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.

That sounds right-peonies probably take a few years to come into their own
I might feed them with tomato feed though.

humphrey it must be lovely to be able to enjoy your garden properly. I can't remember what your comment about red plants in terracotta refers to. I seem to remember you had red pelargoniums in the pots last year which looked very cheery!

Gardeners World was nice to watch today: I liked the happy expression on Joe Swift's face when he hug up his hanging basket! Gravyte looked amazing, I can totally understand why rhubarb likes it.

I cut down the delphinium and lupin heads in the hope of more flowers later on.

hung up

I've had peony fail this year - the one in the back that normally has lot of flowers had one, and a relatively new Molly the Witch in the front that normally has 1-3, had lots of beautiful leaves but Not One Flower.

I may go to Hampton Court but will probably get a post-15.00 ticket on the Saturday as I have a busy morning and can't go on the Sunday. What are your plans funny?

I live not far from Gravetye but have only been once, years ago to the restaurant one Saturday in winter. The food was good but the place felt rather pompous so it put us off. I must put this right - that garden is gorgeous.

I was planning to sow my biennials this weekend then I saw Monty pricking his out...

. I'm new here and will start with a 'why haven't my newly purchased this year as brown sticks peonies done anything at all? ' One just rotted. The other shows no signs of life. The soil here is so good that the 'chuck it in and see what happens' style of gardening (which is the only type I have time for) generally works. Ideas greens fingered MNers?

bearliegh. Best slug stuff I've found is 'slug gone' Pellets of sheeps wool that you put round plants and it then acts as a mulch so no chemicals at all. The beds smell like sheep (actual sheep bum I think). but it works and has done a lovely job for the last 2 years protecting my petunias and sweet peas.

Hi Ashbeeee those sheepy slug deterrents sound good. Have your peonies got leaves, or are they literally just sticks?

I'm planning to go to Hampton Court. But I can't remember if I already ordered a ticket or not. Have they sent them out yet?

I have acquired a lad. He has just finished college and a stint doing some kind of work experience with a landscaper, and his Mum asked if I had any work for him while he job hunts. Being very young, he's strong and cheap!

Yesterday he dug over a new border for me in the showstopper garden. I'd already stripped the turf but the ground was like concrete with the lack of rain, so I was very happy to subcontract that out to someone else. I had to teach him the proper way to dig, but once he'd been shown he blasted through the border and got it done in one session. Result! I like having a lad.

I haven't watched GW yet but must watch it today if Gravetye is on!

I'm hoping to catch up with GW later. I especially want to see Gravetye after Rhubarb's endorsement!

And how marvellous to have a lad. Have the A levels finished yet? I have a heavy manual job to do and was thinking of asking a local lad, but he's in the midst of A levels.

Welcome, Ashbeeee! I don't know what to suggest about sticks that steadfastly remain as sticks, although I have a cercis bought this year that refuses to budge, so share your frustration. If the sticks aren't too conspicuously ruining the look of where they're planted, I think I'd hold on until next spring, in the hope they'll finally come out of dormancy. That's what I've decided to do with my own stick.

So after setting fire to the garden the last time I used the flame thrower, this morning I melted two plastic trugs. I clearly shouldn't be allowed near the flame thrower.

Oh no, Rhubarb. Perhaps Bertha can enrol you on a health and safety course!

Maybe Rhubarb your Lad needs to use the flamethrower. I'm so sorry but I have slightly snorted over the trug incident and feel guilty now.

A2 wrapping up now Maud I think, one more week max but most finished.

Truck driver coming over next week to look at gate. He is actually turning out to be a lovely lad and clearly still feeling bad about how his colleague spoke to me. I'm going to see if DH can knock him up a website as part of the car repair/ gate deal.

Welcome Ashbeeee. I'm definitely not the person to be talking about Peonies as have managed 1 flower in 12 years. Saw those sheep slug things by checkout somewhere, must try them.

Just been to Compton Acres and they had hardy bananas and Canna plants at very good price. DS is going to get in car later and roll eyes at yet more plants.

Enjoyed GW this morning and got out to plant some Cosmos. My Biannuals are still in packet. Dad and partner coming today. Garden looked quite bare when they were last here so hoping they can see a big difference.

I've heard good things before about those sheep poo slug things Asbeeee thanks for reminding me about them - and welcome to the thread. Congratulations on't lad rhubarb. It sounds like you'll be able to zoom through things, with his help.

Ha! Just as I've finished watering the pots, the heavens have opened and we're getting the first heavy rain for ages.

I went to the trading store to get a watering can and came away with a lantana and a load of lilies almost in flower. I'm another one who can't resist a bargain.

Funnyperson I just remembered that you listed red geraniums in terracotta pots as one of your gardening hates! I could be remembering it wrongly. I always prefer white but DH insists on red. He is getting his comeuppance for being so autocratic

I am particularly enjoying the scent of the garden at the moment, the Francis Lester by the washing line scents the whole driveway. It seems stronger when there is cloud for some reason.

We have some singed box plants Rhubarb, those flamethrowers are hard to control.

I'm looking hopefully at the sky and willing Maud's rain this way. We've had the odd light shower today but desperately need proper rain.

Rhubarb - I have risk assessed you and deemed you too dangerous to wield the flame thrower unless you also arm yourself with a fire extinguisher and don a flame resistant suit. And obviously you need to put out signs to warn anyone coming into the area that they are in peril.

Welcome Ashbeee.

I'm hoping to catch up with GW tonight while DH pops out to collect DD1 from a party.

Humphrey - I'm afraid that I agree with your DH. Geraniums have to be bright red!
I love scent that carries on the air. I've got a honeysuckle just outside my front door and the wafting perfume is absolutely delicious.

It's raining heavily now! Thank you for sharing the rain Maud.

Arf at Bertha's H&S assessment. Humph it's generous of you to suggest that the flame throwers are hard to control; I fear in my case it's abject stupidity - see using it next to straw on a windy day, and today's debacle was caused by me being asked directions by a passer by and distractedly lobbing the red hot flame thrower into my tool trug, which was unfortunately stacked inside a second trug.

No rain here sadly despite the Met Office's promises. I'm going to have to go out there and water everything.

Our rain was heavy but shortlived, so I'm not sure it'll have reached the roots of some of the thirsty-looking shrubs. I am, though, happy to share.

My garden smells of honeysuckle, which is puzzling as neither mine nor the neighbour's is in flower yet.

We did a massive water earlier, one of us taking each side of the house. DH had the toddler , I had a nice peaceful time.

But surely the toddler helps?

Welcome ashbee! I think keep the dried sticks in the ground for now. You never know.

humphrey its true I dislike the scent of some pelargoniums- they don't agree with me. I like the look of them from a distance

rhubarb I'm worried about the flame thrower now. Please never use it when the children are around. The lad sounds just the ticket.

bearleigh I think I'll probably go to Hampton Court in the week because l might go to Gravetye on the Saturday- they have a garden event on.

I went to a flower filled open ngs garden today: think begonia couple only with delphiniums. Apparently if one chops them down to ground level after the first flowers are over they regrow.

My thalictrum seeds never germinated Is it too late to sow some left in the packet?

oh yes, he helps all right... We went to a party later on where there were TWO open doors. He liked doing a circuit, so that is all I did for the whole two hour, trail around after him. I missed out on cake!

I would sow them funnyperson, worth a go, surely? You garden visiting plans sound brilliant.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, funnyperson, so another vote in favour of sowing those seeds!