GARDENER'S WORD

I have a lot of different types of birds visiting my garden, some visit regularly, others come and go.  Mostly I see Blackbirds, Magpies, Collared Doves, Wood Pigeons, Blue Tits, Greenfinches, Goldfinches, Coal Tits, Robins, Great Tits, Sparrows, Chaffinches, and Thrushes.  I have absolutely no idea what bird(s) is/are making this sound but I've heard it on and off for a few days now.  I am wondering if there is a nest high up in the trees, out of sight, and I am hearing parents and perhaps chicks.  It's a chattering, squawking sound rather than a whistle and reminds me of budgerigars.  The first time I heard it, I thought it was a squirrel raising an alarm.  I have absolutely no idea what bird(s) is/are making this sound but I've heard it on and off for a few days now.  I am wondering if there is a nest high up in the trees, out of sight, and I am hearing parents and perhaps chicks.  It's a chattering, squawking sound rathe...

This summer, in so many ways, has been disappointing in the garden.  While the tomatoes seemed to have started off quite well, my favourite 'Tumbling Jester' doesn't seem to be doing much now.  Tomatoes need sunshine.  So do I, for that matter.  The summer-flowering jasmines (I have three growing up my wooden fences) haven't exactly put on a glorious exhibition of flowers this year, and the list of disappointments goes on—hence the lack of posts recently.  I won't bore you with it.  I will tell you that the  Sarah Raven's 'Midnight Blues' Sweet Peas which I have growing up an obelisk are producing beautiful fragrant blooms on long stems (although not enough of them for me to be wowed - again, I blame the weather).  Star prize of the year so far goes to the upright annual lobelia 'Crystal Palace' because for the few pounds it cost to buy a couple of trays of plugs the display has been simply wonderful and long lasting.  (ignore the lawn,...

Today I removed Verbena bonariensis from my perennial border and then I uprooted Centaurea nigra.  While the former plant shot up into the air, was much wider and taller than the label described, and looked odd amid its neighbouring plants, Centaurea nigra looked downright ugly.  The leaves were dull and the flowers small.  It required staking and, if I had staked it, it would have been much taller than the label described.  Centaurea nigra 07082016 The labels says: Centaurea nigra is a clump forming deciduous perennial with thistle like pink flowers during summer.  It grows in any well-drained soil in full sun.  It achieves a height of 70cm (28") and spread of 60cm (24").   If a plant doesn't look right, it has to go. 

When I bought Verbena Bonariensis as a small plant earlier this year, I knew from the label that it would grow tall.  I hadn't seen the plant before and had to go by the label.  I envisaged something with quite tall flower stems shooting out of a mat of leaves.  However, my plant didn't have a mat of leaves and threw out several tall stems which were over 7ft (210cm) high.  At the tips of the stems and from the sideshoots were tiny flowers.  It was quite majestic really, statuesque, but it looked totally absurd in my small border amid lower growing perennials.  It had to go, and now it has gone.  Before it was removed, I took these photos.  Perhaps this elegant plant would suit your garden more.  Verbena Bonariensis 06082016 Verbena Bonariensis 06082016 The label says: Verbena Bonariensis is an oustandingly popular Argentinian native specie which has become a big hit in the UK.  Tall stems re-grow every summer, topped with l...

For the last few years I have grown Swingtime and Southgate trailing fuchsias in four hanging baskets at the back of my home.  I've overwintered them in my mini-greenhouse (which I can put away during the summer months).  I've noticed this year that, although there are a few Southgate flowers, it is the Swingtime fuchsia which dominates.  Clearly it is the stronger variety of the two.  In the photograph below there is not one Southgate to be seen. Trailing fuchsia, Swingtime, August 2016 Trailing fuchsia, Southgate