Last Post 1670 days 15 hours ago
28 October 2008 11:43:51
Arches
Finally got my three arches assembled and erected in the garden. They had lain beside the house, in kit form, for over a year I am ashamed to say.
The idea is for them to act like windows across the garden. They do this quite well, although the views are not so flowery at the moment!
They do immediately add height and interest even at this drab time of year.
27 October 2008 18:21:22
I divided my shasta daisy today. I haven't really done this kind of thing much before and lost my nerve half way through. Basically I dug it up, sliced it in half and replanted the two halves. Hope it does alright.
I also tackled my crocosmia Lucifer. I have a big mound of it by my cherry tree and they flop over every time they gain height. I chipped some bulbs from around the edge of the pile and the top of the mound. The bulbs have multiplied one on top of eachother so the top ones aren't even under soil! I wonder is this normal. Anyway I transplanted the ones I dug up. As I recall they tolerate quite a bit of abuse and still flower!
24 October 2008 17:02:28
Buxus
I potted up the six tiny buxus I recently bought. They're very small but they will grow. I just need to pay attention to watering.
My existing buxus-in-pots suffered badly this summer and are now yellowish. I hope they will revive through careful watering next year and a replenishment of compost in spring!
Planted the last of my alliums. This is my first year buying alliums and I did get some of the extra large ones, despite the cost. I am really looking forward to seeing how they do in late spring.
17 October 2008 15:09:16
Persicaria
I love when the persicaria on my hill turns this deep red colour.
Does anyone know how easy persicaria is to root. I do have a bare hill, which I've just weeded, and I would love to spread this stuff all over it but I have no greenhouse. It seems to root easily. Could I dig up a bit and transplant it?
17 October 2008 08:48:38
Hyacinth
My hyacinth have just sprouted so I've taken them out from under the stairs.
Last year I had great success with a hyacinth-in-a-glass kit, which required no soil - just water. The kids loved watching the roots grow.
This year I have used earthenware, which isn't the best idea, but lets see how they go.
I planted all white hyacinth - me, I can do posh!
15 October 2008 17:39:39
Asters
My asters are just going over now. The colours are quite vibrant - just wish I had a bit of sun to pick them out.
The 90cm Aster is "Patricia Ballard".
15 October 2008 13:34:39
Nerines
Very pleased that my nerine bulbs flowered this year.
They were bought and planted in March this year.
Must buy more of these next spring.
14 October 2008 11:06:10
Half Planted
It's raining today but I am smug because I levelled and planted my newly dug border extention yesterday.
The tree is a Prunus Serrula (with the pretty bark) and I have a second one to be planted in the border exactly opposite the first one. I just didn't have the heart to dig up my sweet pea yesterday to make space for the tree opposite!
I planted an astelia (banksii) at the end of the border and, when this grows really big, I will remove the heuchera which are now planted near it. I edged the border with bergenia. This is my star plant for 2008 - can't get enough of them!
Obviously there is more planting to do but that is all I have for the minute.
12 October 2008 21:04:05
New Border
Finished digging - al last!
Found several large flat stones in the border, which have been commondeered for my dry-stone-wall (no laughing at my wall!)
Didn't have the energy to start levelling etc. Tomorrow is another day!
Also, painted the wooden benches and the mini bridge.
08 October 2008 18:05:01
New Border
It's about half dug now.
Surprise, surprise - plenty of stones.
I'm only going to dig one spade deep.
04 October 2008 20:50:49
Sweet Pea
I picked what is probably the last of my Sweet Pea today.
They are so lovely and sweetly fragrant.
I must grow this variety again next year.
Finished removing the grass from the border extension and started the actual digging.
01 October 2008 15:44:24
Extending the Border
I finally took courage today and started the work of extending the border in the west garden.
I've never been satisfied with the view from the kitchen patio doors - it falls short of the original intention. I also need a lot more height and plants in this part of the garden as this is where we mainly sit.
I placed the hose to make the outline of the new border edge and cut the grass along that line. I only got as far as taking out one row of sods but at least now I can see how it will eventually look.
Hope the weather holds!