Not especially familiar with the author, but thought some may recognise themselves here (in more or less fanciful language)...




https://amp.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle...ll-of-hope

OK so I used spent compost  for sowing this years toms and should expect the odd rogue seedling. I'm used to weeds and tomatoes popping up everywhere,  but I've got a rogue something coming up alongside some tomato seedlings and it looks strange/familiar/interesting, but I've no idea what.  Its unlikely to be floral considering the compost was old tomato pots.
For size you'll see an emerging tomato, not yet reached proper leaf stage. What is it?........ Inspiration just hit me, could it be a cucumber, although I'm damned as if I can figure how it got into outdoor tomato compost.

   

       

At the Seed Swap I picked up some anonymous beans. All they could tell me about them was, that they were not Broad Beans and they thought they might be too old to germinate. Now I'm a sucker for orphan seeds so I picked up a handful and brought them home. 
I've had a bit of a DuckDuck and found something similar but, before I say what I think they are, I'm going to ask the Panel for your thoughts.
Thank you. 

I've been experimenting with a Mess of Greens recently - basically a handful of whatever (edible) green leaves I can find, cooked quickly together in a little oil or hot water. Normal ingredients are kale leaves from a couple of different plants,  lovage, oriental veg of whatever is in the GH and chard plus some Three-cornered leek or spring onions.
Most of my food is messy food - bowls of fresh salad leaves, or stirfries or mixed up in soup. 
I suppose its my nature.

Having sown some 9 Star perennial broccoli/cauliflowers and 1000 headed kale I wondered how many other plants have a number in their name? 
Any suggestions?

Advice please.
Planting out my autumn sown sweet peas this week .
What else can I put out now??
I’ve got about half a dozen sturdy daucus, same number of larkspur and just four ammi visnaga.
I know that these are hardy - but seeing as I’ve lost absolutely loads of seedlings through the winter, do you think it’s a  bit soon?

So I generally split my tubers in the Spring to make more, some just wiggle apart, if they dont I will often cut throught the stem or cut off one of the "legs" if it has some eyes.

I took cuttings a few years back - loved the process, but found my strike luck wasnt as successful as it could have been, had lots just not taking due to "misting" either too wet or not keeping hydrated enough... I also got a little overwhelmed with space issues

Anyway, last September I decided I wanted more varieties that were suitable for cutting. I had already ditched a few of the big Decoratives in favour of the balls or poms. Gluton for punishment - Im having another go

My order has arrived and been set in trays - I have some eyes already. Wish me luck.

       

I love trying new things and have a friend who always buys presents - Im pretty useless at that  hate spending money just because of a certain date. So over the years we've come to a compromise - we do a day out instead. Last year we booked jekka herbs, Kew Gardens and David Austin roses.

Friday we went on a basket making course - a guy local to me. We had a fabulous day. Pretty chuffed with my basket - Im sure it will come in handy 

           

Got a few moans and groans.
Don’t know where to post them

I'd like a garden filled with sunflowers, poppies, cornflowers - nothing unusual there. However, I fail miserably with them all. The sunflowers end up about a foot tall with a flower no larger than a dandelion. Poppies that apparently self seed everywhere for others, put in a meagre show then disappear. Cornflowers, those bright blue flowers that are included in Easy-grow packets for children, are not so easy for an old biddy like me.

Am I alone or do others struggle with certain flowers?