General Chat

down the Christmas lights from the tree, I feel they should stay up till spring arrives just to brighten the dull winter evenings ( soppy probably lol!).

So I have started to think about the garden to cheer myself up, and re-reading 'Down the garden path" Beverley Nichols' book about a garden he created. One think he mentioned was flax and it reminded me that I used to have some lovely flax growing in the paving where we used to live, a beautiful shade of blue. And I definitely have to have a lilac to feel at home here....

What are you planning to do with your garden this year? and what plants make your heart 'lift' a little? :))

Rose xx

I love the first helebores and crocus Rose because then I know that winter is behind us and spring and summer in front. I hate taking down the decorations and lights too, ours are half down we still have the tree until tomorrow but still i am feeling that 'down' feeling of dull January and february to come.

I have always loved taking down cards, etc. and starting a brand new year off. I am so looking forward to spring this year and I would start believing in miracles if my precious bougainvilia (wrapped up in Daff's fleecy stuff) survives. Well, even if it doesn't I shall buy another one and hope for next year!

I think that planning my little break in Florence for next month has also given me a lift. Ciao!!

BC XXX

I did manage to bring a pot of violets with me from Wales Ann, and despite being covered in snow for weeks they do seem to be surviving, and you've just reminded me I have a bag of shooting bulbs in the hall! I must try and get some compost and at least pot them up .

Sounds a nice idea BC, a trip to Florence :)

You're not alone, I hate taking down the decorations too.
Spring time is brightened up for me when the snowdrops and crocuses appear, then the daffs.
Evergreen shrubs help the garden not to look too forlorn and bare during the winter, especially if you choose different shades of greens. For example i have aucuba, variegated holly, red robin, rosemary and hebe all near each other, in what could be a dull corner, and it does help the garden through winter dullness. :-))

My big task this year (on my next visit home) is to lay slate chippings over my large flower bed in the front...fed up weeding it, fed up with cats pooing in it and fed up with it in general. A new look is needed.

K


P.S. just off to look up 'flax'

I know, Rose, am very excited as first time for me! And I am going to be brave and go from Rome to Florence by train!!

But there is nothing like planting a few bulbs to brighten up your day. My ones are all peeping up already. XX BC

Karen, it is a new garden for me, quite small but has a nice small conifer in, and a flowering cherry, a fuschia and weigelia, and while we were in renovating last spring there were a few daffs, so there will be some colour, needs a lot of weeding though, and re-arranging.

I've never been to Florence BC, but I believe it is very lovely...my former boss used to go there (he was in Elizabeth Barrett Browning's family tree lol) .

Rambling Rose pm me.

I will send you some special snowdrops with big leaves. Recued from our local church and grown on to mutiply. Took them up this year as we took out a large weed ridden bank. They are in pots at the mo.

Melanie x

Hello Rose ,
I was looking down at my back garden from a bedroom window yesterday , at noon , and happened to notice the smallest glimpse of sunlight touch the very top of the fence at the end , I shall be keeping an eager eye on the fence over the next few weeks , watching the line of sunlight as it makes its way earthwards ..... when the longed for light finally touches down it will be Spring in my garden , whatever the weather ! lol

Most flowers " lift my heart " , Forget-Me-Nots are a firm favorite as are Marigolds and Auriculas .
I haven't any particular plans in the garden this year ( no room to dig any new borders....lol ) . I really ought to get a proper fence put round the pond , with Grandchildren finding their feet I'd rather be safe in that respect .
I hope you enjoy many happy hours planning / tending and creating you little bit of paradise : ))

OH is really the 'flower' person - I prefer to grow veg! I do like the lilac (white) and spring bulbs. The wisteria is fabulous too but it doesn't stay for long!

Mel, thank you ! I've sent a PM.

Amanda, I've got an envelope full of the marigold seeds :)
and a sedum which is in a carrier bag in the hall (!) and growing really well lol, and some cranesbill geranium which I hope has survived.The garden faces south east roughly so it gets some sun when there is any, I ran out there yesterday for a few minutes and put the compost bin where it's going and had look see if anything was growing,there's some bergenias so they usually flower quite early :)

Sheila, I have the spot for the potatoes, which is really all I do in the way of veg, the rest I do small amounts in pots.

Will you be growing any Hostas Rose ? They are one of my favorite plants . I grow them in pots on tables or off the ground , I have quite a collection of them now .

I've not tried growing Bergenias ( are they also called Elephants Ears ? )

Shelia , we grow veg on the allotment , as soon as the sunlight gets back into the back garden it will be all systems go in the greenhouse to raise the veg seedlings : ))

yes Amanda bergenias are Elephants ears , as to hosta's lol, well in the rented house we've just moved from they were perfect, in the ground but not a sign of slugs..but in Wales everytime we tried they got eaten after the first leaf was up, even in the pots, so I gave up on growing them.

Not sure what type of soil it is here, I must peer into other people's gardens ;)

RR try breaking egg shells under hostas - lots of them!

It is a yearly battle that I face , keeping the snails and slugs off me Hostas....lol.

Snooping in other folks gardens is always a good place to start but you can always adjust your garden soil if needs be .

I grow my hosta's in pots and now they are on the new decking. Slugs don't go on the decking so it is just right.

We have armys of slugs and snails in Devon.

I also have a lovely tall cransbill with deep magenta flowers and a black center.
I'll pop a bit of that in Rose.

LOL Chris, I did try that, I swear those slugs parachuted in :))

I have in the past swaved my egg shells and bake them in the oven when using it. Then crush them and use on the garden under plants that get attacked by slugs. Hair clippings too help.

Awww thanks Mel that will be lovely, I do like Cranesbill, and they give very good ground cover don't they.

I've bought a packet of Sweet William seeds which are my absolute favourite :))