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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

Rhubarb Appreciation Society

995 replies

Blackpuddingbertha · 23/03/2013 21:43

Going with Rhihaf's thread name suggestion, following on from the first rule of gardening club is thread.

Pull up your kneeling pads, crack open the elderberry wine and the blackberry gin and come and join us. No real experience or gardening know-how needed.

OP posts:
HumphreyCobbler · 19/04/2013 13:04

excellent news Lexy! I didn't know if they were up for the idea at all.

I am also looking forward to the day I can get some labour out of my children. DS just started digging a hole to Australia, he got a fair way down! So it bodes well.

I am getting a wind up radio from my parents to go in my greenhouse Lexy - they are cheap on amazon at the moment. I min winding = 20 minutes of Radio. Just right for the Archers.

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 19/04/2013 13:09

Quite agree about gardening giving thinking space!

I'm no expert on hostas but I have 10 plants to get rid of. They gave grown to pretty much fill their 10-inch pots. Last night I tipped them out, used my trusty Opinel knife to hack them into chunks (each with about 6 shoots) and reported them into smaller pots. I could only do this, though, with the first two plants to sprout - the others haven't yet sprouted above ground level and u wanted to see where the growing tips were, to make sure I was creating viable plants. Fingers crossed.

cantspel · 19/04/2013 17:29

My patio pot collection has gained 2 more members today.
I went to tesco and they had some lovely large glazed pots reduced from £29.99 to £9.99 each so i bought 2. Lidl has some standard fuchsias for £7.99 so i think i will get 2 and put them either side of the front porch.
I also won on ebay a large stone trough for £5. I think the weight of the thing turned people off bidding on it, but that where teen boys come in handy. Fits just right on the low wall at the side of the patio and i will plant it up with begonia as that side is quite shandy.

Blackpuddingbertha · 19/04/2013 17:37

I have asparagus shoots! Just two though...so far.

Will take a photo of the arbour and put on my profile later. Looks a bit bare at the moment but I'm sure it'll be lovely when things start growing.

OP posts:
Blackpuddingbertha · 19/04/2013 17:55

Ok, arbour photo on profile. Plus gratuitous dog who snuck in there too and smiled at the camera.

OP posts:
WynkenBlynkenandNod · 19/04/2013 18:07

That's lovely Bertha, it already looks good and will look fabulous when things have grown over it. What type of dog is he/she ?

I've told DS he will be helping me move stone troughs when he is older. What a bargain Cantspel.

Don't tell me about Poundland Rhihaf ! Mine is supposed to be a Tree Peony which I got a few years ago from T&M. Foliage grows but there's a two inch bit of dead looking stem. Never had anything resembling a bud. Dug it up recently in case it was too deep but am not hopeful.

On a more positive note made it to allotment and my broad beans are coming up, my newly plamted bare root gooseberry bushes are coming into leaf, I stuck in a couple of self seed fo. The garden blackcurrants and some shallots and garlic. Mme Alfred Carriere that went in last year is throwing up spots off the main stem nicely.

HumphreyCobbler · 19/04/2013 18:13

Looks fabulous Bertha. Lovely.

I also really like the look of your dog.

I adore my Mme Alfred Carriere Wynken, I think it is a strong contender for being my favourite rose.

Rhubarbgarden · 19/04/2013 20:05

I didn't get chance to do anything in the garden today. But I enjoyed reading what everyone else did.

Small children occupying all head space? YES YES YES. My decompression space used to be my greenhouse. Now that I am greenhouse-less, I am getting slightly unhinged.

Hayloft just had an amazingly good deal on penstemons Maud - was that when you got yours? I had to really fight with myself not to buy any. I promised myself I wouldn't do any planting or redesigning of this garden until I've given it a year of observation, but it's really tough.

Lovely arbour Bertha.

Madame Alfred Carriere - lovely

Rhubarbgarden · 19/04/2013 20:26

Oh! Just remembered I found sweet violets flowering in the orchard lawn today. They made me happy.

Dawnywoo · 19/04/2013 20:34

Bertha lovely dog. Looks a bit like a cross between my mums Lakeland / Border cross, a friend of mines Italian Spinone and a Labradoodle? Lovely arbour too. That's next on my list if I can squeeze one in!

My Daffs are long and my tulips are short and not yet flowering.

I'm in the North East (Whitley Bay / Northumberland border. Its been lovely weather today although DD poorly with tummy bug (sanctuary from small and demanding children = I need at least an hour or two a day to stay sane) and DH got made redundant today. Luckily, have been offered a greenhouse from a friend who is moving so we have saved some money there.

There are lots of asparagus crowns reduced at my local garden centre so I may have to partake..

Humph love the idea of that radio.

All If anyone is GW subscriber or has bought April edition, I can highly recommend the Robert Dyas discount offer. I got a fab potting tray, Bird Feeders, Willow Potato Planters, Garden Kneeler. James Wong seeds and Hanging baskets. All for lots cheaper than elsewhere.

HumphreyCobbler · 19/04/2013 21:48

Sorry your DH has been made redundant Dawn

funnyperson · 19/04/2013 22:19

The dodecathon is beautiful comeintothegardenmaud. Its encouraging to find that not all your hostas are above ground yet as none of mine are.

Though the forgetmenots (myositis), the camellia, the daffodils (various sorts), snowdrops, the japonica, anemone blanda, primroses, celandine, viola, hellebores are all in flower and the stellata magnolia and Gertrude Jekyll rose about to flower. Even the grass is growing! This has been the best year for daffodils. Perhaps because of the lack of competition from other plants.

The stuff I bought last weekend hoping to plant this weekend got delivered when I was out, so went back to the company, so my plans for this weekend have been scuppered.

The arbour is very neat and the dog just adorable bertha You and your DH are really good at putting up stuff. That greenhouse looks ideal Humph . My DC never got into the idea that they might help in the garden, though they did plant me a rose for mothers day once.

Columbia Road used to be an old fashioned barrow type of market off the Hackney Road with loads and loads of cheap plants for sale all of which were usually sold by mid day or thereabouts so one had to get up early! I still remember my favourite registrar (now a very eminent professor) coming into the 8 am ward round with bunches of wallflower plants (erysimum) from Columbia Road in his hands for his garden. it is probably very yuppified now.

Sorry about the redundancy dawn. Unemployment is scary but hopefully wont last long.

funnyperson · 19/04/2013 22:22

Its an odd thing but I bought 6 pots of herbs and they are on the windowsill and they make me calm down every time I look at them.Smile

HumphreyCobbler · 19/04/2013 22:51

you have a rose about to flower! Goodness, that is good going.

funnyperson · 19/04/2013 23:34

Yes, isnt it? It is in a little group of plants in pots which I have nurtured in the south facing porch all winter, which ncludes masses of purple sage cuttings and various other cuttings. Perhaps Gertrude Jekyll is an earlier flowering rose than most.

echt · 20/04/2013 06:28

A lovely autumnal day here after a well parky night and morning.

I've planted 5 ferns among the clivia underplanting for the new flowering gum. The black kangaroo paws are in a pot, having displaced a big red kangaroo paw that has yielded two new plants, one to replace a dead one in the back, another for the front garden.

The sad plant unit has coughed up some new brand of nepeta (2) and bromeliad-type plants(5) that I've potted up, and a euphorbia for the back bed.

All my cuttings died in the cold snap Sad, but may be able to start again as it's still warm enough for new growth on the parent plants, but will put them in the propagating plastic thingy this time. It's a difficult time of year; so warm when the sun's out, 20 right now, but very cool in the shade and cold at night.

Rhubarbgarden · 20/04/2013 08:17

I love hearing about your Australian plants Echt.

Pashley Manor Tulip Festival anyone? I'm determined to go this year.

cantspel · 20/04/2013 10:56

Love the arbour. What are you going to grow up it?

ComeIntoTheGardenMaud · 20/04/2013 13:11

That tulip festival sounds lovely. And the arbour looks lovely.

The sun is shining here and it is warm. Everything in the garden is looking lovely. I have dug up almost a plastic trug full of weeds, including bl@@dy celandines. I rue the day I ever planted them. "So pretty" according to my dear mater. Pah.

But, onto more positive things. Wasn't Monty just lovely last night. Even when talking aboit celandines.

funnyperson · 20/04/2013 14:46

I didn't plant my celandines. They just grow.

Glorious weather here today, and I am trying to motivate myself to do anything but sit in the sun. Its still too early to plant out seedlings.

Every time I see Monty I think how nice he is. And his dog. And the Robins. His jumper was fine. Though I felt a bit sorry for them all, talking about celandines, presumably because nothing else was growing much. Carol's programme on primroses this time last year was so much more memorable. I loved the agapanthus person. I am a bit worried about the garden at Meadowfields becoming a 'tv' garden where plants are only planted for the programme and not actually allowed to grow and establish, but maybe thats unreasonable: I think I did read somewhere that Monty only plants things which he and his wife have chosen. Anyway, here is Wordsworth's celandine poem:

There is a Flower, the Lesser Celandine,
That shrinks, like many more, from cold and rain;
And, the first moment that the sun may shine,
Bright as the sun himself, 'tis out again!

When hailstones have been falling, swarm on swarm,
Or blasts the green field and the trees distressed,
Oft have I seen it muffled up from harm,
In close self-shelter, like a Thing at rest.

But lately, one rough day, this Flower I passed,
And recognized it, though an altered form,
Now standing forth an offering to the blast,
And buffeted at will by rain and storm.

I stopped, and said, with inly-muttered voice,
"It doth not love the shower, nor seek the cold:
This neither is its courage nor its choice,
But its necessity in being old.

"The sunshine may not cheer it, nor the dew;
It cannot help itself in its decay;
Stiff in its members, withered, changed of hue."
And, in my spleen, I smiled that it was grey.

To be a Prodigal's Favourite -then, worse truth,
A Miser's Pensioner -behold our lot!
O Man, that from thy fair and shining youth
Age might but take the things Youth needed not!

funnyperson · 20/04/2013 14:50

Wordsworth seems to have written other celandine poems: perhaps this is the one Monty was referring to:

To The Small Celandine

PANSIES, lilies, kingcups, daisies,
Let them live upon their praises;
Long as there's a sun that sets,
Primroses will have their glory;
Long as there are violets,
They will have a place in story:
There's a flower that shall be mine,
'Tis the little Celandine.

Eyes of some men travel far
For the finding of a star;
Up and down the heavens they go,
Men that keep a mighty rout!
I'm as great as they, I trow,
Since the day I found thee out,
Little Flower!--I'll make a stir,
Like a sage astronomer.

Modest, yet withal an Elf
Bold, and lavish of thyself;
Since we needs must first have met
I have seen thee, high and low,
Thirty years or more, and yet
'Twas a face I did not know;
Thou hast now, go where I may,
Fifty greetings in a day.

Ere a leaf is on a bush,
In the time before the thrush
Has a thought about her nest,
Thou wilt come with half a call,
Spreading out thy glossy breast
Like a careless Prodigal;
Telling tales about the sun,
When we've little warmth, or none.

Poets, vain men in their mood!
Travel with the multitude:
Never heed them; I aver
That they all are wanton wooers;
But the thrifty cottager,
Who stirs little out of doors,
Joys to spy thee near her home;
Spring is coming, Thou art come!

Comfort have thou of thy merit,
Kindly, unassuming Spirit!
Careless of thy neighbourhood,
Thou dost show thy pleasant face
On the moor, and in the wood,
In the lane;--there's not a place,
Howsoever mean it be,
But 'tis good enough for thee.

Ill befall the yellow flowers,
Children of the flaring hours!
Buttercups, that will be seen,
Whether we will see or no;
Others, too, of lofty mien;
They have done as worldlings do,
Taken praise that should be thine,
Little, humble Celandine!

Prophet of delight and mirth,
Ill-requited upon earth;
Herald of a mighty band,
Of a joyous train ensuing,
Serving at my heart's command,
Tasks that are no tasks renewing,
I will sing, as doth behove,
Hymns in praise of what I love!
William Wordsworth

MousyMouse · 20/04/2013 14:50

can I come in?
I have a question about

rhubarb Wink

have planted the root stocks just before it got cold (4 weeks or so ago) and last week the first little rolled up leaves were showing. but they were all shriveled up today. snails? what can I do? i water every day if it's not raining...

funnyperson · 20/04/2013 14:55

Rhubarb is the expert. I think yours might have got too cold and wet. Maybe put in a sunny dry spot. ?

I saw a yellow brimstone butterfly i the garden today.

echt · 20/04/2013 15:00

Envy at the tulip festival. They have them here, but not the range that you get in Europe. It's made me google the nearest one which runs in September, with the advantage of being in the Dandenongs, knee deep in nurseries of all kinds.

Dawnywoo · 20/04/2013 16:13

Buy one get one free on all plants till Monday at B&Q (join the B&Q club if not already)

I got two Rosa New Dawn for £5.98 and 24 geraniums for £3

Many bargains to be had. A vast range of very healthy looking plants at my store for a change including lovely Saxifrage packs of 6 for £5.98 (so you get 12...etc)

Always a good deal if someone is looking to buy some large bamboo or something like that.

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