I can't believe how quickly one forgets all those beautiful snowdrops and even wonder where they were. Finding spots where to plant other things becomes tricky! I think the garden has too much, and it is a question of editing, which I may cover next week. Here are six topics to share and as usual these are linked into Jim our 'Master Gardener', where should you wish to find out what real gardeners are up to, I am sure you will find much to inspire and entertain you.
1. For the summer months, all the succulents are decanted from the conservatory, either to around the house or out into the garden. For now 'The Shelf' is home to as many as I could fit on it
2. Until just recently 'The Shelf' had been home to the auriculas. Now these have been moved to the shady side wall, and the last to flower is Primula 'Robert Lee'. Although it is nice to have a late one like this, the ideal would be to have five varieties that flower at about the same time to have that wow factor. The lopsided effect is on account of it having few leaves blackened at the base, most probably from too much rain. I've since cut the crown and bloom off as I could see some healthy side shoots, and am hoping that will save the plant. The flower stem and flowers are really strong.
3. When the sun is shining and skies are blue, a little white lace goes a long way as in this Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’. Although the flowering period is brief this stands out nicely in the narrow patch in the front garden between us and our neighbours, who gladly accept my gardening of both sides of the boundary.
Viburnum plicatum ‘Mariesii’ |
4. At the HPS plant sale earlier this year, someone arrived with a tree peony that they had grown from seed. I had no idea what its flower would be like, or where I would put it in the garden, I hadn't even any experience of growing these, but I did like the leaves! An impulse buy which I justified as being a £10 donation to the HPS. Here is the bloom: any ideas?
5. The front is looking quite smart with a variety of shrubs such as this cistus, which help with the 'Mediterranean Look'. I don't water any of the garden and they are ideal on the sunny and very clayey soil.
Amongst the shrubs, these aquilegia just self sowed themselves from somewhere, and since I like them I have left them to do their thing. I quite like their leaves even when not in flower.
One of the things I have kept on top of this year is the clipping of the Golden Lonicera which are just curvy mounds.
6. I'm late sowing vegetable seeds this year, but I have forgiven myself. However I was very pleased I repotted up the sweet peas individually.
Individually potted Sweet Peas ready to be planted |
Mandy slipped in a packet of seeds of 'Mrs Bernard Jones' into her Christmas Card. I had about twice as many plants as I had room for so when my friend Maggie who has just moved in nearby said that she would be missing her Sweet Peas, my dilemma of having too many was solved. Here am I with Maggie, Janette and Jane, took together showing off our Willow Obelisks. , which we had made at a workshop held at another friend Alison whom I had met through In a Vase on Monday and who now runs a local flower farm.
I am striving to plant out pots, and reduce their numbers as the garden was starting to look like a plant nursery. Also this week, I passed over all my carnivorous plants: all different forms of Sarracenias to my neighbour's two sons, and was completely surprised by how excited young teenagers were to take them over.
I'm very impressed by the willow obelisks! Which one are you? I've no idea about the tree peony but I think it was a very good buy. Love The Shelf!
ReplyDeleteThanks Gill, Jane who had done willow weaving had the best one, but then she ran to b straightest and best and straightest laid out verticals, I'm hiding at the back with my curved verticals, which gives the obelisk a rather organic lean!
DeleteWhat a great workshop to attend and all the obelisks look great.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rosie, once my curved obelisk gets covered with sweet peas, it will look fine,
DeleteA friend of mine was showing off a willow obelisk exactly like those when I visited her earlier in the week. Maybe it was the same tutor. Half a century ago I grew some tree peonies from seed I'd collected from a yellow flowered plant. All flowered with more or less of a red tone to the flowers. I think they're all P. delavayi, which is usually red but has a yellow form (lutea) and a selected yellow form (ludlowii) which the RHS seem now to have given species status.
ReplyDeleteThe Teacher was Angela Morley, and a lot of the willow had been grown in the garden where we were having the lesson. Mine was a 'beginner' obelisk! You should have seen the grin on the chaps face who brought that peony in, when I grabbed it almost before it reached our stall. I hope he knows he went to a good home. Thanks for the information about the species Jim.
DeleteThe flowers of the Viburnum are beautiful, perfectly described as ‘white lace’. You must have great patience to clip the Golden Loniceras - they looks so neat. I’m loving those willow obelisks! Well done everyone.
ReplyDeleteFrom you Catherine, I take all this as a great compliment.
DeleteThose willow obelisks look very impressive. I always find myself admiring that shed shelf and ponder something similar.
ReplyDeleteThanks Graeme, It does come in useful, and special plants can be admired even from inside the kitchen or conservatory. I find myself planning future small pots to grace it at different times of the year.
DeleteYour viburnum plicatum is very pretty too. They are featured this week! Smaller and more numerous flowers than mine and they are about the same size.
ReplyDeleteThe tree peony flower is beautiful (as far as mine is concerned, with its feet in the shade and its head in the sun: like the clematis)
And these willow obelisks: very practical and beautifully built
Thanks Fred. I think the viburnum is on a piece of poor ground which constrains its growth, it doesn't seem to want to grow upwards in any way.
DeleteAnother intriguing six Noelle 😀 Your willow obelisks are all masterpieces. How long did it take to create and what are you going to grow up yours?
ReplyDeleteIt took about three hours or a little less, but part of that was for refreshments. I have Sweet Pea Mrs Bernard Jones. I haven't grown any sweet peas for a long long time. Removing a pear tree have given me space to place the obelisk.
Delete