Dave B's Blog - Winter here we come :-o

[Delboy]

Wow, looks like you're starting to get the hang of this tropical lark

Not too bad is he

Those are impressive Dave

[Kristen]

I so wish I had the talent to grow these plants

Me too. Mine are pathetic by comparison.

[GREVILLE]

Well, I do have at least a couple of small leaves open on my reduced collection Need to tap in on some of your inspiration, Dave

[Dave Brown]

Wow, looks like you're starting to get the hang of this tropical lark

The aroid bench may look good, but it hides the fact that I've lost almost 50% in the continued sunless, cold we had from November right up to second week of April.

Many have become dormant and may recover once 'summer proper' arrives, but the garden won't be full to brimming with aroids this year, like it was last.

I had loads of seed to sow, but with the continuing cold they just stayed in the packs. To be honest I had to decide if I wanted to give the heated space to seedlings, or to forcing existing plants back into growth. Existing plants won out.

Last night Aidan set the Chiminea going and we were outside in the freezing cold until 11pm. It was pushing it a bit expecting to feel toasty in 7C, but was pleasant enough with a fleece on

[RogerBacardy]

Nice one, that's something I'm aspiring to. To have palms that break the skyline, so you can admire their silhouettes at dusk.

At the moment I can only see mine at night with the uplighters on. Actually, how come you didn't seem to have your LEDs switched on in those evening pics?

[Tom2006]

What are you burning and does it chuck out much heat and smoke?

[fieldfest]

ive got a big tall gas patio heater, you can sit outside in the snow and still be warm, well the half that faces the heater can be warm

EDIT: though a chimnea is clearly more fun!

[Dave Brown]

Nice one, that's something I'm aspiring to. To have palms that break the skyline, so you can admire their silhouettes at dusk.

At the moment I can only see mine at night with the uplighters on. Actually, how come you didn't seem to have your LEDs switched on in those evening pics?

I haven't set them up yet for this year, and not sure it will work with Trunky_Trachycarpus as about 18ft tall, and the leaves are green. Chamaerops 'Argentea' is far better as only 8ft tall and silver undersides of the leaves reflects the colours better.

What are you burning and does it chuck out much heat and smoke?

I used just charcoal briquettes with firelighter gel on Sunday, and it took an age to give out any warmth, so Aidan went out and bought instant lighting 1Kg bags of lump wood to get it going quickly with the briquettes and juniper wood from the garden. The second day it was much hotter. We've also bought some super heat 'Blaze' solid smokeless fuel but not tried it yet.

There was a bit of smoke while starting, but once going burns more like a rocket stove. Obviously smokeless fuel should be smokeless.

[cordyman]

Wow, looks like you're starting to get the hang of this tropical lark

The aroid bench may look good, but it hides the fact that I've lost almost 50% in the continued sunless, cold we had from November right up to second week of April.

Many have become dormant and may recover once 'summer proper' arrives, but the garden won't be full to brimming with aroids this year, like it was last.

I had loads of seed to sow, but with the continuing cold they just stayed in the packs. To be honest I had to decide if I wanted to give the heated space to seedlings, or to forcing existing plants back into growth. Existing plants won out.

Last night Aidan set the Chiminea going and we were outside in the freezing cold until 11pm. It was pushing it a bit expecting to feel toasty in 7C, but was pleasant enough with a fleece on

Palm lined skyline! i'd never tire of that sunset , that looks a decent Chiminea with the grill to stop any decking tarnish from coals falling out, mine doesnt have any guard on it.



Was this one of the aroids that didnt make it? from OP it was instant monster look

http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/d ... =32339&t=1

[Kristen]

I used just charcoal briquettes with firelighter gel on Sunday, and it took an age to give out any warmth

Dunno if relevant, and you may have come across them?, but there are "cannisters" you can get which you light your charcoal in, and they form a chimney effect to get it burning quickly. The ones I have seen are like a big coffee mug, so once lit you can pour the burning charcoal into the BBQ / fire pit. Takes less than 10 minutes to get the briquettes burning briskly



http://www.keengardener.co.uk/weber-acc ... arter.html

[Dave Brown]

Palm lined skyline! i'd never tire of that sunset , that looks a decent Chiminea with the grill to stop any decking tarnish from coals falling out, mine doesnt have any guard on it.



Was this one of the aroids that didnt make it? from OP it was instant monster look

http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/d ... =32339&t=1

Don't be silly Cordy That's my Alocasia x calidora. It's grown 2 leaves this spring

Tested out the new office today There was a keen and strengthening ENE wind this afternoon but couldn't feel a breath of it

Then, come evening, it converts to the BBQ/Chiminea area It was very cold and almost down to 8C before we started, ended up at 5C

Then the uplit Chammy tonight

[GREVILLE]

Thanks for letting us join you, Dave.

I think it was much warmer where we were sitting

[RogerBacardy]

Thanks for posting the LED pics!

[CW01]

Out of interest Dave how's your Colocasia 'Sangria' getting on?

[cordyman]

Palm lined skyline! i'd never tire of that sunset , that looks a decent Chiminea with the grill to stop any decking tarnish from coals falling out, mine doesnt have any guard on it.



Was this one of the aroids that didnt make it? from OP it was instant monster look

http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/d ... =32339&t=1

Don't be silly Cordy That's my Alocasia x calidora. It's grown 2 leaves this spring

Tested out the new office today There was a keen and strengthening ENE wind this afternoon but couldn't feel a breath of it

2013-04-30-14-46-28 New Office.jpg

Then, come evening, it converts to the BBQ/Chiminea area It was very cold and almost down to 8C before we started, ended up at 5C

2013-04-30-21-26-28 New BBQ area.jpg

Then the uplit Chammy tonight

2013-04-30-21-25-28 Colourful Chammy.jpg

Its another world to me all these Alocasia, colcasia, aroids etc all a foreign language to me, but i'm slowly learning When I first joined this forum I didnt know what a Trachycarpus, t-rex, chammy, Phoenix canariensis_CIDP, Dicksonia antarctica etc was