Mr Grinch's Garden

Am i wrong about these ? Ive done the research and know someone who has it and they say its a very easy plant to cultivate.

Have you any experiance with this plant ?

Any pointers appreciated.

G

 

Will try and do one

 

I think its a good call. No personal experience, but I've seen it discussed with head gardeners on estates with large parterre saying they are replacing Box with "Japanese Box" to overcome the Box Blight issue.

I believe its slow (that is to say slower than box :( :( ) but I don't know that for sure.

 

Blimey, slower than Box ?? Owe well, im in it for the long haul i suppose. This time though due to the wet nature of that corner, im going to raise the edge in line with the top of the mini wall and import some good quality loam based top soil and add some multi purpose to bulk it up a bit. Hopefully this will stop its roots sitting in wet and aid in the growth which should be quicker than my box at the moment. No browning scorch either which really effects the over all "Green" look.

Been enjoying your blog by the way Kristan. Well done mate

 

OK, I Googled it I've always known it as "slow growing". Only checked one site, but its probably representative:

Ilex crenata 8-12ins (20-30cm) p.a.
Box 4-6ins (10-15cm)

so that's all right then. Twice as fast. At worst "no slower"

Ta You seen the Snowdrops page?. Gone a bit mad with them as a new hobby this spring. I can see how people get addicted. Come and visit me when they lock me up? !!

 

Galanthus Sandersii my fav. Something really different.

G

 

This years garden designs have begun with my first trip to the builders merchant today. I bought 5 of the pre set dry wall sets, after the cleaning up and re use of the old ones, it should be enough to enclose the area.

G

 

Cheeky.

My Mum had a rhododenron - with huge mauve blooms. One summer - I must have been about eight, my Mum asked me to water it. She'd generally told me to water things near the stem, so to get the spout of the watering can underneath, my head was in amongst the blooms. I suddenly felt faint, staggered back and sat down. I had to move away and take deep breaths to see and afterwards I had this sharp headache behind my eyes. I tried once more and then refused to go near it ever again.

I've never met anyone who understood this and until today I didn't know that the pollen contains greyantoxin which has been used in warfare. In 401 BC Pontic forces left hallucinigenic honey the bees had made from it for Xenophon's army and again in 67 BC for Pompey's soldiers. Some of them died. Symptoms include over-salivation, watering of eyes and nose, abdominal pain, loss of energy, depression, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty breathing, progressive paralysis of arms and legs and coma, usually leading to death. I was lucky I reckon!

 

I usually get these symptoms after watering mine put i put it down to the 3 bottles of wine i had just consumed

 

Surely you're not 98?

 

Shiney can remember when Pontius was a pilot. Well he was there, I hesitate to say "remember"

 

1st day of spring a first purchase of the new season. 30 Ilex Crenarta "Dark Green" bought and should be here in 2 weeks.

G