Nice little article

FlyDragon · July 2021

From the Guardian/Observer today:

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2021/jul/04/james-wong-on-gardens-break-the-rules-and-you-will-be-a-happier-grower

Lyn · July 2021

Brilliant article, Also with colours, how many people ask ‘what goes with this plant’. I just think, anything you like, what difference does it make if it clashes, if you like it, grow it. Mine looks like an explosion in a paint factory, most people love my garden, or perhaps they’re being polite😀

Then there’s the feeding thing, how much feed should I use and how often.
I've never fed nothing in my garden.

I see a lot of posts from people stressing out about their gardens, no need for it, just do it.

Having said that, the ground elder here is ridiculous this year, I don’t mind a bit of it, nothings perfect, but it’s taking liberties now😀

Buttercupdays · July 2021

Couldn't agree more on the ground elder!

I deadheaded it all last year, so at least no seeds. I believe there's at least twice as many flowers now as then. It has been looking lovely though, amongst all the other weeds, sorry, wildflowers that I love. It would be more than welcome, if only it knew when to stop. I've got a lot of plants like that

How do I know if they are in the 'right place' or the wrong one?

Everything seems to have grown taller following the rainy May. My Alliums looked lovely last year, this year they were buried by the geraniums around them and the ground elder's the same, so even more in the foreground.

Busy-Lizzie · July 2021

Yes, good article. I love @Lyn's garden, so full of colour and she grows such a lot from seed.

I grow what I like, I love roses. I was surprised by another thread on this site about the plants people hate, I liked most of them! If a wildflower is pretty I let it grow, if I find it ugly or it stings or pricks me then I dig it up. I like daisies in the lawn, they also remind me of childhood, I was lucky, it was happy, and making daisy chains.

Bee witched · July 2021

Hi @FlyDragon,

Great article .... thanks for posting it.

I allow a number of plants to grow here that others would have nightmares about .... things like rosebay willowherb, ivy, dandelion, and himalayan balsam ... all great honey bee plants.

But I'm lucky to have a 3 acre garden so can afford a few wilder areas .... I do draw the line at these plants in the more cultivated areas.

Bee x

Fire · July 2021

It's a lovely article. I notice more and more anxiety messages on the forum, about one odd shaped leaf or a nibble out of a flower.

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/6030279/uploads/editor/th/14krj4kzyxxl.jpeg

Buttercupdays · July 2021

It's also about tolerating imperfection.

More and more the ethos that is peddled seems as if everything must be just so, pose for your selfie, don't be seen without makeup, the house perfectly styled and tidy, the garden likewise.

Life ain't like that!

Very small gardens probably make it worse, every plant is important, every defect noticed.

My house and I are too old to achieve perfection of that sort, my garden is out of control. I don't care. It has been so beautiful this year, given me so much pleasure, while mostly doing it's own thing. There's so much burgeoning growth that minor details are put into perspective. The opening bud is more important than a nibbled leaf, the baby great tits on the feeder outweigh the nibbled sweetcorn.

philippasmith2 · July 2021

James Wong was always a good bet - nice to see he is still going.
As for the "anxiety" messages, it seems mainly to be that people these days expect everything to look perfect for ever- it's an idea which is promoted every day ( photo shopped people as well as plants ) - totally unrealistic but those who aren't able to be close to nature have nothing other than SM to go by.
The various community organisations which encourage nature exploration etc are not only to be applauded but need to be extended.

Lyn · July 2021

I absolutely agree Philippa, I once wrote on someone’s thread, who asked about a manky leafy. ‘ You won’t find perfection in this life’. Don’t think it went down too well😀

Thank you Liz, that’s very nice of you to say., and yes, it’s all from seeds and cuttings unless the kids buy something for Mother’s Day.

Far from perfection here, as Philippa will verify.

floralies · July 2021

Lovely article that made me smile. My French neighbours look aghast at my garden, it is a riot of colour in the borders, tubs overflowing with colour, none of your pelagoniums or begonias which is the norm here. Oh, and the horror when I planted garlic cloves in the Autumn in the borders as I had run out of space, tch, tch.

Obelixx · July 2021

My farmer neighbours have a few large pots along the paved front of their house filled with pelargoniums or pansies according to the season. She has a vegetable patch behind which is clearly ploughed and harrowed by tractor and then planted with rows of globe artichokes, potatoes, brassicas and the two last are blue because they've poured on so much Bordeaux mixture. Life is too short to grow flowers in fertile beds and no pests or diseases please.

Our other neighbours were astonished when I offered them a bag of new potatoes in our first summer and then a bunch of garlic bulbs the next year and have chopped down trees, bought a rotavator and made a potager for themselves and grow tomatoes and squashes but still no flowers.

I saw my first pair of goldfinches on Saturday and we have loads of wildlife so growing things imperfectly and all mixed up clearly works.

Nice little article

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