Bananaman's Feb Hideout

Well, the garden is pretty untouched since last year so I went to see what was going on. Nice to see the blossom comming and some other new shoots emerging. Lots of lovely fungi at the bottom of the garden and the palms seem to be whistling through this winter.

Some shots to get his years hideout threads started, looking forward to summer after these showery grey days.

 

For any newbies, last years hideout threads can be found here :D

 

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=recent_user_posts;u=00002061;filter=topics

 

Great pics Bananaman, is that last one a Magnolia bud? if so which variety?

 

Hi r200, Yep the last one is a magnolia bud. Its a young tree I planted in 2005 called susan. It has a lovely purple-pink flower and grass green leaves.

Here it is last year...

 

Wow thats the same shrub, what comes first, the leaves or flowers?

 

It's all looking lovely as usual, BM, and a beautiful colour on the crocus!

 

Hi r200, the flowers come first then the leaves. they make lovely trees but this one I am keeping as a shapely bush. Peonies surround it and then a fountain comes up the middle. Although the fountain might get moved this year...the kids want a playhouse, the swines !!!!



LoL, Cheers gorgeous

 

Looks like things have survived pretty well, BM! :D

Susan looks gorgeous - presumably your garden is pretty well sheltered with all your vegetation, so she shouldn't be too badly affected by and bad weather now?

 

Yes a good winter all round I think. Could still but us in the bum, but the blossom is opening so I hope we are seeing spring soon.

The magnolia has never had a problem with the frost but as you say I am very well protected

 

banana man
your garden is beautiful.
what kind of soil does magnolia prefer

 

I am no expert in magnolia, but mine is very happy in moist well drained soil with plenty of nutrients for those blooms :D Even though I am on clay, becasue it is in a raised bed it sits in good well drained soil whilst the clay keeps things moist.

 

Hey BM, glorious pics. really impressed with all that foliage. I bet your hide out is really cool and calming at theheight of summer (when it gets here)

 

Lovely pictures BM.

What is that bamboo in front of the bench, and is it well behaved? Any suggestions of plants to grow upwards to create the enclosed feeling that your garden has. My garden is of traditional perennials, so I am looking for plants to enclose the garden at the edges, rather than trying to create an exotic look. Sort of leylandii job description - but more upmarket. I am looking for height of 6' to 9' but with a small footprint and not too dense.

 

Hi peterS, that bamboo is called Phyllostachys aureosulcata ââ?¬Ë?Spectabilisââ?¬â?¢. It is well behaved, but it doesn't have a small foot print long term. I am pretty hands on for keeping them small but they aren't a plant I will be taking my eye off. All bamboos need to be respected and if you have a look at the threads below, I have been strategic in where I have planted them.

Couple of links to threads I have done before on bamboos.

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=001819;p=1#000000

http://www.gardenerscorner.co.uk/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=002236;p=1#000000

BM :D