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... the sky is baby blue, and the just-unfurling leaves ...
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dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45375
Location: yes
PostPosted: Thu Mar 07, 19 10:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

the flower show looks lovely

the remedial planting stuff is fascinating.

i have only seen a few deliberate for a specific reason examples but i have seen nature do it with no help in some very damaged sites as well.

some of cornish mine spoil heaps i have pottered about on are a bit challenged and could do with a bit of help, regenerating a soil on arid rock fragments with extra interesting minerals ranging from arsenic to uranium via most of the naturally occurring elements is a bit rough on most flora.

one tiny little compositae of some sort was the only thing growing on a maliciously tipped few thousand tons of cadmium rich gravel in derbyshire, that one needs study if only for it's remarkable tolerance.
note to self go and get some seeds is an ace excuse to see how the moor of the dead is doing

endcliffe and lees cross quarries have been used for centuries a bit at a time until about 65 yrs ago, the recovery of those is awesome, the moss folk got 36 known spp and another 15 or so unknown which should get it sssi eventually as that needs 40
the mix of unchanged since the neolithic and dynamite spoil with everything in between in 36 acres is awesome.

i worked in a place that had been an industrial chemical plant for over a century, even in bits where you might want very serious ppe there was usually some tiny plant getting on with life.

the extremophiles of nature are rather special.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 19 4:31 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Flower Show Part Two

One more entry to go then I'll be done with the flower show

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 19 7:30 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Looks a really interesting show Jam Lady. A bit like the Chelsea Flower Show, but at rather a challenging time of year. You must have enjoyed going in all that snow and ice to a world of flowers and warmth.

We had a windy day yesterday, so had to give up soon after lunch as it was rather gusty. As a reminder, there is a split tree on one of the ways out of the woods, luckily not on our land as that one is going to be very challenging to get down safely, even for an experiences professional. It is a beech tree that has split in 3; one piece falling onto a Nissen hut, another leaning (before the gusty winds) over a track and deer fence, and the last more or less upright when last seen.

Still, managed to get a log load and some log sacks cut and delivered, although the wood was rather wet from overnight rain.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 19 3:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The flower show does look good Jam Lady, and as MR says at this time of the year, that must take some skill on the part of the growers to get some of those flowers to perform in synchronism as shown, a stunning display.

I always say to buy logs well in advance of wanting them, so that they have time to be ready for the fire; I also advise folks who buy my kindling in sacks to put their needs in the room where they will be used, the night before, but at a sensible distance away from the fire, to ensure they are dry for the fire lighting the next day. In theory all my wood is dry before it leaves me, but some of it is outside at the shop where it is sold, so a bit of insurance on my part!

Not much to report about today-wet and windy-I have kept inside where possible. Been a bit hairy at work-one manager and me most of the time. My skills with being in the shop are limited. I am the background man who picks up and puts away or fetches and carries for customers. but my main work is getting there early and sorting the over night deliveries ready for the fitters who start, in theory, at 8am, or when they feel like it!

The second in command will be back next week, and normality will reign again-we are stretched with only 2 of us and my immediate superior has been away for a week's holiday. Viva the overtime!

lowri



Joined: 18 Oct 2006
Posts: 1322
Location: ceredigion
PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 19 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Loved the Flower Show, Jam Lady! The colours and general themes were super - I liked the Long and Winding Road especially! I'll go back and have another look later!

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Fri Mar 08, 19 9:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thank you lowri, dpack, Mistress Rose, and gregotyn. Glad you enjoyed the flower show. It takes quite some skill - and suitable facilities - to force not only bulbs and perennials but also trees and shrubs into full bloom. And coordinate all the different plants too!

Here's my third and last entry: Flower Show Omnium Gatherum

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45375
Location: yes
PostPosted: Sat Mar 09, 19 12:47 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

re the bee habitat thing . folk round here have tried crude which imho was never going to work , complex and as natural as possible is best

the small multi shaped holes things might be good bee homes once they have weathered a bit .
my approach is a bit more rustic

ps you lot are very brave to go for march as a date for a flower show, it looked a bit chilly where you live.
it is not just temp but light levels and day length matter

i would want singing and dancing lights with a technohydro chorus of EC, Ph temp ,O2 etc etc sensors attached to pooters n pipes to prep my display at this time of year

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sat Mar 09, 19 7:46 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Some nice ideas Jam Lady, but wildlife has a habit of taking over where it fancies. We often find small birds like wrens use our log stacks as shelter in the winter, and have sometimes split open a log to find a hornet hibernating, so have to rehome her.

Although even the summer is an easier time to have flowers, the people who exhibit at the Chelsea flower show must have to make a lot of effort to get all their plants at peak condition at the right time. That sort of thing needs a lot of skill and facilities, which must be even harder for this one in March.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Sat Mar 09, 19 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Very little has happened in the last 16 hours, except I have bought a new pair of working trousers for £30, which for work seems a lot of money, but they are good, and importantly warm, my office-"desk and chair", being by a roller shutter door, which can be draughty-ok, very cold-on occasions, but luckily I like fresh air.

I am now up to speed with the kindling as I collected the blanks from the man who has a machine to cut big cross sections. They sheeted my trailer, but not very well, so I have a lot of wet wood. I now need some very dry windy weather to put it out under cover. There would be about 40 nets of wood from the 20 boxes and feed bags I sent to be done, but because it is a machine it cuts in a fixed place which doesn't always get the most out of the piece of wood which the human eye see can how to do, but in my case the arm and chopper are not always coordinated with the eye, luckily I can still count 5 digits!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Sun Mar 10, 19 9:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Sounds as if you need some warm trousers then Gregotyn. The positioning of desks, work stations and tills at some places doesn't seem ideal for the people working there.

Although it has slowed down, we still have a gentle run of log sacks being ordered, but no doubt it will be charcoal soon. Luckily we have plenty to get us started in dumpy sacks, but have to get it bagged.

We also recommend that people get some of their logs in; ideally enough for a week in the house, then a couple of days by the fire. That way, any residual moisture dries out. We also recommend that they keep the top of the log pile covered but the sides open. Sadly, it is not too uncommon for people to leave their logs in either a damp shed or in a heap in the garden and then expect them to burn immediately from the pile.

Husband and son got to play with a flume made of half water pipe to get logs down a hill yesterday. I passed as I had a lot of odd jobs to do at home, including digging the last of the bed I am bringing back into circulation. Now done and ready for a raised bed to go on it.

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Mon Mar 11, 19 3:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Yesterday the weather threw everything but snow at us; high gusty winds, rain, hail, sleet and sun. Today is fairly strong breeze, but the forecast for the rest of the week looks as if we won't be doing much in the woods as virtually every day is at least partly strong gusty winds.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Tue Mar 12, 19 2:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

The kindling is still flying off the shelves-25 over the weekend-but I have it to replace now, with another set of reject pallets. My friends keep telling me to give up the job, but it is a good source of clean dry pallets, and my boss is keen that I keep the pallets down to a manageable level. I keep a few pallets for what we send out by lorry to other dealers in other parts of the country. Give or take there is usually a part that we want in the country available from other dealers for us when we are in a desperate.

We seem to be having your weather today, but without too much wet involved, but very gusty winds. I would not want to be in cutting trees today.

The trousers I wear MR, are fully lined, made by Hoggs of Fife. I find their trousers very good for warmth and hard wearing. I also have a few pairs of unlined from the same company which I use in the summer. In some ways the work position is not the best, but it is in the right place. I can see what is coming or going at a glance and also go in to help in the shop if needed. My problem is that I am nowhere near knowing, or understanding modern tractors. The revolution since the Fergy T20 is spectacular in so many ways. I am only glad that my 3 cylinder Fergy 35 starts well every time and I would know how to sort it most of the time if it didn't start, because they are so straight forward. How our fitters keep up with the new advances, I don't know, but it is a certainty that I couldn't begin to start.

Funny you mentioned the charcoal, I was wondering when you would need to get going, or if you have any in store to cater for the early users, but you appear to be sorted for them. I suggest to my stick users to put some each evening at the back of the room to be sure they are dry for the next day fire lighting.

I don't know wether I mentioned that a man who works in the timber cutters opposite where I work, gives me bags of wood containing planed timber in small pieces. And the lady I used to live next door to who runs 2 play groups, grabs me to make "things" for the children. I have just made a frame to go under a shrub in their outside garden. But out of the bits from "across the road", I am about to embark on cutting 6"x4" oblongs from some lovely planed wood he has given to me to use for anything. I have to cut 26 pieces in time for her to paint and decorate for Easter, for her little ones to give to their mothers. I constructed an outside little bungalow once, that was hard work fixing it to the ground, I deleted the "juice" of 3 fully charged big electric drills getting through the concrete, with only 4 holes!

2 days to go and my boss is back off holiday, which will hopefully make my life a bit easier!

Mistress Rose



Joined: 21 Jul 2011
Posts: 15539

PostPosted: Wed Mar 13, 19 8:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

I have a pair of Ram trousers for winter. They are partly waterproof as well, which makes them generally suitable for the woods. Fairly thorn proof as well, which is also a bonus.

The weather here was awful yesterday; high gusty winds and pouring with rain subsiding to steady rain. We went over to Southampton to get some cardboard boxes for shipping the charcoal, and we able to back right up to the door to get the flat packed boxes in the car. Luckily it had cleared over by the evening as we had a coppice group committee meeting, but the wind is up again now although dry and some sun.

Glad your kindling is still going well. Our log sacks have tailed off, but expect a few more orders coming in gently for the next few weeks. Then charcoal.

Jam Lady



Joined: 28 Dec 2006
Posts: 2501
Location: New Jersey, USA
PostPosted: Wed Mar 13, 19 7:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Much of the snow has melted, revealing snowdrops, winter aconites, and hellebores. I can again believe in spring.

gregotyn



Joined: 24 Jun 2010
Posts: 2201
Location: Llanfyllin area
PostPosted: Thu Mar 14, 19 2:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Windy and occasional rain showers, not much at all, but all that is stopping this afternoon being good is the wind, as a blue sky has appeared, I won't go any further in case there is a change due to my comments.
Do Ram make trousers for men MR?, if so are they generally available throughout the country? I would try a pair if they are good for you they should be very good for me as I am at least under cover!
I am trying to forget yesterday, I had a mishap with a piece of 6"x2" timber. I knew it went in the motor 'cos' I took it to my friend who didn't need it, so I put it in the van closed the door and it was not in quite the right place-as I closed the door it shunted the plank forwards into the wind screen. Luckily it didn't shatter, and I phoned for another one-next Tuesday morning. He has assured me that it will be ok and that it won't go all over as the glass is "special"; however I can disprove most theoretical laws.

Glad all seems to be getting better for you, Jam Lady. Our wind is not bad, and it is fairly low and no nasty gusts. Our snowdrops are over here for some reason they hit late January this time, sort of where it used to be before the weather had a mind of its own.
Not much else happening. My immediate boss is returning tomorrow having used all his holidays for the year-my allocation of holidays were over a few weeks back; 1st April will start the next years lot!

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