Last Post 602 days 21 hours ago
25 October 2011 11:35:49
Seedhead
Was in the shed this morning planting up a broken - off cutting of verbena bonariensis and also trying to save some seedsof same. this lead to thinking of saving seed from my Eringium "Picos Blue" which I have never been able to propogate from root cuttings. A barrowful of "stuff" that I had cut down last week still sat in the shed and I rooted about to find stems with seedheads of Picos Blue. To my surprise I found this one that seems to be sprouting!
Does this indicate that I should be sowing the seeds now or is it better to dry them and sow in spring? I have no experience of propogating this plant so would really appreciate any advice. Thanks.
22 October 2011 19:13:57
Primula secundiflora, several in bloom now!
What a depressing morning it was! Hard to motivate ones self to do anything indoors never mind out! A text from the sunny south of France did nothing to raise the spirits, but the thought of emigrating did enter the mind!
However, mid-afternoon brought an end to the rain and before 4pm the sun was shining! I got the coat on and went for a long walk along the seashore! Calm and quite mild, with a beautiful still tide gently lapping the gravel! A lone tern dived from a great height to catch it evening meal, a heron, with bedragled feathers, stood so still, with hunched shoulders and a beady eye, also waiting for supper; while a cormorant dried off on the rocks. Further along the shore and just too distant to identify without the binoculars, I noticed a flock of birds floating near the edge of the water; I couldnt say for sure but I'm fairly confident that the first of the Brent Geese have arrived!
I was a new person! Who in their right mind would want to be anywhere else!!:)
A couple of hours later I returned home and had a stroll around the garden. Still so much colour to enjoy! Life is so good!
15 October 2011 22:01:58
Azalea Pontica “Daviesii”
After a drab morning the afternoon and evening was glorious here and I made a bit more progress on the new border! Would love to have had more time but it was a very busy day with a lot going on! But well satisfied to have got a bit of gardening done. The way I see it is that any work done now lessens the work in spring.
Took this picture of "Daviesii" but the sun was really too bright for a good picture. If you care to look back to my May 18 Journal I had a picture of this Azalea in its spring colour. Just planted this year, it promises to be a good addition to the Outer Circle.
13 October 2011 19:53:10
Acer Palmatum 'Osakazuki'
After a lovely day like today, (even in the North-West!), no wonder we are all enjoying the Autumn colours!
This picture was taken the other day. Acer Palmatum "Osakazuki" is a great acer for a small area. Beautiful all year but especially striking in autumn.
After work this evening I was able to do another bit on my "no dig" area in the Lower Garden. It has been so wet there recently that I couldn't work on it so it was nice to get a dry day and a chance to do a little more. Lots still to do - but, as they say, Rome wasnt built in a day! Great feeling to have achieved even a little!
12 October 2011 22:28:53
Pagoda Bush
Bought this Enkianthus companulatus back in summer and am just delighted with its vivid autumn colours. It is planted in the small woodland area to the west side of the lower garden and it really lights up the spot!
12 October 2011 10:38:41
Sedum's final fling!
Walking around the garden this morning I was struck by some of the very vibrant autumn colours. It seems to me that some plants put a lot of effort into giving that last glorious display, just immediately before 'calling it a day'! :)
I just had to take a picture of this sedum in the Rockery yesterday. It is just at that stage of vivid colour and in a few days (especially if this wet weather continues) it will have gone darker and towards brown.
While on my walk this morning I notice the same thing in the wild grasses and hedgerows - so much to enjoy!
11 October 2011 14:45:58
Phygelius
Fran this is my Phylegius which has been in bloom since June and still giving good colour at the edge of part of the shrub border. It was cut down to ground level with the frost last winter but came up again quickly. By the way it is sometimes called Cape Fuchsia as it comes from the Cape of Africa.
11 October 2011 14:24:48
New seat!
Those of you who live in the 'sunny' south-east have no idea how terribly wet the weather has been, and continues to be, here in the north-west; the water is literally running in rivulets across the Lower Garden. Last night was another one of very heavy rain but this morning was dry for a few hours - and I made the most of it!
I had a new seat made for the garden back about a month ago but due to weather and other commitments I didnt get the area ready for it until this morning. Because it is beside the grass path of the Outer Circle and that path is edged with pieces of tree-trunk, I decided to edge the area of the seat in the same way. The seat faces west and gives a good view across the Lower Garden and will get all the evening sun (if there is any!).
The seat is made from pressure-treated fence posts and I treated it with a coat of wood preservative when I got it so hope it will last for a while.
04 October 2011 22:11:22
Sadly I didnt have any time for gardening today and not looking good for the rest of the week. But I did put up some pictures that were taken yesterday. It might give better idea of what I was working on yesterday in the Woodland area to the west side of the Lower Garden.
03 October 2011 23:23:40
Today's project!
I did say I'd report on progress made today so here goes.
By the time I got out to the garden rain was threatening but being of the determined type(!) I got the wellies and raingear on and got going! I wanted to plant my new Astilbe 'Sprite' which I bought at Kiftsgate Gardens while on holiday in the Cotswolds. I had divided it into 10 pieces and potted it up after I came home and the ten pieces had all grown and some even had roots coming out the bottom of the pot!
So first thing to do was prepare the ground.I want them to edge the grass path that has developed through my woodland area to the west of the Lower Garden. I had seen it planted as an edging in Kiftsgate and thought it looked well. By the time I was ready to plant the rain was pouring down but I kept going. Then it was time to plant in some Foxgloves that I had grown from seed - 7 of those went in. Rain had now stopped and I was on a roll!! So divided some Helleborus and planted those in the same area and also some seedlings. Also planted in two potentillas that, I think Hazel gave me at the Johnstown get together!
Next, I had to move a Tree Peony that was growing in the middle of the path. (You will understand that when it was planted no path had been envisaged! My garden just evolves!:)) Now there was a bare area in the grass path so some grass-seed needed to be sown. After all that I was just able to climb the stairs for a hot shower!!
It may not look like much at the moment but I cant wait to see what it will all be like when it grows up!!
03 October 2011 10:36:23
Thanks Conrad!
Day off! Went for walk and then tour of garden with the camera! (Will put up a new album when time permits) Now in to check the post and, for a change, an interesting envelope without windows!!!!
Conrad, your a star! Thanks so much for these Tiger Lily bulblets. Should I plant them up right away and in what kind of compost?
Its a beautiful morning so far, but some dark clouds around. But I have promised myself a day gardening and that is what I am going to do whatever the weather! Will report back later! Have a good day everyone!