A garden is a lovesome thing, God wot!

[MaudantWit]

Join us for ongoing gardening chat in the MN potting shed. Blow the cobwebs off a deckchair, help yourself to a glass of elderberry champagne and tell us about your garden.

Hello, ppeatfruit, there are quite a few plants called ti/tea trees, what's the Latin name of yours?

When I looked at the RHS advice, ppeatfruit, I discovered that the advice that agapanthus have to be pot-bound is overstated. It is true, in my experience, that they don't like being sparsely planted - I made the mistake of putting three baby plants in a large pot and they are taking ages to fill it and have yet to flower - but apparently they don't want to be pot-bound either. I will try emptying the pot and thinning them a little.

NANN it is, as you say, probably for the best. I expect your neighbours are quite busy with their own building work, it may be a kindness to them to take the rose off their hands .

ref. Tea tree; dsis just gave it to me without any label Echt but it has fine short needle like leaves on a many soft branched trunk (and smells gorgeously tea tree like).

I was trying to grow one bulb in a pot so probably that was the reason for my agapanthus failure, Maudant do they like a specific acidity do you know?

I'm planning to plant the alstromere; I know they'll like my free draining soil but I'm not sure if they'll be happy with the alkinity any one know?

The tea tree you have is the pukka one from which the the oil is made - melaleuca alternifolia

Here's a link to growing it:
sagegardener.blogspot.com.au/2007/09/growing-great-tea-tree.html

The tea tree I have is the coastal tea tree - leptospermum laevaigatum.

www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2F1.bp.blogspot.com%2F_HUjYSMsnxvc%2FTPN85WcydfI%2FAAAAAAAADr8%2FsyNCvu575B4%2Fs1600%2FPalisadesParkSantaMonica.JPG&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Ftravelwithterryla.blogspot.com%2F2010_11_01_archive.html&h=384&w=576&tbnid=an3D2HWTmktHfM%3A&zoom=1&q=image%20of%20coastal%20tea%20tree.&docid=wYHGU5aYlJEE2M&ei=PwW9U7GoE8zOkwWZsoHABw&tbm=isch&client=safari&ved=0CGIQMyg8MDw&iact=rc&uact=3&dur=2097&page=5&start=49&ndsp=14

Thanks echt

I don't know whether agapanthus have any very specific requirements. I grow all mine in pots with John Innes compost lightened with some general purpose compost and grit, because I find JI on its own gets very solid after a couple of years and I know agapanthus don't like to be waterlogged.

That sounds like they would like it here Maudant thanks but I've given up for this season anyway. I've got marguerites and dahlias which are new to me (including my usual lemon trees and pelargoniums) in pots on the terrace ATM and they're enough to worry about

So far only one of the dahlias is growing I must put some petroleum jelly round the top of the pots to stop the bleedin' snails.

Off on holiday tomorrow. Fingers crossed for lots of rain here in our absence so I don't have to worry about the garden.

Have a lovely holiday Bertha.

Name change here . PM me if you don't get the clue

Have a good holiday ref. the rain, I was away for a week and it DID rain; the pelargonium blooms were a bit battered by it BUT the compost was dry! The thick leaf cover stopped the rain getting into the pots properly.

Hello everyone. Had a SPLENDID time at HC yesterday, will put some pictures up in a bit. Came home with a silver fern, a banana mint and a lavendar mint, and lots of seeds. I have never been before and thought it was so well done. I also enjoyed all the live music which was of a very high quality.

WIsh I could go back today.

Congratulations nightshade!

I am still trying to keep on top of the weeding, I have too many empty spaces that are full of willow herb! I am waiting for the neighbour to paint the fence before I plant up the new border but am now worried that everything will have finished flowering first! Oh well there is always next year!

Lucky you Humphrey It looked good on TV last night. I LOVE mints but ours don't do much. They're not invasive here.

I saw a few people at Victoria station just now, obviously carrying their HC purchases. Some nice plants...

How lovely, Humph. I wish I could have gone.

I am really enjoying the evening light streaming through the Cotinus at the moment, when I sit in the kitchen looking out at the garden, after the kids have gone to bed. The light makes it glow quite blood red. It's in the border that is going to be my jewel colours border, so I think I shall keep it even though it's a bit too big for the border and will need to be kept practically bonsaied. I shall put other 'see-through' plants with it like Verbena bonariensis and Miscanthus. And I'll need a deep pink rose I think.

I can't believe I forgot to mention this, but I came around a corner and practically bumped into Monty. I was so close to him! I restrained myself from reaching out and touching his arm as he passed It must be so strange to be famous and have people LOOKING at you wherever you go.

Have a lovely holiday bertha

HC sounds fab, must watch a bit on tv. Fancy seeing Monty, I still wonder if he reads this thread of course he doesn't

Rhubarb Had to google, cotinus -lovely don't blame you for keeping it.

I've just got in from 3 hours of mowing, weeding and watering. It's so lovely when the evenings are light.

Rhubarb has spoken to Monty of course.

Humph - I used to eat mince pies and carol sing in his kitchen!

gosh yes nightshade, I remember now that you know him and his family. I realised that I stared at him in rather a rude way! I honestly think being famous must be a burden.

I bet Sarah and Monty make a cracking mince pie.

humph did he look like he does on telly? The show looked wonderful on telly and I have to say that Monty is a nice presenter and Carol Klein a brilliant actress: when it came to lust and anger she really expressed the emotions well and those gardens looked good, so I am determined to go and am not sure I can wait till Sunday and may have to go twice. I also want to see the smouldering 'bath' garden a lot, with its golden grasses and frothy purple stuff. Anyway I need some twool.

However I'm not sure I'm well enough and don't want to face crowds or go to the sell off this year. Anyway I'm either going tomorrow morning because it will be quiet, or Sunday afternoon or both or neither. If I go on Sunday maud do lets dip our feet in the long water and share a years worth of chat over an ice cream! Please pm me your mobile number which I have lost.

The plants I bought at last years show: the variegated jasmine, white Sally Holmes rose and allium everest bulbs did and are doing really well. I sowed lime green nicotiniana seeds this year and they are flowering really well now, reminding me of the bargain plants maud and I got last year.

Ok that's it sod the housework I am off to watch HC on iplayer!

Saw this on a card recently and thought of you all!

squeaky I reckon that Monty Don is the most relaxed presenter on telly.How he manages it I don't know! DH is a TV exec so I know a bit about how difficult it is to be 'friends' with everyone .

I've just done a lovely job that's been weighing on my conscience;clearing a load of recycling from the grange\garage and broken old tiles from a bit of reroofing that was done MUCH earlier this year It's great having a place outside to dump stuff but it also has to be cleared!! I feel a lot better for it though!