Paul, I avidly watched Chelsea and what did we see? many plants imported from around the world, they were all in beautiful bloom and I imagine the people looking at them thinking that would be great in my garden. And that is the problem plant growers are looking for the next big seller, I well remember over the years the plants whose flowers had no scent, big blowsy blooms that a slight breeze blew apart, plants that outgrew the position they were in and those that shot up with flowers above head height and bare ugly stems. The sudden surge of Pine hedges that grew to 30 feet and blocked out the light, if they were cut back you had a brown hedge for life, my Neighbour saw his mistake and nearly killed himself cutting them down to be left with stumps he could not move. Mistakes are still made today often in the search for big money, there are people out there with no conscience when it comes to making money. I have read the History of plants Paul seen plant names change as they discovered the Gene pools and at Chelsea they were blowing the trumpet for SCENTED plants? in my youth growing up in a lovely garden they were all scented some sweeter that others, it was hybridised out to get bigger and better plants and now being brought back in. The Mind Boggles. Frank
Fairy Girl, Rhododendron Ponticum variecatum, is advertised for sale from lots of nurseries including RHS, it is described as a medium grower suitable for the front of borders? There are no descriptions of how it grows and spreads taking over large areas if left to its own devices. We older growers know the set backs, have seen the horrors of some plants being the trend then when left becoming dictatorial brutes, those TV garden make overs have a lot to answer for. To people wishing to buy the plant I would say rip it out after seven years and go for the next big thing, or as I do read it up before buying. Frank. PS I have a pat of butter salt and pepper on my Jersey Royals, at my age i do not care what the experts say over their burgers and wine.
B3, Not to worry we live on top of millions of tons of salt as does Cheshire. Vinegar can be made from Ascetic Acid suitably watered down, sour wine went out with the rise of ICI. Mayonaise is now made in Holland so Hard luck Paul, my mother taught me how to make real mayonnaise but then we may lose the Olive oil and have to use Rape seed oil instead and why not we seem to have plenty of it. Frank.
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Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
now just give me a nice boiled jersey royal and I am quite happy.
And that is the problem plant growers are looking for the next big seller, I well remember over the years the plants whose flowers had no scent, big blowsy blooms that a slight breeze blew apart, plants that outgrew the position they were in and those that shot up with flowers above head height and bare ugly stems. The sudden surge of Pine hedges that grew to 30 feet and blocked out the light, if they were cut back you had a brown hedge for life, my Neighbour saw his mistake and nearly killed himself cutting them down to be left with stumps he could not move.
Mistakes are still made today often in the search for big money, there are people out there with no conscience when it comes to making money.
I have read the History of plants Paul seen plant names change as they discovered the Gene pools and at Chelsea they were blowing the trumpet for SCENTED plants? in my youth growing up in a lovely garden they were all scented some sweeter that others, it was hybridised out to get bigger and better plants and now being brought back in.
The Mind Boggles.
Frank
There are no descriptions of how it grows and spreads taking over large areas if left to its own devices. We older growers know the set backs, have seen the horrors of some plants being the trend then when left becoming dictatorial brutes, those TV garden make overs have a lot to answer for.
To people wishing to buy the plant I would say rip it out after seven years and go for the next big thing, or as I do read it up before buying.
Frank.
PS I have a pat of butter salt and pepper on my Jersey Royals, at my age i do not care what the experts say over their burgers and wine.
What should concern us is whether we can still have salt and vinegar
Mayonaise is now made in Holland so Hard luck Paul, my mother taught me how to make real mayonnaise but then we may lose the Olive oil and have to use Rape seed oil instead and why not we seem to have plenty of it.
Frank.