SHOW US YOUR PURCHASES - 2022

I have had one for years but mine lives happily outdoors on the dining patio.

 

It could grow outside here too in the summer but the winters would be too cold ...

 

Bought 3 cactus yesterday, 1:Monadenium Guentheri ), from the Euphorbia family.

2: Mammillaria elongata 'Cristata' ( Brain Cactus )

3: Opuntia Violacea Azurea

The brain cacti ended up being planted in a very appropriate fitting pot

 

I bought these at Wilko this morning, all ready to plant out on Good Friday.

 

I've just purchased another fake laurel panel from Home Bargains - to finish off some screening. I assume they mean Laurel.



Before anyone has a go at me for using plastic in the garden - I have to use artificial - I can't plant in the area as it's paved . See...

 

So is it supposed to be Laurel or Willow @clanless ?

 

I think they are great. Yours blends nicely. I almost bought one for the trellis in our Jungle Room facing the lane parking area for privacy. but went for plants in pots in the end I have artificial individual vines camouflaging standing taps/sprayers. I also have them in the lounge as I have an old dark cottage. They have their uses in my opinion.

 

The plastic leaves are shaped like Laurel - they are supposed to be a match for the Cherry Laurel to the left of the screening. The underlying expanding frame is whips of Willow.

For anyone interested in these panels - they are £24.99 from Home Bargains. They are £50 if you purchase them from Amazon or the like. It says on the back of the label that they are made for Home Bargains.

Handy for areas where it's difficult to grow - or you want an instant screen .

 

I dislike buying things in general, and specifically hate buying things that are just nice, not essential. So to my great surprise, Mr John Lewis sent me a large concrete pot holder that is just right for the spot on the top of the stairs.

I had a great Phlebodium aureum in there but it totally outgrew the space and is now in the spare room waiting for a bigger house.

I have walked past the houseplants with an observing eye, but everything is either too small, too big, too shaggy, or the wrong shape.

Perhaps I need to buy a new houseplant. Needs must.

 

I very rarely buy succulents now but Spar often have selections of them (and in Summer, insectivorous plants). Picked up a small Kalanchoe marmrorata, needs potting on in Spring.

 

Treated the garden to some seeds from Wilkinsons. Always purchase some 'Night scented stock' - as recommended by this forum back in 2013.

 

Last Saturday went to The Garden House for their snowdrop festival. Bought these two.
Galanthus elwesii "Henley Greenspot"

Galanthus plicatus "Trymming"

 

They are gorgeous, do snowdrops multiply on their own? We have some in our garden and as lovely as they are I wouldn't mind encouraging them throughout the garden (at the moment they are just a handful in a single area)

 

@Luseth

Yes they do, the bulbs will often split into two or more, making the clump larger; how quickly depends on how fertile the soil is moisture levels etc. As the clumps get bigger the centre bulbs may stop flowering and produce less foliage, if this is the case with your clump then after the leaves have died down you can dig them up and replant. I tend to do this every 3 to 4 years going round with sticks when the flowers have finished and marking the clumps for division.
They may also set seed with you and then you can get snowdrops in unexpected places a few years on.
At this time of year you can buy single and double snowdrops "in the green" quite cheaply planting them straightaway on receipt. This is the easiest way if you want a lot quickly.
The more unusual varieties can vary some produce more bulbs quite happily others less so and there is a link to price.
Enthusiasts wanting to propagate a particular bulb will cut (chip) the bulb into sections and plant these in pots; each section will produce a small bulb the next season and flower in a couple of years

 

Think I need to go to wilko now