General Chat

I think different animals give different reactions. Mine became worse years ago when we had a long haired kitten. Since then we have only had cats that turn up and adopt us, but as yet we have not had a time without a cat.

Kay

I'm just watching a tv programme about wild flowers, and how little remains of the wild flower meadows, so am thinking about trying to incorporate as many wild and butterfly/bee/insect attracting plants as I can in my little plot.

There are already foxgloves and borage, and I know the marigolds will do well, and if the aquilegia's survive the frosts they are already there. It's too small a garden for any tree unfortunately, but I might get a buddliea in :-D

Rose
Another plant I find is good for bees is Lavender and also I have lots of Lungworts which are very pretty in Spring. When the flowers are out it's like bee city in my front garden. The plants do spread a bit but you can always pull out those you don't want
I'm watching Sarah Raven as well. I always find her programmes interesting.
Von

Von I was thinking about some lavender. Before we moved here the house I was renting had a lovely garden with lots of lavender down the path. The soil here, what there is of it lol, is poor, mostly shale from mining I think, but it drains well.

I took some cuttings from my Lavender earlier this year and hopefully if they haven't died a death this week I shall plant them out later this year.
I'm determined to keep them in trim this time.Fingers crossed.
Von

As long as the soil drains well lavender should be fine Rose, and the Aquilegia should survive the frost.

The aquilegia are really hardy aren't they Ann, the seed has travelled with us for many years, house to house and not failed yet.

Hi hope you don't mind me popping in

A lot of lavenders thrive in poor soil, Vera is one.

I didn't lose any aquilegia in the severe weather we had last winter.

Others I've found the insects like are penstomon (some are not hardy) and the good old heuchera especially green finch

Lesley

I shall look out for that one Lesley, funny I had forgotten about heuchera though we used to have some.

Bees - around here theythrive on my Chive flowers! Dunno wot it does to taste of honey tho.

Love Heuchera, got about 6 different ones. Can't seem to keep Penstemon though Lesley.

OH loves Aquilegia and has got a lot in the garden. He gave a lot to Daff too so hopefully R will still have those, and she gave us some of hers. Plants are wonderful if you pass them around, a living memorial. :-)

I too like heuchera even when not flowering the variation in leave colour still gives you a good show, and so easy to look after

I never prune my penstemon until at least April so the old wood can give some protection from the frost, my first was bought about 10 years ago

Dianthus (pinks) are another of my favourites I love them for the perfume

Aquilegia are great for giving height and colour, but boy don't they self seed

Just nudging because the wildflower programme has just started on BBC2 :-)

thanks Ann nice thread, ive lost so many plants that died in the winter, mainly as i use pots, but i am bidding on a walk in polytunnel so i can put things in there , my hellebores have died and my rememberance plant i got for dad, but he would find that funny, so im off to see how the bidding is going, there selling for around 40.00 300cm by200cm by 200 cm should be big enough xx :-D

Did you know that you can get mini buddlieas , they are great I have four in my garden. Also I make a policy of not weeding in the spring until I can make out whether or not they are baby aquilegias, or hellebores or whatever. Then you can transplant to where you want them. We successfully grew very good carrots in troughs last year, I only slightly weeded them out, as the smaller ones were very sweet.

Jan in norfolk UK ....1 mile from the sea

Jan my friend has a mini buddliea in a pot, very pretty :-)

I've been looking at plants online, and must remember to get some forget me nots, and I saw some sidalcea at the 99p shop, not had those before but think they would do well here.

I have a little patch outside the front window and all I can see is cars :( so, though it's not everyone's choice, I'm thinking a Pampas slap bang in the middle would be quite nice, and give something to look out on without being too 'static'.

Just don't try burning it when you cut it down Rose. Whoosh those fronds are very flammable (and sharp). Hate the things myself but we inherited one in one house. Got rid of it though. Can see why you want it though.

Ann, we used to have several in Wales, mentioning no names but someone decided it might be quicker to get rid of all the dry bits of the oldest one by burning....never again! ...maybe I'll rethink that one given that some of the neighbours smoke and park close lol, one cigarette end and...as you say "whoosh"!

Rose, you may like to have a re-think after you've googled 'Pampas Grass Swingers'

I'm sure there's something much nicer you could have anyway, but that's just my opinion.

Wend! ROFL...I have to have one now lolol, ;-)