General Chat

I'm glad you all agree - I've worked indoors since leaving school all them many years ago (and it is a few) but for the last 2 and a half years I have worked outdoors at the Nursery - My love for plants has increased tremendously and knowledge also and i find it fascinating watching them grow and develop into mature specimens - remember if you are going to dig do some warm up exercises as gardening can be a killer on the back - I know I put my back out on Thursday just gone. On a Tuesday night I go to College and study Horticulture too so a hobby that I had has now turned into a career. Carry on with all your hard work and remember that a weed is an unloved floewr and can be friends in the Garden including the nettles as this is the only place a butterfly will lay its eggs. So save a space for them We can't be the only ones who thoroughly love and appreciate our gardens surely lol to all

The garden, is where peace can be found

don't think gardening for me this will be theraputic, more a case of necessity. Sister in Nottm. loves her garden when its looking all pretty, but its me that has to do it twice a year to keep it up to scratch. My visit is a little earlier than usual this year, silly sister fell downstairs and broke her arm. She'll do anything to get out of doing her garden LOL. So think of me during this coming week, digging and weeding! All say AAhhhhh Norah in Hampshire - and off in an hour

Life, for me, would be nothing without a garden. gerry

Tracy, I have the most beautiful King Protea growing in the little bit of front garden that I have. I have nursed this wild bush/tree for seven years. Up until two summers ago we had her in a metal pot. Then I planted this beautiful specimen in our garden.The first time she bloomed after seven years ( the tree no taller then just over a meter) the flower did not open completely. The bud takes a good few months in the winter season to grow and is already bigger then the size of a human hand. This year we have two buds.. so I estimate one bud a year. The flower is pink in color and when it opens has large petals that are pink and grey. My husband is taking photographs of the different stages of the growth. Our home has a ceramic tile of a protea in the front wall. (As well as one of our beloved bulldog, Feia.) Most houses in the Algarve have names. Ours is "Casa Protea" meaning "Protea House" The national flower of South Africa. Also, I have two bushes of "scarlet ribbons" which also belong to the protea family. Imagine a man's bow tie as a very red delicate flower. When they open they are dainty red ribbons. The two bushes have numerous buds. Then, there are the elephant ears, Huge green leaves and white lilly's that love the humidity that we have. I love roses but in our new garden which is small. I have only planted two ramblers, red and yellow. The garden is therapeutic. It is my sanctuary. Lindy

Until recently I used to go to an old friend's place and keep his garden in trim. Now all my gardening is indoor. Mind you last year the tomatoes escaped out of the window and ran riot all over the back of the flat. It is relaxing to be surrounded by greenery.

My garden is small and messy (rather like my house). Because it is untidy, despite living in the middle of an estate, I have blackbirds, sparrows, robins and even a mistle thrush in the garden eating the berries from the unpruned plants. Can't wait for the weather to improve so I can sit on my back doorstep and look at the 'mediterranean' bank (Filled with plants that survive drought - I don't water!)

Definitely therapeutic! When My uncle died last year, my husband and I spent ours on our seperate allotments, just digging and planting, took us both away from all the things we were feeling and couldn't talk about. My uncle was my last relative and it was very hard for me, hubby didn't know what to say or do, so we just gardened, now I have a beautiful rose garden and a huge pond to look at and remember my uncle with. Gardens are great!

When I was married to my ex he used to say that my "interest" in the garden was good for me as I would go out and weed or tidy up the garden (during the day of course) after a blazing row and come inside all calm & serene - now being a "horticulturist advisor" I find my customers saying the exact same thing - any one else?