Rachel's Journal

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Finished the Annuals Border

31 May 2010 19:32:38

Finished the Annuals Border

Hurray!!! I have finished planting up my Annuals Border.

It took a few more plants and the final plant count is 555 plants. I have kept note of numbers this year so as I'll know how many annuals to grow next year. I could stick in a few more poor man's orchid on the far side but I'll hang onto them for the minute to see if they're needed more pressingly elsewhere.

The border is mostly in shades of pink and red with some white. It has two swathes of grasses - a wave of squirrel grass down the middle and two clumps of giant red millet. It has a row of browny sunflowers at the very back and then two other clumps of dark ones, near the back.

A close up of this photo is available in my May 2010 album but the plants are still small so look quite unimpressive yet. In the words of Alan Titchmarsh "Grow, You Buggers, Grow".

Here is what has made up those 555 plants...

No.Plants	Genus	Species	Variety
13	Helianthus	annuus	Earth Walker
10	Helianthus	annuus	Claret
72	Helychrysum	monstrosum	Summer Solstice
21	Coleus	blumei	Black Dragon
28	Petunia	grandiflora	Mirage White
6	Petunia	x hybrida	Strawberry Sundae
3	Ricinus	communis	Carmencita
41	Schizanthus	pinnatus
32	Zinnia	elegans	Envy Double
47	Hordeum	jubatum
18	Zinnia	elegans	Scarlet Flame
26	Callistephus	chinensis	Siam
48	Callistephus	chinensis	red
88	Cosmos	bipinnatus
48	Cosmos	bipinnatus	Rose
24	Cosmos	bipinnatus	Picotée
7	Orlaya	grandiflora
14	Pennisetum	glaucum	Purple Majesty
9	Schizanthus	pinnatus
555

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Jacinta 31 May 2010 19:35:59

Very impressive. Good job it wasn't 666, though.

fran m 31 May 2010 19:36:33

In one boarder....................don't happen often......speechless

Clara 31 May 2010 19:40:03

Great work done Rachel and for the next area how many ? looking forward to seeing all in colour.

fraoch 31 May 2010 19:57:12

Wow! That will be fantastic!

MartinB 31 May 2010 21:05:22

Great work but why bring the titchmarsh fellow into it ?

MartinB 31 May 2010 21:06:50

Rachel what is growing out of your greenhouse roof ?

Bernie B 31 May 2010 21:14:36

Wow that is some list. They will look stunning.

Myrtle 31 May 2010 22:13:04

I have been busy today trying to get the last of my annuals in but it pales in to insignifance in comparison! It will be a wonderful sight at the height of summer.

Keego 31 May 2010 22:49:33

Rachel this will be a spectacle - will be interisting to see how each plant gets on which ones you are plesed with and if they are any that you would not bother with again

Ladybird 31 May 2010 23:09:19

That will be some border.

Rachel 31 May 2010 23:31:15

It felt like 666 about noon today, Jacinta.

Great result so, Fran : )

There will be fewer annuals in the other areas, Clare. It is great to see the volume of plants diminish.

Martin, the small photo is deceptive. The larger one in the May 2010 album shows the truth. The bushes in the hedgerow behind are visible through the greenhouse windows.

Keego, I love to try new plants and will learn from this summer's plantings.

fran m 31 May 2010 23:37:24

:-0

Cloncaw 01 June 2010 00:28:16

Mind Boggling hard to fathom sowing and nuturing that number of plants mind you would like to have to go and buy them.

rosburke 01 June 2010 10:12:50

I thought my number of plants sown and germinated were good, but it pales in comparision to yours.

Pat 01 June 2010 10:30:54

I can't wait to see your garden, that will be a fantastic show. You have to let me know when to see it at its best and I will be over, I know I am inviting myself.

unagrant 01 June 2010 12:43:39

Wow Rachel, hats off to you. Think how much that would have cost you if you were to go out and buy them. Well done to you. I must be a relief to get it done.

Rachel 01 June 2010 17:43:52

Yes, Geraldine & Una, the cost of buying those plants would be prohibitive but it is not expensive if you grow everything from seed. And annuals aren't hard to grow from seed.

Pat, you are welcome any time. But to see my garden at it's best, I would recommend waiting another 2-3 weeks. I still have two very large beds unplanted, one of which still has plastic membrane on it.

Ternie 01 June 2010 18:30:56

well, fantastic, Rachel! wish you the same luck and the same energy with more planting! :))) well done indeed!

Rachel 01 June 2010 23:52:07

Thanks, everyone. I do hope it will be nice when everything grows up a little.

Pat 02 June 2010 14:06:03

Hi Rachel, I'll wait, mine is the same about 2/3 weeks to be"rght", and I will have lots of time. I am retiring (well semi) at the end of the month, so I'll give you a call then.

Rachel 02 June 2010 14:09:06

Good for you, Pat. Will you move to Wexford full time then?