Happiness in my Greenhouse !

Under the trailing arial roots of Hylocereus undatus which I have yet to see in flower , a beautiful Epiphyllum crenatum is blooming . I bought this one many years ago from Mr Pilbeam  of Connoisseur  Cacti  in Kent .
  Many of my larger cacti have also come from Mr Pilbeam .

                       I pulled aside those arial roots to have a better look .

This one is Epiphyllum ackermannii  . I think they are the ones you most commonly see and are used in crossing to get  new varieties .
  There are so many lovely new varieties out there now and they are becoming more and more popular .

 I had quite forgotten all about  my Epies this year with all that's going on in the world right now . I,ve been so busy sowing my veg seeds, pricking out and potting on . It was a lovely surprise to suddenly be greeted by these beauties one morning .

  I will tidy them all up , after they have finished blooming and sort out cuttings to give to anyone who would like to try growing them .

                                       Epiphyllum var. Marilyn Monroe

 I bought her from a friend on Ebay . Beverley , if you're looking in , my friend , she's doing really well ! As you can see , in her lovely pink pot .
I wish I had asked a few more questions about her at the time .
  She is growing a bit differently to my other Epies . Some Epies like to grow quite  upright and others seem to like to scrabble about  .
   As you can see , she is trailing downwards quite dramatically . I think I will find a nice big hanging basket for her .
 Do you grow this Epiphyllum  var . Marilyn Monroe ? Can anyone tell me more about it ?
  I am really looking forward to seeing her lovely flowers !  Pink of course !

         This one is Epiphyllum var. Purple Delight  , one of my favourites !

                                               More still to come !

Happiness by my Back Door !

 I had temporarily hung up this nesting box on a screw by the back door some time over the winter , I hadn't  decided where the best  place for it to be was yet .
  With all that's going on in the world , I just forgot about it ...until just  now .
 I had taken a cup of tea outside and sat down at the picnic table , to enjoy a breath of  fresh air and relax ...when this happened !

                         Luckily I had my camera with me on the table .

                             Blue Tits are nesting and feeding their young !

We will have to be very quiet and careful as we use the backdoor from now on .

Meanwhile up in the greenhouse Epiphyllum var "Purple Delight " is putting on a show !

                                    It is one of my favourite Epies !

And in the potting shed .......

                                             Safe in the potting shed .

 Runner bean update -  The weather today is gloriously sunny and warm , gusty wind picking up every now and again . The forecast is for very cold air coming  down from the North .
    I had put up wind breaks and my young bean plants , which I had hardened off , probably would  have been o.k  , but listening to what other people are saying , using language like "Arctic Plume " and severe frost put the fear of God into me ,even though we rarely get a frost and this probably wont even reach the Lizard .
  Better safe than sorry .
 I had only just planted them out so it hasn't hurt them at all to take them up and pop them back into their pots .
    I gave them all a stick to wind around and I will plant them out again next week . 
 I sowed two Runner-bean seeds at each pole and marked the spot with a stone , so I don't disturb them when I replant .
                                     So either way , all shall be well !

The hedgerows are beautiful right now with Bluebells , Buttercups and Queen Anne's Lace , Pink Campion and Cuckoo-pint .

                                               Pink  Campion  Seline

                                                          Buttercup

                                                      Plantain

                                                      Cuckoo Pint

                                       I hope the sun is shining for you  !

A second sowing of Peas

 Mice ate my first direct sowing of peas . They ate the pea at the base and left the pea shoots scattered all around ....sigh !
                                           I,m going to try again .

 This time I,m going to try the "starting peas in a piece of old guttering " method I have not done this before  , so here goes !

 I found a piece of old guttering and covered the ends with clingfilm and a double layer of foil .

 I have sown the peas as you can see here and then covered them over  with a bit  more compost .

 I suspended the guttering from two loops of string hanging from two hooks above the workbench in the potting  shed . Gave them a watering in .

                            Hopefully the mice can't get to my Peas up here .
                                          I have left Benny in charge .