What are we doing in the garden 2024

What to do with trimmed Lavender?
I trimmed spent Lavender today put it in a bag and offered it to Mrs roders to put it in with her dresses to make them smell nice
She said no ,she said it might be a good idea to put some in with the Comfrey tea to take away the dreadful smell.

 

Today I removed a Phlox which I bought in spring, labelled as purple. After about 12 weeks, it turned out to be an electric shade of pink, too shocking for my border . I can accept dark pink, verging on purple, but not shocking pink! I have replaced it with a red Crocosmia which will give a better contrast of foliage and colour with the Heleniums nearby.

I also planted a Rudbeckia in the border near my seating area for some late colour and trimmed back all the Nepeta in the hope of getting another flush of flowers. The heavy rain which was forecast for 2.00pm didn’t arrive so I cut the main lawn and did some weeding. The rain arrived at 4.00pm and the description was correct .

 

I cut down the majority of a 20ft conifer this afternoon, to make space for raspberry canes. I've left a 7ft stump, which I hope to deal with in the week.
The conifer was half dead anyway, and I'm hoping to espalier a fruit tree or two, with the raspberries in front.

 

Mowed the lawn and eventually got round to edging the lawn the grass was really long I haven't done it for ages. Sat on the lawn and did a bit of weeding and picking up the grass cutting . And just a general tidy round moving pots of tulips into the GH ready to bag up .

 

@roders surprised that you have cut back your lavender flowers so soon. The insects would have continued to love them. You can use the flower stems and put them in a container in your bathroom for some lovely scent.

 

The wood pigeon sitting on her nest.
Staring at me!!

 

Lucifer has the awful habit of spreading in my garden. I was thinking about taking my one out. I tried it already 2 years ago but seem to have forgotten one. I have now around 20 again. The same with Rudbeckia. Quadrupled year by year.

I cut the Ox-eye daisies which I had planted along the fence. Million of seeds.

 

I have a Crocosmia that has spread alarmingly. One of those plants that, if I had my time again, I would leave on the garden centre shelf!

Noticed some black fly colonising my Philadelphus. Am hoping nature will sort it out, but I will keep an eye on it in case it reaches full infestation mode.

I find it really hard to discard a plant I am not keen on or is not performing well. I have a Geranium Kashmir Purple that just will not flower. 1st yr - quite a few blooms. 2nd yr - a couple. None in the last 5 or 6 yrs. I've moved it around to get more/less sun, had it in a pot and in the ground, but nope. Leaves are healthy enough. It's annoying me now. I don't mind putting in a bit of effort, but I would like a small return. And yet giving up on it seems unkind. So, there it sits!

 

Just shows the differences - crocosmias are well behaved here, including Lucifer.
I'd rather have the smell of comfrey soaking than lavender @roders
I got quite a bit done yesterday before the rain came in, and even then, it was only light for a couple of hours, so I got the Fatsia replanted after doing more of the timber along the other side of the shed. Then it was indoor painting. Today is to be fairly dull, but dry until evening, so I'll just continue with redoing some of the edging stones at that area, and concreting/mortaring them in.
After my walk, I went and collected a bag of cement along the main road that workmen had left [just for a change] which no doubt got me a few odd looks, although it was quite quiet at the time. I just hope the speed camera that's often there in the wee 'layby' bit beside the farm building- and was yesterday, doesn't catch anything more than the cars though!

 

I haven't done much gardening recently, son and family have been staying. Garden bin was emptied on Friday, 2 weekly not enough, and now it is over half full from yesterday's stint in the garden.

 

I always found the Kashmir geraniums easy when I had them @ViewAhead. I had teh purple and the white one in a previous garden. Perhaps your conditions are just not what suits them - or the soil?

 

Hello, been too busy with other things in life that gardening has taken a back seat. But I have managed to keep just about on top of it and moved my mums unwanted mini greenhouse to mine.

Id planted tomato plants outside as I didnt have a gh in this new garden, but all the toms perished in that hailstorm I had. So next year I’ll be able to do much more (and hopefully have much fewer other life distractions).

 

That's a "mini greenhouse"?

 

Well it’s 6x4 and compared to the partially brick built whopper I had at the old house it’s “mini”

 

The Crocosmia I planted is Carmin Brilliant @simone_in_wiltshire, which is said to be invasive but it’s in a small brick enclosed border which I can keep under control. I’ve grown Rudbeckia here before and they don’t spread too wildly in my sandy soil.

If there’s something in my garden that isn’t performing well @ViewAhead, it’s probably due to the conditions here. Rather than watch it struggle, I get rid of it fairly quickly. The wrong colour doesn’t last very long either .