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Showing posts from May, 2014

LAWN IMPROVEMENT

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A little while ago, May 1, 2014, I posted about the lazy way to rejuvenate a lawn , telling whoever read the post what I do to improve my lawn.  I'm not saying it's the best way to go about it, but when your energy is limited, when you have nothing much to work with but a thin layer of soil over rock underneath the lawn, it might be the only way apart from digging out all the rock (go for it if you have the resources or energy) and starting afresh.  I am relatively pleased with the result considering the shabby way I go about it.  The moss is now dead and I have raked it out.  The weeds are gone, at least I cannot see any.  The seed which I scattered over the grass and watered in has now germinated and thickened the lawn to a great extent.  While this is a good result, I am not happy with the way that the thicker bladed grass is trying to get a hold on the lawn.  I know that one way to combat this is to rake it upright (it is inclined to lie flat)...

TWO SQUIRRELS ON THE FENCE

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It seems to have done nothing but rain for the last few days and I worry that my plants are going to suffer if this continues.  We need sunshine.  Certainly the cherry tree does as the green fruit seems to have stopped growing.  Even so, despite the miserable weather, my garden seems to be alive with wildlife.  I've never seen so many birds arrive at one time, vying for the seed hanging from the bird station.  It's a wonderful sight.  An even better sight, something I have not seen in my garden before, was two squirrels interacting.  I thought they might be going to fight but, no, it looks as though they were simply sharing patrol duty.  They say two pair of eyes are better than one. Two squirrels on my fence - 29 May 2014 Two squirrels on my fence - 29 May 2014

CLEMATIS ALPINA 'CONSTANCE' SEED HEAD

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In spring I posted a picture of the lovely alpine clematis 'Constance' .  The flowers lasted a few weeks and now have been replaced with fluffy seed heads.  Although not quite as beautiful as the flowers, it just goes to show that this alpine clematis has a lot to offer:  lovely leaves, beautiful flowers, and pretty seed heads.  Seed head of Clematis alpina 'Constance' I am hoping to train 'Constance' up along the side of my kitchen door and then across above the 6ft (180cm) kitchen window.  I think it will look beautiful in spring with the pretty leaves and flowers framing my view of the garden.  Seed heads on Clematis alpine 'Constance' 20 May 2014

HOSTA 'PATRIOT' - GROWING HOSTAS IN A POT OR OTHER CONTAINER

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I cannot say that my love of hostas is new.  It's more a case that my love of hostas has been revived with my idea, perhaps not very innovative, of growing them as specimen plants in containers.  Many years ago I grew them in a damp, shady border in a big garden and it was a battle fighting off the slugs to keep them looking beautiful.  There is nothing lovely about a hosta that has been neglected by a gardener but had much attention paid to it by slugs and snails.  They end up leaves riddled with holes.   I've planted two hostas recently ( Brimcup and Gold Edger ) in big terracotta Yorkshire Flowerpots by Naylor .  The lovely thing about container growing is that you can easily just move things around (weight permitting) if a plant is not happy in its present position.  The third hosta that I have added to my small collection is Patriot.  It's quite magnificent.  Hosta 'Patriot' Hosta 'Patriot' The label...

SYRINGA (LILAC) 'RED PIXIE'

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I discovered Syringa (lilac) 'Red Pixie' for the first time when I was mooching around a garden centre yesterday.  It was a funny coincidence really because I had been jealously admiring a giant lilac bush which is growing in a neighbouring garden and is groaning with mauve flowers.  It must be 10ft tall, at least.  The fragrance from it is phenomenal when the wind is blowing the right way but my neighbour's plant is far too big for the likes of my garden as I want space for other things.  Then I found 'Red Pixie'.  The fragrance of this lilac, which has a height and spread of about 180cm x 250 cm (6ft x 8ft), packs a punch and it was nearly knocking my head off when I had it enclosed in my car as I drove home from the garden centre.  Syringa (lilac) 'Red Pixie' I am planning on growing it against the south-facing fence where the roses used to be and I also plan to keep it in shape train it (by tying in and pruning) against the fence rather than...

HESPERIS MATRONALIS or SWEET ROCKET or DAME'S VIOLET

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Hesperis matronalis, also known as Sweet Rocket or Dame's Violet among many other common names, is another addition to my garden.  At the moment, it's in full bloom, standing tall on strong stems and looking rather lonely as I only bought one plant.  It has a sweet fragrance, which is more pronounced in the evening.  Hesperis matronalis a.k.a. Sweet Rocket or Dame's Violet I thought I might propagate my solitary Hesperis matronalis but apparently this pretty, upright plant (which is considered invasive and it is illegal to sell it in some places in the USA) needs no help from me.  Apparently it self-seeds all over the place.  Still, I figure if I can cope with moss, clover, Chamerion angustifolium (also called Fireweed and Rosebay willowherb) , dandelions, sunflowers and grasses germinating all over the place thanks to the birds, and the overhanging neighbour's ash trees which rain down millions of seeds every year onto everything in my gar...

LEWISIA COTYLEDON WHITE

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I found this white Lewisia cotyledon at the RHS Gardens shop in Harlow Carr the other day. I seem to have fallen in love with Lewisias and am forever on the lookout for more.  This is the only white one I have—so far. Lewisia cotyledon - white The flowering habit reminded me of polyanthus, with multiple blooms on a relatively tall stem above a pretty rosette of leaves.  Quite beautiful.  You can see clusters of buds yet to open on the image below.  Lewisia cotyledon - white Lewisia cotyledon - white, rosette of leaves.

ASTRANTIA MAJOR 'HADSPEN BLOOD'

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Sometimes, when I am mooching around a plant nursery, there is a plant that stops me in my tracks.  It doesn't have to have enormous, garish flowers.  Sometimes it's simplicity in itself.  Astrantia major 'Hadspen Blood' was one such plant.  The contrast between deep red flowers (which are about 2.5cm, 1in, across) and rich green leaves is striking.  Look at nature's detail in that small but not so simple flower.  Astrantia major 'Hadspen Blood', the flower has a centre of umbels surrounded by deep red bracts. The plant as a whole is perfect for a perennial border, will fit splendidly between all the hardy herbaceous plants.  It's ideal for a cottage garden.    Astrantia major 'Hadspen Blood' Astrantia major 'Hadspen Blood'   Astrantia major 'Hadspen Blood' is full hardy.  It flowers from June to September (mine's flowering in May but we've had a mild winter and spring) and a...

SEMI-AQUILEGIA ECALCARATA 'SUGAR PLUM FAIRY'

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What on Earth is a semi-aquilegia?  I don't know but I bought one yesterday: semi-aquilegia ecalcarata  'Sugar Plum Fairy', and what a perfect name for it.  It has leaves very much like the more usual aquilegia , (also known as the columbine or Granny's Bonnet), but a very different flower habit to any that I have ever seen before.  The flowers, also, do not have the pixie-hat spurs at the back of them.  'Sugar Plum Fairy' grows tall on stalks that criss-cross and weave in the breeze; and is very elegant, and very pretty.  Had to have it.  I have just the place for it, I hope.  My perennial border in my rather small garden is getting rather busy. Semi-aquilegia ecalcarata 'Sugar Plum Fairy'   Believe it or not, aquilegias belong to the Ranunculacea family, just like the clematis that I mentioned in my previous post about  clematis Gillian Blades .  Close up of a flower of semi-aquilegia ecalcarata...

CLEMATIS 'GILLIAN BLADES'

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I added the white flowered Clematis 'Gillian Blades' to my garden yesterday.  Although I like the coloured clematis flowers, I do tend to favour the whites.  Many gardeners will be aware just how wonderful and invaluable white flowers are at dusk when the light is low.  Coloured flowers fade to invisibility and white flowers remain alone, able to reflect whatever light remains.  Just look at the exquisite crinkled detail on the petals.  'Gillian Blades' flowers late May to June and also can flower in August. It is compact, of medium height (up to 2.5 metres - 8ft).  It requires alkaline to neutral soil but in my case will have to adapt to my slightly acid soil or go the way of the roses!  It can tolerate north or south facing aspects and sheltered or exposed positions, which is a good thing in my rather windy garden.  Wish it luck!  I shall be planting it on the south-facing fence. Clematis 'Gillian Blades' - pretty as a picture I...

SAXIFRAGA 'SPRITE'

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I came across a particularly pretty alpine yesterday as I was looking for something to deter birds from attacking my Prunus avium 'Stella' sweet cherry tree , and I had to have it.  This 'had to have' thing happens to me a lot!  The flowers are quite striking and relatively large on long, graceful stems above a cushion of bright green leaves.  I'm starting to squeeze plants into my herbaceous borders.  I know there is a planting distance rule to be observed with plants, including hardy perennials, but I work on the theory that perennials can be divided, moved, or that they might simply die.  It's a case of survival of the fittest in my garden.  Strugglers and stragglers get kicked out. Saxifraga 'Sprite' Saxifraga 'Sprite' The label says: 'Masses of starry, rose flowers on wiry little stems above mounds of fresh green, mossy, spreading foliage.  Height & Spread 15cm x 25cm (6in x 10in).  Position: Plant in sun or partial s...

LEWISIA LONGIPETALA 'LITTLE PLUM'

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I had a lovely surprise yesterday while mooching around Gordon Rigg's garden centre in Walsden, West Yorkshire.  I found another Lewisia.  They have such lovely, delicate flowers that it is difficult to believe, as it is with so many alpines, that they are very hardy.  This one is little plum.  I was going to plant my collection in a large terracotta pot as a display but I'm afraid the rosette of leaves would not look so attractive once the flowers have gone.  I have decided to pot them individually in smaller terracotta pots and move them around so that I have a clearer view of them when they are in flower and can tuck them away when not. Lewisia cotyledon 'Special Mix' Lewisia tweedyi 'Rosea' Lewisia cotyledon 'Lechner' Lewisia  longipetala  'Little Plum' Apart from Lewisia longipetala  'Little Plum' having pretty, candy-striped petals, I find other aspects of this alpine attractive.  There are toothed margins on the edge...

ACER PALMATUM 'ORANGE DREAM'

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I just couldn't help myself when I saw the prettiest, brightest green, Japanese Maple in a store yesterday.  It begged to come home with me.  Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream'.  It's quite ridiculous of me to keep buying wind intolerant Japanese maples seeing as how it is so terribly windy where I live but along the road there is a house with twin Japanese maples outside on either side of the house door, tall and beautiful with dark red palmate leaves, and they are perfection itself.  So if they can thrive unscathed, why shouldn't mine?   Orange Dream is bright green at the moment but the name promises rich golden leaves later on in autumn. Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' has the same growing requirements as other Japanese maples and I came across a good website that gives great detail for the growing of them: Tips for growing Japanese Maples (external link).  Ignore the bit where it says you should not plant these Acer...

LAWN REJUVENATION - 2014

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I admit I restore my lawn, as best I can, the laziest way I can.  It's on a slope with not much soil underneath the grass, an inch or two.  Under that is a lot of sandstone rock as if someone at some time knocked down a dry stone wall, skimmed earth over it, and that was that.  After last winter there was quite a lot of moss growing on my lawn which had never been a problem before.  The solution is to aerate the lawn and improve drainage by spiking it with a fork or a special machine but I cannot dig a fork in more than an inch or two.  So, as I mentioned in an earlier post, on 1 April 2014 I sprinkled my lawn with Evergreen Complete 4 in 1 which got rid of any weeds (there were hardly any) and blackened the moss.  A few days ago, I raked out as much moss as I could with a spring-tined rake and noticed that there were a lot of small bald patches of soil where the moss had died and been raked out.  So, today, 1 May 2014, I have sprinkled lawn seed (Ever...