Hi . That Himalayan Balsam sure is a total shocker - the only place I can recall seeing it growing and looking top knotch was along the banks of a river in Essex where it could get up to no mischief. To sort of recap though amongst all of these plants we are mentioning here there is a lot of nicies - depending as we have all agreed on where you grow them and of course above all I suppose on how much we keep them under control. They will seed and spread and if we do not want this we must take the necessary action - often times easier said than done ref time and other commitments etc. Things do get overlooked and all of us forget things at times as i did with the Fennel last year and s'welp me I have spent months now (with many more to come no doubt) pulling them out - wow do those seeds get about. Nature is not about control really - I feel she (Ma) adopts generally a "let em get on with it attitude" whereas we in our gardens like to/try to control things to our way of thinking. Nuff said because I think whatever whatever we are all having a good natter here about many plants and theres much of interest and much to be learned - newcomers to the scene in particular may find it all useful in that they get to know plants and the warning signs are here as to possible shockers. QED.
Hi. I am down orf me soapbox ( to many thank goodnessess and sighs of relief methinks). Heres a few more plants which I love but they can /do get abouit a bit. Firstly the little Ajugas - I like to let this plant wander as much as poss and its wanderings are ( I think) done in a nice honest way since they are lightly rooted near to the soil surface and easily plucked out - again though it does get around. Especially love those little dark blue flower spikes. I have the dark green/purply leaved one and also have grown and liked the variegated green/white form. Theres several others around now including I think gold leaved and these sort of mottled variegations (pink green white) which I cannot stand - to me (repeat me) this type of variegation always looks virused and ill - to each their own again.Theres another plant with similar habits thouigh not quite so exhuberant I think - low growing again with pretty ferny foliage and nice yellow ( Potentilla like?) flowers. Wanders around and needed an eye kept on it for me - called waldstienia ternata. The Lamiums in variety are similar but again as stated several times in awkwark difficult places they can fulfil a very useful role.
I'm really wishing I hadn't planted that red valerian in the front garden, it seeds everywhere and only really looks nice in flower, the spent flowers are ugly and when you cut them down the cut stalks look awful!
Hi. I may get told off for this . Some plants now which are possibly/probably some of the most useful, are beautiful and probably the most complementary to the gardening scene. Been around a long time but need (depending) continuous attention to keep under control and can be very invasive/untidy if neglected. Have been part of the garden scene for many many years and are mostly much loved in spite of this attention needed. . Can be grown in several ways either well under control (Lawns) or in a more relaxed manner ( just Grass). I refer to the Lawn grasses. Call that patch of green what you will - fine mowed - occasionally mowed or whatever they have been the backbone of so many many gardens for a long time. and I repeat what complements a nice garden of plantings/flowers better?. They are however hard work and you. either love em or hate em. This post is aimed at the Lawn grasses only. All the many others have their own pros and cons - tell of your experiences with them.
Hi all. Now three bigger ones. These are plants again I like very much but two of the three I have found can be a problem with their wandering ways. Lysimachias all - first "punctata" with the stubby yellow flowers and increases very quickly - pretty in its own way but a coarse plant I think. To a lesser extent przwalskii ( is that still its name?) with nice cut largeish (Maple like?) foliage and pretty yellow flowers - this also likes to wander - has also the habit of wilting very badly in warmer/hot weather and no amount of water will change its mind I found - when it cools down its back to normal as if now't had happened. Lastly one I grew years ago and liked very much - left it behind me on a move - have only this year bought another plant of it which is just coming into flower. Thinking of "clethroides" with the white flowers turned over at the tops of the stems like shepherds crooks.. I found if grown in the open its flowers open all around the top of the plant but if grown against say a fence its flowers all point just the one way away from it. Something different. Never found myself any problems with this plant in fact it was quite slow for me - just wanted to mention it.
Hi Jane C. Funny you should mention those two plants. Firstly that Valerian - like yourself I had terrible problems with it when I first started gardening way back and was on the scrounge everywhere for cast off/outs to fill spaces etc. A great bundle of it came my way and I duly planted it all round the garden - where didn't it get to and grow - and try and dislodge it - stems of iron. Seemed to have this particular liking for getting into walls and at the bottom of them next paving etc - goodness knows what it ever found to live on. Just as a matter of interest and totally unconnected it was said to be Winston Churchills favourite flower. Lemon Balm likewise which again did the same thing as you mention - everywhere and dreadful job to try and control - I did however have a plant of a variegated one and this I found did not seed/get about so badly- did love to crush and smell those leaves mind.
Hi B-L. A good pic that and there you are hunting out all those plants - a popular thing that with us all I think - wandering around the Garden Centres - so much temptation though. Think thee and I will award ourselves an award for daring to show our faces - what shall we call it? - how about the "Get us" Medal.
Posts
Hi . That Himalayan Balsam sure is a total shocker - the only place I can recall seeing it growing and looking top knotch was along the banks of a river in Essex where it could get up to no mischief. To sort of recap though amongst all of these plants we are mentioning here there is a lot of nicies - depending as we have all agreed on where you grow them and of course above all I suppose on how much we keep them under control. They will seed and spread and if we do not want this we must take the necessary action - often times easier said than done ref time and other commitments etc. Things do get overlooked and all of us forget things at times as i did with the Fennel last year and s'welp me I have spent months now (with many more to come no doubt) pulling them out - wow do those seeds get about. Nature is not about control really - I feel she (Ma) adopts generally a "let em get on with it attitude" whereas we in our gardens like to/try to control things to our way of thinking. Nuff said because I think whatever whatever we are all having a good natter here about many plants and theres much of interest and much to be learned - newcomers to the scene in particular may find it all useful in that they get to know plants and the warning signs are here as to possible shockers. QED.
Hi. I am down orf me soapbox ( to many thank goodnessess and sighs of relief methinks). Heres a few more plants which I love but they can /do get abouit a bit. Firstly the little Ajugas - I like to let this plant wander as much as poss and its wanderings are ( I think) done in a nice honest way since they are lightly rooted near to the soil surface and easily plucked out - again though it does get around. Especially love those little dark blue flower spikes. I have the dark green/purply leaved one and also have grown and liked the variegated green/white form. Theres several others around now including I think gold leaved and these sort of mottled variegations (pink green white) which I cannot stand - to me (repeat me) this type of variegation always looks virused and ill - to each their own again.Theres another plant with similar habits thouigh not quite so exhuberant I think - low growing again with pretty ferny foliage and nice yellow ( Potentilla like?) flowers. Wanders around and needed an eye kept on it for me - called waldstienia ternata. The Lamiums in variety are similar but again as stated several times in awkwark difficult places they can fulfil a very useful role.
I'm really wishing I hadn't planted that red valerian in the front garden, it seeds everywhere and only really looks nice in flower, the spent flowers are ugly and when you cut them down the cut stalks look awful!
The other thug I do battle with is lemon balm, it will still be alive with cockroaches when Armageddon comes|!
Since Keen has posted his photo I will be very brave. This is me in a typical pose!
Hi. I may get told off for this . Some plants now which are possibly/probably some of the most useful, are beautiful and probably the most complementary to the gardening scene. Been around a long time but need (depending) continuous attention to keep under control and can be very invasive/untidy if neglected. Have been part of the garden scene for many many years and are mostly much loved in spite of this attention needed. . Can be grown in several ways either well under control (Lawns) or in a more relaxed manner ( just Grass). I refer to the Lawn grasses. Call that patch of green what you will - fine mowed - occasionally mowed or whatever they have been the backbone of so many many gardens for a long time. and I repeat what complements a nice garden of plantings/flowers better?. They are however hard work and you. either love em or hate em. This post is aimed at the Lawn grasses only. All the many others have their own pros and cons - tell of your experiences with them.
Hi all. Now three bigger ones. These are plants again I like very much but two of the three I have found can be a problem with their wandering ways. Lysimachias all - first "punctata" with the stubby yellow flowers and increases very quickly - pretty in its own way but a coarse plant I think. To a lesser extent przwalskii ( is that still its name?) with nice cut largeish (Maple like?) foliage and pretty yellow flowers - this also likes to wander - has also the habit of wilting very badly in warmer/hot weather and no amount of water will change its mind I found - when it cools down its back to normal as if now't had happened. Lastly one I grew years ago and liked very much - left it behind me on a move - have only this year bought another plant of it which is just coming into flower. Thinking of "clethroides" with the white flowers turned over at the tops of the stems like shepherds crooks.. I found if grown in the open its flowers open all around the top of the plant but if grown against say a fence its flowers all point just the one way away from it. Something different. Never found myself any problems with this plant in fact it was quite slow for me - just wanted to mention it.
Hi Jane C. Funny you should mention those two plants. Firstly that Valerian - like yourself I had terrible problems with it when I first started gardening way back and was on the scrounge everywhere for cast off/outs to fill spaces etc. A great bundle of it came my way and I duly planted it all round the garden - where didn't it get to and grow - and try and dislodge it - stems of iron. Seemed to have this particular liking for getting into walls and at the bottom of them next paving etc - goodness knows what it ever found to live on. Just as a matter of interest and totally unconnected it was said to be Winston Churchills favourite flower. Lemon Balm likewise which again did the same thing as you mention - everywhere and dreadful job to try and control - I did however have a plant of a variegated one and this I found did not seed/get about so badly- did love to crush and smell those leaves mind.
Hi B-L. A good pic that and there you are hunting out all those plants - a popular thing that with us all I think - wandering around the Garden Centres - so much temptation though. Think thee and I will award ourselves an award for daring to show our faces - what shall we call it? - how about the "Get us" Medal.
Hi B-L. Forgot to ask you. Where was that Garden Centre.