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

Original poster

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." This month's discussion in the potting shed.

999 replies

MyNightWithMaud · 22/03/2015 19:40

Grateful thanks to the magnificent Margaret Atwood (via A Mighty Girl) for the quote.

I have just come indoors after a delightful couple of hours' pottering in the garden. It's far warmer than yesterday and everything feels optimistic and vernal again, after yesterday's Arctic blast.

High point: Realising that most of last year's cuttings have taken. Given that I am useless with seeds this, I think, is my propagating future.

Low point: Realising that my newest fairy lights have already failed.

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62
ChopperGordino · 10/04/2015 16:11

what ferns would you knowledgeable folk recommend for a small garden? they need to be reasonably upright and woodlandy (rather than tropical-y iyswim) and sit in a north-facing narrow bed (50cm deep - sadly can't change this), alkaline soil

ones i've seen and like so far are soft shield, holly fern and hart's tongue (not sure about this one but love the name!)

ChopperGordino · 10/04/2015 16:16

oh and lady fern too, though worry it might get too big and not sure about deciduous

Original poster
MyNightWithMaud · 10/04/2015 17:39

I have a very common or garden fern in the shady border (can't remember its name). In pots in a very shady corner I have the painted fern collection from J Parkers. One in particular is very pretty and they're already putting on new growth.

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itsnothingoriginal · 10/04/2015 18:34

Chopper - I have a soft shield fern in alkaline soil under my trees and is doing fine!

Been very frustrated to be back at work last few days and missing out on my gardening time Sad

Mind you, I currently have the kids from the house behind staring at me all day in the garden as the trees aren't in leaf yet!! Bit disconcerting.... roll on school next week (and my trees finally coming back to life Grin).

Thanks for the Photinia advice mypinkmonkey I'm going to pamper it with plant food and loads of compost mulch to see if that helps!! Still dropping lots of leaves every day Shock

Will post photos of pond asap - just need to finish off hiding the liner and putting plants in now!!

Bearleigh · 10/04/2015 19:46

Hallsall welcome! Are your lily of the valley through yet, as like Geoff's mine aren't, and while they've been back every year for the past 3 I am getting a little worried.

I have a lady fern in a dark clay-ey north facing border and recently noticed a tiny baby.

ChopperGordino · 10/04/2015 19:53

thanks - how tall/wide are your ferns?

i think lily of the valley almost don't look real in RL. they are so perfect and delicate

Halsall · 10/04/2015 20:03

Bearleigh, hmmm, yes, they are....romping away, I'm afraid. Whereabouts in the country are you, though?

nightshade1 · 10/04/2015 20:27

potting shed arrival - Persephone Wren made her appearance Tuesday morning.
I will catch up with the thread soon Smile

Castlelough · 10/04/2015 20:34

Oh Nightshade! GrinGrinGrin
How exciting! Congratulations!

In other exciting news I am watching Gardeners World for the first time live on BBC2 with the rest of you!

Halsall · 10/04/2015 20:39

Many congrats Nightshade

Terrible dilemma here - Masterchef or GW?? Aaargh!

Original poster
MyNightWithMaud · 10/04/2015 20:46

GW here. No contest!

How lovely to have another potting shed baby, especially one with such a beautiful name. Congratulations, Nightshade!

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HumphreyCobbler · 10/04/2015 21:02

Many congratulations Nightshade - how exciting! What a lovely name your daughter has.

ChopperGordino · 10/04/2015 21:14

congratulations nightshade! persophone bringing in the spring

Rhubarbgarden · 10/04/2015 21:32

Congratulations Nightshade! Lovely news, lovely name. Flowers

Bearleigh · 10/04/2015 22:16

Wonderful news Nighshade - such a lovely name. Have you read any of the books published by Persephone?

Halsall thanks - I am in Surrey so they should be through really. Maybe the aswarm weather today has given them a boost...

The seaside garden on GW was amazing.

Blackpuddingbertha · 10/04/2015 22:20

Congratulations Nightshade Flowers. Beautiful name!

I spent two hours stripping brambles, nettles & ground elder out of a patch of the wood. Made such a difference. There are loads of primrose, woodland anemone, little violets etc. in there and the Solomon seal is coming up already. My arms are shredded by the brambles though; looks like I've gone 10 rounds with a particularly viscous cat! Still loads more to do though.

Blackpuddingbertha · 10/04/2015 22:22

Photo for you.

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." This month's discussion in the potting shed.
HumphreyCobbler · 10/04/2015 22:28

Lovely photo Bertha

Blackpuddingbertha · 10/04/2015 22:33

What is a 'viscous' cat exactly?

I did of course mean vicious. Smile

Original poster
MyNightWithMaud · 10/04/2015 22:44

The wood looks beautiful and sylvan. My parents' garden is covered in primroses, so I may liberate a few.

I agree about the seaside garden on GW. That's just the sort of lush, densely planted cornucopia I love.

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Halsall · 10/04/2015 23:10

That is disappointing Bearleigh, but still time. I'm attempting to post a photo of some of mine...fingers crossed...

"In the spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt." This month's discussion in the potting shed.
Rhubarbgarden · 10/04/2015 23:21

Lovely photos. Sounds very satisfying Bertha.

I thought the seaside garden was wonderful too, and its owner quite inspirational.

Rhubarbgarden · 10/04/2015 23:21

I rather like the idea of a viscous cat.

funnyperson · 11/04/2015 03:07

Congratulations on your beautiful daughter nightshade Her classical name is really lovely! Now you will have to be earth-mother!

I never quite made it to earth mother. Work always got in the way. I'm convinced both the DC have attachment issues as a consequence as I only ever had a few weeks off with each after they were born. But creating a comfortable home and garden and cooking lovely food and making space for friends for DC takes time which I found I never had enough of. We got by with the help of family but it really wasn't the same as if I had been at home. I underestimated my children's need of me, probably due to lack of confidence. I was trained to do my job, so it was much easier to be confident and competent at that, but looking back my children wouldn't have cared how confident I was, they only wanted me. If I had my time again I would a) marry a millionaire and b) work part time; but I suppose it is ideologically un-sound to say that. I'm so happy that more and more employers, and in particular the NHS, have flexible working options now which didn't exist years ago.

I really enjoyed GW right from the first fritillary shot! I thought the water irises so beautiful and the seaside garden owner and her garden totally brilliant and Monty spot on with his planting. It is always so useful to watch him plant stuff. I'm inspired to do more planting and sowing this weekend, and creating of curving lines and layers of colour and using the vertical space! It helped me decide where ti plant stuff.

Liking the photo bertha . Also the viscous cat.

SugarPlumTree · 11/04/2015 05:30

Congratulations Nightshade lovely name. She ia about a week younger than my nephew.

I don't think my lily of the valley is through either. It was here when we moved in and has always come up, will look later once it is light. The dog isn't well so waiting for her to come back in.

I'm looking forward to GW but hoping fir a but more sleep first as she had us up at 2 as well bless her.

FP from your previous posts I always thought 8 soy sed like you have a lovely relationship with your DC. They sound like lovely , thoughtful, independent young people and I have read things you have posted about them thinking I hope mine turn out like that.

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