I think my soil is neutral but the test I used wasn't a very professional one...
I think I just got lucky putting them there, had the blue ones for a few years now, dug them up out a friend's lawn, they are proper tough! Trying to introduce them/force them to grow in other parts of the garden now, they might be okay when they get to a decent size (grown from seed).
I'm not a great fan of iris - I don't know why except we used to grow them (my parents) commercially and I got roped into picking and bunching them one season ..... but I love your pond Hostafan, it all looks so natural and the planting is perfect. We are using pebbles and woodchip around ours too but I don't think it will look quite so professional as in your pictures - lovely.
Thansk GD. It had pebbles all the way round until about 3 weeks ago. I thought there were too many so I just kept one end pebbled so stuff could get in and out and decided to plant up the rest. So far so good.
Yes, thinking about it, that is a good idea Hostafan, we have a ton of pebbles to put around the pond, and I am about half way around. There are plants too, in fact I have put about 50/60 plants and they will grow and spread as time goes on to give camouflage to insects and other pond visitors. Wood chip softens the look, and I may use more - at present the chip is just sprinkled on the bog garden. It is a lot of work, certainly worth it, but lifting heavy stones is off my list of things to do now and forever!
Posts
Impressive Lupins indeed Victoria, what PH is your soil? I hear they like slightly more acidic conditions but I've grown them here to mediocre success
Thanks Joyce and Mark.
I think my soil is neutral but the test I used wasn't a very professional one...
I think I just got lucky putting them there, had the blue ones for a few years now, dug them up out a friend's lawn, they are proper tough! Trying to introduce them/force them to grow in other parts of the garden now, they might be okay when they get to a decent size (grown from seed).
Last edited: 27 May 2017 14:49:50
I love this iris, but have no idea which variety it is.
Ditto this one.
I'm not a great fan of iris - I don't know why except we used to grow them (my parents) commercially and I got roped into picking and bunching them one season ..... but I love your pond Hostafan, it all looks so natural and the planting is perfect. We are using pebbles and woodchip around ours too but I don't think it will look quite so professional as in your pictures - lovely.
Thansk GD. It had pebbles all the way round until about 3 weeks ago. I thought there were too many so I just kept one end pebbled so stuff could get in and out and decided to plant up the rest. So far so good.
Yes, thinking about it, that is a good idea Hostafan, we have a ton of pebbles to put around the pond, and I am about half way around. There are plants too, in fact I have put about 50/60 plants and they will grow and spread as time goes on to give camouflage to insects and other pond visitors. Wood chip softens the look, and I may use more - at present the chip is just sprinkled on the bog garden. It is a lot of work, certainly worth it, but lifting heavy stones is off my list of things to do now and forever!
Hosta, that first blue iris is stunning.
I haven't caught up here for a while. Fab photos from everyone. Pond's looking grand Hosta.
My big alliums are opening too
Clematis Niobe getting into it's stride
Pasqueflower seedheads
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...