jane_cardiff

Patch of grass

For some seasonal pots you could try for next spring some small daffs such as tete a tete with some crocus corms and a few pansies for this autumn. Or you could try some little box plants trimmed into shapes such as balls or boxes. (but don't go mad as they might get pinched: mine did!)
For next summer, primroses, geraniums (actually pelargoniums) are great in a sunny spot in a container. You can get different types which either grow like a bush or trailing types.
For this winter, maybe some little conifers in pots or other evergreen plants? I am sure any garden centre would be happy to offer advice.

best flavoured tomatoes

I love the little sungold cherry toms ; so do the grandchildren!!

When to plant seeds?

Mandy,  why not try some purple sprouting brocoli? We have just planted seeds (in pots) for the spring.  They will be planted out when they are about a foot tall and hopefully will survive the winter.   

When to plant seeds?

I have grown foxgloves, cosmos and lavatera recently and also ladybird poppies. But only the foxgloves will survive the winter. Winter salads here we come! I recommend tatsoi.

Talkback: Growing lupins

I too have seen giant aphids, small snails and slugs on my lupins. They don't like too wet a border either. I can't see why you couldn't try them in containers.

I am fond of them and grow more every year, always the optimist!

Talkback: Growing aquilegias

Monty recommends cutting back vigorously. They do regrow in a few weeks.i am fond of Purple Emporer which has lime green leaves. This year I grew MCKAnna giants - very pretty and not too tall. I do rescue seedlings and plant them where I want them! I am very fond of all the varieties and yes I grow them in pots too.

Talkback: Snails

I confess to dropping them in salted water overnight.then I leave them under the bushes for the thrushes and they're soon eaten.

Wildflowers - to dig over soil before planting or not?

At our community woodland and meadows, we have a hay rake every year and are also introducing cattle to graze in the autumn. It's quite a battle to encourage the flowers as the grasses seem to get the upper hand these days. I cant see any harm in adding some seed or young plants in a garden especially to encourage more insects.

Talkback: Leafcutter bees

Our leafcutter bees  nested in the top of a garden umbrella (better than the mice which ate through

 another one in the shed...) We found the egg cases and are hoping to re-house them elsewhere - see pics

What is your kind of garden?

I have a third of an acre looking out over school playing fields - a nice backdrop.We have lawns, a pond, a small rockery and lots of cottage-type borders. The sloping playing fields give problems in really wet weather, with little streams developing in the borders and large pools which take a couple of days to disappear. The soil is clay but much composting has helped to break it up.  As we are now in our seventies, we are moving towards more

 

 shrubs and perennials.  Nice fruit and vegetable patch, a greenhouse for play on wet days and of course a shed (with mouse). I love geraniums, clematis, fuchsias, roses and foxgloves and many many pots....

 

Poor apple crop_blotchy leaves