I love a garden visit and now things are relaxing a little although I won't be off doing lots of coffee ahops etc I will go to a few open gardens in my area.

Most places have a booking system this year - I just missed out on a visit for this week as all tickets are sold....so that won't happen again. Most places are between £4-10, have plant sales and cofffee available. 
If I manage to take photos I will be sharing here.

Anyone else like having a nose?

I was being a happy snapper this morning so here are a few piccies of things that interested me or I found beautiful on my early morning dog walk.

Picures are of structures in the woods which I wondered about, my dog saying hello to some bullocks in the field, a  little wild flower, a nd one is of a bridge which for where it is is overkill (they don't make em like that anymore), a birch tree growing out of another tree stump (not birch), gorse flowers etc.It was nice to see some of the local kids must have made a camp in the woods similar to what I did may years ago.

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Last year's thread at https://gardenandgossip.org/showthread.p...529#pid529

Tell us how many plants you're growing and how many you pick.
Cucumbers, courgettes, squash, melons and so on - all are welcome!

The first of my mason bees hatched on Sunday afternoon!

   

They're really small - that's 5mm dot grid paper under the plastic tub! Admittedly the females will be a bit bigger, but none of them have hatched yet - the males hatch first, as in the wild they are usually situated closest to the mouth of the nest tunnel, while the females are further back.

Five more males have hatched since I took this first photo, and I have 40 cocoons in total, so soon my garden will be abuzz with tiny bees!

I'm curious! 
Have you ever won a prize in a competition? 
I'm always reading about people who've won houses, cars and exotic holidays in the simplest of competitions but all I can remember winning is a book and a pair of uncomfortable wellies. 

Do real people (that's us) win prizes or are these imaginary winners who always manage to look attractive in photographs!!

I always grow courgettes which I like to eat. I am growing cucumbers which although I am not too fond of, don't mind eating now and again.
I am not fond of Butternut Squash but might have a go with another squash (yet to be decided)

The main reason for posting is, how about melons in a cold frame and what are the best and hardiest cultivars. Sharks fin is a nice plant but I have just found out I am not struck on the taste.(Probably because its a gourd?)

I have two raised beds (can be used as cold frames with a glass covering if required) . Each are about 1 metre X 2 metre. One will hold four courgette plants methinks, and the other is to hold a couple of yet to be determined cucurbits. The cucumbers will be in the greenhouse.

I'm thinking one melon and one squash? Any recommendations? Do squash not do better climbing rather than scrambling?

Anyone have an idea the ultimate pot size I should put my razzamatazz in.  I had hoped it would sit on a windowsill indoors so possibly 8" max, but if it won't like that restriction, then I can reconsider it location.

Ok, I'm starting a new border  I know I shouldn't as I have too much to do already but when my new kitchen gets done ( if ever!) I want o look out onto a small woods ( group of 5 trees)  under planted with spring bulbs and lots of interest...I also want to bring in more birds/habitat.


So, I've planted 2 silver birch, 3 paper bark birch. Cheap trees - they were bare root whips about 5 foot tall. I would like a clear stem, so I can under plant and walk through. They have small branches at the moment. When, what do I prune? Any links would be helpful. I have been looking but not found much yet...happy to read lots. Even a decent book maybe?

Just for you, Vinny.

Show us your tallest sunflower and let's try to grow one taller than Vinny's

I have planted out my heat treated onion sets and when removing my covering of fleece I see that all the leaf tops have been cut off, which I have put down to mice, rather than snails, so first question, will it effect the growth of the onions and second, how can I stop this happening