CLUES ACROSS 6 Short poem (3) 8 Previously owned (6-4) 9 Flowing out (3) 11 Dismiss (4, 3) 13 For rent (2, 3) 14 Mannerism (5) 15 Boxing category (13) 16 Calculate (5) 18 Beautiful woman (5) 19 Hi-fi speaker (7) 20 Stall (3) 23 Suppression (10) 2 Colouring (3)
CLUES DOWN 1 Residue (3) 2 Drinks chiller (3) 3 Extra page (5) 4 Popular pressed curds (7, 6)
5 Informer (5) 7 Gently blot (3, 7) 10 Signifi cant (10) 11 Nautical instrument (7) 12 Film preview (7)
17 Woollen cloth (5) 18 Soft fruit (5) 21 Timid (3) 22 Go for (3)
The Wonder of Window Boxes
Window boxes can bring a touch of glamour to any window sill and provide everyone with the opportunity of growing fl owers, veg and herbs outdoors, without the need for a garden.
When planting up your window box, there are a few things you need to bear in mind. A window-box looks best if it fi ts as exactly as possible to the size of the window and whatever type or style you use, make sure it is securely anchored. Ensure your container has drainage holes, and the same goes for any plastic liner you are using (important for wooden window boxes as liners protect against rotting or warping due to prolonged contact with wet soil).
Plants will use up the limited nutrients in compost quite quickly, so mix slow-release fertiliser granules into the compost when planting – this will gradually release nutrients throughout the growing season for a brilliant display.
Make sure that your window boxes are easily accessible from either side. They will need frequent watering and tending, especially in the summer months, so it’s important they are easy to reach. To stop your window boxes drying out quickly, water them regularly and consider incorporating water- retaining gel into your planting medium. Boxes that seem to be overfl owing with fl owers provide a more beautiful and natural look so go for cascading plants to soften edges, and plant fl owers close together so that they appear to be bursting with foliage. For a suitably lush effect you need plenty of leaf so include at least one good foliage variety in each plant mix.
Annuals and tender perennials such as sun loving petunias, lobelia, fragrant nicotiana and night scented stocks usually grow for a year before being discarded so they don’t require much root space.
Half-hardy
perennials, such as geraniums, are perfectly at home growing in containers and, if you deadhead regularly, they’ll provide continuous blooms for months. If your kitchen window box is in the sun, then you can grow a variety of edible plants such as dwarf tomatoes, lettuce and peppers, as well as herbs like thyme, chives, parsley, and sage.
Many of us will have some, if not all, windowsills that are in shade for the best part of the day so shade lovers such as ivy, hart’s tongue and ferns are a good choice. The beauty of window boxes is that with a mixture of perennial and annual plants you can have a seasonal makeover to keep everything looking fresh. Summer planting can include french marigolds, begonias, busy lizzies, and fuschias with trailing sweet peas or lobelia; for winter selections try combining dwarf skimmia japonica, hellebores, cyclamen and winter heather. If pots and containers are just part of your outside space then here are some gardening tips for this month from the RHS (Royal Horticultural Society) … • Plant out seedlings and young plants • Watering and weeding
• Start spraying roses to stop black spot and mildew • Fast growing hedges will need a trim • Plant hanging baskets and containers • Plant salad leaves seeds • Tie up climbers
• Feed spring bulbs for next year • Plant out tomatoes • Mow the lawn
National Garden Gift Vouchers can be bought and redeemed at over 2,000 outlets in the UK, with more than 90,000 garden plants and products on offer. Visit
www.thevouchergarden.co.uk to view details of all the outlets that sell and accept them or call 0870 2408237 for more information. You can also buy them online.
24 - Friday 11th May 2018 - Cardiff & South Wales Advertiser
Horoscope By Quinn
ARIES (March 21st to April 19th) Planning everything well in advance is your key to success. Don’t be surprised if you are the target for some unfair criticism. Just make sure it is unfair. Those who count should be giving wholehearted approval and that is all that should matter. Money aff airs are looking up for once and a small cash bonus could be on its way. You really ought to treat yourself to something luxurious.
TAURUS (April 20th to May 20th) Very busy times at home are ahead. There are tons of things that need catching up on. Fortunately there are few problems at work that take your attention so you should be able to put all your energy into the jobs in hand. There are signs of a romantic attachment coming to the fore at the weekend. This could involve either you or someone very close. If you are worried on this score, don’t be, it is a passing phase.
GEMINI (May 21st to June 21st) Emotionally now you are torn between two courses. Businesswise there will be few problems and things should tick over nicely. Financially there are several points you should watch because over- spending is a great temptation. It is the social side of things that really will give you cause for alarm. If you don’t reorganise your activities in this direction, you are going to get into an awful muddle.
CANCER (June 22nd to July 22nd)
All work and no play is the message for you this coming couple of weeks. You have so much to do you will hardly have time to breathe. Your nearest and dearest is being somewhat diffi cult just now but really this is your fault because you have been a little up in the clouds lately. Give them their due, they have stood by you whilst you were tied up elsewhere so it is time for you to show just a little appreciation, the result of which could lead to an exciting outing.
LEO (July 23rd to August 22nd)
The coming couple of weeks you should be content to take a back seat and let the demands of others take priority. Those with whom you are in partnership or closely involved at work are determined to go ahead with a plan you do not approve of. There is a lot of work in the following week so you would be best advised to let them get on with it whilst you get on with all the routine business that must always be attended to.
VIRGO (August 23rd to September 22nd) This is very much a fi nancial fortnight. Your total commitments must be closely calculated before you decide to commit yourself to anything. It looks very much as though too many demands are being made on limited resources and there is only one way that can end. If you tot it all up carefully and re-align your way of spending, you should fi nd it balances properly and by then you won’t need what you were going to buy in the fi rst place.
LIBRA (September 23rd to October 23rd) Right now you should be looking at plans for the future. The time has surely come when you should be trying to make provision for your later years. You do stand to have a little bother with authority towards next weekend and you must watch your tendency to speak your mind without thinking. You could get the off er of a spot of unexpected travel, take it if you do, and enjoy yourself.
SCORPIO (October 24th to November 22nd) Things are changing rapidly at work and all may not be as you would wish it. Change always seems a little painful whilst it is in progress so you must exercise patience in the extreme and just stick with it till the fi nal reorganisation has been completed. There is a new place for you in the scheme of things and before you say ‘no’ to any proposition, look very closely at the implications. You might end up better off than you fi rst thought.
SAGITTARIUS (November 23rd to December 21st) A busy time ahead this with all sorts of things going on around you. Don’t be tempted to overspend on entertainment though, rather let others spend on you. A work project which has involved lots of time and eff ort is about to come to fruition. The end result may not be quite what you expected or planned, but never mind, it will all work out for the best, and could, strangely, just give you a little profi t at the end of the day.
CAPRICORN (December 22nd to January 20th) You might be feeling a touch under the weather just now and a confusing time work-wise will certainly not help. Seek the company of friends and close relatives to cheer you up and lighten your outlook on life in general. Towards the end of next week, your partner might have some startling news for you, so be prepared for a shock. It’s not all bad though. In fact the majority of what is told to you, will make you feel quite chirpy.
AQUARIUS (January 21st to February 19th) There are some major changes on the way and you are going to have to make some pretty big decisions, all of which will aff ect your future and that of your partner. There is some confl ict in your mind about the course of action you should be taking, however only you can decide, so it’s no use asking anyone for advice. Just follow your instinct, you will discover it to be the best option on this occasion.
PISCES (February 20th to March 20th) You have a great urge to spend money unnecessarily right now. It is essential you try to curb this. You are going to need all your resources quite soon. Work is going quite well but it would be better if you restricted your contact with fellow workers to purely business ones. There is a surprising change in the offi ng and you should be remote from all the attendant side issues. Family and friends are the only safe companions just now.
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ACROSS: 6) Ode, 8) Second-hand, 9) Ebb, 11) Send out, 13) To let, 14) Trait, 15) Featherweight, 16) Count, 18) Belle, 19) Tweeter, 20) Sty, 23) Censorship, 24) Dye. DOWN: 1) Ash, 2) Ice, 3) Inset, 4) Cheddar cheese, 5) Snout, 7) Dab lightly, 10) Noteworthy, 11) Sextant, 12) Trailer, 17) Tweed, 18) Berry, 21) Shy, 22) Opt.
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