. 
John Watson's seed is available from Jim Archibald.  John started selling it this way via Jim a couple of years ago, and there were a lot of species on last Autumn's list.       

[Gerdk]

Diane, thank you too!

Gerd

[Diane Clement]

Blog Number 3 is now on line:

Midland Garden Blog No 3


Diane

[Maggi Young]

Good grief, Diane, what a pity the "faster than a speeding bullet" is already in use as a nickname !
 Off for a look, thanks!


 Oh, yes, that's a good one.... very pertinent to look at  what the various plants are doing in this weather and how it might affect their chances of survival etc.

How I would have loved a shot of you hanging on to your chimney breast for dear life to take the overhead picture of your snow-covered garden.... for I am sure that's how you must have acheived that photo........   Unless your garden slopes away from the house very steeply, the picture looks to be taken from a much higher viewpoint than simply an upper floor window .....so I think you must have been on the roof, hanging off the chimney .......did you get the idea from Santa the other week? 
 

[Diane Clement]

Unless your garden slopes away from the house very steeply, the picture looks to be taken from a much higher viewpoint than simply an upper floor window .....so I think you must have been on the roof, hanging off the chimney .......did you get the idea from Santa the other week?     

Nothing so exciting, just taken from upstairs.  The garden does slope a bit but I've probably got the camera at a funny angle so its distorted

[Diane Clement]

Blog number 4 now on line. 

http://www.alpinegardensociety.net/diaries/Midland/+January+/166/

Diane

[Maggi Young]

I bet you get interested feedback about your cyclamen seed  growth progress, Diane......I think people find that sort of detail quite fascinating and too few folks show that level of observation or document it for others.


 Do you like Craigton Clumper? She seems to be doing her stuff.... I see more buds showing  Sturdy little thing!

[Carlo]

Bugs know no cold...

And those primula leaves? A slight pull to the side will get them even before they've dried to a crisp. It's almost as if you're peeling them off.

[johnw]

Bugs know no cold...

And those primula leaves? A slight pull to the side will get them even before they've dried to a crisp.

And the occasional rosette!

Have noticed some must be pulled sideways and some downwards. Trial by fire unless records kept.

johnw

[Diane Clement]

Do you like Craigton Clumper? She seems to be doing her stuff.... I see more buds showing  Sturdy little thing!   

Yes, fantastic!  from one bulb two years ago, there's now four with about 10 buds showing at the moment. 
 

And the occasional rosette!   Have noticed some must be pulled sideways and some downwards. Trial by fire unless records kept.

It's got to be gently, whichever way you pull, and any rosettes that come away are good for propagating.  BUT the worst of the job is the sticky goo!  The tweezers stick to the leaf and that brings the whole rosette off sometimes because it's stuck. 

[Gerdk]

Because of the scary weather I neglected to look after the plants in the greenhouse for some time.
But - thanks to Midland Garden Blog I woke up and inspected some violets.
There were some tiny green aphids hidden near the leaf axils and also there was Botrytis at Viola spathulata. Good to have a reminder!

Gerd

[Maggi Young]

Monday evening 20.48 hours.....26th January...... I can't reach the AGS website....is it down? Anyone else having trouble?