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Post by Ann on May 8, 2004 19:49:46 GMT
I love this time of year. Although the growing area in my garden is small, by choice, it doesn't stop me from growing my own vegetables and fruit every year. Quantities are small, but, even so, I often end up giving surplus away.
Around this time, I'm out peering at the soil every morning, watching for the first signs of seed germination. At the moment, the mangetout and sugarsnaps have just started to appear, although there's no sign of the runner beans just yet. A couple of tiny carrots, a couple of equally tiny leaf beet are coming through and this morning I saw the first signs that the 2 potatoes I put in a couple of weeks ago have come to life. Still to come are the parsnips and courgettes.
I also have to keep an eye on the cabbages, broccoli and sprouts, which I bought as small plants, as the snails and slugs don't get any fewer, despite my best efforts. Four of the plants are currently covered by large clear plastic glasses, to try and halt their decimation.
The 2 dwarf Bramley apple trees are full of blossom, the first strawberries have started to set, there are flowers on two of the tomato plants and the raspberry canes are thick with buds. Sadly, I can't see any flowers on the blueberry bushes this year though.
What's happening in other people's gardens?
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Post by Daisy on May 8, 2004 21:16:47 GMT
My garden is awash with Lily of the Valley, Forget me Nots, Pride of London and all sorts of other little flowers. The pink dwarf Lilac is blooming its socks off, probably because it's been re-potted, however it's blue partner hasn't bothered.
The new red growth on the Pieris is turning green and the Clematis are in bud - apart from the white one called 'Joe' which is a mass of flowers. The lemon Potentilla is starting to flower but the pink one at the other end of the garden isn't.
The wild woodland Anemones have just finished but the Granny Bonnets are just starting. The Fuchsias have been taken out of the pot-ooterie where they spend the winter but haven't been placed around the garden yet.
The new fence is now a lovely shade of pale green/grey and the tree seat has been re-painted.
I'm afraid that I don't have exciting fruit and veg much as I'd like them because not only does my garden face North and is in shade most of the time, it is such heavy clay that we grow most things in pots, apart from the naturals i.e. Lily of the Valley etc. The joy at the moment is that we cannot see any bare soil for the first time in months only green leaves and flowers.
However David would like one of those little upright patio fruit trees - plum he reckons. Another little pot to shift about.
Marion
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Post by Ann on May 8, 2004 22:19:29 GMT
However David would like one of those little upright patio fruit trees - plum he reckons. Another little pot to shift about. Marion I bought a tiny patio pear tree earlier this year and sat it in my mini hall until the weather improved and the pots in the front were tidied up. Unfortunately, it died on me. Your garden sounds lovely at the moment. But what's a Granny's Bonnet? |
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Post by Lesley on May 8, 2004 22:23:28 GMT
thanks ann, i like this post - i've just been in the yard impatiently stomping my feet waiting for things to sprout, which is so unfair i have many plants already in bloom. some of the summer irises are out, a crazy hardy shrub rose started blooming full in april! clematis, columbines, pretty orange california poppies that i let grow where they want. a climbing rose has been very busy the past few weeks covering a new arbour.
many other flowers have buds too.
but what have i been doing? a rain dance mostly (its so dry on vancouver island, we are headed for another summer of drought). and angry with my father (whom i foolishly let babysit the children one afternoon) who took it upon himself to dig up an area he said wasn't being used (not yet!) for POTATOES. now. i like potatoes as much as the next 'slightly chunky shouldn't be eating so many carbs and starch' person. but really father. 4 huge rows! so i was hoping they wouldn't come up - but today. there they are. and for those of you thinking what a lovely gesture! he won't come over to help weed or water - i know! last year he got in there and planted beans!
i'm hoping by next year my husband will have the time to build a little tea/play house on this spot. keep dad out of there!
lesley
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Post by Maria on May 8, 2004 22:27:08 GMT
The daffs have gone and the tulips are dying, but I do have a rather splendid pink azelea. The garden itself is rather neglected at the moment I'm afraid, as we have had a lot of rain but we do have a young hedgehog visiting most evenings for cat-food leftovers.
Maria
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Post by Daisy on May 9, 2004 10:05:00 GMT
 Granny Bonnets are also known as Aquilegia (hope that's spelt right), in the background on the decking you can see good old Pedro Gonzales, I bought him for David as a door stop for the shed and we've grown very fond of Pedro, not that he does much work just sits there snoozing under his sombrero all day. Close up of Granny Bonnet  These flowers are so purple that they're nearly black but I have pale pink ones as well and miniatures which are bi-coloured but these aren't out yet. Thanks for the news about the patio tree - will bear that in mind. Marion |
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Post by Chaos_and_Company on May 10, 2004 13:21:44 GMT
I get so enthused when I hear other people discussing gardening and the variety of plants that can be planted...providing you have sun. My one ray of golden sunshine is on a fence that faces the afternoon sun. I have hung pots of Lantana there this year , hoping thay have enough sun to survive.  I am afraid I lived in the land of shade and very year it gets shadier. Most of our plants are potted Impatiences, their pretty heads are just peeping over the rim of the pots. As pretty as they are one likes to have a change of venue.  Has anyone any suggestions of other shade plants that can be grown in pots that flower? Bobbie |
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Post by Ann on May 10, 2004 15:36:04 GMT
There are others here who are much more expert than me, but I do know hydrangeas like the shade. My back garden faces east north east, and there's one spot that gets virtually no sun at all. The hydrangea that I put there thrives and is a mass of blossom every year. I don't see why one wouldn't grow in a big pot. I bought a camellia a couple of years ago and the label on that said to put it in a sheltered shady place, so I did. Although I haven't had any flowers from it yet, it looks the picture of health. (One of my gardening friends has just told me her camellia took a few years to bloom too, so perhaps they just take a while to settle in.) The nice thing about them is that they blossom early in the year when there's not much colour around. The other shade loving plants I know of are hostas. They're really foliage plants as the flowers don't last long, but they're very pretty while they're out. Unfortunately, slugs and snails love them so they can end up looking a bit motheaten if you don't keep checking.
Am I right in thinking astilbes don't like too much sun as well? I have one of them in one of the more shady spots in the front patio and that seems quite happy.
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Post by Daisy on May 10, 2004 16:02:20 GMT
Fuchsias are happy in half shade, I hang my trailing plants in the trees so they are shaded for a lot of the time.
Are these new photos Bobbie or are your plants that far advanced. Our Impatiens aren't even in the garden centres yet. Looks like you have some sunshine you lucky woman!
Marion
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Post by Chaos_and_Company on May 10, 2004 17:31:21 GMT
Ann I have never heard of Astilbes so I looked them up and was amazed at the large variety of different kinds there were and they are a sun/shade plant. Next time I go to the nursery I will see if they have any. Speaking of hydrangeas I planted two blue hydrangeas in the corner of the yard when we first moved here twelve years ago. During the ice storm of last winter, a large tree came down and smashed them to pieces. We were lucky it didn't hit the house but I still feel badly about the hydrangeas. Marion Those annuals were planted Easter weekend; we used Miracle-Gro potting soil; plus Miracle-Gro Bloom Booster liquid fertilizer and were rather pleased so far with the results.  Photo taken Easter Sunday Bobbie |
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Post by tabitha on May 27, 2004 17:49:32 GMT
My greenhouse is full of tomato plants, I have 5 in there plus a cucumber which has about 6 coming on it already. I also have 3 outdoor tomato plants and a new variety of runner bean, they are purple.
The rest of the garden has lots of geraniums and granny's bonnets in full bloom. I also have a rather large cornflower which has gone mad with all the rain. There's chives in bloom and lavender's(many varieties). Plus others I don't know the names of but they look pretty.
There are lots more to plant up and some major alterations to get done.
Tabitha
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Post by Maria on Jun 1, 2004 22:31:04 GMT
I've planted a clematis, which will hopefully soften up the back wall of our garage, which is at the end of our garden. They are curling nicely around the trellis so far but I'm told they don't do well in pots as the roots have to be kept cool - but as the area is patio I don't have much choice. Does anyone have any tips?
Maria
PS Bobbie - the pots are so pretty and your garden looks lovely!
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Post by Chris on Jun 7, 2004 22:36:05 GMT
How about shrubs in tubs. Two come to mind Mahonia x media, variety 'Winter sun' or maybe Hypericum androsaemum. Both of these have beautiful bright yellow flowers, don't mind shade and are as tough as old boots!
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PAWS
Territorial Ruler
Posts: 244
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Post by PAWS on Jun 8, 2004 21:20:09 GMT
I've planted a clematis, but I'm told they don't do well in pots as the roots have to be kept cool - but as the area is patio I don't have much choice. Does anyone have any tips? Maria PS Bobbie - the pots are so pretty and your garden looks lovely! Heads in the sun and feet kept cool, so they say of clematis. It's taken us 29 years to grow one with any success, but don't let that put anyone off! If it's in a pot you could surround the base with rocks, other pots, or in fact anything that will keep heat away from the roots. Bonne chance. |
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