Plant day.

Had a busy day shopping but also had time to visit this amazing place!! Aqualife in Poynton.

Bought Cyperus longus which was listed in James Wong’s book – native Sweet Galangal.

I also couldn’t resist a dark flowered Hemerocaulis aka Day lily.

A friend told me about this flower stand being sold on facebook. At first someone else had got their dibs but it wasn’t meant to be … so yay! Here it is. After a drive to Salford I bought this plant stand to display hostas in my parents garden.

I got it home and then potted on a few plants.

The weather wasn’t as bad as it has been of late.

Rain, rain, drain away

So this morning was an early start at my parents.

Started off in the garage. Need to get rid of some stuff… tools no longer needed.

Then my second attempt at making the drain water from the greenhouse filter in to a bin. A tap has been added but yet to get some bricks / breeze blocks to mount the bin on.

The other side of the greenhouse it going to be blocked on one side. The other will drain in the bed. However the rain came as soon as I finished and think it will need to be done again.

Well that’s me making the garden more self sufficient but it’s an ongoing project as I’m sure you’re all aware.

Enjoy your green space.

Another rainy day

Here is the amazing reusable bag of peat free compost. I buy this from Bud Garden Centre – it’s Sylvagrow ‘Bag for life’.

These are the promised photos of the Thalia dealbata from yesterday.

The leaves collect the raindrops like jewels.

With the downpour I really haven’t spent much time gardening at all.

Precious plants

I have spent a bit of time in the yarden today.

If you’ve been following my posts of late, you’ll know I grow the more unusual and where possible rarer type of plants and flowers.

I was really happy that these petunias survived the winter and have started to re flower.

I don’t normally grow petunias, but when I saw these silky black flowers I couldn’t resist and bought a couple of plants.

These pictures do not do these flowers justice.

I have grown black violas before but sadly they were no longer. I found these at weekend, I must try and propagate these to ensure I don’t lose them again. They maybe small but aren’t they stunning?

Viola ‘Molly Sanderson’.

Another plant I’ve grown before but sadly not been able to keep alive are these dark leaved ipomoea. sadly they have never flowered for me but still. How delicate are the leaves?

Another amazing plant that is a must in my yarden is Aeonium Swartzkopf

This year I also have these stunning but highly poisonous Ricinus New Zealand Purple. I’m hoping that those leaves will grow huge!

Another amazing plant that is showing itself is this Arisaema ciliatum var liubaense. I can’t wait until it’s flower comes out more.

Since we moved here I have tried to encourage wildlife by adding plants, water, food and different habitats. I am pleased to say we have regular visitors, bees and birds mainly however today I saw this stunning black and red moth – The Cinnabar moth (Tyria jacobaeae).

Whilst pottering about I tidied up some areas and also decided it is about time I made a ‘feature’ out of my lovely piece of art that I bought off eBay some years ago.

Let me know what you think of it.

It reminds me of my travels around Asia and how they have such ornate pieces of art. Also how water is often placed at the front door – I believe that this is meant to ward of evil spirits but I may be wrong.

What do you grow? I’d love the hear back from you.

I have to give special thanks to my friend David who has given me many unusual plants and who is teaching me more about the rarities out there. He actually gifted the aeonium, Arisaema, Hedychium and ricinus in these pictures.

Flower filled

I went for a nice long walk today alongside the River Mersey.

It’s amazing the flowers and plants you can find.

I also took some pictures of flowers in my parents garden.

A variegated leaf abuliton with these lovely decent sized blooms.

A small aeonium in flower.

A lovely daisy that self seeds all over. White daisies that turn pink when they age. Erigeron karnivskianus.

Strawberries … they’ll be tasty.

A digitalis or foxglove.

A welsh poppy or papaver cambricum.

A stunning paeony.

A hardy geranium.

Another one.

A taller white geranium with a peony in the background.

Hope you’ve enjoyed the pictures.

Wind, wind, wind…

It was actually a sunny day and fairly warm when the wind slowed but when it sped up … breezy and not really a great conditions to work in.

Some more blue hostas I grow. This one I’m not quite sure as the label has disappeared. It’s possibly Blue Cadet.

This is a lovely bigger variety. Hosta Krossa Regal.

This water lily is already at the surface along with frog bit.

Another lovely plant I grow, this is Oxalis triangularis.

I bought this cacti from a NGS, I have no idea what it is. I think it needed more light, so I am hoping this spot suits it more.

Let’s hope I am able to get out and do more tomorrow.

Scorcher of a day!

I’ve really enjoyed the scorching day! All my plants appear to be growing so well. I did have to water many this afternoon.

Yes – apologies for the caladium update. You’ll be pleased to know that these are two of sixteen varieties!!

A friend gave me a water lily last week. Here it is potted up and moved to it’s forever home. I hope it’s going to be happy.

I was pleased to see that the oxalis are all popping through the ground now. I grow four varieties in total, I’d love to grow more.

Please remember our little friends that visit our green spaces. A simple drinking ‘bar’ for bees and other visitors can me made from very little. Here is an old container and some pebbles topped up with water.

I CANNOT wait until May ends.

Don’t cast a clout until May is out.

This is an ‘old wives tale’ but is one us gardeners live by. With the risk of frost still possible it’s always best to check the weather and be able to protect those babies.

Here are all the plants I am growing from seed in our flat! This is our spare room and bed.

And the lounge. Let’s face it – all the window sills are filled!!

A friend and I often order plants together. These beauties arrived today from Jurassic plants.

Here we have two types of fig, a medlar, a Szechuan pepper, an aronia bush and two edible fruiting elaeagnus. Hoping to enjoy the fruit in the future.

I am also very lucky and grateful that David gave me this little intrigue – an Arisaema, ciliatum var. Liubaense. Can’t wait for this to flower!

Whilst visiting David and of course social distancing, I saw this extraordinary flower on his Passion flower.

I am also extremely happy with the growth and progress of this recent purchase from AJ Plants. This is the tropaeolum tuberosum, a lovely leaved nasturtium.

Another friend, also called David, gave me this plant. It is a climbing abuliton. You may be able to see the bud.

It is called Abuliton megapotamicum. It is slow to start but if this warm weather continues I’m sure it’ll be right at home.

I haven’t mentioned hostas for some time, here is an amazing plant. Hosta halcyon. It is one of the many blue forms and a popular favourite.

Hosta la vista

Colourful potting on day.

A quick check of all the seedlings and the caladiums. This beauty is Caladium Carolyn Whorton.

A friend recently gave me a water lily. I have now potted it up in an aquatic pot, lined with hessian and topped with small stones.

I potted on a fair few plants. I also potted on this Persicaria ‘Silver Dragon’ hoping that it grows a little faster. It has been a slow grower so far.

Pleased to see lots more plants are growing well around the yarden.

Until tomorrow.