Annuals as cut flowers, and update on gardening jobs!

Namsnanny Sat 14-Mar-20 22:17:42

I've just received my Creeping Phlox plug plants from T&M, a bit earlier than expected.
There are 60 of them in pink, red and white strip, blue, and lilac. All in good nick, so I've just spent the evening potting them up. In a day or two's time I'll put them into the conservatory which has no heat.
Then outside for a short while.
They are on the way to a raised bed, that I hope they will spread and fill.
I've never grown them before, but I am looking forward to the colour and scent in the garden!

Next I will plant some seeds, probably Cosmos, which I also haven't grown before, but I want something reliable for cutting for the house.

Anyone advise annuals for that purpose?

The year is skipping along!

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Namsnanny Sat 11-Apr-20 00:31:44

Grandmafrench … Oh Thank you for identifying it. I like the idea that it is loved by Bees!! I think I'll keep it.
Where it's growing is a bit wild and to be honest if I propagated it (sounds as if root cuttings might be the way to do so) I could have a little patch to attract more Bees.
Thank you for all the info.

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Namsnanny Sat 11-Apr-20 00:15:48

Just some photos of Acers coming into leaf.

The lime green one looks good against the dark ivy I think.

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Grandmafrench Fri 10-Apr-20 23:36:34

Your plant in the Honeysuckle looks like Green Alkanet/Bird's Eye/Evergreen Bugloss......Pentaglottis sempervivens.

If so, it's a self-seeded perennial wildflower, been around since the 1700's. Bees love it and will travel a long way to track it down, the idea is to leave it in the garden until the last flower has gone, then cut it down to the base. If you need to touch it later in the season when the furry stem and possibly leaves will be quite prickly, it's an idea to wear gardening gloves. If you decide to dig it up, any root that you leave will grow into another plant.

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Namsnanny Fri 10-Apr-20 22:48:42

sorry a poor photo, but my first visible Ladybird smile yay!
I haven't even seen any aphids yet!

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Namsnanny Fri 10-Apr-20 22:16:03

What's this do you think? It's appeared in the Honeysuckle!

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Namsnanny Wed 08-Apr-20 18:18:04

Wow lisagran … that last photo definitely looks like something out of Day of the Triffids!!

So unusual, and such a lovely true pink.

I also like the peony tulip.

Once again lovely photos Thanks smile

Funnily enough me too Wwmk2 … shock emoji is the nearest to a yawn!!
Gnet is a bit behind on choice for emoji.
As far as next season is concerned, I'm not thinking too far ahead. I don't have the brain to work out where the economy will be by then......will everything be expensive, or in short supply? I don't know, so I'll do what I swore I would never do again (because it was such a lot of work) and feed, dry off and replant my bulbs instead of relying on the shops having what I want.
Not looking forward to the faff though!

Oh well back to my brew and garden seat.
The way I feel I might break out the G&T's later on, feels quite festive and summery here!! smile

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Whitewavemark2 Tue 07-Apr-20 17:14:38

namsnanny no I’m still waiting for a pot to arrive and the rhododendron is sat in a bucket waiting for its new home.

Yes I think the cutting will flower.

lisagran glorious.
Tulips are lovely aren’t they, I’ve decided I’m going to try to go for early mid and late next year to extend the season as long as possible.

Should have done more than I did today feeling lazy though.

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Lisagran Tue 07-Apr-20 17:00:55

Tulips coming out here........

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Namsnanny Sun 05-Apr-20 00:12:51

I've spent the day trying to glue back together a broken pot, and I thought of your garden Wwmk2. sad
Did you get to put it all back together after the wind damage?

It's that fussy time weather wise. On and off with the bubble wrap. Opening and closing doors to stop the draught or heat!
How long is it since we've had rain? 2 weeks I think, I shall be getting the hose pipe out if it carries on.
Dragging watering cans around is wasting too much of my energy.

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Namsnanny Thu 02-Apr-20 15:25:01

Any one have knowledge of Dahlias as I have a question.

Do the cuttings taken from the tubers result in flowers the same year?

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J52 Wed 01-Apr-20 13:28:17

Lovely Tulips Lisagran . Mine aren’t quite out yet.
Leafing through this months RHS magazine, there’s an article on the tulips and those at Arundel castle.
Such a pity that we cannot get out and about to enjoy the beautiful gardens.
I’m tailoring my daily walks past houses with pretty front gardens.

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Namsnanny Wed 01-Apr-20 12:35:14

Lovely photos lisagran the second one looks a bit scary or am I being ridiculous?
A bit like day of the triffids!! grin

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Whitewavemark2 Tue 31-Mar-20 18:17:03

We’ve had tremendous winds recently as well. My front garden is supposed to be a Japanese zen garden, and I have some rhododendrons in pots. One pot smashed, I found another one on its side this morning and plant fallen out, and another dead because of wind burn I think. The only thing looking totally happy is the a Japanese cedar. Nice plant - recommend it if you are looking for something like that.

We never used to have such cold high drying winds.

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Whitewavemark2 Tue 31-Mar-20 18:12:55

I have those and they spread - every year there are more.

I’ve sown lots of seeds and they are all popping up except the larkspur. I never ever have any success with them. Had anyone got any ideas?

J52 I love the look of them so might give them another go but not successful so far.

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Lisagran Tue 31-Mar-20 18:03:30

These pink tulips have just opened and I was quite surprised by their inner colour!

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J52 Tue 31-Mar-20 17:50:46

WW2 I have 2 clumps. The first one is in a border with not much sun and it didn’t flower, other than once. Last year I divided it and put a small clump in a sunny place, it’s greened up so I’m hoping for flowers this year.

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Namsnanny Tue 31-Mar-20 17:13:05

Sorry Wwmk2 .. I've seen them in others gardens and on tv but I haven't ever grown them myself.

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Namsnanny Tue 31-Mar-20 17:09:38

This Acer is the first to leaf and its colour is always bright orange with a shrimp pink edge.

Later in the year it changes to apple green.

The colour on this photo isn't quite as strong as it actually is. But its such an unusual colour this time of year, I thought some of you might like to see it. smile

Although the wind has whipped up the last few days, and it remains to be seen whether the leaves can withstand the weather!

There's always something to worry about in the garden isn't there?

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Whitewavemark2 Sun 29-Mar-20 13:05:50

My ambition is to grow Angel’s fishing rods but I’m never successful. I live on the South Downs so chalky soil.

Has anyone got a flourishing group in their garden and any advise?

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J52 Sun 29-Mar-20 12:59:48

The stand they are on is a 3 tiered semi circle. At the moment they’re in a sheltered position when the flowers begin to open I’ll move them so they can be seen from the house.

The flowers should be the same as the parents as they were grown from division of the rootstock. They’re a plum colour with a yellow centre. They do look painted when in full bloom.
In the corner of the photo is a clump in a pot. That’s this years divisions.

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Namsnanny Sun 29-Mar-20 00:25:22

A project to keep you occupied in lockdown J52?

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Whitewavemark2 Sat 28-Mar-20 19:22:38

J52 you need a theatre for your auriculas?

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Namsnanny Sat 28-Mar-20 19:07:38

Blue bells Lisagran! There quite early aren't they?

Your patience has paid off J52!
I didn't recognise the leaf in your photo so I looked it up. Primulas? The flowers look hand painted. Will they be exactly the same flowers as the parents do you know?

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Lisagran Sat 28-Mar-20 18:33:41

Wonderful Namsnanny

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Namsnanny Sat 28-Mar-20 18:22:27