I noticed over the summer that my idea from summer 2021 with more shrubs had failed, and decided to change to wildflowers. I ordered following seeds on Chiltern Seeds: Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort)
Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
Achillea millefolium, True Wild Form (Common Yarrow)
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, True Wild Form (Ox-eye daisies)
Digitalis purpurea, True Wild Form (Foxglove)
Onobrychis viciifolia (Holy Hay)
Onopordum acanthium (Thistle)
Silybum marianum (another Thistle)
Yesterday, it was nice and the soil was good, and I started to take out the shrubs and some plants. As nice as the flowers look, Gaura plants have leggy stems, and fall over. The pink Gaura was described on the label as 40cm high. In reality, it got a meter high this summer (and fall over). The Euphorbia - I checked the label yesterday again - should be 1 meter, but got 2 meters wide and 1.5 meters high. The Hebe was describes as 60 cm high, but was only 30 cm high and the flower heads were so heavy that the little stems were hanging down. The Caryopteris flowers in September but was just green all summer long. By the time it flowered this year, there were no bees. I haven't finished yet, but will do most likely today. Once the new seeds arrive, I will have all together more than 15 different types, and I do hope I get it done.
No gardening unfortunately, every time the sun peeked out, the phone rang and by the time the phone call was finished, it was cloudy with rain imminent.
When I read this yesterday on the phone, you made my day :-) I remember last winter this happened over 3 weeks, the sun was shining up to 2 PM. As soon as I finished working, and wanted to have my usual "after work pretend to go home walk" (WFH), it started raining for hours.
I spent my morning cutting back my potted dahlias, lifting the tubers and disposing of the compost (as mulch). And cleared a load of leaves out of the pond. It's all a bit slow at the moment, as I managed to snip the tip of my finger off with secateurs last weekend (what an idiot!). Healing well, but I have to be a bit careful.
That sounds really painful @borgadr, hope it heals soon.
We were out most of the day so I only had time to empty the kitchen compost bin contents into the dalek, admire one solitary out of season Dr Ruppel clematis flower hidden behind the old garage and hastily lag the outside tap in case it freezes again tonight.
No gardening yesterday despite it being a lovely day. I did a beach walk with my "whole" family, a snack lunch in a "greasy spoon" cafe overlooking the beach then home to crash out before going to my daughter for a family evening meal. We tried one of the Christmas Puddings I made a few weeks ago. Delicious, very rich, with homemade brandy sauce. Hic! My son has decided he is going to go back to Canada and make some Christmas Puddings for next year. No one in Canada, amongst their friends, eats Christmas cake or pudding. They are all busy counting their calories! It is so lovely for us all to be together. I really miss all of the banter, teasing etc.
No gardening today. A quick walk for the dog before we go to Fowey for lunch.
So pleased your enjoying time with your family @Joyce Goldenlily. I could eat Christmas pudding any time of the year. Envious you're going to Fowey for lunch, one of our favourite places but alas our lovely hotel was taken over by new owners and not only redecorated but put prices well out of our range.
I did a quick bit of gardening while the sun was shining this morning. I put some left over paving slabs under the bird feeders in an attempt to keep the mess under control and keep the flat footed pigeons off the ground!
No gardening today. It is hammering down with gales on their way in.
The lunch at Fowey didn't happen. They phoned to say they didn't do Sunday Lunch and the alternative menu wasn't very exciting so we ended up in a small pub in a nearby village where we had a superb Sunday lunch with an excellent menu to choose from for anyone not wanting a roast.
OMG! The last 2 days have been torrential rain and hail storms with gale-force wind. So no gardening. Flooding all over the place. Surface water, field runoff, etc. on the roads is a nightmare. I am hoping for a lull at lunchtime when I will try to walk the dog without getting drenched. Today is going to be a day of recovery, family has all disappeared. Cat sitting for daughter and son-in-law who are going to New Zealand for a 3-week holiday. One of my large pots of tulips is flooded. I must try and wiggle the stone I put over the drainage hole when I can get out there.
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I ordered following seeds on Chiltern Seeds:
Achillea ptarmica (Sneezewort)
Centaurea scabiosa (Greater Knapweed)
Achillea millefolium, True Wild Form (Common Yarrow)
Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, True Wild Form (Ox-eye daisies)
Digitalis purpurea, True Wild Form (Foxglove)
Onobrychis viciifolia (Holy Hay)
Onopordum acanthium (Thistle)
Silybum marianum (another Thistle)
Yesterday, it was nice and the soil was good, and I started to take out the shrubs and some plants.
As nice as the flowers look, Gaura plants have leggy stems, and fall over.
The pink Gaura was described on the label as 40cm high. In reality, it got a meter high this summer (and fall over).
The Euphorbia - I checked the label yesterday again - should be 1 meter, but got 2 meters wide and 1.5 meters high.
The Hebe was describes as 60 cm high, but was only 30 cm high and the flower heads were so heavy that the little stems were hanging down.
The Caryopteris flowers in September but was just green all summer long. By the time it flowered this year, there were no bees.
I haven't finished yet, but will do most likely today.
Once the new seeds arrive, I will have all together more than 15 different types, and I do hope I get it done.
I ♥ my garden.
I remember last winter this happened over 3 weeks, the sun was shining up to 2 PM. As soon as I finished working, and wanted to have my usual "after work pretend to go home walk" (WFH), it started raining for hours.
I ♥ my garden.
It's all a bit slow at the moment, as I managed to snip the tip of my finger off with secateurs last weekend (what an idiot!). Healing well, but I have to be a bit careful.
We were out most of the day so I only had time to empty the kitchen compost bin contents into the dalek, admire one solitary out of season Dr Ruppel clematis flower hidden behind the old garage and hastily lag the outside tap in case it freezes again tonight.
I did a beach walk with my "whole" family, a snack lunch in a "greasy spoon" cafe overlooking the beach then home to crash out before going to my daughter for a family evening meal. We tried one of the Christmas Puddings I made a few weeks ago. Delicious, very rich, with homemade brandy sauce. Hic!
My son has decided he is going to go back to Canada and make some Christmas Puddings for next year. No one in Canada, amongst their friends, eats Christmas cake or pudding. They are all busy counting their calories!
It is so lovely for us all to be together. I really miss all of the banter, teasing etc.
No gardening today. A quick walk for the dog before we go to Fowey for lunch.
Been to allotment today a bit more tidying up
Envious you're going to Fowey for lunch, one of our favourite places but alas our lovely hotel was taken over by new owners and not only redecorated but put prices well out of our range.
I did a quick bit of gardening while the sun was shining this morning. I put some left over paving slabs under the bird feeders in an attempt to keep the mess under control and keep the flat footed pigeons off the ground!
The lunch at Fowey didn't happen. They phoned to say they didn't do Sunday Lunch and the alternative menu wasn't very exciting so we ended up in a small pub in a nearby village where we had a superb Sunday lunch with an excellent menu to choose from for anyone not wanting a roast.
Rain due this afternoon
So no gardening. Flooding all over the place. Surface water, field runoff, etc. on the roads is a nightmare.
I am hoping for a lull at lunchtime when I will try to walk the dog without getting drenched.
Today is going to be a day of recovery, family has all disappeared. Cat sitting for daughter and son-in-law who are going to New Zealand for a 3-week holiday.
One of my large pots of tulips is flooded. I must try and wiggle the stone I put over the drainage hole when I can get out there.