I have not been far away

[Lyn and Malcolm]

I haven't posted for quite a while, but have been keeping a sneeky eye on what has been going on here.
The garden is asleep here, but come early January the propogator will be switched on for raising seeds, some of which will be on our plant stall for sale in July.
We have heard from the BBC that the filmi taken here has been edited, it is "Light hearted" and they are "Quite happy with it" still no date for transmission. Will be next Spring or early summer I guess. Hopefully not too near an open day, it's bad enough with the 200ish visitors, we won't be able to cope with too many more.

I really need to get some more descriptions to the plants on our IG web pages, but have been busy with work, and also distractions, like bird photography, see the link below.

Have also bought my first digital slr camera, a Nikon D90, so should get some good piccies of the new plants in the garden this coming season.

We haven't moved the garden from here in Dorset, to Devon, despite George saying we have !! Any chance of amending the entry on your Gardens page please.

Here is the link to our new bird photo slide show

http://www.digiscoping.lynandmalc.co.uk/slideshow/index.html

Malcolm

[Lynda A]

Just been having a quick look at your bird slideshow, very good.  I am useless at knowing one bird from another, and found it very informative.  Have often over the years tried to learn about identifying birds but never got very far ( always sidetracked)  Really enjoyed that

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Hello Lynda

We don't know all the bird names either, it gets complicated when you get juvenile or first winter colour on birds, they can look so different from the adult, as can the summer and winter colour.
We do go out on field trips with Birders, that do know the differences, they can even identify from the sound, or flight. I think we are getting too old to do that.

We have been to Spain quite a few times, on our own birding, our favourite area is Extremadura. We haven't been for about 18 months, as Lyn had an operation on her fingers to replace two arthritic joints, no problem said the consultant. But a year later she still cannot bend those two fingers (she could before the op). she also has some pain. And it is her right hand, and she is right handed. 
A second opinion with another surgeon, we were told it can be a problem with that operation, approx 1 in 5.
We have been to the hospital about 39 times since the op. Another operation has been offered, but could make it worse !! 

Glad you liked the pictures

Best Wishes 

Malcolm

[Lyn and Malcolm]

George
The link was here  http://www.ideasforgardens.com/pickctry/pickctry.html

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

I'll fix that tomorrow evening (Friday) Malcolm
Sorry about that.

[ideasguy]

Fixed that link, Malcolm, moved you back home 

Great to read about the news from the BBC. Be sure to keep us informaed when that is to be transmitted. Definitely NOT to be missed!

It distressing to read about the trouble Lyn has had with her fingers. Ive never heard anything like the number of visits to hospital youve made. Not a nice day out, and with your business and hobbies, I dont know how you manage to fit everything in!

I do visit your web site from time to time. Its a fantastic advertisement for my software, and I hope its working for you in promoting your fabulous garden. Any measure of the hits its getting?

[Lyn and Malcolm]

Thanks for the amendment to the link George.

Re the filming, I have an ever growing list of people that have expressed an interest in seeing the result, so will have lots of telephone and emails to make when we are told a date.

I don't have a counter on the "Plant guide" as visitors can come in to any of the 1000+ pages on the plant guide. But I can say that for instance, the last 10 hits to our homepage of our garden website, 5 of them came from the index page of our Plant guide (IG pro web pages)

The number of plants listed is still growing, Lyn has bought a "few" more recently Liliies, Louisiana Iris, more Phlox, to name a few. So will have to keep tabs on them when they flower to get them photographed for the Plant guide, miss them and have to wait another year.

The front garden has the Christmas lights strung around it now, something like 650 blue and white LED lights up and over the arches and in the Prunus tree. All seen by passing traffic up the busy main road. Suprising how many people comment on them, weeks later after they are taken down.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

The Christmas decorations must be a lovely sight. Boy, you are  a powerhouse of energy, Malcolm. Putting all those lights up, and OUTSIDE. Gosh its cold here tonight inside! I'm on my own for the weekend and the house just doesnt warm up the same when the heat has been off all day while I was at work.

Youve reminded me that I must meka a start to get our decorations up. Wouldtn that be a lovely surprise for my wife if all that was done for her return on Monday (over in Manchester - at Taras flat - three sisters meeting up - shopping with no pressure - need a jumbo for the return flight)
Thats great about the hits! Nice to see its feeding back to your main site. Thats a real treat for visitors!
I like the new plants! What varieties of Phlox, if its not too much trouble? Theres a wide range of species in the Genus, of very different heights and forms.

[Lyn and Malcolm]

So did you suprise your wife with the decorations up when she came home?

The Phlox Lyn recently bought are the tall jobs

Phlox paniculata Peppermint twist
.......................Junior Bouquet
.......................Junior dream

No pictures yet, will have to wait till next year for mine.

Malcolm

[ideasguy]

No, it would have been more shock than surprise, so I didnt want to risk that 
We will leave that fun until Wednesday evening or even the weekend (my plans) or tomorrow evening (probably my wifes plans!)
My wife read an article in a newspaper saying men hated disliked  putting up Christmas decorations. Confirmation! I dont mind TOO much. Its getting those blasted fairy lights to work! I used to go round the circuit with a meter to find faulty bulbs. Now its a quicker option - new lights please.
Dont get me wrong.  I absolutely love Christmas (once the light are up and working).


Ive been flat out on Bank Genie lately, and in spare time, adding the Sherwood plants and photos to the Master Database.

[NightHawk]

...... have been busy with work, and also distractions, like bird photography, see the link below.
http://www.digiscoping.lynandmalc.co.uk/slideshow/index.html

Malcolm

Just managed to get some time to have a good look at your 'birds'    That's another passion we seem to share.

You've got a good photographic set-up there too to get the super close-ups. 

Laurie.

P.S.  Malcolm, you may wish to re-post your link to your bird photos in the new section I've created for this purpose - Photography/Nature, so it doesn't get lost in this thread you started which contains other comments.