Hi Salino. Well it was of course just for a little digression - a giggle but sadly like all my attemps at humour it fell flat on its face. I only sent the pic as being of the supposed plant my missus thought was a pest in the garden. No harm done and basically the pic "puts me up" - I ain't no oil painting nor would want to be - but oh what a sweet nature I have --- sorry. Regards.
Hi Berghill. Thanks for that - I should have used the word intrigued instead of bothered. Was interested to know why you had so many plants which you were seemingl not happy with (their habits) and how that came about. All is explained . Ref the botanist bit well from your comments I got the impression that you are obviously very choosy and discerning and only those which suited you entirely were allowed a good report or placein your plot. Deadheading is a bind especially when there is always so many other things to do all the time. I usuually lose patience with the clumpy things and put the shears over them - rightly or wrongly. Best wishes to you and thanks again.
And don't forget that what self seeds here may not do it elsewhere. Some of the plants we grow here, came with us from our previous garden where they were perfect gentlefolks, staying within their alloted space and never producing a seedling. We planted them here and WHAM!
Some of the self seeding stuff is very welcome, Pulsatilla vulgaris for example and Cyclamen hederifolium and coum (lawn weeds here).
Let's face it no Nursery is going to label a plant a 'thug' when they are trying to sell it. The most you get is "runs gently where suited' which is how they would probably describe Ground elder.
So far I have only mentioned seed weeds, should I move on to the spreaders?
Hi all. Talking of botanists I have read a book which shows a very discerning plantsman ( botanist) and found it very interesting with much good info. Called "A Botanists Garden" - author John Raven.
Now back to plants. Another Euphorbia and this one is called Euphorbia Robbiae - Wood Spurge - or Mrs. Robbs Bonnet.. Given the conditions it likes ( and it was not as I recall overly fussy with me) it spreads quite rapidly. Darkish green foliage and typical spurge flowers, also poisonous in all its parts and with that caustic latex. I finally dug it all up. I read just a little story about this plant and how it came into this Country - it said Mrs. Robb saw it growing - took a bit, put it in her handbag to bring home - from where and when I do not know but it suggests (if true) that it was in a place where plants were not allowed taken out - China perhaps?
Hi Berghill. Ref the spreaders yes please do - will be of interest to all. Even allowing for what is agreed that in one place a plant can be an angel and in another a thug theres a cautionary note to it all and it opens eyes to possible problems if planted - a stitch in time perhaps?.
Hi Salino. Well it was of course just for a little digression - a giggle but sadly like all my attemps at humour it fell flat on its face. I only sent the pic as being of the supposed plant my missus thought was a pest in the garden. No harm done and basically the pic "puts me up" - I ain't no oil painting nor would want to be - but oh what a sweet nature I have --- sorry. Regards.
... oh no need to apologise... I'm sure some of us could see the humourous intent...I certainly found it quite amusing...I mean, you're obviously a born leader in these things and it's a fun thing to do....and throws caution to the wind... I expect you had your fair share of admirers when younger...
incidentally, I work in retail and see plenty of real 'shockers' any day of the week, and rather more of them than I care to...
..as much as I love Lavender 'Hidcote' and it's looking splendid at the moment... it does seed and if it's planted next to a road, as mine is... some of those seedlings will rather embarrassingly pop up in cracks.... I could grow hundreds of these plants from the seedlings every year... which is why so many of these that we buy can vary..being seed raised...
Helleborus argutifolius, another favourite will do the same if not dead headed....they'll be all over the place...I find this a majestic plant really...wonder if anyone else does...
Hi Salino. Thanks for that and glad you saw a little humour in it all. This will make you smile. I always did like and respect the gals - that was all those years ago and still now. Anyay ref me looks well I have had quite a few "bangs" over the years which ain't helped.them but I did have a lass once tell me I was "beautifully ugly" - what do you make of that ?. Nuff said. Back to plants. Like yourself I have always found Hellebores to be free seeders and this particularly applies to the native Foetidus and also Corsicus. This I especially like though do not have a plant at the moment Speaking of that native Hellebore it grows in quite large clumps in the woods next door which is nice - they look great crowded together and especially when in flower. Lavenderf I have a few plants in a dry hot corner and think they are Munstead variety with the darker flowers - is that so?.
...always thought Munstead was more pinkish... my Hidcote's are very dark blue...
...''beautifully ugly''...a glorious contradiction....but it's all those 'bangs' I'm worried about most Keen....you've been enjoying yourself far too much Sir...
Forgot about Hellebores, yes they do self seed, but as long as I can get them to flowering size they, sell well so I am not complaining. Ditto the blue form of Platycodon, but strangely not the pink form.
Also should mention Aconitums, they tend to seed if not dead headed.
I have the Book A Botanists Garden on my bookshelves. Very interesting reading.
Spreaders, in this garden with its rich silty peat soil, Lysimachia Firecracker (given as a nice clump forming plant, hah!) L. nummularia. Euphorbia charcias and various other ones where the name has long since gone. Anemone japonica........ Galega officinalis in all its forms. Veronica peduncularis Georgia Blue. Pratia pedunculata. for starters.
Hi Berghill. Firstly glad you also enjoy that book - read it times over - now he was really selective. Platycodons I love and although I have none now I had pink,white and blue in last garden. Aconitums I was always for some reason a little bit "frite" of because I believe they are really really poisonous and did not want to risk them on the plot. You mentioned earlier St Bernards Lily - Anthericum liliago I think - it has a brother St Brunos Lily A.liliastrum which I read has better/bigger flowers never had this but still have some St. Bernards which I like. have some of the Bernards now. Most of this others or varieties thereof I have had and still have a sneaking liking for the Gold Creeping Jenny but as you say it does travel though at least you can see it.
How I envy you your soil - I can see why everything ( or nearly) grows and sets seeds so readily on your plot. My soil is 50%sand and to make matters worse this is the dryest corner of England we live in. Just as a matter of interest what is your general garden reading - do you like to look into plants history/legend/myth etc?.
Posts
Hi Salino. Well it was of course just for a little digression - a giggle but sadly like all my attemps at humour it fell flat on its face. I only sent the pic as being of the supposed plant my missus thought was a pest in the garden. No harm done and basically the pic "puts me up" - I ain't no oil painting nor would want to be - but oh what a sweet nature I have --- sorry. Regards.
Hi Berghill. Thanks for that - I should have used the word intrigued instead of bothered. Was interested to know why you had so many plants which you were seemingl not happy with (their habits) and how that came about. All is explained . Ref the botanist bit well from your comments I got the impression that you are obviously very choosy and discerning and only those which suited you entirely were allowed a good report or placein your plot. Deadheading is a bind especially when there is always so many other things to do all the time. I usuually lose patience with the clumpy things and put the shears over them - rightly or wrongly. Best wishes to you and thanks again.
And don't forget that what self seeds here may not do it elsewhere. Some of the plants we grow here, came with us from our previous garden where they were perfect gentlefolks, staying within their alloted space and never producing a seedling. We planted them here and WHAM!
Some of the self seeding stuff is very welcome, Pulsatilla vulgaris for example and Cyclamen hederifolium and coum (lawn weeds here).
Let's face it no Nursery is going to label a plant a 'thug' when they are trying to sell it. The most you get is "runs gently where suited' which is how they would probably describe Ground elder.
So far I have only mentioned seed weeds, should I move on to the spreaders?
Hi all. Talking of botanists I have read a book which shows a very discerning plantsman ( botanist) and found it very interesting with much good info. Called "A Botanists Garden" - author John Raven.
Now back to plants. Another Euphorbia and this one is called Euphorbia Robbiae - Wood Spurge - or Mrs. Robbs Bonnet.. Given the conditions it likes ( and it was not as I recall overly fussy with me) it spreads quite rapidly. Darkish green foliage and typical spurge flowers, also poisonous in all its parts and with that caustic latex. I finally dug it all up. I read just a little story about this plant and how it came into this Country - it said Mrs. Robb saw it growing - took a bit, put it in her handbag to bring home - from where and when I do not know but it suggests (if true) that it was in a place where plants were not allowed taken out - China perhaps?
Hi Berghill. Ref the spreaders yes please do - will be of interest to all. Even allowing for what is agreed that in one place a plant can be an angel and in another a thug theres a cautionary note to it all and it opens eyes to possible problems if planted - a stitch in time perhaps?.
... oh no need to apologise... I'm sure some of us could see the humourous intent...I certainly found it quite amusing...I mean, you're obviously a born leader in these things and it's a fun thing to do....and throws caution to the wind... I expect you had your fair share of admirers when younger...
incidentally, I work in retail and see plenty of real 'shockers' any day of the week, and rather more of them than I care to...
..as much as I love Lavender 'Hidcote' and it's looking splendid at the moment... it does seed and if it's planted next to a road, as mine is... some of those seedlings will rather embarrassingly pop up in cracks.... I could grow hundreds of these plants from the seedlings every year... which is why so many of these that we buy can vary..being seed raised...
Helleborus argutifolius, another favourite will do the same if not dead headed....they'll be all over the place...I find this a majestic plant really...wonder if anyone else does...
Hi Salino. Thanks for that and glad you saw a little humour in it all. This will make you smile. I always did like and respect the gals - that was all those years ago and still now. Anyay ref me looks well I have had quite a few "bangs" over the years which ain't helped.them but I did have a lass once tell me I was "beautifully ugly" - what do you make of that ?. Nuff said. Back to plants. Like yourself I have always found Hellebores to be free seeders and this particularly applies to the native Foetidus and also Corsicus. This I especially like though do not have a plant at the moment Speaking of that native Hellebore it grows in quite large clumps in the woods next door which is nice - they look great crowded together and especially when in flower. Lavenderf I have a few plants in a dry hot corner and think they are Munstead variety with the darker flowers - is that so?.
...always thought Munstead was more pinkish... my Hidcote's are very dark blue...
...''beautifully ugly''...a glorious contradiction....but it's all those 'bangs' I'm worried about most Keen....you've been enjoying yourself far too much Sir...
Forgot about Hellebores, yes they do self seed, but as long as I can get them to flowering size they, sell well so I am not complaining. Ditto the blue form of Platycodon, but strangely not the pink form.
Also should mention Aconitums, they tend to seed if not dead headed.
I have the Book A Botanists Garden on my bookshelves. Very interesting reading.
Spreaders, in this garden with its rich silty peat soil, Lysimachia Firecracker (given as a nice clump forming plant, hah!) L. nummularia. Euphorbia charcias and various other ones where the name has long since gone. Anemone japonica........ Galega officinalis in all its forms. Veronica peduncularis Georgia Blue. Pratia pedunculata. for starters.
Hi Berghill. Firstly glad you also enjoy that book - read it times over - now he was really selective. Platycodons I love and although I have none now I had pink,white and blue in last garden. Aconitums I was always for some reason a little bit "frite" of because I believe they are really really poisonous and did not want to risk them on the plot. You mentioned earlier St Bernards Lily - Anthericum liliago I think - it has a brother St Brunos Lily A.liliastrum which I read has better/bigger flowers never had this but still have some St. Bernards which I like. have some of the Bernards now. Most of this others or varieties thereof I have had and still have a sneaking liking for the Gold Creeping Jenny but as you say it does travel though at least you can see it.
How I envy you your soil - I can see why everything ( or nearly) grows and sets seeds so readily on your plot. My soil is 50%sand and to make matters worse this is the dryest corner of England we live in. Just as a matter of interest what is your general garden reading - do you like to look into plants history/legend/myth etc?.