Forum home Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Overgrown Garden in France

2

Posts

  • floraliesfloralies Posts: 2,714

    Bonsoir Jap3, I am in Haute Garonne down near the Pyrenees. I agree with you everything grows so fast here! I wish I could help but spend all my time in my own garden! but would be very pleased to help with suggestions etc.

  • D0rdogne_DamselD0rdogne_Damsel Posts: 4,184

    Thank you, I will be posting some pictures of 'mystery plants', I am afraid whilst clearing the beds I may be throwing out the baby with the bath water! Also, timing of pruning etc. seems to be out here when using UK sites, we seem to be about two months ahead.

     

    • “Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
  • D0rdogne_DamselD0rdogne_Damsel Posts: 4,184

    An unidentified but lovely tree, now in full flower that look like snap dragon flowers. Also a plant that I uncovered and rescued from underneath the geraniums. Any ideas anyone?

    image

     

    image

     

    image

     

    image

     

     

    • “Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,131

    The second plant is one of the euphorbias - they can be striking archetectural plants - yours looks as if it suffered a bit under the other plants.

    Do be careful not to get the white latex-like sap on your skin - use gloves and long sleeves when handling it - the sap can make the skin photosensitive and sunlight can cause nasty burns.  


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • The first one is a golden Catalpa, or Indian Bean tree. Lovely!

  • D0rdogne_DamselD0rdogne_Damsel Posts: 4,184
    Thank you both very much. So much easier when you know what you are dealing with.
    • “Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
  • D0rdogne_DamselD0rdogne_Damsel Posts: 4,184

    Some pictures of my efforts so far - looks good from a distance,managed to clear 3 beds a few weeks ago and can now see the flowers.The veg plot is doing fine too, eating some of my efforts - and making jam.

    image

     

    image

     

    image

     

    Starting this week going to have a go at clearing bed number 4, then only 2 more to go, then of course will have to start all over again! Loving it really though image

    • “Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,011

    Hello Jap3, I'm the lady who lives in France that OL mentioned. I didn't see this as I was on holiday in England, didn't have time or internet connection to read everything. Saint Yrieux is about 50 mins from me, I'm about 20 mins north east of Périgueux.

    We moved to this house in 1990, no garden then, farmyard and field and unlived in for 6 years. But I was younger then! It was hard work, especially as we are in Perigord Blanc, known for it's limestone. Good luck with your garden.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
  • D0rdogne_DamselD0rdogne_Damsel Posts: 4,184

    Hello there and thanks for the good wishes. We are lucky because the soil is lovely and as long as the sun hasn't been too hot it does break up easily. That said the weather has been awful here lately, so much rain I think what plants I have managed to rescue have been beaten down this week-end.

    I am trying to just work my way one section at a time, we have been decorating and refurbishing bedrooms this last two weeks so only just about managed to keep on top of dead heading and fresh weeds but, hopefully, if it stops raining so hard I will have a go at the next flowerbed this week. My husband just keeps saying "you can only eat an elephant one bite at a time" - he is just trying to keep me calm, but I am so conscious of how fast everything grows I hate how long it takes just to clear a little patch.  

    That said, seems like we have it easier than you because at least only just last year it was a beautiful garden - just have to dig it out again! 

    • “Coffee. Garden. Coffee. Does a good morning need anything else?” —Betsy Cañas Garmon
  • Busy-LizzieBusy-Lizzie Posts: 24,011

    It seems the West of England has had the good weather, it was only 15° today and raining. My outdoor tomatoes are showing signs of blight. When we were in England and while family was staying the last week the weeds grew like mad, especially in the well manured veg garden. Been weeding the flowers, was going to start on the veggies today but was asked out to lunch then son rang, have new baby granddaughter so going to south of Orleans.

    Dordogne and Norfolk. Clay in Dordogne, sandy in Norfolk.
Sign In or Register to comment.