Plantsmans Diaries 2021...Early May

There's some contributions from Barthelemys, Amanda and a pair of partridges this week. The weather is playing havoc with the industry, being cold and generally unsettled. However, things can only get better after a very trying time. There is actually a great shortage of some plants, many trees and a good many climbers, perennials and shrubs are in short supply...the latter are just a short term blip...but some tree species and varieties may take longer to get back to being generally easily available. Brexit, Covid (furlough) and the weather have all played a part. I'm not so confident we have seen the back of covid problems, I don't think the rush to get travelling again will help....and some have found ways to circumvent quarantine.....I guess the vaccine will help. I had my second Pfizer jab on Sunday night...not had a minutes problem with either other than a mildly sore arm. I suppose that's good fortune. Even had Flu and Pneumonia jabs this year, despite never having suffered from either.....what with tetanus again I feel like a f***ing pin cushion....
Hope everyone else is ok. Very best wishes....Malcolm

[@jkr2951]

Yes I'm still watching and loving every minute. My heart goes out to Clara and her kitty.

[@dornroeschengartenulrikekr6773]

Thank you again for an other interesting video. It looks so tidy and well at your nursery. It is such a hard work at this time of the year, and most of the customers did no tknow what gardeners hat to clean up , plant and move plants around the place all the time. You all have done a very good job. I`m so sorry for Claras pour cat and hope she will survive and be ok soon! Liebe Grüße aus Deutschland.

[@helenwilliamson7099]

Hello everyone, why are some people so cruel, hope your beautiful cat gets better soon Clara, another lovely poem Amanda, take care all of you. X 🥰💗🐈🐈

[@amandahodgson9637]

Thank you, Helen xxx💐💐

[@bfrommars]

Oh Clara, there are some nasty people out there! Sending love and good thoughts your way xx

[@ourfloridagarden4191]

Sending healing vibes to Loki. Hugs for Clara.

[@stampinghippo7157]

My heart goes out to Clara and her little cat. How is it possible that a human being is doing this cruel to an innocent kitten? I hope for a speedy recovery for Loki. We had frost until last Saturday and I´m holding back to get out some of my tender plants. Your nursery is packed with goodness in abundance, hopefully you will be sold out of bedding plants by the end of May. I did not realize that nurseries where hit by Brexit until I tried to order some of my beloved DA roses online. Now I know. Covid will not be over only because the majority of us is vaccinated and traveling will be the least important thing to do as I´m waiting for my first jab jet. Hope you all are doing well and have a good time. Best wishes, Hanni, who loved every single minute of this episode. Thanks for uploading.

[@badbooks476]

Clara, thank goodness Loki is on the mend, credit to your care, sounds a very contented purring cat with the protective collar. Karma will catch up with the nut job responsible.

[@lindadoran2052]

Oh my goodness - poor Clara - how can people do this????? Hope the little cat gets better soon

[@deirdrehickey2183]

Wonderful video and lots of info, so sorry about Clara’s cat. That is a disgraceful thing to do to a poor defenceless animal. 😡😡😡😡😡. I’m sure he will be better soon with all your love and attention. Sending you lots of love ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@TheDj4088]

So sorry to hear about Loki, there are a lot of sick people out there who do such things, fortunately there are also decent kind people such as Clara to help with the mess they make. Hope the little guy pulls through and the sicko is found and properly dealt with.

[@heidisider577]

How horrible about Loki... Clara, we all hope he recovers quickly! I can't believe someone could do that. Love watching your series & wish I could visit your gorgeous countryside soon! Love from New York State!

[@gabijones2445]

Prayers for Loki , and for Clara. Thank you for the video Malcolm. Good to see everyone has stayed well during this pandemic; especially as some of your customers like dropping their disgusting germ bombs all over the nursery. Glad Amanda is feeling better, and glad your shot didn't make you sick like she was from hers. Hopefully the weather will be better soon; we've had frost for the last three days, very strange Spring. Take care. (oh, I like Thomas's haircut, very "youthful").

[@PamsMountainGarden]

Oh, dear Clara! Loki will be fine, I’m sure. My dog Bean lost the same leg to cancer and hopped about happily and admirably afterwards. I am sorry that you have been forced to know the evil of the world. Amanda looks well recovered. How splendid. And I took a dive into why a mullet is called, well, a mullet. A bittersweet episode. XX

[@lindalilly1544]

Amanda lovely poem

[@amandahodgson9637]

Thank you! 💐💕

[@margaretsims4344]

Looks like everyone has been very busy with the Spring bedding. I much prefer the ‘nibs’ they are so much more interesting! I have been growing on the chicks from sempervivum, they are so easy to grow. Loving the sedums and alpines as well. Yayy hypertufa planting! thanks Malcolm! The finished trough looks amazing, everyone will be buying your hypertufa when the see them. Poor Clara and her lovely cat. There are some wicked people, how can they live with themselves. Best wishes for a speedy recovery ❤️‍🩹

[@margaretsims4344]

Beautiful poem Amanda.

[@amandahodgson9637]

Thank you, Margaret! Xxx

[@robindavis4843]

Love it! Thanks for always providing a giggle! The nursery looks wonderful

[@charmainepapworth9994]

Clara, my daughter is roughly your age and you remind me so much of her. You were so broken and low in this video but it shows what a beautiful caring and loving soul you are. Don't change. Loki is so lucky to have you caring for him/her.. In such a small village, someone must have an idea who did this. I hope the police catch them, at the very least they should pay your vet bill. I just haven't the words to express my disgust of the evil person who did this. Hope your cat recovers quickly. xxx

[@jayneneale1008]

Sorry to hear about your sad news Clara sending lot's of love your way hope your beautiful Loki gets better soon ❤

[@janebray9736]

Thankyou for another really enjoyable peep into the world of horticulture with nuggets of humour, poetry and nature. Clara, I was heartbroken to see Lokis injury. How anyone can do that to such a beautiful animal is beyond my comprehension. Love to you both.

[@badbooks476]

The nursery is bursting into life, both the plants and the sound of the bird life ( as you have pointed out before). Here’s to no more frosts !

[@alanbstard4]

lovely flowering cherry tree. Whole nursery looking good

[@Tom-rc7oy]

Always a joy to see what you all are up to. Clara, hope your cat gets better soon!

[@karlitobergkamp8082]

Sorry to hear about Loki Clara, one thing for sure is he’ll love you even more for being there for him 👍🏻 sadly trash always have to be the ones to do such cruel things.

[@lenaolivetti9366]

Wonderful video, very busy time of year for everyone.I hope the weather improves for you .

[@lucyb15]

it's too bad the labels aren't designed for decomposition. So much plastic! I do love a tidy greenhouse, very nice.

[@raymondcutler8795]

Thank you all again keep safe

[@kalayne6713]

Dear Clara, sending love and light to Loki and you.If there isn't a special place in Hell for people who hurt cats, I will make one when I get there! From a crazy old cat woman in Australia.🐱

[@backyardmechanic921]

Another great video, all the plants look lovely and the place is nice and tidy. I hope Clara's cat makes a full recovery. Who ever did it needs shooting themselves and why were they shooting in a churchyard? Take care and looking forward to the next video.

[@colinchurcher3312]

Great video, big huge hug to you Clara

[@lindab1458]

Clara - your little cat 😢 Just why? I really wish for Loki to heal quickly. What I wish for the perpetrator is not printable! Amanda - another great poem and chat. How you put up with Malcolm is admirable 😂

[@amandahodgson9637]

Thank you, Linda! He hasn’t lost the power to shock me yet but I’m working on it! 🤣😂💕

[@marshmenne8657]

A pleasure as always. Love to see that pollarded apple later in the season.

[@petercresswell5402]

Another enjoyable video, yep farmers lambing sheds just over the garden wall, and fields full of 'em so well used to wool everywhere. Plenty of eye catching treats for our next visit shown in the video. Dreadful incident with the poor cat, sadly plenty of village nutcases who think wrecklessly shooting stuff is fun (and I've my shotguns and do shoot stuff to eat) Taking a beating in poetry corner Malcolm, some savagely witty comments lol Thanks again for the video kept me entertained on a wet windy cold day in Shap. PS ending ... and you got your own back.

[@charmainepapworth9994]

Great Video. Thank you for posting! :-)

[@margarethughes3763]

How cruel some people are, what goes around comes around. You have been very busy and it shows.

[@mollie3244]

So I was chatting yesterday about blackthorn and we kind of, came to agree, blackthorn has pure white flowers and whitethorn has a bit of a pink blush. I wonder is this what you are calling may blossom? I'm dreading to hear what happened to Clara's pet. She looks like she needs a hug.

[@lenaolivetti9366]

So sorry about your cat Clara !!!!

[@hasupatel8981]

Thanks

[@cathilamoreux367]

Tell Clara that I am rooting for Loki and I hope by now the cat is well on the mend. Speaking of not seeing people (you mentioned Clara & Thomas), where is Liz?

[@pakownl]

Sorry about what happened to your cat, Clara. How is the Loki doing ?

[@cew9837]

Isn't the weather strange..making your working lives so much more difficult but apparently soon to be plunged into hot weather! Very strange. Cats are incredibly resilient but so shocking. Hope Loki's eye will be ok ..he'll be leaping about on 3 legs soon. We had similar in S London - someone torturing them, never caught. Dark side I guess. You need to be careful Malcolm - at one point I thought a customer was going to come and talk to you. Oh the horror! Look after yourselves - spring is on the way.

[@1958pobs]

Are you going to revisit the apple tree you showed us how to festoon last sept ? I would be very interested to see how it is looking, thank you 🙏

[@helenyoung8012]

I detest those labels. My local authority does not recycle them so they go to landfill. I end up keeping them for no reason apart from not wanting to put them in the bin.!!

[@mikesmith-yj3ih]

Malcolm your mind is so full of filth the same as ours that's why we go rooting before we turn into the powder.

[@barryr5049]

Hi Another heart video. . ? do you still have the allotment ?

[@twotales7337]

Thank you... appreciate all the videos and information. I would love to work with plants etc for a living but what kind of salary can you earn without owning a nursery?

[@crazyflowerlady1060]

Sadly evil is among us. That person may think he or she got away with their sinful deed, but God sees it and will not forget.

[@insanebilly]

Find it hard to understand why some people have no respect for the life of another creature.

[@shit4shore]

What’s your best advice on fern care?

[@mikesmith-yj3ih]

Do you do mail order please ?

[@lindadoran2052]

Do you produce your own compost?

[@eileentarrant9876]

Oh Clara sorry about your cat, some sick folk will do some evil stuff for fun . Thomas I didn’t recognise you at first , I thought it was some strange older man ,not the boy I remember 😆 glad your OK Amanda and the jab didn’t dampen your humour ,you certainly need it there .love your leopard covering .it might come in handy for other regions when this pandemics over (if ever) like supporting some Melons 🤣

[@plantsmanscorner128]

I fear a much more substantial support would be needed for Mandy’s melons Eileen🍈 🍈.........best wishes 👨‍🌾

[@amandahodgson9637]

Ah, Eileen, you just had to mention melons 🤣😂 I’ve a feeling that will become a long-running joke!! He needs very little encouragement to become out of control!! 🤣😂💕💐💐💐

[@amandahodgson9637]

Perhaps it would be adequate for your apricots, Malcolm?? 🤣😂

[@dorothyandrews8872]

Do you have a video where you make the Hypertufa sinks from scratch?

[@shanlynwebb]

My cat also got shot once and had the same leg amputated as Claras cat. My cat lived on another seven years with extra spoiling. I am so sad for Clara that this has happened to her puddy cat. I hope the person who shoots cats grows up mentally never does it again.

[@outdoors459]

Horrified to see your poor cat Clara, there's some really awful people around xx

[@mollie3244]

OMG the poor cat. What a prick. Clara, he'll be fine. Clearly he's getting all the TLC he needs but you poor honey. My daughter is the cat lover in this family but it is upsetting. What is wrong with some people?

[@fionasaunders7646]

Fionnah Saunders Zimbabwe So horrible to see animal cruelty, I hope your police and RSPCA will track down this perpetrator. So sorry Clara , keep your kitty in my prayers.

[@mikesmith-yj3ih]

Who are the owners of the place you work ?

[@jamesbell5319]

🤣

[@MultimediaIreland]

I can totally understand why some people can hate cats. This Spring, cats have killed a Mahonia, broke all the stems on a salvia, forced me to put cages around young Sambucus trees/shrubs. They dig up seed beds, pee and poop in borders, roll around on top of small plants. Also if you love wildlife gardening, cats are psychopaths that kill chicks and birds for fun. My own personal menace is a black and white tomcat that stands over 3 feet on two legs, but after my initial anger with him, I end up rubbing his belly, he's literally bigger than Malcolm's little dogs, but sees fuchsias as scratching boards, another plant I had to put a cage around while in young growth. As appalling as it is to shoot at a cat, they're no angels in the garden.