General Chat

Karen - it is not soppy at all - there are alot of people who buy shrubs, roses etc to remind them of their loved ones as the plant will stay there and the person can nurture, and look after it as if it was their loved one.

If I can help anyone please feel free

My husband and i live in an end terraced house on a large estate so its not very pretty. we started the garden to give the children somewhere to run around but got so involved in it we're forever telling them to keep away from the plants and don't throw that ball around inthe garden you'll squash my marigolds! If only my headbanging friends could see me now, they'd die laughing! Family research and gardening. LOL Looking forward to getting out there and am already propagating my seeds, in fact they are all over the kitchen. Bliss! Pam

Hi Lindy Thats great I'll look forward to it - as for Nicotiana - it is know as the tobacco plant and is an annual often used in summer bedding schemes - the local garden centres should sell it - failing that grow your own from seed Love Tracy

Hi Tracy Emailed photo's last night Lindy:-)))

Hi Karen, I don't think that you will find a plant that smells like pipe tobacco that your late Dad used to smoke. Pipe tobacco has different aromas. My late Dad's was rum and maple and his jackets always smelt of rum and maple. Have you thought of buying a packet of his favorite pipe tobacco. Sorry, just a thought. Lindy:-)

Hi Karen. Try Nicoteana. Regards. Keith

I love my garden but am only a "fair weather gardener" Love to sit out on a night with the chimnea on a few incense sticks burning(if there are no night stocks out), bottle of wine, soft music and watching the stars and satellites. Well you need that after weeding all day! Pity is I see it calling and I'm going to be so torn between this and the garden !!

THAT'S BRILL LINDY I'LL LOOK FORWARD TO IT LOVE TRACY

Hi Tracey, Some of my Scarlet ribbons are in full bloom.. will send you a photo. Lindy:-)))

Tracy, Thank you very much for your detailed reply, I shall file it untill the end of summer. I very nearly went and killed off the last two "Leucadendrom Salignum's" What a mouth full! With the early Spring that we are having all the buds are nearly open. Thanks again. Regards Lindy:-)))))))))))))

I have replied to Lindy and Lisa personally so this is to say I am still here - Thanks for the advice Brenda I will bear it in mind. Lol Tracy

Hi Tracy, Do you have any idea when to take a cutting from a bush for potting. I started off with nine "Scarlet Ribbons" and made the mistake of planting them too close together. Last Spring I replanted seven of them and they all died. The remaining two are full of buds and should be opening any day. These bushes grow wild in Africa and they have adapted to the weather in the Algarve. I would not like to loose these as well. Lindy:-)

I find that listening to music, almost any music, calms me down. I go out to garden because I love being outside and listening to the birds, watching the squirrels and birds, etc. A friend of my mum's planned her "backyard" to resemble a New Orleans (French) garden. I was thinking of doing the same to our backyard, but would like to use an English theme. Anyone have any suggestions? Our yard is in an "L" shape (actually backwards L) and receives full sun. We have a garage along the side, and a shed connected to it. Currently, the walls of the shed are latticework and we will soon be installing a shingle roof. We also have a white iron bench, white iron arch and a picnic table. We have: apple tree, lemon tree, geraniums, lavender, mint, hydrangeas, jasmine, etc. Colours are pinks and purples. Any creative ideas are greatly appreciated. Hope the weather where you are is as nice as we've been having this week. What a great time of year to work in the garden!

Hello Tracy, I worked with 4 different owners and the last owner changed the look of the nursery to almost all hydroponics.I then left when we moved out of the area. We were going to open our own nursery but again something happened and so we shelved the idea. If you are that keen on gardening...give it a go. There are always changes in the nurseries,plant fashions come and go but I recon if you grow cottage plants etc which always seem to be in fashion you should go ok. Brenda

Brenda - why did you give up at the nursery - did you get fed up? I'd love to start my own - what do you think?

Gardens of our hearts....where would we be without them..it does not matter if its a little plot of land or acre's,sitting and drinking your fav drink and watching everything grow. I worked in a garden nursery for over 30 years and met the most lovely people.

nudge !!!

Gardening was a chore until I emigrated. Here you can literally watch the grass grow. Some of the 200 trees I planted this year are now taller than me and I can't see the rocks on the rockery I built 4 months ago. Dug up two snakes whilst terracing the hillside at the back....after that the spiders are childs play. The Eastern Water Dragons have taken over the swimming pool and the fruit bats are raucous at night. All a bit surreal. John in Aus

I quite agree I think the garden is very peaceful, everytime you go in the garden there is always something different, I am in the garden every morning around 6.00am watering & doing different things, I could quite easily stay out there all day. Its the best time of the day here in Western Australia early morning with a cup of coffee. Rita