The gardening thread

[StoneRoad]

On a good note, the wind has dropped a lot and the sun is out ...
There are loads of leaves to tidy up, plenty of smallish sticks and the big ash branch, Will be busy later, I've worked out a plot / method !

Also, I think I've managed to ID one of the roses that were here when we moved in - it is probably "Marjorie Fair" and as a tallish shrub it grows (and spreads) well, the flowers have smaller white patches in the centre than some of the illustrations. It borders on carnivorous ...
(Which fits in another way, I believe the lady who lived here previously was known as "Marge" ...)

 

[campanula]

Also, I think I've managed to ID one of the roses that were here when we moved in - it is probably "Marjorie Fair" and as a tallish shrub it grows (and spreads) well, the flowers have smaller white patches in the centre than some of the illustrations. It borders on carnivorous ...
(Which fits in another way, I believe the lady who lived here previously was known as "Marge" ...)

Yep, I would say that was a good call...and also fits in with the previous owner's other choice of Ena Harkness (Marjorie Fair is another Jack Harkness classic).

If you can, do take some pics of the others, including the leaves, petiole (leafstalk), open bloom (if single or semi-double) and stipules (the small leafy structure which sits beneath the flowering bloom). Lots of fun to be had in the rose ID game (for some!).

 

[StoneRoad]

Yep, I would say that was a good call...and also fits in with the previous owner's other choice of Ena Harkness (Marjorie Fair is another Jack Harkness classic).

If you can, do take some pics of the others, including the leaves, petiole (leafstalk), open bloom (if single or semi-double) and stipules (the small leafy structure which sits beneath the flowering bloom). Lots of fun to be had in the rose ID game (for some!).

I'm going to, when they recover from the weather bashing / transplant shock ...

They will go in an album on my Ipernity, for reference purposes.

Oh, and I've got a rather nice dicentra this year ...

 

[campanula]

Primroses - adorable harbingers of spring...and easy to grow from seed sown now. Although there are numerous species in the primula genus, I am thinking of 2 of our delightful wildflowers - the common primrose (vulgaris) and cowslips (and larger relative, oxslips (p.verna and p.elatior respectively). All of these can be sown using fresh (green) seed which will germinate easily and quickly as the seed has not dried out and gone into dormancy. The seedheads will have collapsed so you may have to riffle about between the leaves until you see the ribbed, oval seed vessels. Pulling back the outer skin reveals pea-green, pinhead sized seeds...which can be sown on the surface of damp soil, - not covered unless with a topdressing of fine grit as they need light to germinate. Mine are in 4inch pots, in a covered 11inch seed tray, against the (shady) north facing wall (they need to kept cool and damp). Should germinate in 2-3 weeks, ready to be transferred to flowering positions in autumn...and will colonise the space with no extra input from us (if happy...and they are not hugely demanding plants).
Sorry for lack of pics - camera left in horsebox in the wake of the weekend broken wrist fiasco, grrrr.

Oh, and I've got a rather nice dicentra this year ...

Have you got a gold leaved dicentra, Stoney? Feel the waves of envy if it is, by any chance, the luscious 'White Gold'.

 

[StoneRoad]

No, not yet, I've not had any experience with them before buying one this year (not sure I can remember which one atm). I want to see if they'll grow well up here, the weather is not kind at times !
And after today's wind storm, I've had to tie up quite a lot of plants ...

 

[wayward bob]

we have tomatoes \o/ thanks for tomato advice upthread. i have 6 "tumbler" plants in 3 windowboxes by the kitchen window, all thriving, keeping them evenly damp. is fun watching the bees doing their thing and counting the baby toms

 

[campanula]

Several blackbird nestlings have fledged the past 2 days. I idly watched a pair of still fluffy, baby blackbirds, scuttle past my feet, and vaguely wondered what they were up to...and where they had been. Well today, surveying the totally bare strawberry bed, I had my answer...and now they have reliable wings, the cherries (so far, unnetted) are looking thinner by the day.
I will have to haul the tall stepladder down to the plot and hastily fix up netting...which means balancing over several wickedly thorny roses, at an unnatural angle, whilst banging nails into my ricketty fruit cage.
Sweetheart is going to owe me, bigly, for the weeks of idleness. I have 6 weeks to decide just what I can manage to extract by applying the guilt thumbscrew.

 

[bimble]

You know, if you really like these little campanulas (and I do) then please take a look at Bluebell Cottage Nursery run by Sue Beesley. She is a campanula specialist and does mail order (I have ordered both campanulas and thalictrums from her)...there are a number of absolutely bullet proof bellflowers...although, as with many perennials, (especially species, rather than the often sterile hybrids), the blooming season will only be 6weeks max. For windowboxes and pots, c. 'Birch Hybrid or c.garganica 'Dickson's Gold are both good long-blooming varieties. Excellent, well packed plants.

Ooh thank you i missed this.
I will do that. I'm windowboxes only for now.

 

[Calamity1971]

Just finished doing a bit of weeding and noticed my primrose denticulata is covered in a white powder. Anyone know what is and is it curable or doomed? I have another one in a pot but that seems okay.

 

[Jackorion]

Just finished doing a bit of weeding and noticed my primrose denticulata is covered in a white powder. Anyone know what is and is it curable or doomed? I have another one in a pot but that seems okay.
View attachment 138643

That’s probably the ‘Farina’, a mealy or powdery white coating common to several primulas...nothing to worry about.

 

[Calamity1971]

Cheers Jackorion.

 

[Jackorion]

Cheers Jackorion.

You’re welcome. How you doing CJ?

 

[Calamity1971]

You’re welcome. How you doing CJ?

Mmmmmm. Now then

 

[Jackorion]

 

[Calamity1971]

View attachment 138683

Well hello , You had me worried there. Hope all is good with you.

 

[Jackorion]

Well hello , You had me worried there. Hope all is good with you.

Haha...yep all fine here thanks. Sorry to give you a start...

 

[Calamity1971]

Haha...yep all fine here thanks. Sorry to give you a start...

My own fault for having so many enemies
Have pm'd you before the gardeners revolt with thread derail.

 

[blairsh]

I am saving any updates on garden business til i've actually done something significant however, did just enjoy a moment watching a bee going in and out of me foxgloves, and listening to the sound of its wings banging on the inside when it was right in there

 

[Calamity1971]

My hebes are alive with bees, sounds like pylons on drizzly day.

 

[BoatieBird]

You can't beat a bee in a foxglove blairsh

 

[campanula]

Blimey - they are splendid specimens, Calamity . (why can't I tag you???) Years ago, I grew a couple of hebes - complete fail...although, tbf, I now know many are unhappy in pots, so I gave up and just enjoy other people's. Always feel a slight twinge of jealousy though.
A couple of years ago, I discovered the the little parahebes (which may or may not be any sort of relative to the hebe genus)...which are OK in pots...and have the same sterling floral qualities (plenty of flower and beloved of bees) so I can admire yours without a trace of bitter envy.

 

[Calamity1971]

Blimey - they are splendid specimens, Calamity . (why can't I tag you???) Years ago, I grew a couple of hebes - complete fail...although, tbf, I now know many are unhappy in pots, so I gave up and just enjoy other people's. Always feel a slight twinge of jealousy though.
A couple of years ago, I discovered the the little parahebes (which may or may not be any sort of relative to the hebe genus)...which are OK in pots...and have the same sterling floral qualities (plenty of flower and beloved of bees) so I can admire yours without a trace of bitter envy.

I inherited them when I moved in. The only plants that survived. It was so overgrown with nettles and brambles I couldn't even see the windows! 9 years on and they have been cut back 5 times after flowering. It's a shame the flowers are so short lived. It has even self seeded in the cracks of my drain.
You will not doubt have more knowledge than me, but those I have out the front get little sun(evenings only) and do better than the purple one I planted in full sun out the back. I've now transferred it to the front and will post some pics once it flowers, fingers crossed. Envy? I've seen your patch in the woods. Grrrr

 

[trashpony]

Does anyone want some opium poppy seeds? Scarlet flowers. Cannot vouch for opium production

 

[gentlegreen]

I've been under the weather over recent months and I'm still lacking in mental as well as physical energy, but I'm finally planting out the contents of my seedling cabinet - all sown much too late and languishing far too long under inadequate light and sometimes water

I actually bought some French marigolds weeks ago, but managed to do an Aldi on them ... if I can fight the slugs off, these should do the job.



And the other sort of marigold - calendula officinalis :-
Fingers crossed they don't get mildewy...

My spider plant hanging baskets were too dry for too long indoors, but they're pretty well indestructible - they are intended for the back garden, but may end up staying. I gave them a dose of fertiliser.
The "Voodoo" fuchsias came weeks ago but will hopefully still come through.



Over to the pink garden where I'm trying to replace some of the acreage of pink anemones ...

The filipendula survived the winter ... there's a Joe Pye weed (eupatorium) indoors to come out - sadly I managed to kill a rooted cutting I made ..and also some pink hollyhocks - but they're still tiny.

Two identical windowboxes - one probably destined for the back of the house with night scented stock, mignonette ("bastard rocket" ) and 8 week extra-smelly stocks - plus some freebee snap dragons which I will move if they annoy me.
There was a cabbage white trying to lay eggs on the three cabbagey species this morning so perhaps that bodes well.

 

[gentlegreen]

And last year's dahlia has become three

 

[Ron Merlin]

I'm so glad I made the effort with hanging baskets this year

 

[gentlegreen]

Pinktastic

what are the pink flowers with the small petals ?

 

[Ron Merlin]

Cheers. Trailing geranium Burgundy Bicolour.

 

[Leafster]

Large parts of my garden are suffering with the lack of rain.

 

[Calamity1971]

Large parts of my garden are suffering with the lack of rain.

Same here, scorched lawn but I don't want to waste water so concentrating on my pots.