WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY - 2017

OHhh I know just what it's like to garden in a windy area - that's why my garden consists of individual rooms -each having their own planting theme - also i have created banks to buffer the wind and living Willow arches to grow climbers up- as any structural ones eventually get battered and lifted out of the ground or rot away due to the rain.
Grasses are a good way to buffer wind as they look nice when the breeze catches them -maybe you could if room permits plant some in the middle of your garden lawn which will slow the wind down but not steal all the light from the plants surrounding them- it would be like a Grass Island in the centre- doing a good job and looking good all year round ... plus kiddies love to run around in circles and they can't damage them as their tough plants - can even cope with a ball or two landing in them too
This is a good link 17 Top Ornamental Grasses

 

Looking good Gary

 

I have three in our main bedroom occupying the bed and floor as nowhere else to put them and I need them indoors as two are poorly. Its fortunate Avery ( in the caravan ) is not poorly as don't think I could stand her in the house. Would you like to see a picture of her sleeping box before I cleaned it .

 

I have the same problem. Can be very frustrating at times.

 

Bee, your garden sounds lovely. What a clever idea to have rooms. Would love to have hedgehogs back round here, but don't think I would like them in the house either!

 

From a damp early morning....no walk to the beach today.....it is now beautifully sunny
However, one of my salvia guanajuatos has been partially broken by strong winds last night. Real shame. Guanajuato has to be one of my favourite plants. Anyway, took cuttings from the broken stems . My nosey neighbour, with her finely tuned antennae, was here whilst I removed the broken stems to beg for cuttings!

 

@Verdun there were strong winds up here last night too. I thought I had moved my new purchases to a more sheltered spot but this am found two pieces broken off my Helenium .

 

Sorry to hear that lucius. It will make a sturdier plant next year though. So disappointing though isnt it?
Everything else seems fine here.....dahlias taller than I am are intact; mind you they are in the back walled garden .
Talk of poss 70 mph winds tom night! Hmmmm!

 

I started clearing this earlier. Guys turned up to start on new septic tank so couldn't work in front garden or side garden.


As usual I've got too many ideas as to what I am going to do with this area. Imagination runs away with me . Its subject to becoming waterlogged most winters and sometimes in summer too if we have several downpours. I think I want to keep the sink, but will move the Pulmonaria. I think I want to get rid of the Valerian as not much benefit to the Bees and Butterflies. I think I want to get rid of the yellow shrub whose name I can't pronounce , the Anemones and the Lucifer as again little benefit to the wildlife. I am just going to concentrate on the area around the sink to begin with.

I am always open to suggestions, of course

 

60mph predicted up here tomorrow evening. Make sure you batten all hatches down!

 

A wildlife pond to encourage some more visitors for you ...perhaps especially as you've mentioned it s prone to waterlogging.....that's providing you don't already have one Lucius

 

I think somebody above mentioned anemone. Today I looked anemone honore Jodbere. Would that work at the back of my border behind my pokers and coreopsises et al? It would have a wooden fence behind it. I have looked at various shasta daisy varieties but the anemone looked more flowery and less bushy.

@luciusmaximus. Bless you. The wind here causes havoc too. I have open fields to the front and back of me. There is nothing to stop it. Fingers and toes crossed for the future.

If you are looking for crazy ideas, you've come to the right place. Most of my ideas are pretty out there. For every crazy idea that doesn't pan out, there's another equally crazy idea waiting to take its place. Live crazy. It keeps you sane. :rasp:

G.

 

Is that your pond BeeHappy? Its lovely . I love the urn trickling water. No, don't have a pond yet. I've never had much success with ponds, they always end up being ful of blanket weed and a stagnating mess. Have tried several ideas without a positive result.

 

Luciusmaximus, if your soil is reasonably moist in summer check out the acteas, now called cimicifugas. A variety like James Compton has foliage colour and shape to rival the red japanese acers. And it has scented spires of white flowers that bees seem to love. It looks superb from spring to late autumn

Gary, the japanese anemones can become thugs. Like many I have been trying to eradicate them for years.....gone now. They spread everywhere. Honorine jobert will sucker and swamp your coreopsis and poker. Can you plant a climber on that fence? Summer jasmine will have white scented flowers to set off any planting you might have. If you want a white perennial check out echinacea White Swan.....a well behaved long flowering beauty