WHAT JOBS ARE WE DOING IN THE GARDEN TODAY 2018

No i am not , i cant be bothered to discuss it with you A once bitten twice shy.

 

Saw a lovely spot to put my Black Bamboo that my mate gave me.
I already had the pot as well.

 

With regards to Irises Jack it is impossible to say without knowing which ones they are.
There are probably a thousand species and twenty thousand + Cultivars/Hybrids..

PS .... As a side fact ...... Irises are the only plant where you can have a different species/hybrid/cultivar in flower every month of the year

 

Hi @KFF . These came in a packet labelled Dutch Irisis. They must have come from a discount shop. I won them in a raffle. They all came out blue with yellow centres. Ideal colours for where I would like them to go.



At the moment they are in troughs but I would like to put them in the ground, probably forward of the position they are now. I was looking at something Baptisia behind them. In the spring I would be looking at growing tulip and daffodils combinations in this gap. Any ho! I already have a thread started for that else where.

Advice on irises would be appreciated. The ones I have looked great for about a week.



G.

 

Hi Jack,

The ones you have there are commonly known as Dutch Iris. They are fairly cheap bulbs in a limited range of colours and basically grown as annuals for use as cut flowers as after they flower the bulbs split into 2/3 little baby bulbs which can take around 3 years to flower again.

What you should look out for around September time are bulbs marked Iris x Hollandica.

These are the old Dutch Iris crossed with a truly perennial type called Iris Xiphium.
These produce larger bulbs that spread into little clumps and flower year after year. Also' their flowers are a lot larger and last longer than the old type.









These are some of mine that have flowered now for the last 3 years.

 

Off topic, but wheres @Gail_68 ? Every time I log on,she's there, on every topic !?
I've been busy this weekend, have I missed something? I hope she's ok
Gail I miss ya!

 

Gail has spells when shes not too good she will be back soon.

 

And wheres 'M' hiding?

 

Back from a quick visit to the beach, rabbits, foxes, stoats and birds animated the scene en route. As always relaxing and therapeutic

Excellent, comprehensive info from ARMANDII above. A pool needs time to settle, for the balance of planting and animal life to be established. Not quite as simple as the beginner may initially think to acquire algae free crystal clear water . Even in established pools, according to the season, algae levels will be high and unsightly for a time.

Gary, divided herbaceous plants need to be well watered and to have their top growth removed......then they will recover and grow quickly.

Yep, weeds popping up from nowhere right now.....the recent spells of rain, albeit light, have activated masses of them. If you can't pull them up then run around with the hoe. They will soon make large plants unless controlled now

Agree about Gail.....always refreshing to read her comments. Where are you girl? Hopefully, she will be posting again asap

Well, I still have lots of dahlias, salvias and other stuff hogging 5 litre or bigger pots. I expected to lose plants last winter because of the 2 Beasts from the East (far from the usual winter for us down here) but losses were very few and far between. So, need to get some of those plants in the ground asap or donate to local hospice/similar.

 

Spent a couple of hours yesterday balanced rather precariously on a ladder cleaning out the conservatory guttering. I cut back a lot of overgrowth between my property and the cottage next door. Not entirely sure who is responsible for the maintenance as half of the trees are on my side half on theirs, but I've always done it. I started cutting back some small trees in front of the garage door, which have overgrown the driveway, but the wind picked up making it quite difficult to control the cutting. I had intended to have another go today but wind is stronger this am plus .

I do appreciate the advice given to me about my pond. I am always willing to listen to those more experienced and take onboard what they have to say. Knowledge is always a wonderful thing to have .

Two very different opinions though regarding oxygen levels in my pond and I'm not trying to suggest that one is right and one is wrong . I have Starwort and Hairgrass growing in pots and Elodea growing in the mud, so presumably these will help with oxygen levels. All the stuff I've read online also suggests adding submerged plants and marginal plants. All of the plants are growing well and the marginals are flowering. My comments about the lack of insect life is based on concerns about ecology not because I'm expecting an 'instant ' pond full of wildlife ( although some of my comments may have given that impression ). My garden is surrounded on all four sides by fields and farming practises are known to be detrimental to wildlife, hence my concerns. Some of the advice online gives the impression that it is possible to have something that is ' instant ', but my understanding of gardens ( ponds included ) is that there is no such thing. I didn't set out with the expectation of achieving an 'instant ' wildlife pond and I believe that I have mentioned before about wanting to wait and see how it all pans out. Which, is why I haven't gone looking for frog or toad spawn to put into the pond. I do firmly believe that if you create something of benefit to the wildlife they will find it. The flock of Starlings are proof of that . At least 30 adults and chicks here at present and numbers will increase I think. They can demolish 16 fat ball and 3 suet blocks in half an hour .

 

@shiney . That's a very generous offer. Do you see them working as described above? I will have to swing by at some point to collect my raffle prize. I'll be in touch.



G.

Ps. If I collect my raffle prize and keep it hidden, I could give it to my wife for Xmas.

 

These are the plants I divided.



Penstemmon, geum and Shasta daisy. All looking very sorry for themselves. Do I cut them right down to rejuvenate them?

G.