My Garden farewell

[photonbucket]

I will shortly be leaving this garden for pastures new, so I thought I would take some quick snaps, especially because not many plants are coming with me. I haven't really looked after the garden a great deal over the past year. I just simply have not had time. But some areas are looking ok...

I was sick of watering pots in the greenhouse, so got rid of them all and planted raised beds in there. Height wll quickly become an issue! Anyone else done this?



Looking a bit messy, but I have 4-5 different Passionflowers in there, including this one (Not sure what it is):



Sticking to protected plants, my bougainvillea is prolific, but it never seems to have many leaves. Guess that is better than having no flowers. It is in a north facing conservatory that goes down to about zero in winter.



Over to the arid section. A small raised bed because my soil is awful. (Very heavy clay which floods from October to May). Still it's the first time I have managed to get Echiums to flower.



Can't wait to get stuck into a new garden with decent soil.

[kata]

Those are nice plants PB,

I love the Passion flower...awesome!

Where are you going?

I hope you spend many happy years in your new home. Don't forget pics of your new garden.

[photonbucket]

Kata, I have learnt from this garden. I have made lots of mistakes and didn't really plan anything. When I move I am going to rely heavily on the advice found here. First off, the shady courtyard which I am tempted to cover and make frost free. (But more on that later).

I should be moving in 2-4 weeks. No official date yet but 28-29th June is looking likely.

Goodbye clay!

[kata]

Billdango's yard could give you ideas,

http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... 8&start=75

[Dave Brown]

Great plants Tom

Is that arid bed inside your polytunnel

[billdango]

I don't know the name of that purple passion plant but there is one in a garden in St Denys that flowers every year.

Its a bit late this year due to the poor summer we are having down here at the moment but as soon as it flowers I will post some pictures of it.

I also have a deep red passion flower in my garden which should normally flower by september so when it does I will post some pictures of it as well.

rgds billdango

[photonbucket]

Great plants Tom

Is that arid bed inside your polytunnel

Dave I cheated. I was sick of loosing my Echiums so I put a polytunnel over the bed during the winter. It worked! The reason I had to take the tunnel down in early spring was that the Echiums were hitting the top.

This bed had a couple of frosts so I threw some bubble wrap over it for a few nights. Evenso, it seems that Aeoniums and Bulbines can take temperatures of at least zero.

[photonbucket]

What is the plant in the bottom right corner of my arid bed? It seems quite fast growing and is getting a bit too big.

Can't remember what it is, whether it's hardy etc etc

And another thing, how long does it take for viable seeds to form on the Echiums? They have almost finished flowering completely. Will I be able to harvest some before I move in about 3 weeks?

If I can, I can send spares to any HTUK members.

[photonbucket]

More pics in case you're interested....

An unusual pot. Behind it is my bath full of bamboo. Baths make amazing big tubs!



Over in the damp shade is one of my fave plants; Sum and Substance.

[kata]

Thats very nice of you to think of the members PB,

I hav'nt grown any but if any spare seed can I put my name down please?

I believe Sanatic grows Echiums.

http://www.hardytropicals.co.uk/forum/v ... anatic1234

I found this on Ebay

Echium_Fastuosum.jpg (29.72 KiB) Viewed 1161 times

[Addictedtopalms26]

Do you know which variety of Aeoniums they are? You could take cuttings with you

The passiflora is called Amethyst

[photonbucket]

Do you know which variety of Aeoniums they are? You could take cuttings with you

The passiflora is called Amethyst

The variety is Aeonium Aboreum Zwatkop. Ten a penny really and very cheap (about £1.50 each from my local wholesaler).

Now you say it, it is Amethyst. Thanks!

I will post a couple more pics later.

[Addictedtopalms26]

Ah I want to propagate lots of Aeoniums for a bedding scheme next year so if their cheap that's good, seen them on gardeners world before but not found them in my local GC.

Passiflora's are nice, I have 3 of the amethyst, 1 edulis and a common caerulea which is hardy. Caerulea is still my favourite though as its such a combination of colours.

Interesting fact about amethyst is that it was actually bred in the UK over 100 years ago! Origin and parents unknown though!

[photonbucket]

For me, Dicksonia Squarrosa outperforms Antarctica every year in terms of frond retention and length.

Is this the same for others?

[photonbucket]

Ah I want to propagate lots of Aeoniums for a bedding scheme next year so if their cheap that's good, seen them on gardeners world before but not found them in my local GC.

Passiflora's are nice, I have 3 of the amethyst, 1 edulis and a common caerulea which is hardy. Caerulea is still my favourite though as its such a combination of colours.

Interesting fact about amethyst is that it was actually bred in the UK over 100 years ago! Origin and parents unknown though!

Best place to buy passionflowers; Morrisons for £1.79!

As for Aeoniums, if I go to Goose Green again I will PM you beforehand and can will pick you some up. I will probably go in August once I have moved.