Yes, I'm so Happy! 2012

[Anthony Darby]

Yesterday we had torrential rain, which raised the level of the storm water ponds, as can be seen by the weed on the fence above the waterfall. Today 17^oC and sunny, and I spotted some rainbow skinks sunning themselves on the walls at the local reserve/football pitches.

[Giles]

This could so easily have been an 'I'm so un-happy' posting....
..my magnolias had the lurgy, and I was worried that I had Phytophthora kernoviae...(the magnolia equivalent of the ramorum blight of rhodies)..

[Paul T]

I'm assuming you've worked out what it is and it isn't as bad?  Can't work out why else it would be in the "happy" topic? 

[Giles]

I contacted the Defra/Fera/Plant health inspectorate on Monday and sent them some digital photo's of the symptoms, and they said they wanted to visit..

[Maggi Young]

Crikey, that bark split looks awful. Can't imagine that could ever be a reason for happiness, regardless of the cause......
So, what is the problem with them?

 Giles, you're teasing us, you bandit!

[Giles]

..they came today (just be patient Paul, I'm typing as fast as I can !!)...and field tested every plant with symptoms....
(a positive test would mean destroying the lot)

[Giles]

..and the whole lot was totally clear!!!!!!

[Paul T]

So what the heck is wrong with them then?

[Giles]

..so I can sit back and enjoy my magnolia forest, as it matures over the next 10-20 years 

[Giles]

Bacterial leaf spot ( a one off due to the wet weather earlier in the year)
Bark cracking (growth spurt also due to the wet).
Nothing life threatening or persistent.

[johnw]

Giles  - It looks reminiscent of this target canker that hit an otherwise healthy M. tripetala x sieboldii this year. Every juncture is like this to about 5 feet.

Not so happy.

johnw

[Michael J Campbell]

 

[Lesley Cox]

Nice one Michael.

Pleased for your young forest Giles. What a tragedy it would have been, had they been diseased. The weather is responsible for much more than making us miserable. Winter clings on here even tho' the garden is spring-like. Good frost this morning.

[johnw]

Friend just presented us with about 40 peaches from her trees.  Ken just made ginger peach sorbet!  Waiting for someone to make a peach pie.

johnw

[maggiepie]

Friend just presented us with about 40 peaches from her trees.  Ken just made ginger peach sorbet!  Waiting for someone to make a peach pie.

johnw

Sounds yummy, John.
Any chance you can post the peach and ginger sorbet recipe in Cooks Corner?
We've had some really good peaches this year, have been making quite a lot of fresh peach and chilli salsa which goes really well with just about anything barbecued.