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

[MyNightWithMaud]

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.

Halsall lovely garden picture.

I have no suggestions rhubarb my garden is a bit lacking in climbers of the late flowering variety other than Passion flowers and they're not to everyone's taste!

Trachleospermum came up on a google search, any good?

I've been pondering. Would a rose work, Rhubarb? My Winchester Cathedral flowers pretty much all summer.

Trachelospermum is a possibility but I fear would get out of control.

A rose would be beautiful but there are several climbing roses in the garden already, and client has specified no more. In any case, I think it's too shady. Plus it really needs to be self clinging for low maintenance purposes.

It's really tricky! But I think traviata's pretty clematis might work.

rhubarb your garden looks amazing! That spirea really sings!

What about a climbing hydrangea for shade?

Oh, and I am currently a camassia heretic. I have them in semi-shade and they are very leafy, plus leaves are quite messy. The flowers are up and lovely for 2 minutes, but then gone. I am going to move them to my baked front garden and see if they do a bit better there.

Rhubarb, this site might be worth a google. Some interesting/unusual climbers and things on there, although you probably know them all well already!

holly I think you mean Halsall's garden/Spiraea.

Halsall thanks for that website - lovely; I've not come across that one begore.

Climbing hydrangea gets too big unfortunately.

Before, not begore

I was suggesting a rose to be the white shrub, not necessarily the climber, but as the client wants no more roses it's academic.

Halsall - sorry, yes, YOUR garden.

I am properly forgetful today! Sorry! (I cleaned my toilet twice this morning, because I forgot I'd already done it and was half way through doing it again before I remembered. Yes, really. What the hell is going on?!)

Great website halsall I liked the look of dregia sinensis, although the scent was likened to a childs 2 day old swim kit found under the bed so maybe not

I'm extremely forgetful, and far worse since having dc's. I actually decided against glyphosate in case it gives me Alzeimers. I've been treating the bindweed soil with boiling water.

Any ideas what I could grow in pots by my kitchen window, no sun at all. I have ferns and 1 pot of mint balanced on a ladder that Dh found in a skip. Lots more room on the ladder!

geoff i'm going to try some watercress that you can apparently grow in standing water (so i'll do it in a pot in a bowl of water) that needs to be kept in a shady place

also heucheras in pots?

I find that heucheras don't thrive in pots - they seem to rot off at soil (compost) level - but tiarellas, although they look so similar, are happier. How about vinca or hosta? The ladder might give added protection against slugs, although they might slime their way up it!

Interesting, I think they have quite deep roots too. I'm growing them from seed this year and will hopefully have enough to sacrifice try in pots so will see how they manage here

Of course, my tiarella is quite new so may yet succumb in the way of the heucheras!

I was just musing that lamium would probably be happy in a pot in a dark corner.

Ooh yes. Also perhaps liriope muscari for late summer/autumn? I don't know how it would do in a pot though - I've just ordered some for my woodlandy border

And ooh yes to liriope. Mine died. Sob.

Another plant I've had to google - it's lovely but needs dappled sun.
Due to the North facing aspect and 2 walls this is a very gloomy window and is my main view of the garden.

Hostas I have already and Heuchera, and more baby ferns. I have plenty of weeds that look similar to lamium. i quite like them which is why they are still growing. I'll have a shift around tomorrow. The neighbours have vinca growing through my fence so I could pinch off a runner, although it is blue and I would prefer white. I mustn't spend anymore money -sits on hands and avoids lidl/Aldi

Ah I thought liriope preferred full shade

Brunnera Jack Frost is a classic shade plant. I don't know how it would perform in a pot though. A small leafed ivy would look quite charming trailing down the ladder.

Have you got any ivy - could look lovely trailing

X-post on ivy!

Great minds!

I was going to suggest a trailing ivy too.

Now I want Geoff's ladder as well as Halsall's bench seat.

In fact, if I could just pop round to all your gardens and steal the bits I like from them, would that be ok with everyone?

Would you like my dandelions, Bertha?