MJ's little flock

[MaryJanet]

Your Hollyhocks have inspired me to share some of my flowers.

White foxgloves. The cerise ones behind them are passed their best.
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Purple rhododendron
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I must have planted this Lobelia in the right place. I love this shade of blue.
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I used to grow blue lobelia from hanging baskets

The rhododendron and foxglove are gorgeous too

Have you ever grown gladioli?

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

While I'm in gardening mode....
Years ago, when I first got chooks, I wanted to try growing vegies without them being scratched up so I set up a series of tyres with different plantings in them. Early this year I realized they weren't doing as well as I'd hoped and that there wasn't a great deal of root room so decided to replace them with some raised garden beds.

I bought two that are 80cm (32") tall by 100cm (40") wide by 200cm (79") long. I didn't account for how much soil I would need and emptied two compost bins, most of the worm farm and many, many bags of cow manure/mushroom compost and soil mix into the first one. I transplanted my asparagus, chillis and blueberry bush this winter and they seem to have survived even though the soil has settled considerably.

We have been filling up the second garden bed with garden trimmings and logs (hugelkultur) but it is slow work with lots of gaps for the soil to fall through. Then I remembered all the cardboard left over from the kitchen renovation.

This is what the second garden bed looks like now after stuffing with boxes and jumping up and down on it.

Hopefully I can fill it enough to plant tomatoes before the end of summer.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

I used to grow blue lobelia from hanging baskets

The rhododendron and foxglove are gorgeous too

Have you ever grown gladioli?

Thank you. I'm very pleased with them. They self seeded from last year.

No, I've never tried gladioli. They always make me think of Dame Edna Everage.

I might have to give them a go. I wonder if they come in blue or purple?

Edit: Oooh, yes they do!

 

[MaryJanet]

Thank you. I'm very pleased with them. They self seeded from last year.

No, I've never tried gladioli. They always make me think of Dame Edna Everage.
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I might have to give them a go. I wonder if they come in blue or purple?

Edit: Oooh, yes they do!
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They come in all sorts of colours! I love them in spite of the cultural baggage they carry. They stand tall in vases and can be arranged with shorter stemmed flowers underneath them.

 

[RoyalChick]

Hi MJ. Thanks for asking. I'm just having trouble getting motivated lately.
I can just about manage yours and Ribh's threads but BYBob's thread has completely defeated me. Luckily I can get a BYBob fix and a Royal Chick fix on both your threads as well as keeping up with my Aussie chook friends.

My girls' favourite dust bathing spot is now under the "new" garden table in their run. They still prefer to shelter from the rain under the outside table or in the garden shed though. At least they aren't afraid of it anymore!
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Edwina is in the nesting box being broody.

That was a really good find! I am glad they are appreciating it.

 

[Aussie-Chookmum]

That was a really good find! I am glad they are appreciating it.

Yes, I'm pleased as punch with that table. I think the chooks could even perch on the horizontal bars underneath if they wanted to.

 

[rjohns39]

Good evening folks

 

[Marie2020]

Hello everyone

 

[Grammy60]

Good morning/evening MJ and everyone

I love all the beautiful flowers thank you for sharing.

Hello everyone

Hello Marie

 

[RoyalChick]

Yes, I'm pleased as punch with that table. I think the chooks could even perch on the horizontal bars underneath if they wanted to.
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I like the hanging option too looks like food maybe?