GARDENER'S WORD

Even though I no longer get a lot of pesky weeds (or to be politically correct, wild plants) invading my garden due to the close planting of my border perennials which prohibit most airborne seeds from finding a place to germinate, now and then unwanted wild plants still manage to find a place to grow and can reach a good size before I spot them.   Gardeners and hikers will certainly know if they have ever touched the very sticky Galium aparine which is known by numerous other names.   A couple of days ago I spotted one clambering over the phlox.  Not only are their leaves remarkably sticky, but the little round, green, seedheads will latch onto anything that passes by.  Every year my Ragdoll cat, Alfie, manages to get them caught up in his long coat when he travels through a neighbouring no-mans-land.  The weed was removed quite easily, just had to be careful pulling its roots out of the ground.  Fortunately the plant had not ...

Polka raspberry canes must be among my greatest achievements in gardening.  Of course, I had little to do with that.  I just planted the canes, prune them appropriately, made sure they didn't die of drought, tied them against the fence, fed them occasionally, and that's pretty much it.   I've never seen sign of insect damage - not from aphids or anything else for that matter.  The birds leave them alone (maybe I shouldn't have said that!), goodness knows why because the red fruit is delicious, but now and then rust disease attacks the canes.  I say now and then but that's a bit of an exaggeration.  In the 5 years or so that I have been growing Polka raspberries, rust disease has attacked the leaves twice.  The first time was several years ago and I was worried to see the orange dots on the leaves but the plants withstood the attack and have been free of problems until this year.  This year, I have spotted rust again.  (Apologies for the...

It's a fact of life that a gardener's lot is to battle not only the elements but pests and diseases that invade our beloved gardens.  I wondered why my beautiful Japanese Maple,  Acer palmatum 'Orange Dream' , that cost me quite a few £s, had died over winter while the one right next to it, Acer palmatum dissectum 'Ornatum' had thrived (at least, so far).  I thought it was just too windy, or too cold, or too something over the months since I bought it and even in its first year its leaves began to wither.  It had no chance; inspecting the compost today before risking planting anything else in it, I discovered dozens of tiny white grubs.  They are, I gather from my research on the internet, the dreaded Vine Weevil larvae.   Vine Weevil pupa The poor thing in the above image looks as if it's begging for mercy, but I had none I am afraid. I want to use the compost for growing other things or at least for putting it on my garden border b...

There's a lot going on in my garden right now with summer plants making buds, baby birds coming and going from the feeding station, and tiny Bumble bees invading flowers for pollen.  The weather has warmed up somewhat after quite a prolonged and cold spring, and I was really pleased to see that the honeysuckle - Lonicera periclymenum 'Scentsation' - that I cut back last year (after it followed the sun and started hanging over my fence and showing off to the neighbours) has produced hundreds of beautiful buds my side of the fence (north-facing fence) and the one or two flowers that are already open look beautiful.   Lonicera periclymenum 'Scentsation' I love the way the many buds form just one whole flower on the honeysuckle.     Lonicera periclymenum 'Scentsation' buds 

Gardening television programmes are always advising us about aspect, and soil types, and water and nutritional requirements for plants and, yes, of course, all that is important but when I choose plants, my decisions are made on more than that.  Naturally I want plants that are going to survive, but I also want plants that attract pollinators, plants that have fragrance, plants that have a long flowering season, plants that have attractive leaves and pretty flowers.  Some of my blog readers seem to think that my garden is a large one but it isn't.  It's less than 30 x 30 ft.  I make do with the space that I have and when space is limited it's a good idea to grow vertically as well as horizontally by using climbers!  Not just any old climbers.  I want those with with long flowering periods and ones that, if possible, are fragrant.  I want white flowers that shine out at dusk, and coloured ones that brighten up the fences, and (last b...

I've often seen lists of flowering plants that attract pollinators, such as bees and hoverflies, but the truth is there are always a lot more flowers to do that job than you see on those lists.  Sometimes I am amazed at what attracts these lovely insects into my garden.  Take, for example, the heuchera flowers.  Who would have thought that such a tiny, almost insignificant flower, on a plant that is grown predominantly for its foliage, could be such a bee magnet yet, yesterday, it was obvious.  So many bees and so very active.  Out of about 400 shots, this was the most in focus that I managed to get.  Those bees don't half move fast! White-tailed Bumblebee on flower of Heuchera 'Liquorice'  

The other day I was looking at the 'Edwardian Garden at the Royal Horticultural Society gardens in Harlow Carr.  I've never seen it looking so pretty even though it is rather fussy.  When I've looked at it in other years it has seemed unkempt, neglected really, and lacking in colour but this time it was as though it had been receiving extra attention and really come alive.  The photos were taken with my iPhone 5s.   Edwardian Garden at RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr The flowers are way ahead of those in my garden but then the RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr, just outside Harrogate, seem to be set in a kind of protective hollow.  Edwardian Garden at RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr

Yorkshire Flowerpots by Naylors are absolutely beautiful pots that will enhance any garden and I love the way they 'age' beautifully too.  They are guaranteed for life against frost but, watch out and be extra careful, they are easily broken.  I have maybe a dozen in my garden, or I had.  A builder broke a small Long Tom when moving it out of his way.  He paid me for the damage so I didn't ask how he did it and I admit I assumed he had just been very careless.  The other day I was wheeling a large Yorkshire Flowerpot along on a cast-iron plant-stand on wheels.  You know the sort.  Unfortunately, the flowerpot slid off on one side, just tilted off one inch to the ground and it broke into several pieces.  It wasn't a long drop, I hadn't been careless.  I was shocked; not just because the pot had broken but that my precious display of sempervivums and other alpines was ruined as all the contents of the pot spilled out of the shattered ...

Although it has been sunny on and off today, this bedraggled little Blue Tit looks as if it got caught out in it.  It's come for something to eat but is just checking out for Alfie, my Ragdoll cat, before turning its back to get some sunflower seed.  Bedraggled Blue Tit after the rain Bedraggled Blue Tit Blue Tits are easy to identify.  They have a stripe through the eye, for one thing; like little bandits. 

There is a bit of land over my fence which is owned by someone and upon it grows several mature Fraxinus Excelsior (ash) trees which, frankly, make me exceptionally fractious.  It's not every year that they drop literally thousands of seeds, possibly millions, upon my garden and upon my neighbours' gardens, but I spend every year picking up those seeds or pulling out those seedlings from borders and pots because once they root, they dig in deep and the stems are wiry too.  A couple of elderly neighbours have allowed seedlings to root very close to their homes and there is no way now that they can be pulled out, or even dug up.  This year all the trees are dripping with big clusters of the seeds (they look like birds' nests) and although the trees themselves, and their leaves, are quite pretty, if you are considering planting an ash tree in your garden, think twice.  While the birds might love to hang out in them, they are a serious nuisance to gardeners.  T...

I planted Thalictrum 'aquilegifolium' (Meadow Rue) in my garden last year but it seemed to be disappearing under more robust perennials so this spring I moved it to the top of my south-facing garden border.  It receives partial shade in its new position but the soil is rich and well-draining and it seems to be holding its own amid the other plants.  This year is the first time I have seen its flowers and they are very delicate and pretty, standing well above the interesting foliage which is indeed very reminiscent of aquilegia foliage.  Thalictrum aquilegiifolium The label says that Thalictrum aquilegiifolium has elegant flowers and foliage.  There are clouds of rich rosy lilac flowers on branched stems above clumps over dainty, finely divided, fernlike, light green foliage.  Thalictrum aquilegiifolium foliage This hardy perennial is suitable for borders and wild gardens in sun or partial shade on well-drained, humus-rich soil.  It flowers late ...

I moved the bird feeding station the other day, closer to the fence and to neighbouring trees, only by about six feet but I seem to be getting a lot more visits.  I am always on the lookout for new birds, like the Great Spotted Woodpecker that came by the other day but which I have not seen since.  Today, I was still pleased to see my regularly bird friends.  It's a bit of a rainy day and the birds seem very active and rather hungry.  I'm glad I can help them out.  There's sunflower seed for all.  I'm afraid the images are rather poor and heavily cropped.  I had to take the photos from inside the house, looking through the kitchen window. If I had opened the door to get closer, they'd have flown away.  Goldfinch (left) and a Greenfinch Greenfinch (left) and a Blue Tit Two Sparrows and an upward-looking Greenfinch  Sparrow (left) and a Robin

Although many people are anxious to give wild birds food for fear that they might not survive otherwise, many forget that they also must drink, all year round.  I don't have a fancy bird-bath in my garden for them to clean and preen their feathers (I live not far from a natural supply of water) but I do give them fresh, clean water to drink if they want it.  The water must be changed very often and the container cleaned thoroughly to help prevent disease throughout the bird communities.  It's a bit pointless feeding them and giving them water, only to assist them in contracting diseases from one another.  It's all worth it as it's such a pleasure to see them visit my garden.  They're very welcome. Collared Dove ready for a drink of water The other day I moved my bird feeding station to closer to the fence and trees, only by about 6ft, and it may be a coincidence but it seems like the birds are flocking in.  This is going to cost me in bird feed!...

Oh, how I wished yesterday, when mooching around a garden centre, that I had room for this fabulous shrub in my garden: Berberis thunbergii 'Maria'.  It certainly has the wow factor but there is absolutely no place in my crowded garden for it to grow—at the moment.  I'm also not sure if something quite so dazzlingly bright would have a negative impact on the over all look that I want to achieve.  I want my garden to be a restful place with soft colours and the occasional, more transient, dashes of vibrant colour here and there.   Berberis thunbergii 'Maria' The Royal Horticultural Society website says that berberis thunbergii 'Maria' is deciduous and upright, and is hardy to H7.  It provides colour in the garden through spring to autumn with pale yellow flowers in spring.  It prefers full sun or partial-shade, and an aspect that is north, west, or east facing.  It is suitable for exposed or sheltered situations and likes moist but we...

I was mooching at a garden centre today, actually looking for those little plant pot stands with wheels, when I just happened to pass by a stand of glorious poppies.  Now, I've loved poppies since I was a child, ever since I went on family outings in summer and saw the red field poppies as we drove along the roads to wherever.  The poppies I saw today were Papaver nudicaule 'Garden Gnome', a type of Iceland Poppy, and what is better still, they are perennials.  Papaver nudicaule 'Garden Gnome' - Iceland Poppy I bought three pots of them although I know that there are likely to be mixed colours in the pot.  I chose orange, yellow, red, and white.  I've put them all in a single tub so that I can move them around the garden.  I'm afraid my container plants never know where they are going to end up next - hence buying the pot stands with wheels!  Papaver nudicaule 'Garden Gnome' -  Iceland Poppy The label says that Papaver nudicaule 'G...

"Every year in early summer, the stag beetles emerge to find mates. They have spent the first five to seven years of their life underground as larvae and now have just a few short weeks to live as adults. Every year I'm shocked by how many people fail to recognise these icons of British wildlife, and am saddened by how many beetles end their lives crushed underfoot. Stag beetles have been around virtually unchanged for millions of years and are not equipped to survive in an urban environment. Their numbers have declined drastically over the past few decades and the species is seriously endangered. If you see one on a pavement, please move it out of harm's way. Despite being large (the male can be up to three inches long), they are placid and harmless provided you don't stick a finger between the male's large 'antlers', which can inflict quite a strong pinch. Pick them up gently with finger and thumb on either side of the thorax (the middle part of the body...

At the end of April I bought two small tomato plants, Tumbling Tom and Losetto F1 .  They have both grown well and both have small green tomatoes growing among the healthy leaves.  At the moment, Tumbling Tom is bearing twice the amount of fruit as Losetto.  Tumbling Tom tomato 09/06/2015 Losetto F1 is said to be more blight resistant although I can't say I've seen blight affecting Tumbling Tom either.  It will be interesting to see, in the end, which one provides the most or better quality of fruit (weather permitting) but, at this point, it is the Tumbling Tom that I favour simply because of its more compact growth habit.  I don't care for the way that Losetto is branching out.  It looks as if the branches could snap under the weight of any tomatoes that might grow upon them.  Losetto F1 09/06/2015 Losetto F1 became so lax that I feel compelled to stake it.  Judging by images of other Losetto F1s on the net, it may not be necessary...

I like to grow trailing tuberous begonias but I don't want, like the ivy (hedera) that I mentioned in the post before this one, to grow a begonia that has a single, straggly, trailing stem.  Pathetic!  First, I want mine to have lots of stems and then it can start to trail.  This, below, is 'Super Cascade' Orange. I bought it as a tuber just starting to sprout.   When it started producing leaves and getting a little tall, I pinched out the growing point (as I think you can see in the image) with my fingernails to force it into producing more shoots which it is now doing from the base as well as producing side stems.  I plan to grow this one in a pot on its own (I may have to transplant it into a bigger pot), possibly as a display on my marble garden table as I did once before, in 2013 (see middle image).   Tuberous begonia 'Super Cascade' orange Here is one that I grew in 2013.   It's a trailing tube...