General Chat

My garden is an absolute disaster after the recent storms here. The winds tore down fencies etc. I am going to get something done today as it is dry. Wish me luck!!!

My snowdrops have just started to show their heads,so the crocus won't be far behind. I was beggining to wonder because my mate and his lad were back and forward over the borders putting the new fwnce up ,but they look fine.next month i am really looking forward to ,seed planting time in the greenhouse,lots of flower seeds to go in,onions ,tomatoes,,not forgetting some sweetpea. Spring ,just round the corner Yeeeeh.Fred.ptfg.

I found a bud on the Christmas Rose today, it never flowers at christmas, perhaps I need a cloche? Heather

Bev Altho' the ground is very wet at the moment - It is a brilliant time to do the weeding - wait for the ground to dry out a bit and out with the trowel and get weeding - we are still officially in the "Dormant" season and the mor you get out now with the roots the less you should have during the "Growing" season.

my weeds appear to be coming along nicely though must admit to having daffodils poking through as well

I've got 200 daffodils sprouting at the moment. Only problem is they are still in the string bag!!! Guess what I'll be doing tomorrow morning at first light?

Hi Louise, have you changed your name, lol? We were talking about spring bulbs at the beginning of the week weren't we? Hi Daisy, another flower name, lol. My clematis were really cheap ones from the supermarket,I'm trying to think what the scent reminds me of, clove pinks perhaps? Heather

Clematis montana is lovely, I have it on the trellis, it spreads well too. Is the white flowering one also montana or does it have another name? I love the smell of the pink one. Heather

Marion that pink flower could actually be a daffodil a PINK one at that - they come in pink believe it or not. Climbers for the shade - quite difficult - apart from the obvious Hedera (Ivy URGH!!!!) Hydrangea Petiolaris, and Parthenocissus (Virginia Creeper) will both thrive in full shade which is what the position is - it sounds like a north facing wall and the other that will grow on a north facing wall is Clematis Montana - that is a fully hardy clematis and a very popular one also. Most garden centers/nurseries should stock these in the spring. Try and make sure that they are grown in England as the majority of plants are now imported from Holland and as nice as they are they are not much cop. The reason for this is they are grown under glass to force them into flower (Like rhubarb I hear you say and you would be correct in your thinking) once they have finished flowering they need to be over wintered as they are not acclimatised to the british weather, they need to be hardened off before we can leave them out to sustain the british winter. Just a few suggestions Good luck Tracy

Tracy, you've just reminded me that I planted an evergreen climber next to the trellis last year.........can't remember seeing it lately. Heather

Hi Marion Sorry to hear your garden is looking bedraggled at the moment but another plant you could plant against your wall if you have one is the EVERGREEN Clematis Armandii it has long banana shaped leaves and flowers between feb/april. The other EVERGREEN Climber you could try is Lonicera Henryii the Evergreen Honeysuckle the scent is delicious that flowers later in the year. regards

Hi Brenda I don't think that my snowdrops usually flower this early. The leaves of the daffs are up also the grape hyacinths,crocus and the blue/white bells. The Mahonia Charity has almost finished flowering now but the viburnums and skimmias and winter jasmine are still giving some colour. Heather

Aren't you all the lucky ones here in Lancashire all my bulbs are just beginning to show ,but my winter flowering Viburnums are full of blosssom and the skimmia is ok as well I would love to have snowdrops out in January because they were my Mum's favourite flower her birthday was in January,mine come out in February Bren

Hi Marion My garden is a mess too, I left some seedheads on the plants for the birds so there are loads of brown dead bits now.Have you room to grow something to cling to the wall, I'm thinking of the climbing hydrangea petiolaris, white flowers with a very delicate perfume. The flowers grow on stems that grow from the main stem so you need some space beside the wall. Your pink flower sounds interesting, what sort of leaf does it have? Anthony, my son-in-law took a photograph of a daffodil in flower at Christmas, it was in Devon though where it is much warmer than here. The sparrows peck the petals of my polyanthus, especially the yellow ones. Tabby Cat and Marley, Geraniums!!!!! it has been a very strange year! Andy, we pruned the Buddleia in the autumn and the leaves have been shooting ever since then, it hasn't had a dormant spell this year. Heather

I've just noticed that the crocuses are poking above the surface in our front garden in spite of the fact it is in the shade. And one sad little Anemone seems to have become confused and has poked one leaf out. But strangely the roses which given a first prune in the autumn to about 3 ft. have begun to make new growth!

Hi Guys Sorry to disappoint you all but we are still in the midst of winter - the reason these plants are flowering is because of the mild AUTUMN we had up until the 20th December 2004. Polyanthus and Primulas should be flowering anyway because they are an Autuminal plant which flower through the winter - if you want to increase the stock in your garden of these wonderfully hardy plants - wait until they have stopped flowering and then put two small garden forks back to back and pull them apart - make sure that you replant them asap. (Dig the new holes first). As for the snow drops - they are a small bulb and again can be lifted and divided after flowering. Spring officially doesnt start until around 20th/21st of March but the seasons are swinging - something to do with that awful ozone layer getting thinner. Enjoy now Tracy

Have snowdrops but a large clump of anemone blooming for past week!

I still have geraniums flowering in the garden in a sheltered spot

Hi Linda It's been a lovely day here too. There are catkins in the hedgerows so it must be Spring! Heather

Some of our daffs are in bud and the polyanthus are well in flower roll on spring.