h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

That sounds like the perfect way to spend christmas. If i did'nt have the grandkids and such, i would prefer to spend the day on my own

My daughter and grandson both had bad colds, which they are getting over now. As for me, my health is poo at the moment. The arthritis has been the worst i've ever known it. I got some new super strength painkillers from the doctor today, which is all they can do untill i see the specialist again in March. I'm also undergoing tests to see if i have a heart condition, i'm having an angiogram in a couple of weeks time

I'm not sure what you can do to get the water to penetrate the soil. If the soil is realy flat, like it's been patted down, that would stop any water from penetrating. There is one thing that you could try, it worked for me in a very dry area of my garden. It does require a bit of work though. You need to get hold of some bark chips or mulch of some kind to layer over the soil. Before you put the mulch on, put two layers of newspaper over the soil, this will help keep the moisture in and allow the water time to get into the soil instead of running away. Put the mulch over the top over the paper and water if possible. You should find this will do the job nicely.

What I've got here is lovely loose porous soil, all dug over carefully so as not to turn it into airborne dust. The water just pools on the surface in some parts of the garden like water on a freshly polished table... Has the soil been baked, maybe? It's possible I suppose. I might have to get some nice commercial soil mix with lots of organic material and dig it in. And mulch on top, yes. Lots of it. I'm rather fond of pea-straw in that regard, even if I do end up with peas in odd places.

Anyway, there's something to be said for drought-tolerant plants.

The nursery is selling flannel flowers again. I didn't dare go down that path again.

Now. Painkillers, angiograms, specialists - that puts my petty little problems into perspective. Hang in there...

It does sound as if the soil has been baked and mulching and some new soil will help.
I once put a large bag of compost im my shed, which was not the best place for it. It dried out so much that it did'nt matter what i did it would'nt soak up any water. I had to throw it away.

I would have been tempted to buy that flannel flower, even though it would have most likely been dead inside a week. I wonder if the staff at that nursery would have any useful tips on how to keep them alive?

I noticed the first bulbs starting to poke their heads above the ground yesterday. I don't think they will be too impressed by the arctic conditions we are to have tomorrow I must go out and put some fleece on my scilla peruviana's and an Arctotis (sp) which should have died long ago, but seems to have survived.

I'm not sure if the (young, spotty, potentially gormless) staff at that nursery would have any more useful information on flannel flowers other than what's written on the plant's label. The boss might have a clue, but he doesn't seem to be around much at this time of year. Oh well. I think I need to read up on the subject myself, even at the risk of becoming slightly obsessive. Maybe next year... If I do get another one I think it'll be a pot specimen rather than a garden-bed specimen. This goes against the grain, but it might be the only hope.

I don't envy you your arctic conditions. Today was cold for this time of year - about 20C at the most - and that's as cold as I want things just at the moment.

I recieved a seed catalogue today, full of interesting and unusual seeds to buy. I have marked one or two that interest me, one of them is the Flannel flower......I know i should give up on it, but maybe the seed i had before was no good. This is a different company so it might be better seed, i might still have the same failure though.

It has been freezing all day, the frost stayed around in parts and is probably getting thicker again as it's dark out.

Happy New year to you and i hope it's a good one for you

2009 is quite pleasant so far. I hope you find the same level of enjoyment in a couple of hours' time.

It's a bright sunny day here - currently 16C, heading for 26C - lovely, really, except that I'd prefer some rain. I'll never complain about rain again once all of this drought business is over.

Good luck with flannel flowers - as always... I will, of course, watch with interest.

I heard loads of fireworks at midnight, they seemed to go on for ages. I did'nt bother to get out of bed to look at them though.
I would like to have temperatures of 16C it's around 3C here and won't get much above that today.
On the bright side though, the Fieldfares are gathering in huge numbers, in the tree at the side of my garden. I like to watch them and the Pheasant which is also a regular visitor this time of year.

I'd forgotten about the pheasant. It's good to know it's still around, and not just someone's memory of a lunch.

The downside of the good weather here is the hayfever and other allergy-type stuff that comes with it. I could be outside today finishing the weeding, but I think I need to give the sinuses the day off.

On the bright side, I've seen a bit of garden I can redevelop. There's a big plastic tub with a pelargonium in it, sitting on the flowerbed in the laundry courtyard. That's where it was put by the last residents. I left it for a while because the plant seemed happy, but I think it's on its last legs (roots?) now... So I have a couple of square metres of garden to play with. This'll keep me entertained for a while, even before I start digging.

Oooh, a bit of spare garden is always good.
Any ideas what you would like to plant in it?
As much as i would love to be in my garden doing things, i physically can't right now, stupid arthritis!
I am going to take a walk out today, just because i can.

I sprawled on the couch all day today, just because I could. Does this balance out your deliberate healthy activity?

I have no idea what I'll plant in the new patch of ground. I think the usual principles will apply - drought-tolerant and generally non-fussy, and not something that needs regular pruning. Probably a native plant or two of some variety. Or maybe a pomegranate. H'mmm. I'll be thinking about this for a while.

I would'nt say my activity was deliberate, more necessary. If i lounge about all day, my joints sieze up and it's more painful to get moving again

The Callistemon i bought last year is doing very well, it put on alot of growth and is'nt at all phased by the odd frost I did make a point of planting it in the warmest part of the garden, which has clearly helped.

Callistemons are pretty well indestructible, if they're in the right place to start with. It sounds like yours will be there permanently. And remember, it can be pruned back as hard as you like, and it'll spring back bushier than you'd expect.

I should have been outside today doing some weeding and general tidying, but I decided to sit down and read for a while first. I woke up some hours later. So much for gardening. But then, I did have a monstruous migraine overnight so my brain probably needed to switch off for a while.

I'm hoping it will reach huge proportions, though i will trim if regularly so it keeps a reasonable shape.

Sorry to hear about the migrane, i had one earlier in the week and they do take a day or so to get over. I've found that a dab of menthal oil rubbed gently on both temples really helps.

Thanks for the tip about the oil - I'll bear that in mind... There must be some at the chemist's. I'll probably be going there tomorrow in search of a new antihistamine; the ones I've been using for a couple of seasons don't seem to be doing what they should any more. It must be time to try something else for a while.

Today has been exhausting. My first day as an actual boss. I'd like to just loll here for a few hours, but I'd better go and water the garden when the legal period comes around. It's dedication, of a sort, I suppose.

Oooh, so how are you finding being a boss? Are you a nice boss or a grumpy one?

I returned to work yesterday, in the snow aswell! It is absolutely freezing here and not looking to improve anytime soon.

I'm a disorganised, distracted boss. I'm hoping to become a thoroughly eccentric boss in time, of the sort who doesn't care how the work gets done, as long as it does in fact get done.

At least I don't have to do any of this in the snow. The stuff's an occasional novelty here, rather than something one has to contend with in any detail. What sort of business can you do in weather like that?

It is, of course, really quite warm here. There's a cockatoo in the birdbath, oblivious to the fact that he doesn't actually fit in it. He looks absurd. Strangely, I think he wouldn't mind if he knew this. They're fun birds to have around, even if they are loud and destructive.

It's comforting to know you won't turn into a power crazy tyrant, that takes alot of pleasure from humiliating the staff. The same cannot be said about my boss He has some very strange ideas about his staff and how to treat them, he has no pr skill at all.

This snow stuff is a real pain, two inches of it and this country grinds to a halt Theres little point in me being at work while this arctic weather is around, we're not getting any customers. I would much rather be where you are and enjoying the warmth and watching a cockatoo enjoying a bath

Today's weather wasn't the best. It started clear and sunny and warm, became stinking hot (37C) by lunchtime, then became overcast and a bit sticky. Then the winds came in. They brought dust with them. Walking home from the bus stop I felt like I was getting sandblasted. Right now, it's reasonable to say the weather is 'filthy'. And I'll have to go and water the new plantings soon. *sigh* It really is a chore on a day like this, but I can't let the poor little plants down, can I?

I wish I could suggest some useful technique for handling your boss. Unfortunately, all that really comes to mind is a small potted cactus in his trousers. That probably wouldn't be all that constructive, and the cactus would need counselling afterwards.

Oh i don't like the sound of the dust, that must settle just about everywhere, not to mention getting in your eyes, hair and skin.

You know, i can't think of a plant i dislike enough to inflict on my boss, though a Rubus Cockburnianus comes close

What a splendid choice!

Yes, the dust is a problem, especially for anyone with breathing difficulties. I count myself lucky that I only have hayfever. On the bright side, though, the dust will be watered in next time there's rain, and it's probably full of all sorts of trace elements and things as it will have blown off someone's farm...

The weather's cooled down a bit now; I'm glad to see I didn't lose any of the new plantings during the hot days. They might all survive the summer.