Month: October 2014

I have always been led to believe that Nerines do NOT like root disturbance.

However, after clearing my Dad’s garden on the August Bank Holiday Weekend, I lifted lots of them from his front and transferred them to my own garden. I immediately realised that they were not going to suffer from this disturbance. They are now in full flower here. I should have planted them in a big clump. But space was a bit limited so can’t take a photo of them all in one spot.

I was delighted that I had the foresight to lift them before his garden was basically levelled. And even better that I now have a permanent reminder of Dad, who encouraged my love for the garden from as far back as when I was knee-high to a grasshopper. Looking forward to all his lovely tulips flowering come springtime.

A mishap early in the year, made me believe that I would not see this lovely plant in flower this year. I was delighted to see a flower bud on it a week ago, even happier when I saw the flower open this morning, happy days.

Photo not the best as the light was poor this morning.

of the hardship involved in putting up the new photo album October 2014. Fist I had it half done and then pressed wrong button and it repeated all the picturesand then had to redo it all and just when that was done-power cut short cicuited the modem. Started again, again doubled pictures, tried to write captions and delete the doubles, wondered should i really show elizabeth’s corner in its present emascerated state. (Lot of Strimming to get it back from encroaching grass, ivy etc,) The pictures acted up and thee were lots of blanks. HOWZANEVER! Its done and Elizabeth will be most merciful…I hope!!!! and the quality of the picyures aint at all great but it might just give a hint of the Scrub at this start of October and anyway it is ‘Different!’ as one bewildered guest who was expecting pretty flower displays managed to stutter out! Anyway I hope some people get some enjoyment out of it. Phew Id rather shift rocks any day!

I love my Grasses, I’m sure that will come as a big surprise to some of you LOL

You have all surpported and encouraged me along the way with my grass bed. I doesn’t work I’m afraid. The area is simply not big enough to gain the effect that I wished for. So I am taking out some of the grasses and will be replacing them with some Praire planting and see how that mix works.

I’ve no regrets about this trial grass bed, I’ve loved it every day, but it’s just simply to small a area and a change of direction is required.

That’s really what gardening is all about at the end of the day after all. Watch this space 😉

I was gutted last year when this plant broke in the wind on me, at the time it well over 2m. So I was planning on that not happening again. But over the last few months the more I looked at it the more I like it as a small plant. When the plant gets really tall it losses it’s lower leaves and bottom foliage does not look great.

So it will be cut down later on and I’ll keep it for what it is, a fantastic foliage and architural plant.

Strange title for a journal.

This was a topic that was discussed at the couse last Saturday. Full topic was ”Dirty plants or keeping brown out of the garden’.

The discussion was about plants that don’t weather well, and end up looking dirty. While some plants look great with their seed heads left on, others don’t and your better off getting them cut back.

After todays rain these plants will be easier to spot, because they always look at their worst when wet.

One good example of a ‘dirty plant’ would be Sanguisorba pink giant. It does not look great when it’s gone over but even worse when it’s wet. This is plant I always cut back as soon as it’s gone over.

Have look tomorrow and see what is really looking bad and keep they dirty browns out of your garden.

Saying this I would not be without these plants, ever 😉

This morning, before the rain, I went out and dug up my begonias from the garden. Most of them are house plants so they wouldn’t do well in the wet. All were looking really well and have increased a good bit since planting.

I also moved the tuberous begonias out of the rain – time to let them die back for winter storage.

The knitted socks came off my trees about a week ago too.

It’s not yet time to prepare for winter but it is time to take action against the wet.

And now it’s bucketing down!

I got to thinking what was my favourite begonia this year and, much to my surprise, it’s a complete hands down for Begonia sutherlandii.

This display was grown from bulbils sent to me last autumn and they are planted in a clay bowl. I can honestly say that they never caused me one bit of work all summer. And look at the fabulous display they’re still giving! I did water and feed but there was no deadheading or tidying or fussing to do.

I hope to use more Begonia sutherlandii going forward.

A little toad lily I bought at Bloom this year has been flowering really well in the past few weeks. I have never had one so wasn’t really sure when the flowers would appear, and in fact  thought I missed them while I was away during the summer, so it was great to see them alll start to open in late August, September.

It is still in its pot however, and I will need to plant it out. I bought it with a spot in mind, but after leaving the pot on that spot for a few days, I noticed that snails and slugs were really making a feast of it, and thought that if I planted it out it would be gone in a matter of days!

If anybody has them in their garden, have you noticed them being very vulnerable to snails and slugs? I’m wondering now if I should keep it in a pot rather than plant it in the ground for next year. 

…. wonderful summer, you were amazing and we’ll miss you. But you’ll never be forgotten. We’ll be talking about you for years! 

Not much more to say after reading Hazel’s lovely journal. A great visit in a garden that this country can be so proud of. 

Thanks for the great company folks. 

Really needed a good day out.

Wanted to post all the photos, but I was strong LOL Enjoy them.

Another little bargain from Dealz, Helenium ‘Helena Red’ has just opened up. Surprised really, as I had been a bit neglectful of its watering needs. And it was in a very small pot which was constantly allowed to dry out. 

At this stage I don’t how many times I have been to visit Clara’s wonderful garden. Clare is very modest about her garden.

I have no idea why I never ever took photos of this garden, so today I have put this issue to rights.

Clare, be proud, be very proud.

As you look at the Album, you will notice Clare’s sense of humour extends into her garden also.

I had wondered where this rose had got to. But then today I was reminded that it is a later flowerer than all my other ones. It’s a lovely fresh pinky peachy colour.

I took a photo of this flower this morning. It is from the sameplant as the one shown before but while that previous flower is gone, this one has replaced it . Can somebody tell me the variety. The one I had for years outside is P.caerulea. Is this one a different variety? I don’t know if it is hardy like the previous one. I think this photo is clearer than the one I showed earlier. It was taken during the day, the previous one, by night.

mmmmm

Several years ago on Gardener’s World they visited a garden where a man never watered his garden. The garden was amazing, and with out been told it was never watered, one would never know.

I have never been a ‘waterer’ so to speak, pots yes, and even then only when really needed. The Japanese planter that I did last year, apart from a couple of waterings when it went in at first has not been watered since.

It amazes be at times when I read journals of Gardens been watered and watered. The photo below is of the Border 50 area, this area was watered twice this year.

”Plants are stronger that we give them credit for, if they get used to dryer conditions they will cope and adapt”  Quote I remember from that GW programme.

With the charges coming into place now, maybe it’s time to toughen up your plants.

PS I did water the newly planted Liquidamber tree in this area a few times, but from next year it’s on it’s own.

I bought this in Mount Venus a few weeks back. I’m planning on doing a few Japanese style planted pots for the decking area in the future. I think this will fit in nicely with what I’m planning.

The bridal wreath spiraea must have seen Jackie’s photo of blooming lupins because it’s decided to follow suit. Last of the good weather according to the forecasters, so make the most of it. By the weekend (just as we get the ferry to Scotland) the gales will be blowing in…