What's Looking Good In June 2013

silu where do you live ?, I want to come and raid your garden for that blue poppy , stunning.......
I did have some but unfortunately they flowered then died , probably my fault I was told to cut off the flowers the first year but couldn't bring myself to do it .

 

Lol, not too close as live near St Andrews in Fife. More than happy to send you some seed later in the year as have amoungt others Lingholm which comes true from seed and miraculously I managed to get some fantastic results from seed a couple of years ago so now have more than enough plants and will have spare seed. Right about if they flower their 1st year they don't do well, it's hard to be brutal but pays dividends to not let them flower. The 1 thing which makes for success more than anything else I've found, apart from needing pretty acid soil, is that they really are gross feeders and benefit hugely from being mulched with large quantities of manure or compost. To get big clumps like mine they require the soil to be pretty moist at all times, yet they actually do best in full sun(here anyway).Let me know if you'd like seed as I'll deadhead sometime if you don't want some. If I can get success with no fancy equipment etc anybody can!!!!!

 

Ooooo I'd love some seed please silu , if there's anything of mine you see just say and I'd be happy to collect seed as well
Mine were sent to me as tiny plants just before that freezing winter 3 years ago they survived in pots in the unheated greenhouse!!! I planted them in our little wood and they did grow really well, but maybe that was the first mistake then if yours grow best in full sun and suppose under the trees the soil wasn't so moist even with watering, so I'd love to have another go please and I'll follow your tips

 

No problem, I'll pm you when the seed is ripe. If you have anything which is easy to grow from seed and maybe a bit unusual we could do a swap. Meconopsis seed won't be ripe for some time and best to leave it until the seed heads are just about to split, so don't think I've forgotten about you if it's a while before I get in touch!
I have ones which grow pretty happily in shade so doubt that will have been the problem much more likely that it was possibly too dry or lack of available nutriants if competing with trees?
Absolutely no problems with cold, I've sown seed both in an unheated greenhouse and direct outside, both were fine, indeed it's advised to store the seed in the fridge for a few months prior to sowing for best results so no need to keep Meconopsis wrapped up warm!

 

Thankyou silu , I usually collect seed from anything that gives me any lol and most I've grown myself so can tell you which are easy,I'll do a list for you later in the year, like you nothings setting seed yet, I store all my seed in the fridge so the meconopsis seed should be fine , I'm excited now , can see I'll have to go begging bags of horse manure from our friends to give them a good start.

 

That's a really beauty Lolimac

 

Alliums are looking great, lupins are on their way.

 

Shiney and pamdish you are both very kind

 

Allium Gladiator (not so lonely this year) Jens will understand

 

I like that backdrop of Hostas too Spruce...

 

Ceanothus Thyrsiflorus, which I overwintered under polethene, so it flowers now... against the background of the steep slope (actually, an overgrown retaining wall).



Alliums and a miniature rose


Clematis and roses




Rose Minerva... Stunning first appearance this season!
Sorry, it's been raining all week here and the grass looks a bit untidy.

 

Stunning garden Angelina.

 

Agreed no 3 , Angelina love the mix of plants this is right up my street

Spruce