He who dares not grasp the thorn should never crave the rose

[Blackpuddingbertha]

New thread for the potting shed crowd using Rhubarb's rose suggestion and Squeaky's quote for the new title.

Spring is underway with promises of summer in our gardens big and small.

Elderberry wine for all

It's odd what you say about grit, funnyperson, exactly the same here in Melbourne. I end up going to a builders' yard for fine gravel, then rinsing it. Unfortunately, the smallest bag they do weighs about 15k.:o

I picked up some cheap bulbs at Aldi today, hyacinths and tulips. Tulips always go into the salad crisper in the beer fridge until the Queen's birthday holiday in June, then they can be planted. This is because it never gets cold enough here in winter to promote flowering. I said upthread I wouldn't bother this year with tulips, but couldn't resist, and any way, they're DH's favourite flower.

I found some hyacinth glasses, once belonging to my dear dead MIL in a garage rummage, so we'll use those this year.

The rain is still going: 26 hours now.

It does mean I've caught up on the new Rev, series 3, and about to start on Coogan and Brydon's trip to Italy, so time well-spent.:o

Gosh Echt Aldi have even reached Australia?! Maybe they are going to take over the world! It is slightly worrying how the gardens of the world are being shaped by Aldi's best offers....! Have decided that I must make more of an effort to support garden centres from now on...

Humph thanks for the advice!

Wynken you are the chilli expert, right? Can you explain why the little chilli plant I received as a gift in June 2012 is still struggling away on my window sill??? I thought it would have died after the first season! Is that normal?

Thanks for the welcomes! I've been reading this thread on and off for a while, but always thought I didn't garden enough or know enough to join in. However, I've got to the stage of boring everybody I know with flower talk, so thought bugger it! My grandad loves it, he's finally got someone to pass his wisdom on to

I've also just planted up some flowers supplied by Aldi! Surprising how far that place is reaching. Only pansies for me though, needed a few smaller bits to fill the gaps. echt Tulips are my favourite flower too, grandad was trying to tell me they're a bit of a waste of a pot, whereas I would be happy to just see them in my garden.

The grit takes some finding at my garden centre too. They hide it amongst the decorative pebbles and pea shingle etc. They used to sell local authority compost but they've stopped doing it, which is annoying.

I always use grit when planting bulbs, and mulch things like lavender with it too.

Welcome BreakOut!

Polesden Lacey is a lovely place. Beautiful formal gardens, especially the rose garden which has a splendid pergola. My favourite thing was a long old flint wall, which has had Aubretia planted into it at intervals. Really stunning.

That sounds lovely, Rhubarb. I haven't been to PL for years. I'm hoping to do some National Trusting over Easter.

I have my suspicion about the 'branded' compost, that it is just the council one.
wrt grit, I have to confess to using sandpit sand to mix it with compost.

what's your view on compressed cocos 'soil'? have my seedlings in that atm, it's not as smelly as normal compost which is great if you keep the seedlings in the house. but how does it fare on plant nutrition?

my sweet peas have been slugged!! I've just sown some more in the hope they will catch up soon.

loved the Dixter programme last night, and in honour of CL I've just been out and sown some calendula in a pot. I am not usually an orange fan but I feel a change is in order.

*Chris Beardshaw is giving away a copy of the book that accompanies the series on his FB page
www.facebook.com/ChrisBeardshawGardenDesign?fref=ts

I have too many tadpoles. I'm actually starting to panic a bit.

I'm feeding them. Is this wise?

Ah, now, I rather like orange (hence my flirtation with orange tulips) and like to combine it with purple. It's yellow I don't much care for.

I love orange. It's wonderful with limes and burgundies.

Bearleigh could it be wood pigeons eating your flowers? I've had big problems with them in the past.

I'm not keen on orange and was just contemplating getting rid of all the crocosomia. Although might be worth trying something lime and burgundy. I'm not really that ruthless they are in the bit earmarked for a patio.

I've had a lovely afternoon, moved 8 Alliums, pricked out yet more seedlings. I've also divided a sennetti magenta bicolour into 3 plants and popped in a border. It flowered its socks off all winter and is still flowering.

My Hostas are doing well, though the Aldi ones do all look the same. I need to start planting out some things, it's begining to feel like there won't be any frost. :)

shhhhhhhhh pogglebonk don't jinx it now!

My so-called Venetian bed ::ponce alert:: is supposed to be purple, red and lime.

I use hort grit mainly as a top dressing for pots. Keeps the weeds down and looks pretty. My local garden centre does the attractive looking terracotta coloured stuff but I always have to ask where it is as they like to hide it.

I have trouble finding the horticultural grit, must try again. Castlelough chilli plants are perennial in warmer climates so if you keep it frost free it will survive. Once it's warmer stick it in a new pot and let it do its thing this season somewhere warm and sunny.

I over-wintered a chilli in the conservatory once. Couldn't make it do two winters though.

I love orange now too, and am starting to like (some) yellow flowers. I really don't like the bright yellow forsythia when it's closely trimmed, but quite like it when it's left to grow out so the branches are well spiced out. And I do like the pale yellow version.

I like the sound of the Venetian bed - not poncey at all. I used to have plans for a mostly soft yellow/orange/pink bed but forgot about the soft blue campanula. So I decided it would be the colours of a sunset.

Just watched the GD programme. I found it really interesting. I've only been once though we live quite near, and I realise it must have been around 1994, just after they did the exotic garden. It was gorgeous but not as lush as it is now.

I love Polesden Lacey --we used to take BabyBearleigh a lot when he was little (he used to tickle each of the griffins, and the putti on the sundial, and we had races down the hill). Memories...

When I was last there I was pleased that they seemed to be giving the planting a bit more TLC, as it had been looking a little tired, so I hope you enjoy your trip Rhubarb. There's a nice walk down the lane that the thatched bridge goes over, through some sheep-filled fields, in a sweet valley and back up that we only discovered recently. It is about 2 miles, so I don't know if the children will be compatible with it, but it is lovely at this time of year.

Oh, the bed is lovely (or will be when I finally achieve what I'm aiming for, which (as I keep changing my mind) may take years) but I do fear I am being a bit poncey in calling it Venetian.

Bearleigh that hill is wonderful for running down! We didn't find the walk you describe but it's one to try in future.

I've finally cut the grass, tried for striped but gave up in the end due to all the obstacles.

I must get to Great Dixter, really enjoyed the program.

Has anyone been to the Dorothy Clive Garden? its only about 30mins from here and ive noticed they've got a plant hunters fair on easter sun/mon.
Just debating whether to go by myself or take the children out and make a day of it.

my garden is exploding atm
the lawn as grown a lot, but can't mow yet. how long until the new grass is strong enough?

lots of tulips, now the darker ones are coming out, until now it was mainly yellows and pinks, one iris, the bluebells, Leucojum vernum. the ceanothus is on the brink of flower as well.

and I can report the first few buds on my new roses. didn't expect that yet!
the sickly rose seems to have started now as well, with strong new shoots.

The rain has finally abated after nearly 48 hours, so washing, not gardening has been the priority as we do not have tumble drier.

For once it's warm, that is the rains came in from the north, so ambient temperatures haven't plummeted. Weed city is all I can say. An upside of this is the mini aubergines so badly positioned by DH have fruited at last.

A lovely aspect is the smells you get because it hasn't rained for ages; lemon-scented gums are astounding. Lots of bird activity, too, with all sort of interesting bugs and stuff erupting on the nature strips. Every tea tree I pass has instantly grown at least an inch, often more of leaf stems.

Jobs for the weekend are re-potting a bay, avocado and that poinsettia left over from Christmas.

Thanks Wynken God knows how the chilli survived on my kitchen windowsill considering we were without heat for most of the winter don't ask! that is what happens when you try to keep a racehorse in training when you cannot afford to

Echt an avocado tree? Love avocados!

Just back from Aldi, where a clematis Montana Rubens fell into my trolley....! Well two fell in...but I made myself put one back....€5.99 2L pot, in full bloom, it would have been rude not to!

Wildflower seed still hasn't arrived, , and when I phoned up the man said their Internet connection had been down for 10 days and is still down and everything is backed up with the orders .

Thanks for lovely FB comments! Will try to get on later tonight. Hope everyone has a lovely weekend!