Tickle the earth with a hoe, and she will laugh with a harvest

[Rhubarbgarden]

Potting shed chat for all those interested in wittering on about gardens and sharing the love of plants. Plenty of dusty old deck chairs to sit on and sloe gin to warm the cockles; join us!

Good idea, thanks funkybold

I just read the hydrangea thread!
I personally really like hydrangeas, especially as cut flowers or in a mixed border. I had white hydrangea bouquets tied to the pew ends in the church for my wedding.
But then I love blowsy, feminine, pretty flowers...

Some lovely photos on here!

Your bank looks beautiful, Castle. Try not to get despondent. Focus on your garden's structure for now - get the landscaping right, decide where you want paths and hedges first. Then think about where to put trees and large shrubs. Once you've done that, it's time to think about plants; but you've got to get the 'bones' sorted first.

Loved the hydrangea thread, thanks for linking to that!

Funny get well soon x

Oooh that bank is gorgeous castle! And all those wild flowers will be so good for bees and local wildlife too. That's what I tell myself about the weeds wildflower garden under the apple trees.

Such amazing pictures, I love the idea of planting in swathes but definitely no titchmarshian ripping out here, I'd just like to try and tame it a bit next year and then see how we go, it is very blocky but I think there's a nice traditional country garden under there somewhere.

I saw the hydrangea thread and thought of you all! Poor maligned hydrangeas, they mean well.

funny sorry to hear you have been poorly, hope you feel better soon.

I had a bit of a disappointment today, only just realised the 'plum' tree which didn't seem to be ripening is actually greengages and about a third have gone over before I worked it out. Wondering if I can try and salvage some of them for jam if I mix them with damsons??

anyone know how to find out what kind of figs we have and when we can harvest?
a mediteranian colleague said they had different varieties in their garden, an eating kind with red flesh and a cooking kind with green flesh.

Thanks for undeserved bank compliments! and Rhubarb thanks for encouragement. That's what I plan to do- sort out the bones of the garden layout, but will have to wait until the septic tank and percolation area are in and i've tussled with DH to see what I have left to work with.

TherealMaud I'm positive there will be a greengage expert along shortly. I think both Rhubarb and Humph have them for starters... Maus I don't really know about figs. If you got it from a garden centre they might have a record of the varieties they've stocked in the past. I imagine there would be small enough selection available/suitable for growing here, in comparison to on the Med? Might be easy to identify! Bring some of your figs about to compare with others ...

Greengages, yes just mix with plums. Will be fine. Don't be disappointed though - greengages are gorgeous!

Figs; more than likely Brown Turkey; we haven't got a med climate so only a few varieties grow here.

I know about growing greengages but not about cooking them, I'm afraid! I'm absolutely the last person to ask cooking questions of.

By far the most common fig grown in UK gardens is Brown Turkey, so the chances are that's what it is. But there are others.

I can't remember the last time I got chance to do any gardening. I'm starting to get really frustrated by it.

X post on the fig front!

I would cook the greengages separately from damsons: the gages have a more delicate flavour, which would be swamped by the damsons. Lucky you having a greengage tree! Yum yum.

I just made some damson jelly to avoid having to deal with the stones...

thanks.
they have (so far) not turned brown at all. they are walnut green.
tree was here when we moved in so have no clue what it is and when it was planted.

Castle that may not have been what you were trying for with the bank, and goodness only knows what happened to the other 93 varieties of wildflower in the seed mix, but it does look like a happy bank. I like the red/yellow mix.

My fig was on the list of drought fatalities whilst we were on holiday. No figs for me this year . Mine's a yellow and crispy brown turkey.

Thanks Bertha.
Rhubarb I'm sorry you haven't been getting as much gardening in as you'd hoped lately. I bet you are doing lots of planning though?! When are you ordering your Pitmaston Pineapple?

Ha ha yes I have been doing lots of planning actually! I finally got to grips with Pinterest, so I've made a board of plants that I want for my north facing border. It's great for making sure colours work together. I can fiddle around with it any time I get a moment too, while the dcs are occupied on the trampoline or something.

Today we went to a local NGS garden. Really beautiful. Best willow tunnel I've seen - big enough for two adults to walk through side by side without feeling claustrophobic.

They had some Pinky Winky hydrangeas on the plant stall, and interestingly they were nearly all white with just a touch of pink. Rather lovely.

Well, back from my hols and the garden looks in good shape, albeit overgrown. My lovely neighbour had watered the front but, to judge by the dipping tank and plant saucers, we've had plenty of rain. The only fatalities seem to be all but one of my fuchsia cuttings, but I think that was due to my poor technique.

My DD has promised to teach me how to do Pinterest - I joined but have done nothing with it. I intend (next year?) to make a board of French municipal planting, having seen some stonkingly good roundabouts and planters by the side of the road (including the mystery hydrangea discussed earlier). Lots and lots of gaura in evidence this year, making me even sadder that mine died because I didn't notice it had been swamped by fuchsia magellanica.

I have just been given two very nice box balls as an early birthday present but am struggling to know where to put them. I may use them as markers at the top of the garden path.

Another one here who has joined Pinterest but done nothing on it. It scares me rather...

Yes, possibly scary and addictive but also fun, I hope.

Hi the real I would love to rescue a garden as it it the design side I struggle with! mind you my just shoving things I like in seems to have worked on one border this year photos to follow!

castle I know you want to ignore the bank but let your DH loose on it later with a strimmer and hopefully all your other varieties will appear next year. I am amazed that your rose cuttings have survived none of mine ever have

funny hope you feel better soon! I am sat recovering from gallbladder surgery and it's frustrating not being able to get out on the nicest day we have had for ages.

maud your French municipal planting scheme idea sounds lovely! what with ppeat and echt I love the international feel of this thread plus all the poetry that sneaks in

Hello and happy gardening/planning/shopping to everyone else!

I promised some photos earlier so here goes! Three of bits I like and then I will post some to illustrate the main barrier to my garden is that my husband loves eBay and projects and is not a completed finisher!

Here goes!

Photo one shows the end of the garden that has been waiting for a garage for years so I haven't been able to do anything other then try to hide it!

Photo two shows the garage that is supposed to go on the base and the two cabins that hold all the stuff to go in the garage. These currently take up most of the patio and block the view from the dining room.

Photo three shows rusty the camper that has sat there for six years rusting away but the plan was she would go in the garage to be fixed up! She takes up most of the rest of the patio!

If any of you with husbands that build things would like to send me theirs or even instructions on how to get them to do things I would be very grateful!

Hello everyone, I am back from Normandy and wholly agree that the municipal planting is very pleasing.

The planting looks lovely Squeaky.
Funny, I am sorry to hear you have been in hospital. Hope you are feeling better now.
Castle, the bank looks very bright and cheerful in the photos!

arf at common plants. Must have a read of that thread. I don't like Busy Lizzies and Begonias or standard roses planted in a block with bare earth showing underneath but I didn't think them common!

Hallu could I get some advice, not sure it warrants a whole new thread...

I'm getting my new house next week and the garden is a bit of a mess, nothing green in it.

I desperately want lavender but what size trough/pot would be best for this? (my mother has some in her garden which she can ...cultivate is it? she used a long word)

Thanks in advance!

The scaffolding has gone! We still have men pottering about painting things but the end is in sight

Nice garage squeaky! My DH doesn't do projects; he has a very good understanding of his practical limitations. It doesn't stop him wanting to do projects, but it does stop him from starting them...

Journey - I have lavender in largish pots and smallish pots and in the ground. It does grow quite large generally so you'll need to account for that, or pot it on as it grows. Depends on the size of the plants you'll be receiving really. If you're starting with teeny ones it'll look a bit lost in a huge trough.

Did she say 'propagate'?

Proper lavender advice here

juney. Auto correct working well this evening.