General Chat

I have many favourite plants, but Iris and cranesbill are fairly high on my list. We've gardened seriously for aboout 15 years, but it always seems a mess at this time of year (there's a page of it on this web-site. Not a typical Canadian garden, though). http://michaelholmes.g2gm(.)com/ as seen about two years ago. Michael

Sorry for duff information Lisa - I wrongly assumed that the plant you were describing was a climber (perhaps the reference to Wisteria). Never thought of the Iris (or Flag) I like them too, and in particular the yellow ones and I have also seen some a rather peculiar shade of brown - quite fetching in a mass. Happy planting. Jacqui

err I think the best answer is... relatively low maintenance but colourful...

I think lillies of the valley are very beautiful. I also like a paeony - various colours, red, pink and white. The only trouble is that they don't last long enough. I'd like them to last for months rather than weeks!

This is for all of you who love their plants: Just read an article in my local paper before logging on and seeing this. A couple have just launched a new website in the hope that they and fellow gardeners can swap unwanted plants. Anyone who has any spare plants can register and exchange them for some that they want. It sounds a wonderful idea and would be really nice if it takes off, so I thought I would give them a plug on here. The addy is swapaplant(.)co(.)uk

Flags or iris, didn't think of that! They are lovely aren't they? Paul, what sort of garden do you want? Tidy or messy? Most of the stuff in my garden spreads and seeds itself all over the place. Heather

i love flowers, i like the smelly ones best, and groundcover,alpines so it cuts down the weeds, have a lovely mauve campanula, and my forgetmeknots and cornflowers have self seeded so iwas pleased, i also have herbs in patio pots which are great. sandra

Heather and Jacqueline Eurika!!! I have just got hold of my mum, and she says she thinks they are Iris, or Flags as she calls them. What a plonker I am, shows how much I know. I have to say though, they are very pretty, and make a nice show in my otherwise bare (apart from bikes and my small sons vehicles, oh and also the weeds) garden!!!!! Lisa xx

Jacqueline This is turning into a mission here, What is this flower!!! It doesn't have big yellow stamen, but small ones, and they run down the petals. I have looked inside, and there are more petals coming, all curled up. My son bless him has seen me running outside to look at it, and has picked one off the top for me. Here you are mummy he said, a flower for you, you said they were pretty!!!! I have to stop him picking more, or I won't have any left!!!!! Lisa xx

Right well I'm a total gardening novice.. moved into a new house last year and have nothing but a big green lawn at the back.. want to start adding some colour, haven't a clue what to add, what grows in sun, what grows in shade etc. anyone want to give some advice ?

Lisa - could it be a Solanum (Potato Vine)? there is also a white variety, with slightly smaller flowers. The purple version of the flower has bright yellow stamens (is that the right word?) Jacqui

Heather I really don't know what they are! I have just tried to ring my mum, but she is out, she has seen them and knows what they are. They have very long stems, flowers branching off fairly near the top. Leaves are all at the bottom, and are long and sward shaped, and the colour is a sort of light greyish green. The flowers are very big and a beautiful rich purple with yellow inside. The petals droop down and again are big not small petals. I have just been out the back to see if it smelled nice, smelled it, and the petal went up my nose!!!! It did, it smells lovely! LOL Lisa xx

Lisa, Is it a wisteria? I'm jealous, they are beautiful. I'm not jealous about the docks though, I've already got some and dandelions and millions of sweet-hearts, don't know the proper name, no ground elder though, thank heaven. Heather

I love all plants so I can't really decide which is my first choice. I've given my garden lots of t.l.c. this year and adore gardening with a passion so I'm pretty pleased with the results at the moment......actually I really love fuchsias, roses, pretty campanulas, foxgloves, hydrangeas are back in vogue, rhododendroms and azaleas...you name it, I like it!

My garden (back yard!) is completely devoid of flowers, except for some lavender, some big long purple flowers with very long green leaves, huge flower heads, and are flowering at the moment. I don't know what they are, but they are very pretty! Oh and my chives are flowering at the moment, bless 'em. There are an awful lot of weeds there though, and I think I have record size dock leaves, must be a foot and a half long!!!!!!!! I must get out there and sort those!! Lisa xx

We have just had our garden 'made over' and had enormous pleasure in stocking it from the garden centre last week. I have two equal favourites at the moment. One is 'The Bride', flowers white in April/May and planted in memory of my late friend; the other is a bougainvillea in the most gorgeous shade of deep purple.

My clematis, fuschia, cornus, crocosmia lucifer, hostas and strawberries -- just the ones that leap to mind. But definitely not the ground elder............. Ann

My overgrown (messy!!) garden is looking beautiful at the moment so its difficult to choose just one but I think the Pieris is the best with its flame and peach coloured new leaves. What is your favourite plant? Heather