Rachel's Journal

I have tried a lot of different lavenders and in my opinion, munstead is the best. It never looks scraggy, and always keeps neat. And very reliable

I was just taking a look at your photos. You seem to have a very large garden with plenty of space to do all sorts of things, lucky you. You have a wonderful selection of plants. I wish I has the space for more. Witha small urban garden yiu have to be so selective.

Yes, Michael, I have a large garden and would not be so selective as you. If anyone gives me a plant, I will find a home for it. Of course, we all seek to improve and I do have areas where I am very selective. But my battle, for the last few years, has been to get the plants in - then later I can tweak.

A good start with the plants Rachel,is half the battle .

I know how you feel Rachel. Get them in and cover the ground, therefore smother out the weeds. Hopefully then you have less work and the gardeh prettier to look at. As I do this I seem to learn a little more about planting combinations; what I like and what the plants like. Evolution: sort of!

I was growing a Sambucus 'Black Lace' from a cutting I nicked and it was going fine last year but think the hard frost over Christmas did it in. I'm very sad. Did you ever propagate yours? I'm wondering if cuttings are the right way or if another way would be more suitable (like layering, maybe). Now that I found Cimicifuga at Bloom I don't feel so sad, but it still would've been nice to successfully grow 'Black Lace' from a nicked cutting :)

Hi Jools, sorry to hear about your Sambucus cutting. I've never tried that myself. No sign of my Cimifuga seeds germinating yet - they are in the fridge now. So, I have the Sambucus and you have the Cimicifuga!

Jools, the hubbie has just reminded me that he grew two common elder from cuttings. It was easy. Common Elder behaves much like a weed but I don't know if this applies to the varieties we'd be interested in growing. They hung around in pots for a few years. I dumped the last of them this spring - don't tell him!

That's why I chanced the 'Black Lace' cutting, since I knew Elder roots even if you just look at it hard enough. Ah well, guess I'll just have to suck it up and buy a 'Black Lace' plant. Now I'll have to figure out how to propagate the Cimicifuga so I can share it with you.

I wasn't hinting, Jools. Give your poor, newly purchased plant a good chance to establish and don't be cutting bits off it.