Germination & Clearance

[bunn]

Th first sweet pea has surfaced! It is Sweetie Purple.

Petunia and impatiens seedlings are looking strong and I have taken the lid off the propagator and turned off the heat for the day time. The sweet peas are not in the propagator, as they don't need the heat, in fact I'm wondering if I should pop them straight in the greenhouse, as I want them to be tough or they will probably get slugged.

We blitzed the strawberry patch and had a bonfire on Saturday, and many brambles died a firy death. Plenty left, but things are starting to look clearer.

The purple crocuses are just coming out (specially that excellent variety I got as a freeby off the front of a magazine, that spreads like wildfire), and there are now 4 mini iris in flower in the big blue pots by the greenhouse, with more in bud.

I fear the frogspawn may have had it: I don't think it's supposed to be frozen, or not for so long anyway. I'd take some into the house to raise, but I've done that before and they always get legs before you expect and end up all over the carpet...

At long last we've been to Bodmin Moor and it didn't rain. It has always rained when we've been before, but on Sun we did a fabulous walk past the Hurlers and around the Cheesewring: it didn't rain at all and we saw some ravens nesting, and some really spectacular views. The teashop in Minions is dog-friendly, so we went there for a cream tea afterwards. Mollydog had a fabulous time (well, we all did) but I think possibly she zoomed a bit too enthusiastically, as she's limping quite badly today.

Comments

[bunn.livejournal.com]

The tea room is indeed called 'Minions Tea Shop'. I don't remember noticing there being many other Minions services though.

We theorised that the Dark Lord probably lived in one of the Dark Satanic Mine buildings dotted around the moor.

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

That's so 19th century. Today's Dark Lords live in houses just like yours or mine. Why live in a glowering tower that positively shouts out, "Dark Lord here! Gather your heroic armies and come and smite me!" Why live in a dark ruin without central heating, when you can have all mod cons?

The only clues that normal mortals can see are such things as miniature cracks of doom in their back gardens, or a pair of leathery wings glimpsed hanging by the door. It's the "Despair" cheerily stitched into their colourful doormat. It's the fact that empty milk bottles are returned stained ever so slightly red. It's the fact that their housing estates have names like "The Chasms", while neighbouring estates stick to trees and flowers. It's the fact that the local shop does a roaring trade in Black Magic, but no-one ever buys any Milk Tray.

But their houses are just like yours and mine. Many hapless mortals have died because of this. Be warned, and, next time you go to Minions, tread carefully. Tread very, very carefully. Evil can lurk in the quaintest cottage, and, verily, even in a tea room.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

A Crack of Doom is surely central heating, even if it is in a Dark Tower? Free, convenient, and terribly 21st century and environmentally friendly...

[ladyofastolat.livejournal.com]

But how many Cracks of Doom have you come across that have a thermostat? Good for those winter months, but not no good during heatwaves or during wild parties.