Magazine style - all inclusive

[alp]

Is this the hardy orchid - bletilla striata? What compost do you use for it please? So pretty! I think I am slowly killing all my orchid. There is just something wrong here - seedlings die, orchids not happy. I even have orchid compost. I am waiting for my epsom salt to come.

I thought you had Bletilla - not exactly the same as Habernaria! Just show how much I know.

See my home-made reservoirs!

Need a bit cleaning here. Thought people say gypsum board is good for breaking up the soil. Well, certainly not the way I do it. Need to get rid of any way.

s

With a hydrangea Annabelle in front. Quite apt!

 

[Zenj]

No you are right with the name I had both but lost one I believe it’s half hardy here ,had it 3 years ,put it out middle of April it’s in a pot bring it in to garage if frost is forecast and bring in before first frost just in multi with added horticultural sand ,and keep just slightly moist through winter.

 

[alp]

I have planted most of my hardy orchids out. Apart from the Zygotpetalums which were 10p each, the rest were like £15 or £7. No idea if they are dead or alive. They were all crowded into a tiny corner which is sheltered and is one of my very first nursery beds. Direct sowed some selno melons and will sow some more.

Very ashamed to see Monty's Floretino Toms so big. Mine is probably begging to be fed.

Yesterday was the best day for rain for me this year. Well chuffed. That lady using paper to build pots was very well organised and the success rate amazing.

Have found Met Office weather report to be more accurate

Can't attach photos as son has removed SD card! Grrrrrrrrrr!

 

[alp]

Little emperor has woken up and now I've got my photos!

This is a lovely forum. Speed and number of photos allowed. Thank you, Gardening Forum!

I often wonder how a tiny little long pot can sustain so many extravagant flowers! Simply amazing and fabulous!

Just love my little Samsung! Can't fault it. Shame I left it in the cold night!

Cornus Kousa Rubra is a beauty. Markings, unique flower form!

Beans!

This is a cancerous form of a muscari! Now I have lost the name! Hopeless I am.

Something indecent about this flower!!

Camassia

This is like an arbor!

Left you with my favorite!

 

[alp]

Good morning to RAIN!

Met office says only 10% and we are raining. Not heavy though! Well pleased as I didn't bother to water the plants I planted out yesterday - all dahlias. It was so cold last night that I realised that I had been too optimistic with the English weather here in East London. I felt like a rotten mother, putting my beloved children out to the street, cold and shivering and might even be predated by slugs and snails.

In the allotment, my 6 sweetcorn seedlings are still there, whitened by the cold. Very sad. Removed the sad fig tree which had tons of figs, but none for future consumption. A lot of effort as it had really enjoyed the heat and sunshine.

Now, all allotment should have an etiquette of NO CHIVES FOLLY! My tiny plot had been invaded by chives and they were everywhere, especially in the middle of my flowering plants. I even took photos of some SUPERSPREADERS! Grrrrrrrrrrr! They were buried 1 foot under and we had had great difficulty getting the bulbs! I need a LOCKDOWN against this virus!

I have never seen such a shocking Red Hot Poker! It's huge!

SUPERSPREADER - deadly and spreading! How do I effect a LOCKDOWN against chives?

I thought this plant was Josephine! Er, no - but I'm equally thrilled. A Majorie!

California poppies!

Cistus

Out of nowhere has come this Digitalis!

I had to remove some alstroemerias and some cerinthes to save this double osteospermum 3D

First peonies!

 

[alp]

Been very busy - feel the pressure of mortality - If I don't sow now, I won't see anything later in the year!

Sowed more sweetcorn, quinoa, cosmos (as I have had no luck so far - only one cupcake!)

Silk Wisteria - Shiro Kapitan .. lovely pea flowers with a delicate fragrance.

Very tiny T GRANDiflorum - someone sowed me a 6" GRANDIflorum on another forum! I must have the minuscule version.

Losing patience with my Icecream tulip! LOL!

Nothing beats purple sensation's sensational colour - except the light level when I took the pic!

I really like this Josephine - so many layers and keeps on giving .. At first, I thought it a bit over the top!

Viburnum Plicatum Mariesii is simply wonderful ..

OTT, again?

Now, I have to go through the box to see what I can sow right now - something future meals ..

 

[alp]

It's just so cold this morning. Wonder how cold it is up north. And it's grey and windy too.

My lettuces

There are so far 3 irises in my garden - 98% Indian Chief, 0.05% this Scented lilac, 0.05% Tickled peach and 0.1% the blue ones!

Honey bells are scattered everywhere, but they are so happy!

You see, there are only Indian Chiefs in my garden and they are not flowering so well in the allotment, probably because of the colder temperatures there!

Son fixed some down gutters and pipe to the freegled waterbutt and stand to our tiny shed.
Z

This is a yellow courgette, Orelia, supposed to yield 40 fruit per plant.

 

[Zenj]

Evening all wow showing my age now Dixon of dock green ,yes cold days alp down to 1 c next couple of nights than 20 c Thursday Friday than cold again the poor plants won’t like the cold nights knock them back.any one as the honeysuckle rhubarb and custard looking for one what’s not over rampant?

 

[alp]

Still buying on ebay! Mad woman I am. I was checking if I had bought San Marzano F2 and then saw the tall rudbeckia again and got hooked.

Just sieved a whole Tom grow bag Livington and it was full of lumps and bumps .. Just transplanted the San Marzanos. Yes, really have to believe not to put plants out before end May. Looks like we are in for a shock! My hands are so coarse and rough now that I find them repulsive. Going to make them worse now as there are more plants to transplant and more to tidy up as there are tons of casualties. I had some cupcake seeds germinating in jiffy pellets!!!!! HURRAH! I am still waiting for Elixir to send me my stuff. Not funny!

I have used up my last jumbo jiffy pellets.

 

[alp]

Good morning to a warmer day.

A tad on the cold side.


One of the 6 trays of lumps from the Levington Tomorite Grow bag!

It took me 5 attempts plus to focus this little beauty! Right at the corner of my eye, I spotted this heavenly colour in the top shelf in my lean to. Planted it out only to realise that it's very difficult to take a photo! The winds, the vehicular driven blasts ... finally, I conquered my little Samsung and elements (including old age shaking, LOL!)

Could be Ultra Violet or Nachtvlinder!

Anyone ID this plant for me please? Friend or Fiend?

Purple Sensation!

Crinodendron hookerianum

Hare grass!

 

[Zenj]

Morning all a cold night with a touch of frost on the lawns sunny now and 15c forecast ,could that be dead nettle alp Lamium

 

[alp]

This one is not stinging though, zenj. Son thought the same. Ask him to make some stinging nettle soup. He came back and said it had migrated. It was this one, not stinging, but it just is difficult to shift.

 

[alp]

Ah, you're right, Zenj!

Dead nettles have no sting! Thank you. LOL!

 

[Zenj]

If it is dead nettle you can use it in salads

 

[alp]

What does it taste like? I prefer to use it for fertiliser! LOL!