Wintersong

April in Your Garden

Michelangelo said that you can see the sculpture inside the piece of stone and it is the sculptor's job to set it free. It's always like that with my clay work and I would imagine with wood too.

On a side note, I have been inspired (and frustrated) by Eddie's marvellous displays of garden art and am currently arranging something with wire and concrete mix, when the rain stops pouring that is

raised beds

Oh thats what I just remembered, one of the Vitis would have lovely foliage or maybe you would prefer a Honeysuckle. They would go marvellously.

raised beds

I just did a plant search on this website for hardy climber in full sun and got 130 suggestions

What's the weather like in your area?

sotongeoff wrote (see)

-who do I write to if that does not happen?

God

raised beds

Solanum crispum likes full sun but also shelter, a harsh winter might kill it and parts of it are toxic if ingested.

You could try a passion flower if you're not too far north? Or thonless rose if you don't mind a spot of tying in. Maybe not practical? What about a lovely ivy? No  tying once established, evergreen, will take full sun as well as shade and beautiful foliage to contrast with the clematis?

The Golden Hop has gorgeous foliage and climbs without any trouble although it doesn't like the hottest part of the day.

What's the weather like in your area?

Stormy in Kent. Very blustery winds, my wobbly fence is coming down  oh and did I mention its raining? Feels like November weather!

Garden Gallery

Nice!

April in Your Garden

@obelixx, that lab sounds adorable and must feel as though he has a new lease of life! My deceased 13yr lab was a handful for the first two years, needing a lot of walking and training, I can only imagine how stir crazy the dog must have felt trapped indoors! They never get past adolescence in my opinion, my Phar still lved to nuzzle his teddy bears with a beard and grey paws!

 He had to be put down with a heart condition in 2010. Still sorely missed and a great big soppy mutt.

Best of luck and enjoyment for the bouncy new playmate!

April in Your Garden

@Sotongeoff, yes I'm using the blue ones. As I said, I try to limit them to deep under foliage or right in the depths of things like Phormium and Sisyrinchium where I've never seen a bird plunder. (I also believe..think...remember reading somewhere maybe...that they are specifically coloured blue to stop birds and wild mammals eating them). This does not include pet dogs. 

Once the rain stops......I'll make up a Garlic solution to use the rest of the season, I'm trying very very hard to be organic as possible with piles of grit on susceptible plants, although I guess I could try harder with those late night slug hunts.

Maybe I just expect too much this year? My garden is the fullest its ever been this year and I wonder that for every plant I buy or propagate, I must expect an increase in SS population.

Tonight's programme

I grew Cowslips from seed a few years back, including putting them in the fridge for 6 weeks to fool the seed into thinking it had gone through winter.

When I planted them in the garden I forgot all about them and rescued just two plants two years ago looking very sorry for themselves. They got a better place and last summer I divided them and will again this year. After a slow start they seem to be taking off nicely now. 

 Here they are mixed with some Doronicum Little Leo that were half dead and on the cheap at B&Q last year and now doing splendidly.

June in Your Garden!

Chelsea!

Chelsea Chop

What's it like in your garden?

Ooh ooh so excited!

Talkback: Informal planting

Why Miss Bateman?

Phormium newbie