Well, that was a week that was. The thermometer hit -3°C on Monday night. My Dahlias were blackened, top to bottom, just like it says in the books. In ten years or more of growing Dahlias, it's the first time I've cut them down after they've been frosted. In previous years I've just picked a…
Six on Saturday – 27/10/2018
I'm going to be up at RHS Rosemoor today for a meeting of the Rhododendron, Camellia and Magnolia Group, a rare chance for me to talk Camellias all day with some of the select few who share my obsession. It was a Camellia that set off the train of thought that led to this six.…
Allotment update – 24/10/2018
My alloment is divided down the middle by a windbreak. Each half is further divided into two, creating four sections for my four year crop rotation. It happens that this year one side of the windbreak is almost empty, summer crops having been removed and nothing put in to replace them, while the other side…
Six on Saturday – 20/10/2018
We're in a nice benign spell of weather just now which is keeping the flowering going. Cold first thing but pleasant if you're working or wrapped up. Long may it continue. Most things survived the recent gales, beaten down but not broken. I haven't done a lot of patching up, it'll mostly get chopped down in a few…
The Sasanquas.
By mid October most people’s gardens are at best winding down. Such colour as is left is from late and weather battered Dahlias, Fuchsias, Salvias, the odd rose and the like. Very few plants chose late autumn for their main flower display and many gardeners have also given up and hunkered down to wait for…
Six on Saturday – 13/10/2018
Wednesday was a lovely day and seems such a long time ago. I looked at the forecast and got some pictures taken then and on Thursday. I did a quick loop of the garden this morning and it's looking battered and soggy with most of the pot stuff lying down. One. Camellia sasanqua 'Navajo'. This is…
Fuchsias, a few more good words or a good few more words.
I did a blog on Fuchsias in August but wanted to revisit them because there are several flowering now that weren't then and because they really are contributing hugely to the late season flower display. Most of what was flowering then still is, to a greater or lesser degree. Our garden club speaker this month…
Continue reading ➞ Fuchsias, a few more good words or a good few more words.
Six on Saturday – 6/10/2018
I was expecting to wake to rain this morning, but it still hasn't arrived. It's not far away but it's not moving either. Hey ho. Six things happening in the garden now, no problem. One. Not one, but two bulging packets arrived in the post yesterday, next year's seeds. I stuck with Kings for my…
Impatiens omeiana
I have three very distinct forms of the Mt Omei balsam in my garden, two planted out and one still in a pot. The one that I have had the longest is the form most often encountered here and came to the UK from America, having been introduced to cultivation by Don Jacobs of Eco Gardens…
Six on Saturday – 29/9/2018
At this time of year bad weather causes a rapid slide into chaos and good weather puts the slide on hold without reversing it. Excellent weather for getting things done though. There always seem to be a lot of takers for the idea of autumn as favourite season. I'm not one of them; I prefer…
garden ruminations 