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So dispiriting
Fishy65
Posts: 2,276
I purchased some plug plants online, three water forget-me-nots and three brooklime. I go down to the pond today and one brooklime has completely gone, one WFMN chewed to bits. This is the last time I buy plug plants, doesn't the wildlife realise I'm doing this for them?
Also I planned a nice display of cornflowers and corn marigolds by direct sowing in two containers. Result? Every seedling that dares to show its head above the parapet becomes a stalk. I should be used to it by now but clearly the only way forward is grow plants from seed in the GH as big as possible before planting out.
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You both have my sympathy pansyface and Edd. Yes building on flood plains is never a good idea Edd, I always find the clue is in the name
I have to fight the dreaded lily beetle off my Frittilaries but they are doing well and increasing.
I picked six beetles off yesterday from around them in the alpine bed. They meet their end in a jam jar of water and washing up liquid.
They are one of the plants I creep out to admire every year when they come into bloom.
Pansyface do you find the birds pecking them? Some of my flowers have holes in the bell this year and stems are broken.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
Oh no - I never thought about birds and Lily beetles
. At least my frittillaries were OK yesterday but I'm out for a look.
Commiserations Fishy - there are times I think "we'll just grass it all over" - then I see a gem and can't help but carry on
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Edd, I really sympathise with you. Within the last few years we have had EU money to make country walkways and local companies have donated money for the planting of thousands of trees. Now the Council are demolishing much of it because of a new school, car park and grounds.
I didnt realise lilly beetles ate Frittillaries unti the leaves on mine were chopped by those grubs with their rather disgusting habits. The beetles an beautiful though.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
I would never plant plug plants straight out. You should always keep them in a greenhouse or the like so they are big and strong before planting out as they are just baby plants. So do buy more plug plants but plant them on for a few months before putting them in their final position.
Fishy
just reading your comments and you have my sympathy. Sometimes it feels in gardening that you take one step forward to take two step backwards
Last summer my flowing surfina and petunia baskets were decimated by small birds. No one else I know has had this happen to them. Nature can be wonderful and a pleasure to observe but sometime it can be very annoying
Sometimes when a setback occurs I just get on with it. But posting on these forums I know I'll get a kind word because we're all in the same boat. All brothers (and sisters) in arms against the common enemy(s).
Not that I see nature as the enemy. On the contrary I'm gardening with nature in mind, trying to grow more native flowers etc. But birds will eat what they can get and if we plant out tasty looking morsels they will snap them up. Not how I saw it yesterday though!!