Rough winds do shake the darling buds of May: Alternative potting shed thread

[funnyperson]

On the grounds that potting sheds should admit those of all cultures here is an alternative potting shed thread. Probably makeshift and not as posh as the other one. Definitely subversive and open to gardeners of all capabilities.

[MyNightWithMaud]

I have wimped out, as I remembered how past dahlias had been shredded by slugs long before they got to the earwig stage, so they've had an afternoon in the sun and now come indoors. I'll pot them up later in the week, but put the biggest one straight into the planter I've earmarked for it.

The sun here has been glorious this afternoon. You've reminded me to go and check on my own hibiscus twig, which was a tiny plant that my mother gave me that I thought had been swamped by other things but, when last seen, was producing new leaves. I was also thrilled yesterday to see that the lemon verbena which I took for granted would die over winter has produced tiny new shoots and the summer jasmine has some tiny offspring too.

[MyNightWithMaud]

Ooh, SPT. I was reading recently (in the RHS magazine?) about something that has honeysuckle-like flowers only very much smaller. Could it be that?

::hopelessly vague::

[SugarPlumTree]

That sounds exactly like it Maud. Will have to find where I have put RHS magazine. Probably for the best with the dahlias I guess, they do get munched. I've possibly found one in the garden but can't be sure if it is a dahlia or something else.

[Callmegeoff]

My Dahlias are outside now, I didn't get round to planting them, I might leave it another week. My Cerinthe which you sent me sugar and morning glory haven't germinated either. I fear I am loosing my seed sowing touch.

I've planted out verbena bonariensis in drifts, 3 of the 10 scabious, emptied out the gone over tulips and stuck them in, potted on the Olive, Gunnera and petunia cascade rim magenta. I direct sowed ladybird poppies last week, I have seedlings up which may be them or weeds. My plan is to have poppies, verbena, cosmos purity and amni visagne combo. The latter are teeny tiny though.

Picture of rescued Aquilegia.

I'm ready for and a sit down!

[SugarPlumTree]

The Aquilegia look lovely and your plan sounds lovely Maybe it is the Cerinthe seeds then I think I have spotted a self sown Morning glory but in wrong place and too small to move yet. Hope slugs don't get it.

On the allotment there was so much Calendula it was like a weed. Can't believe none have germinated here. Excavated possible Dahlia as I am that sad amd think it is more Aster. I bought one pot last year, spilt it a fair bit amd now have lots.

[SugarPlumTree]

Geoff I think we should maybe have soaked the Cerinthe seeds..

[HapShawl]

That sounds heavenly geoff

[AlternativeTentacles]

Cerinthe needs no help to germinate usually!

Can you just chuck the compost on the ground where you want them and use the space for something else?

Well, today I haven't stopped. Moved soil for the new path to get the old bed down to path level, dug up plants and replanted, dug over old path soil, shifted large logs, weeded and moved strawbs at the lottie, planted peas and cabbages in amongst the strawbs [on my hugelkultur] bed and then covered in straw. Fit to drop.

And luckily, found my rare allium which I rescued from a place I used to work at, and which spreads like billyo but resisted propagation [I took loads of bulbils and none ever worked] but one made it's way to a pot of compost left in the poly and so I swiped it - I thought the OH had pulled it out when he dug up a load of bluebells [he has form for this sort of thing] but no, a delicate little allium is growing, exactly where I planted it. Hazzah!!!

[SugarPlumTree]

Wow AT, that is a very productive day ! It's lovely finding things you thought had gone

Thinking there might be something wrong with the Cerinthe seeds as neither Geoff or I could get them to germinate.

[Bearleigh]

SugarPlum that 'thing' looks lovely, but I have no idea what it is. There are some things I don't seem able to grow - and calendula is one - no matter how many seeds I sow, all I have is a lovely yellow one that came via manure from DH's friend. It seems to be perennial (!) and is flowering now. DS has an exam tomorrow and 2 more this week. He has 27 in total spread over 8 weeks, and seems reasonably relaxed, thank goodness.

My word Alternative, that is a lot of work!

[HumphreyCobbler]

hello Alternative, what a productive day you have had. How fab about the allium.

Had a classic bit of gardening with DH today. I was potting up some old alpine cast iron dishes with some new plants. I just finished one and DH pointed out that we realised that they looked much better when the soil is mounded on the top. I then remembered we had indeed noticed this at Hampton Court last year. So I pulled it all out and redid it. Whereupon he wandered past and mentioned that there were some nice stones with moss growing on them and did I want them. So I gritted my teeth, found a stone, replanted the pot AGAIN and looked at it.

He was right, it did look much better.

[SugarPlumTree]

RS/ Philosohy &Ethics plus Science later this week? DD is doing nothing. Suggest she might want/need to and she gets stomach pains and dramatically clutches microwaveable teddy to stomach. I have to bit tongue and hide in garden. Guess your DS is doing triple science with that number of exams ? DS starts SATs tomorrow but seems fairly chilled out about it thank goodness.

[Callmegeoff]

I'll give the Cerinthe a bit longer but the morning glory must have gone off- they were fine last year. I couldn't resist going back out and have just pricked out the sunflower seedlings, happy sigh.

Arf at the repotting humph

Does it smell sugarplum looks a bit like honeysuckle ?

Good luck to dc's doing exams :)

[Callmegeoff]

Sorry don't know why the picture came back

[SugarPlumTree]

I did sniff but couldn't smell anything.

[SugarPlumTree]

I think it is Lonicera xylosteum (European Fly Honeysuckle)

[MyNightWithMaud]

Well, I'd certainly put money on it being a lonicera.

[Bearleigh]

Sugarplum yes - snap! He is doing triple science, and actually did some biology past papers instead of coming to Wisley, which shows he cares, as he usually likes Wisley and hates biology. Your poor DD - she must be very nervous to be like that.

[funnyperson]

good luck for all those taking exams
is that really a picture of aquilegia? The size of the flowers is impressive. The leaves are quite straight for an aquilegia, looks like a beautiful lily!

[Callmegeoff]

Definitely Aqueligia funny I think the camera angle has made the flowers look bigger than they are. I'll send you some seeds if you like :)

[Halsall]

You lot have made me buy an orange geum . Took a relative to the garden centre and we bought a passion-flower for her and the geum for me. I can already foresee it being a banquet for slugs.

I'm away from home (yet again) and, frustratingly, not able to do anything in my own garden, but have managed to buy two big pots of helenium from a village stall, 12 red geraniums for £3, and two chilli pepper plants reduced at Waitrose from £4 each to 99p. So I'll be heading back home with a decent haul.

[funnyperson]

Yes please I would love some of those aquilegia seeds it looks like an amazing plant!

Halsall those Heleniums will be great in the Autumn!

[HumphreyCobbler]

oooh I love an orange geum. I was looking at my Hilltop Beacon plants today and just adoring them Isn't it nice that plants have that effect though? So many opportunities for a rush of pleasure that wouldn't otherwise happen.

[funnyperson]

Yes that is very true, I was staring at the clematis montana for that reason, then I stared at the azalea and then at the forgetmenots and aquilegias, thinking how lovely they were and how happy they made me.
It isn't just a girl thing. Males like flowers too.

[Callmegeoff]

halsal this lot got me into orange I used to detest it! I too admired an orange Geum today but resisted, might try seeds though.

funny I will gather seeds once they are over and send to you and anyone else. A purple one has now appeared so they might not end up that colour though.