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!

Oh, well done! Everyone else in my house hates garden centres - I have to negotiate to get to go to them. (I don't drive.) Luckily there's a small one within walking distance of the new house
Most of the plants I buy come from the stalls outside National Trust houses, though, which works well because you see them growing and think 'hmm, I'd like one of those.'

rhubarb have fun at the garden centre, I might take dd2 after school.

I forgot I do have Hollyhocks currently in pots grown from seed, I love them although I'm not entirely sure where to plant them or when for that matter!

If anyone is fancying the edible garden show, the Facebook page friendly gardeners has a code for buy one ticket get one free!

It's a full on thunder storm here and I'm glad, everything was soo dry.

I loved that link funny especially ferns and foxgloves. I have lots of both but not together but will try a move around! :)

Yes we had a thunder storm here and it's raining this morning - do we need it - .

ref. garden centres they're different in this area of Fr. there are no cafes !! They are huge too and you do find yourself fancying a cup of something and a sit down while schlepping round them!

I do like French garden centres, ppeat. Dutch ones too - there's a fab one near DH's parents' place. It closes on Sundays though, which seems absolutely bonkers. The DIY sheds do too; the Dutch are weirdly old fashioned when it comes to Sunday closing.

Ds enjoyed our trip this morning. He insisted on smelling every rose in bloom in the rose section and twisting every knob on every barbecue in the barbecue section. We didn't buy anything except cat food though; the plants there are largely overpriced and shocking quality.

Tunip National Trust places always have lovely healthy plants, and interesting varieties too. It's worth splashing out.

That's true Rhubarb, and they're no more expensive than Langlands, which used to be our nearest garden centre.

That is parenting success Rhubarb when your child says that ! Thank you Ppeat, will do that with my roses. FP I'm so glad all is peaceful with your parents and the plans for next year sound really lovely.

The fence is going in where the hedge neighbour cut down at the moment . I've started a thread to vent as it stirred in my feelings of outrage all over again. But actually I think it will look ok and that a couple of raised beds for veg will work well - good thing I didn't get round to doing them where I had planned !

I don't much like the yellow rose on the front of the house so am probably going to move that there where I think it will fit better. Having said that I am thinking about fruit trees.

One of the reasons we are so happy here Rhubarb is like the Dutch the French don't open their shops for every hour of the day we have to admire their attitude to 'making money' which is not their 'raison d'être' they STILL close for lunch! Not all of them of course.

As you can tell we're old fashioned too .We're not religious btw.

Very amused to know that you have raised a kindred spirit rhubarb!

Talking of yellow roses, the 'victory' rose is flowering again and is yellow, it does provide cheer to the patio and wont go anywhere else in the garden so it will probably stay there for another year. Wimbledon green rose hasn't flowered at all this year

However rosa Magenta bleu and rosa Mrs Oakley Fisher have now found places in the sunnier border out back after a year in pots in the south facing front patio, and if they flower there and thrive there this will now be a very pretty border indeed next summer!

Sugarplum it sounds as though your fence story might have a happy end!

Geoff what link are you talking about?

The one to summer houses, scroll through the pictures to find the lovely foxgloves and ferns, which I'm going to copy. I know you weren't intending to show plants but as I can't afford a summer house that's what I homed in on!

Oh yes those foxgloves and ferns look lovely!

I bought ferns and white foxglove seeds for the shady bit at the front that I am supposed to be making low maintenance and forgetting, I hope they look as lovely as in that picture.

I didn't buy much at the flower show as the things I wanted weren't there, I was tempted by a shrub and then didn't go back for it. Saw it at Harlow Carr the next day and really wished I had got it (see picture) being clever I took a picture of the label next to it which said eupatorium purpureum, googled it and it isn't that so please help me!

Squeaky That shrub is lovely, is it in it's autumn colours?

Dh had decided to paint the garage, and house. Rambling rose and wisteria cut right back.

Sorry I was on my phone, the rose I think is a rambling rector, and has been flowering all summer, unfortunately too high to actually see the flowers. It has new growth at the base of the trunk, so we cut it right back to that, shame about the flowers still to come , I've stuck one with buds in water you never know!

Is there a way to date roses, as it does look old?

squeaky my first thought was that lovely shrub was cyclamen time for new glasses I think!

This is the shrub rescued from a border , rhododendron ? Or something else ?

Gah

Squeaky I think that's a Euonymus, but there are loads of varieties so I couldn't tell you which one. Could be Euonymus alatus, that has lovely red autumn colour.

Geoff that shrub could be an autumn flowering camellia, perhaps?

Rambling Rector doesn't repeat flower. It has one big showstopper moment in spring then that's it, so if yours has been flowering all summer it's probably something else.

I've just been leafing through the David Austin catalogue trying to choose a climbing rose for round the front door (scaffolding came down today, hurrah). I can't decide. Help me! The walls are old brick, the front door is painted sage green and the window frames are off-white. I'm wondering about Iceberg (but no scent), Etoile de Hollande (will it be lost against red brick?), or Maigold (would I regret yellow?). There is a yew hedge in front of the house with a very old pale yellow rose rambling through it, so it can't clash with that. I think that rules out pink.

Ooh. Got my big David Austin book out now. Opinions on lovely apricot coloured Paul Lédé?

I've been having a look at climbers recently Rhubarb and Creme de la creme caught my eye. Geoff I thought camellia as well but can't see very well on phone. Squeaky, no idea but it is lovely !

Had the most fantastic 90 mins gardening in my friend's new garden. It is going to be fantastic and if anyone deserves it after a shitty couple of years she does. She's a bit daunted bless her as very over grown but we started at the front gate and quite quickly we started finding the structure of the garden with walks appearing. There is a greenhouse totally hidden by ivy.

Great bamboo by the gate and she looked really pleased with her new bamboo canes we harvested. Loads of wildlife too, a little frog peeped out at us and there was a moment when we jumped when she thought she saw something furry running away. A little Robin was watching us as we worked.

Very quickly we uncovered some lovely little pink and white cyclamen. There are mature fruit trees and lots of well established shrubs. At one point there was a gorgeous sweet scent that kept wafting over but unsure what it was, reminded me of gardenia.

It quite clearly was a much loved garden once and it will be lovely seeing it come alive into a family garden for her two boys.

I identified a fair bit but there's a fair amount I don't know so am hoping you lovely lot could help over the next few weeks of I take some photos ?

That sounds glorious SugarPlum. What fun to uncover it.

I agree that lovely shrub is probably Euonymus Alatus. I fell in love with it at Wisley a couple of years ago.

Rhubarb Paul Lédé sounds like it would go very well with the house, and would lovely with the pale yellow climber.

Rhubarb you are amazing it is definitely an euonymus Alatus and is definitely going on my shopping list!

Geoff it's lovely whatever it is! I always thought camellias only flowered early summer and have never been keen as I think they look sad when the flowers brown but could be tempted by one like that.

sugarplum it must be lovely to help out like that! I have always liked the idea of rescuing a garden

Squeaky and Geoff - I vote for euonymus and camellia too.

One for the potting shed jury - we were given a Woolworth 's camellia as a housewarming present nearly 20 years ago. It has been in a pot of the right sort of compost, has been fed and pampered and had sun at the right time of day, but still does not flower. Should I hang onto it for sentimental reasons or donate it to next week's plant sale?

Oh and SugarPlumTree, that garden excavation sounds really exciting. I'm a bit hit and miss with plant identification but not as bad as those folk who turn up on identify my plant threads and confidently announce that a plant is something it quite patently is not but always willing to join in the game.

Rhubarb - I think an apricot rose could be just the ticket. I can see in the other place why the blue-grey window frames didn't work. It looks gorgeous now.

I impulse-bought La Parisienne a few weeks ago and am hoping the buds will open tomorrow.

Ooh La Parisienne looks stunning. Paul Lédé is sadly off the list now a bit of research has shown that it must be sprayed, as must Etoile de Hollande. Lady of Shallot and Bridge of Sighs are now contenders instead.

SugarPlum that was the loveliest post to read. What a pleasant day that must have been.

Maud I would be very conflicted about your Camellia.