Busy-Lizzie

Rowan Tree Poorly

Lyon's photo is definitely lichen as Bob says. In Dordogne, where I live there is masses of it and the air is very pure.

which climber

If it's a south facing wall it shouldn't be too exposed in winter, it's protecting plants from north winds.

I have a pretty clematis called Diana with pink bell flowers on a south wall. Did you plant the clematis deep enough? Are you sure they are dead? They are usually pretty hardy, but they like their roots protected from the sun.

If you want something else then what about star jasmine, trachelospermum jasminoides? It is evergreen and has very fragrant small white flowers. Some say it can be a bit tender, but mine survived -17° last winter.

MOB rants

Hello Swiss Sue, I was getting regular emails then it stopped, but I haven't deleted the tick. It's happened before. The other thing that happens especially with the "weather" thread is it doesn't say "view first unread post" and there are more than 10 pages, so it's harder to get to the recent postings.

Seeds are up

Pestemons are germinating, took longer than the tomatoes etc. Does anyone know if they'll be big enough to flower this year? First time I've had them germinate, although I've sown them before.

MOB rants

I need a "Mob rant" because I'm not being sent it anymore? Am I forgotten or do you have to rant regularly to be updated?

Garden Gallery 2013

Glad you put in the house, I'm one of the nosey ones! Looks as though it will be super a bit later.

What's the weather like in your area?

Rain all day, 6°, but there are some daffodils coming out, but mostly the cream ones. The yellow ones usually come out first, but most of them seem to be blind. Could that be because we had a drought in 2011 that lasted until May 2012? No local hay for sale in 2011, bought it in Northern France for 3 times the price.

When is it too late to a plant pot or root ball laurel hedge?

If they have soil around their roots they will be fine if kept moist. It's bare-rooted plants then it's urgent.

new border for boring garden

Smaller plants tend to transplant more easily and are cheaper to buy. Here are some to get started. Photinia "Red Robin", Ilex altaclerensis "Golden King" (you need male and female hollies for berries), Choisya, Eleagnus "Gilt Edge", Nandina Domestica (perhaps not for background as it's smaller), cotoneaster lacteus (bird's like the berries, so good for wildlife).

Under a conifer

It is very difficult to get anything to grow under a conifer as they have lots of roots near the surface that steal all the water. One plant that I have that does grow under a conifer and is evergreen is periwinkle (Vinca). Mine is Vinca Minor with lavender blue flowers and it's a bit of a thug to keep from spreading into the rest of the border, but you can get bigger leaved and flowered ones, Vinca Major and there is also a variegated one.

As for shrubs, I have a euonymous fortunei, Silver Queen (I think) under a conifer that is managing OK.

Gardens we have visited 2013

no emails as well as small text

Cleaning greenhouses

Rose pruning and frost

reviews

Why did you all start gardening?

uploading photos