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Our Gardens 2021

45K views 991 replies 30 participants last post by  frumoss 
#1 ·
Starting a fresh thread for this year :)

My first task will be buying some compost so I can start planting the vast selection of free seeds in my possession.

I have far too many, so if anyone is interested in being sent a few packets, just pm me. I’m happy to post them on.
 
#423 ·
Oh my gosh! Buttercup weeding is EVIL!

That is all.

More to do on Saturday…but I've made a good start, new hand fork arriving tomorrow. Slight delay due to Oscar's incident!
I finally managed to get up the steps to the upper bit of our little garden. I wanted to weed out a plant that's been taking over, we had a go at it earlier in the year digging out as much as possible. Now it's come up you can hardly see where we worked on it. So I just hauled out as much as I could manage to get at in the hope it will gradually give up if I keep at it. And then horrors of horrors I spotted a whole load of creeping buttercup plus other weeds taking over another area, trouble is I will not be able to do it myself. OH is not at all interested in gardening and has no idea which are weeds or plants I want to keep and although he has a go, he really doesn't do things properly.
Seriously thinking of getting a gardener to come in to keep everything under control, wouldn't need much, just a morning or day every other week during the growing season. I'm planning to ask a friend who does local gardening jobs if she has some hours free as I know she'll work with me and we can plan things together.
Also thinking of getting a cleaner
I hate getting old and infirm. It's not fair.
 
#424 ·
Oh @Siskin my husband is the same. He's good for digging a hole in the place I tell him though - and he's good at watering and fertilising :)

Hahahahahaha! I'm SO not gardening fit. I've pulled all the muscles in my right shoulder from digging and the muscles in my bum cheeks from leaning and bending at strange angles...and I run over 20 miles each week, I"m not a generally unfit woman.

In happy news, my new hand fork arrived today...so tomorrow I'm back out there! Pah! Eat stainless steel hand fork prongs, creeping buttercups! Take that **

** until next week when I'm out there again, obviously.
 
#425 ·
I finally managed to get up the steps to the upper bit of our little garden. I wanted to weed out a plant that's been taking over, we had a go at it earlier in the year digging out as much as possible. Now it's come up you can hardly see where we worked on it. So I just hauled out as much as I could manage to get at in the hope it will gradually give up if I keep at it. And then horrors of horrors I spotted a whole load of creeping buttercup plus other weeds taking over another area, trouble is I will not be able to do it myself. OH is not at all interested in gardening and has no idea which are weeds or plants I want to keep and although he has a go, he really doesn't do things properly.
Seriously thinking of getting a gardener to come in to keep everything under control, wouldn't need much, just a morning or day every other week during the growing season. I'm planning to ask a friend who does local gardening jobs if she has some hours free as I know she'll work with me and we can plan things together.
Also thinking of getting a cleaner
I hate getting old and infirm. It's not fair.
I know exactly how you feel. I can't manage my garden by myself any longer. Getting old and feeble is so upsetting. I can still do the pruning and deadheading and even planting but weeding is really hard. A neighbour has been helping me the last few years but she was taken ill about six weeks ago. Now she is better and it is such a relief so I hope your friend can help. Another friend of mine came to help a few times but he doesn't really want to do what I ask and his partner had to remind him it is my garden. Oh dear. I didn't want to sound ungrateful but it was so upsetting.

@Mrs Funkin Have you got a pointed trowel? I think they are often best for weeding.
 
#426 ·
I have two trowels, one of which I did a lot with yesterday but I found the soil needed a fork but I only had the long handled one (as in the handle is the length of a broom handle). It was quite good but I thought a hand fork would be good - I did have one before but I can’t think where it’s got to.

Tomorrow is a busy day. Running, weeding, dead heading, normal house chores, then out to a bbq...all the time keeping an eye on the furry boy. He will be out with me tomorrow I’m sure, he does love to be out with us in the garden.

It’s meant to be wonderful weather this weekend everyone, so try to enjoy it but wear a hat and sun cream!
 
#428 ·
I have never been able to grow a peony in my little garden, but this year I had one bud and so excited to see the flower, but OH decided he needed to clad the wall behind and it could not wait:rolleyes:, so before he wrecked it I picked it and today it opened :Jawdrop:Joyful:Joyful. If anyone has any tips on peony growing I'd be grateful, would love to see a whole host of these next year.
Flower Plant Petal Houseplant Pink
 
#430 ·
I have never been able to grow a peony in my little garden, but this year I had one bud and so excited to see the flower, but OH decided he needed to clad the wall behind and it could not wait:rolleyes:, so before he wrecked it I picked it and today it opened :Jawdrop:Joyful:Joyful. If anyone has any tips on peony growing I'd be grateful, would love to see a whole host of these next year.
View attachment 470337
That's beautiful, hope it lasts a while

Oh @Siskin and @QOTN, I know I know the feeling. :( My front garden is getting full of weeds again and I keep looking at it but that's all I do, the thought of the battle and the back ache puts me off but I will have to tackle it. How I yearn for the days when I could easily do a couple of hours gardening and still be standing at the end of it. I've reduced my garden a lot over the last few years so I can cope with it and I look at photos I took years ago and wish it was like that now. Unfortunately, my OH has no interest in gardening whatsoever so its just me and I can honestly say its a struggle nowadays. Cherish your youth while you have it folks. :)
 
#429 ·
I think Peonies can be difficult to grow because they need to be planted very near the surface. I have seen 1cm recommended. They can become buried deeper over time and that can prevent them flowering. Having said that I only have 'Sarah Bernhardt' and one red Officinalis in my garden having lost others in the past so I would appreciate further advice too.
 
#431 ·
That's partly @Charity why we're looking to sell our house with 100' garden in the next 5 years (we're 60 and 61).

I know it won't be long before I can't manage it any more and rather than have to watch it deteriorate, I'd rather move to somewhere with a terrace or balcony.

Freeing up some of the equity will be helpful too. :)
 
#434 ·
Phew! I can't physically do any more today 1) I'm shattered and 2) we are off out shortly and I need to get ready.

I'm so pleased with how the round walled bed is looking :) I shall do a bit more tomorrow to try to get it really tidy. Bluebells are gone now too, so that's always tidier.

Plant Plant community Grass Shrub Woody plant


Plant Flower Tree Road surface Grass


Could anyone tell me what the plant here at the front is? The one that looks a bit like a succulent? I've probably been told before but I might remember this time! I rather like the little pink alpine too, I bought them in Morrison's in full lockdown last year when that was the only place I could buy plants.

Plant Plant community Green Bedrock Natural landscape


I'm also pleased to report that the callistemon are starting to pop out! There are so many blooms on there - I shall be happy as they were a little sad last year. I checked the hypericum they other day, only one little flower bud…but today a good few more, hurrah.

Plant Flower Leaf Vegetation bottlebush


Honestly, the feel of the end of the flower before it blooms is incredible.

Flower Plant Terrestrial plant Groundcover Flowering plant


We have two big callistemon shrubs, I think they are my favourite thing in the whole garden.

Looking forward to more hard work tomorrow…hope everyone is well and happy :)
 
#435 ·
Could anyone tell me what the plant here at the front is? The one that looks a bit like a succulent? I've probably been told before but I might remember this time! I rather like the little pink alpine too, I bought them in Morrison's in full lockdown last year when that was the only place I could buy plants.
I think it is a Sedum but have no idea of its name.
 
#446 ·
When I felt overwhelmed after moving to this house and taking on the garden, I bought myself a little book, Five Minute Gardening. Theory being just do 5 minutes a day and the author gives simple monthly things to work on. I apply this to weeding mainly or my back complains, I adore my long handled hoe, magical thing.

My brambly corner is starting to take over, had a couple of dry days so will start that if Mefin will let me.

Now some of my David Austin roses
Geoff Hamilton starting to bloom
View attachment 470241

Winchester Cathedral on the right and Shropshire Lad on the left
View attachment 470242

Another view of Shropshire Lad
View attachment 470243

Ground cover Lamium 'White Nancy'
View attachment 470244
More roses coming out,

Emily Bronte
View attachment 470382

Boscobel
View attachment 470383

Darcy Bussell
View attachment 470384
Do you remember the Erigeron which I nearly dug up as I thought they had died due to the cold weather in the winter but some of you said wait and see. Well, good advice, here they are full of life again. :D

View attachment 470420
All beautiful :):)
 
#440 ·
Oh! So I’ve weeded the entire shrub border (the length of the fence down the right hand side) and I was so excited to see that there are signs of flowers on my non-flowering hebe :) Hurrah! How pleasing. Some of my double petunias are starting to bloom...not the colour it said on the plant label though!

Husband has now got a plant identifier app. He spent half an hour walking around testing me on everything...all it could tell me about the sedum was that it is a stone crop...so just a sedum then. It’s quite nice, looks like there are flowers on there.
 
#447 ·
Can anyone tell me what is going on here please?

I have 3 pots of dwarf Delia's, grown from tiny plugs which I'm delighted with even though they are meant to be white and yellow, but within each pot I have one tall something! Do I snip it off or leave it? It's not a weed either :Hilarious

Plant Houseplant Flowerpot Brick Brickwork


Plant Flowerpot Houseplant Green Brickwork


Plant Flowerpot Houseplant Green Groundcover
 
#454 ·
Can anyone tell me what is going on here please?

I have 3 pots of dwarf Delia's, grown from tiny plugs which I'm delighted with even though they are meant to be white and yellow, but within each pot I have one tall something! Do I snip it off or leave it? It's not a weed either :Hilarious

View attachment 470478

View attachment 470479

View attachment 470480
I'm in the camp of leaving it to see what happens then dealing with it :D

Your garden is gorgeous, such a lovely view too.
 
#449 ·
Funny isn’t it, the weather that was so awful for some things (like my poor clematis) has stood the callistemon in good stead…

I always knew that pelargoniums weren’t my favourite (I think it’s the smell of the leaves I don’t like)…anyway, the ones I bought are showing no sign of doing anything! They’ve been moved to a full sun spot in the garden now the senetti have done most of their blooming, so hopefully they might prefer that :)

There are so many beautiful gardens on this thread. Isn’t it a shame we can’t just pop to see each other’s garden?
 
#451 ·
I feel my garden is at least two months behind, I still have daffodil leaves. The rain and winds we had in April was ridiculous, I thought I would have a poor display this year, yet now in June it's coming alive.

Oh yes, I would love to visit everyone gardens
Mines the same, it's only really got going in the last couple of weeks now that the suns out and it's warmed up.
 
#453 ·
We have brambles coming over from two neighbours unfortunately. I keep cutting them off, though they say you should leave them for the wildlife, but they grow about 2' in about a week then I have to cut them again!

@ewelsh, your garden looks beautiful. I love that cistus.

The tall plant in your first pot looks like a marigold to me and the other two look like dahlia stalks which have put a spurt on but I'm not Monty Don :)
 
#455 ·
I would love to see other gardens. I even looked up @ewelsh on the map. Oh dear. I haven't driven that far since I took my last girl to stud near Stickney over eleven years ago.

Some of my roses have smaller flowers than usual. I cannot understand it when others have gone mad. When I opened the door to the Waitrose delivery man today, I saw that Penelope had accosted him as he walked up the path.
Sky Flower Cloud Plant Petal


Kathleen Harrop was slow to flower this year but is lovely now.
Flower Plant Petal Nature Leaf
 
#457 ·
I've tomorite-d my skimma and pieris (they have done leaf yellowing and much internet searching said tomorite is my friend) and chicken manure pelleted around the cherry tree, clematis and callistemons.

We've deliberately left the lawn longer as it's so hot. It needs a trim but we shall leave it be until (maybe) Thursday when it's meant to be cooler.

So lovely sitting in the garden, admiring all the hard work of the last few days. We have a gentle SW breeze, so we get the occasional "toot" of the land train on the Promenade :)

@QOTN your roses are gorgeous, I can almost smell them.
 
#458 ·
Here's some of mine. The garden has only recently started to show much colour, it's a late garden anyway, but this year it's very far behind
A small climbing rose
Flower Plant White Botany Petal

The white geranium only came into flower yesterday

Flower Plant Petal morning glory Grass

Cleared the stone trough and put some new plants in a month ago
Flower Plant Grass Road surface Wall


Selection of pots, love the pinks
Flower Plant Petal Terrestrial plant Groundcover
Flower Plant Leaf Petal Terrestrial plant

Flower Plant Flowerpot Houseplant Botany
 
#459 ·
Here's some of mine. The garden has only recently started to show much colour, it's a late garden anyway, but this year it's very far behind
The white geranium only came into flower yesterday
My Kashmir White was overwhelmed in my garden so I rescued a small piece. It is in a pot and it also started to flower yesterday. I have Mrs Sinkins pinks by my front path but I have had to pot some up in an old umbrella stand because I cannot get down to smell them close to the ground. Oh dear.
 
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