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After a failed attempt at growing Echinacea last year (taken by the slugs), all three of our Echinacea Purpurea Magnus are coming into flower. They look really nice and love the droopyness.
Saw them at Wisley a few years ago and loved thee form.

There does seem to be a bit of dancing on the grave of Isen here which I'm not sure is warranted.
I'm sure once the frame builders children take to the Internet and research the good work their parents have done, reading some people calling your dad or mum a cunt on the Internet or throwing spurious allegations about them being criminals isn't cricket.
Not everyone has an impeccable comms style and people react in different ways to conflict and putting things right.

Croscosmia Lucifer is making it's yearly appearance and is having a great year. I've also started the backbreaking task of removing the path on the right hand side of the garden to double the size of the bed and improve growing conditions. The base of the path goes down about 40cm to had to dig down a long way to get it all out. Dug a full compost bins worth of compost in yesterday and removed a huge number of stones after about 10 rubble sacks last weekend . Given the rate at which I produce compost, it'll take a year before it's complete but will certainly be worth it. I'm going to replace the fence in the next 6 months.

Went to Hampton Court on Thursday. Got some interesting Alliums and this stunning blue dwarf Delphinium (diamond blue).
I found the Hampton Court show to be excellent value for money but it wasn't Chelsea (which I've only been to once a few years back). Shame Chelsea is so damn expensive.

Lol.
Admirably, they actually drive the length of the country in their own van at delivery time. Patience is required but ultimately worth the wait as everything is made to order.

They're mobilising in SE6 too.
Any one else notice the normal ants seem really spooked when the Flants are on the rise?

1) giles337
2) sohi
3) mig
4) TomSvoboda (and a backpack please!!!)
5) chasnotrobert
6) eejit
7) slothy
8) almac68
9) wildwest
10) Ramsaye
11) DethBeard
12) User67526 (just paid and echo backpack comments above)

Whichford Pottery. They have a robust looking range of pots and essentials such as Rhubarb forcers etc.

Too late to get on the list or does anyone wish to pullout (fnar) ?

Not sure if this fits better in the allotment thread but my UK made strawberry barrel turned up yesterday. A thing of beauty and comes with a 20 year frost proof guarantee. Tok late for this year unfortunately but as soon as we're done for frosts, this will be planted up.

If the name checks out, I think we're on a couple of local traffic related WhatsApp groups so I'll message you on there if you're OK with that for collection?

Sad to hear this Matt and your bike building story has all the elements of a Greek tragedy. Bit fucked up for all involved. As my eldest daughter and I plan to set off from Bilbao to Barcelona this summer on the tandem and the youngest is now starting her journey on the back, I salute you both for all that you've achieved.
Our journey was far from straight forward but ultimately taught me a lot about myself. Here we are on a trip in 2021 London France Belgium Netherlands London.
Speaking to a few friends who run businesses, it's the wild west out there for anyone trying to make a go of it.
No one is perfect. Not you, not I nor anyone commenting on this thread but ultimately you got out from behind the keyboard, gave it a go and created some awesome bikes along the way.

Really sad to see the demise of Isen and hope you're doing ok Matt and Caren.
A tough game to be in but you've ultimately been out there creating some wonderful bikes doing and creating things. Something to be proud of.
May you both rise again like a phoenix from the ashes.

I'm in SE6 and have about 8 ready to be rehomed (in pots grown from cuttings in the great strong air of the South Circular) and you'd be welcome to some if you decide replacement is what you want.

They're very easy to revitalise.
Probably a combination of poor soil and underwatering. I'd dig a ring arround them at the end of summer, remove all rocks and stones, add some homemade compost and watch them thrive next year.

My large black stemmed mop head Hydrangea has reached peak flowering today I think. It's now at about 5ft tall and looks pretty stunning when you arrive home! The lacecap beside it will be fully out in a few days too.

Getting everything ready for the kitchen to start is kind of like getting all the bits together for a bike build. A never ending stream of boxes etc. My one extravagance for the space - a KV1 tap.

Missed Download this year due to my eldest doing GCSEs however have already got my early bird ticket for next year. I don't care who is playing. 5 days in a field drinking Shipyard for breakfast is my idea of perfection.

Decided to go for a single stereo in ceiling speaker for the kitchen refresh for the ultimate party vibes. It's the all weather dual tweeter version in case humidity is an issue. Will cable it back to a cupboard under the stairs and connect to a amp / some sort of Google stick combo. Just need to get some 4 core speaker cable.

How's your Rhubarb going?
I needn't have worried that mine wouldn't get going as 2 of the freshly planted crowns are now going great guns.

Compost bin getting full again so need somewhere to empty it so wanted to remove the path down the right hand side of the garden and double the width of the current bed.
The plan was to remove 3 pavers at a time for the next 4 bin empties. Removed the first 3 today. That path is the only thing that's been done well on the property as it took 9 rubble sacks full of rubble till I got down to the clay. Huge ammount of effort in the baking sun. Will dig the compost in some time in the next few weeks.

Can't go wrong with a good set of Okatsune 103 secateurs or a good classic Haws watering can.

Those fox footprints on the fence?!? 🦊

Is it possible that the bricks are burning it also?
What direction are you facing?
Here's mine after a few months in the ground. Still on its way to the fence....

So it turns out the school bean I posted about in #3438 was a broad bean. We harvested one single bean last night however there's a few left on the plant. Was mega tasty. Not sure I've really eaten a meaningful no of broad beans in a fresh manner before. Was a bit fiddly to prepare. The success of the bean plant has given me fresh impetus to remove most of the paving in the back garden so I can grow more.