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.

Oh yes. I can see the undoubted attractions of those winter lovelies - I'd squeeze in a hamamelis if I could here - but I'm saddened to hear of the downside of philadelphus (although my friend did tell me it needed to be kept firmly under control).

Such a lovely magical view with formal hedges and rambling roses, Rhubarb you really do have talent
I seem to remember humphrey having the same issues around Philadelphus; I don't know what happened in the end

I always like watching Gardeners World and watching Adam Frost made me feel glad that the gardening fraternity is looking after him and sorry that I was a bit unkind about his work/life balance difficulties on another thread. Although his terraced gravel garden design for his home doesn't seem very child friendly to me but perhaps it will develop to be child friendly.
Loved the lawn man, watching him in action was a real education

Red:I have a red penstemon in flower now which is pretty, (from Humphrey's garden) and a red and purple fuschia magellinica, they are with salvia cardonna which is deep purple. Out front there is a dwarf hot red and pink poker plant I got from an ngs garden I visited recently: this is planted underneath the buddleia peacock which this year has decided it is deep purple. The tail is looking absolutely magnificent but lopsided as the west side has flowered before the east side!

Ah now, I found the lawn man just a bit too dedicated, what with the swishing and neatening the edges four times a week (and his planting style wasn't really my bag either). That said, I'd be happy if my dear H developed just a tenth of his enthusiasm for mowing our mouldy bit of turf!

The Somerset gravel garden was lovely. I thought Adam Frost's had the potential to be very nice. I got the impression that his children aren't especially little and - as my designer chum sagely pointed out to me years ago - the advantage of hard surfaces is that they can be played on soon after rain, while a lawn is still soggy.

I have joined dear Monty's FB page. Well, I reckoned it would be rude not to.

Maud and Rhubarb you do get to exit through the gardens when you visit BP. When I used to go (!) I wasn't as interested in gardening and DS was tired and not interested in gardens at all, so I don't remember much about it.

I do recommend a visit to BP - I have republican tendencies and dislike the heaviness of the front facade and the bare 'front garden' but it is a lovely building inside - the bones of the building were designed by Nash.

I've never been, having failed to get a ticket to the WI garden party a couple of weeks ago. Anyone interested in meeting to go to the exhibition?

Funny you are very kind but I can't take credit for the planting, it was already here. I have pruned and clipped and looked after it though!

Bearleigh that's interesting.

I'd be up for meeting up to go to the exhibition.

I'd also be up for a visit to the exhibition.

Rhubarb I meant to say that your garden/picture is lovely- I am sure you are being too modest about your hand in it.

Has anyone else got black fly infestation? The dahlias and clematis in the front are covered; yet nothing in the back has any, not even the broad beans. I am going to have to spray with something organic tomorrow I think. I usually leave them but they are just so bad this year plants are starting to suffer. And only 2 ladybird sightings.

Bad blackfly here too. They have ruined the sunflowers. I found a ladybird nymph on the dc's pop up tent today and moved it to a rose. It immediately sank its teeth into an aphid - very satisfying!

Lots of greenfly and black fly here and nary a ladybird to be seen. I might make a soapy spray tomorrow, to teach them a lesson. They're infesting things they've never touched before, such as clematis.

No blackfly etc here
Had a wonderful day at David Austin roses and am so pleased as they replaced my dead rosa mundi!
Oh yes the lawn man was OTT but he demonstrated the process and techniques of lawn care really well I thought!
Last time I was in the region of BP there were many armed policemen in bullet proof vests looking purposeful. This put me off.

Black fly city here, especially on my Abutilon. Resorted to organic spray as squishing wasn't working. And no ladybirds Here either. Did cut quite a few slugs in half yesterday. Mwaahhhaaahhaaaahhhhaahhhhaaaa

Lots of blackfly here too but (sshhhh....) no black spot on the roses yet.

I've just been zapping the blackfly with Fairy liquid. As it was pomegranate and lychee or some equally bizarre flavour, the dahlia now smells lovely.

::channelling Ripley in Alien::

Black fly here on my broad beans & runners. Been squishing and blasting them off with the hose. No ladybirds but they're keeping the ants well fed.

Need to catch up with GW on iplayer

The lawn on GW was amazing, though I am glad MrB isn't a lawn obsessive.

Had a wonderful day at Powis castle. This ranks as one of the most wonderful gardens in the world imo. The cloud pruned hedges and the ancient yews are amazing.

Oh I love Powis Castle! I went there last year. Those yews are amazing.

The only time I've been near Powis Castle I drove past in a huff because the DSs were behaving like idiots in the back of the camper. And it was raining (we'd just abandoned a camping holiday in Wales). I WILL go one day.

I'm clearly being dense but I can't figure out how to buy a ticket for Hampton Court on the RHS website. I've found ticket prices, but no link to actually buy them.

I dimly remember that experience from buying my ticket last year. Were you trying to buy a member's ticket? As I recall, once the members' allocation is sold (or maybe it's within so many days of the show), the links just don't work any more. I think I resolved it by buying a non-member's ticket.

Perhaps one year we should treat ourselves to a meet-up at the preview evening with fireworks?

Powis Castle is amazing, I remember the hollyhocks.

I would come to a meet up there Maud, that is a great plan.

Your garden arch looks amazing Rhubarb.

Watching the coverage of HC, I wish I could go this year. Have a lovely time all of you who are going.

Just read that back, I would like to meet at the preview evening!

Yes that's a lovely idea. I'd be up for that!

Thanks Humph

The lad was free today so I got him to dig out a load of snowberry bushes. SO much faster than me! Meanwhile I planted my Albizia and an Actinidia kolomikta that I'm aiming to cover the garage wall with.

Great! That's the beginning of a plan for next year then. How exciting! I started to feel quite sad earlier about not going to this year's show - I simply can't fit it in - and then I accidentally caught the end of the coverage and feel even more chagrin.

I am going to identify a day or half day's work for our local lad and hope it'll be an offer he can't refuse!