I potted-on and tied-in my Sunflowers today. My ‘giant’ ones won’t be very tall, I don’t think, as the flower is forming already and they only two foot. I also have some ‘Autumn Beauty’ ones, which I am raising in pots but might plant in my orange bed once they about to flower.
I put down organic slug pellets, that started to feast on the petunias. Not the most exciting thing to be doing, but necessary. Then watered - again. I never thought I would say it, but intermittent rain would be welcome.
If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need. Cicero
I spent most of the morning pulling out Vinca minor. It's taken over a whole hillside and was threatening to cross to the neighbors property. Nasty stuff.
Before. It was beginning to spread into the natural woodland and head toward the neighbor's property. This is from the edge of the lawn looking down the hill.
This section of the hillside is rock covered by Vinca and wild grape vines.
After. Cleared out all of it from the undergrowth and up the hill to the lawn.
Working my way towards the rocks.
The previous owner evidently thought it would be a good ground cover. Many more hours required to get it somewhat under control.
It's an absolute b****r. I've been clearing a patch from my front garden. My neighbour wanted groundcover and she got it but, unfortunately, so did I. There's no point in hoeing it so It's a hands and knees job as it's got under my shrubs. Well done for clearing so much of it!
Frantic weeding has been going on here, all the rain has made them grow like mad. Must clip the edges of the beds at the end of the week. Had a day off on Sunday, went to friends for lunch, then did a huge shop yesterday. My 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren are coming to help serve teas on Sunday, but it means catering and bed making! I will need their help with the teas though. Daughter is bringing chocolate cakes, I've make carrot and orange drizzle, in the freezer, will make coffee and walnut and a fruit cake too.
Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
I have a white vinca which I am nurturing. Planted it in my shade garden where it struggled with last year's drought so I've moved it to a new north facing bed where I can keep an eye on it and the molluscs which have munched my new variegated white form of ajuga. I hope they don't start on the ammi I have planted in there too.
Today I have been playing with clematis - moving 5 small ones on into bigger pots to grow more roots and shoots and tidying, feeding and top dressing 3 more medium clems to grow on while I get new beds ready for their final move which may be this autumn or next year depending on progress elsewhere. Fuchsias this pm. Potting on and re-potting.
Supposed to be raining all day but I'm not complaining. I'm in the mood for plants, not sewing or painting or h****work.
Good luck with all the preps for both Lizzies OG's and anyone else's too..
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I have Vinca growing around the edge of my pond - the shoots dangle in the water and only had it for approx. 15 months so still manageable and controllable. We did open gardens a few years ago - very enjoyable and rewarding although hard work too, thankfully we had help for good friends. Enjoy the moment Lizzie.
Thank everyone. Like Busylizzie, frantic weeding, hedgecutting and do I need to rush out and get yet more plants to fill a couple of gaps! Cake making is scheduled for Thursday, I'm going to make Dorset Apple cakes, along the lines of nobody will notice much if they're soggy in the middle. Cake making is not my thing. Thankfully, we're not doing teas this year, I'm just contributing to one of the other garden owners teas. There's four gardens open for the NGS in Weston Village, Bath if anybody lives near me - do come and say Hi!
Posts
Before. It was beginning to spread into the natural woodland and head toward the neighbor's property. This is from the edge of the lawn looking down the hill.
This section of the hillside is rock covered by Vinca and wild grape vines.
After. Cleared out all of it from the undergrowth and up the hill to the lawn.
Working my way towards the rocks.
The previous owner evidently thought it would be a good ground cover. Many more hours required to get it somewhat under control.
I've been clearing a patch from my front garden. My neighbour wanted groundcover and she got it but, unfortunately, so did I.
There's no point in hoeing it so It's a hands and knees job as it's got under my shrubs.
Well done for clearing so much of it!
Good luck with your Open Garden too, Lizzie.
Frantic weeding has been going on here, all the rain has made them grow like mad. Must clip the edges of the beds at the end of the week. Had a day off on Sunday, went to friends for lunch, then did a huge shop yesterday. My 2 daughters and 5 grandchildren are coming to help serve teas on Sunday, but it means catering and bed making! I will need their help with the teas though. Daughter is bringing chocolate cakes, I've make carrot and orange drizzle, in the freezer, will make coffee and walnut and a fruit cake too.
Today I have been playing with clematis - moving 5 small ones on into bigger pots to grow more roots and shoots and tidying, feeding and top dressing 3 more medium clems to grow on while I get new beds ready for their final move which may be this autumn or next year depending on progress elsewhere. Fuchsias this pm. Potting on and re-potting.
Supposed to be raining all day but I'm not complaining. I'm in the mood for plants, not sewing or painting or h****work.
Good luck with all the preps for both Lizzies OG's and anyone else's too..