tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post5192508274083560667..comments2023-04-09T11:46:58.887+01:00Comments on Graphicality-UK: In my new garden - GBBD MayHELENEhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-57176783948145256382015-06-15T13:29:43.003+01:002015-06-15T13:29:43.003+01:00Thanks for all that Helene I will try some cutting...Thanks for all that Helene I will try some cuttings at the end of this flowering season, it's about halfway at the moment. I didn't get any seed pods last autumn, so maybe this year there will be some. as to the aphids I have been looking out for them since I read your post about them, so far no sign which is perhaps a surprise, but there are ants to be seen on the leaves though I'm not sure what they are after maybe just the nectar. I keep bees here too and they love this plant for afternoon feeding. I let you know if I manage to make some cuttings.<br />Take care<br />SylviaAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04675717564638501005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-20418353461478992142015-06-14T15:28:09.793+01:002015-06-14T15:28:09.793+01:00Oh and finally, look out for Aphis nerii, the yell...Oh and finally, look out for Aphis nerii, the yellow aphids, they are specific for oleanders and milk-sap plants like Dregea and you will get them. In my garden they came very late in the season so I didn’t worry too much, but they kind of took over completely from late October and onwards! You might have them much earlier and might choose to spray against them. If you google aphis nerii + dregea sinensis you will find posts I have written about this yucky aphid and also a YouTube movie I made about them.<br /><br /> Good luck with your new garden once you have moved, it is a lot of work moving but I am so glad I took all my plants with me. For now I am just watering the plants and trying to keep them alive whilst cutting down and pruning the new garden and making it ready for all my plants. I will be pruning for months I think.<br />Take care,<br />HeleneHELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-28284063506315026902015-06-14T15:27:58.371+01:002015-06-14T15:27:58.371+01:00Hello Sylvia, so nice to hear from someone who als...Hello Sylvia, so nice to hear from someone who also has a Dregea, it is still a rare thing to come by :-) I must admit I have not had much success with taking cuttings of the Dregea lately, I am not sure why as the two plants I had growing up the arch were cuttings I took from someone else’s plant and they grew without any problems back in 2004. The first few years I made a few cuttings from my plants for other people and as a back-up for myself, but when it turned out that the Dregea was much more hardy and resilient than websites online made me believe, I gave away all the babies I had. Some years ago I tried to make a few cuttings for a friend but they all died eventually, not sure why. Last year when I tried to look for somewhere else to live I announced on a plant swap site I am a member of that I was happy to give away cuttings and asked how many wanted, 6 people asked for cuttings and I made 20. They all died. Then I made another 20, none of them took so I had to sheepishly apologise and tell them all I had none to give away :-( <br />I have no idea why they all died, as I had no problems when the Dregeas were younger. Not sure why that should matter, but I did it the exact same way. I took cuttings in late summer/early autumn, semi ripe cuttings with a plastic bag over, placed in a shady place and I used hormone powder. Just normal cutting procedure. Making them from seed has proved impossible outdoors as the seeds are ripe in November/December and should be sown straight away and I don’t have a greenhouse so perhaps you could do it that way if you have a heated greenhouse once you have seedpods, but be prepared for many years before any flowers that way, propagated from cuttings you will probably have flowers in year 2 as I did. Have a go at taking cuttings, you might have much better luck than me, but if not you could always buy another plant, they are not expensive as small plants, at least not over here.<br /><br />As for lifting the 2 plants, that was much easier than I had thought. After 10 years in the ground I had anticipated roots halfway down to China, and it possibly was, but my friend who helped me just cut a circle around the plants, cut the roots and we dug out and lifted the plants out of the ground and squeezed them into 10 litres pots. The branches were cut to about 70cm tall, and that low they had not been having leaves for years so it has been a slow process getting them to produce leaves again – but it’s happing. I gave away one of the plants to my friend and I have the other here and it is going to a home in Bristol. The Dregea I have here has now got leaves and flower buds and is starting to produce new lianas so it has certainly survived the shock of being lifted. Mind you, I lifted them in January, the best time for doing things like that here in Britain, when the soil is at the wettest, I would not have done it now, we haven’t had much rain at all the whole spring and the ground is very dry and hard.<br /><br />Having the Dregeas on an arch has been a lovely display, but be prepared for some work tucking the branches/lianas in while the Dregea grows like mad in the spring and early summer, you might feel the need to do it just about every time you pass it! When the plants are a bit more mature, after 5-6 years or so you will need to really prune hard in early winter in order to keep it in check. If I had a different place to keep it in my old garden I don’t think I would have had it over an arch as you need two plants to make a good display and it simply grew too big for the arch, even the big one I had. I think a large pergola would be a better option, where you would not need to worry so much about pruning it down every year, just keeping it in check so it didn’t take over the surround area too much. The best position for it is where you have afternoon and evening sun, as the flowers smell most in the evening, like jasmine. If the sun goes away too early it won’t smell so rich in the evening. HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-63147468370052390802015-06-14T12:39:19.900+01:002015-06-14T12:39:19.900+01:00Good luck with your new home and garden. I have be...Good luck with your new home and garden. I have been really interested to read you experience with Dregea. I aquired this beautiful climber last year, though it's still known as Wattakaka here. Here is south west France,btw, and for now I'me keeping the plant in a pot, because I will also be planning a new garden soon I hope. I would very much like to know how you went about taking cuttings, when you took them and how you treated them. I am constantly trying to get Clematis cuttings going but with rather dismal success, only three actual new plants to show for my efforts. I wonder if the Dregea will be any easier. I've been keeping the plant in a semi-shady position here as the mid -summer can have temperatures up to 40, and it's just a but too much in a fully open position. I loved the look of yours over the arch and feel inspired to try for a similar effect when I finally get it in the ground. Did you find it difficult to take up and I presume put in a pot for transplanting, how well has it handled the shock? I look forward to seeing the progress in your new garden as the weeks go by. enjoy it, and thanks for all the useful info.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04675717564638501005noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-24199464997760689672015-06-01T02:08:18.304+01:002015-06-01T02:08:18.304+01:00Thanks, yes I have my priorities right!
I could n...Thanks, yes I have my priorities right! <br />I could not have left my garden behind and when looking for a more practical house for me, a garden for my plants was a must. The ceanothus will be a challenge to work around but it’s definitely for keep. Nothing here has been touch for possibly more than 10 years apart from mowing the grass, I will be pruning and trimming for months!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-81394966954446263742015-06-01T02:03:42.765+01:002015-06-01T02:03:42.765+01:00The ceanothus has turned out to be TWO plants – or...The ceanothus has turned out to be TWO plants – or I suppose I could call them trees at that size. They desperately need to be pruned on the inside as 2/3 of the branches are dead. I can walk under the canopy and all I see is dead branches. I am not sure if I can cut away everything dead, I know ceanothus doesn’t take well to pruning but if it’s dead then surely that’s different than cutting away healthy branches….I might have to ask for some advice on this one as I wouldn’t want to risk killing them.<br />I had an Acanthus spinosus in my old garden, I actually managed to dig it up too, but it took some effort. I suspect it will be more difficult here as it’s spread everywhere and the plants are well established. I think I might have to hire someone to do some digging for me once everything is cut down.<br />But overall I am very pleased with the move, the bungalow needs a bit of work to fit my needs but the garden will be up to me to make. I will take my time and hopefully get it right the first time in terms of layout and hard landscaping, the planting will have to wait for now.HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-91773202463116469582015-06-01T02:03:31.179+01:002015-06-01T02:03:31.179+01:00Thanks, I have left instructions with the new tena...Thanks, I have left instructions with the new tenant for each of the plants I have left in his garden, and also offered to come and help him with pruning next spring, I would be happy to teach him to take care of everything but I fear he isn’t really that interested. That’s fine, not everyone is a gardener – which is one of the main reasons why he wanted to move away from this house as he felt the garden was too much for him. I can understand why!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-34525591489100304392015-06-01T01:50:41.786+01:002015-06-01T01:50:41.786+01:00Thanks Jennifer, I decided to leave the peony as i...Thanks Jennifer, I decided to leave the peony as it is so huge it would not be happy in a container while waiting for me to clear the garden and make plans, it would have needed a bathtub to live in! It is probably 30-40 years old and I inherited it when I moved into my old house. I dug it up once before, a few years after I moved in 14 years ago and it was enormous – and I only dragged it across to the sunny side. It sulked for 4 years and refused to flower in its new position in the sun, but boy was it worth waiting for. Instead of flowering with 7-8 flowers I got lots of flowers. Last year I had 56 flowers! I hope the new tenant will appreciate the peony flowers. <br />I would like to move the lilac but that would yet again be a job I would have to hire someone to do, no way would I be able to do that myself so a decision to make when the garden is cleared and pruned and ready for it. HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-9784701444023123722015-06-01T01:50:32.916+01:002015-06-01T01:50:32.916+01:00Thanks Donna, I have wanted a greenhouse for many ...Thanks Donna, I have wanted a greenhouse for many years, I will try to find a space for one, at least a small one. I must admit the task ahead is rather daunting to me too, but I go out in the garden every day and just start with what’s most needed, usually watering, and then I just get stuck in with anything else – nothing in the garden feels like a chore, I am enjoying it – that helps!!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-55720927022084607972015-06-01T01:50:25.771+01:002015-06-01T01:50:25.771+01:00Thanks Rose, glad I can be of help :-)
I imagine m...Thanks Rose, glad I can be of help :-)<br />I imagine my planting will take a loooong time, I don’t really have a deadline, I am not very well with those, but most of the plants will be happy in their pots until next spring so that’s what I keep telling myself. Only exception is the roses, they will need a permanent home as soon as possible and there’s only one good place for them in the garden – the sunny bottom part next to the shed so that’s where I will start clearing and pruning. Good luck with your planting too!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-71785134310875584742015-06-01T01:50:16.957+01:002015-06-01T01:50:16.957+01:00Thanks, my body do feels sore, I have walked too m...Thanks, my body do feels sore, I have walked too much, lifted too much, used my hands too much – but it’s all for a good cause and it won’t last forever so I try to pace myself but do as much as I can every day. <br />I am afraid I have very good experience in packing up a house, the current house is the 24th I am living in, counting from birth. I hope this will be my last move ever!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-91458660428549322872015-06-01T01:50:01.228+01:002015-06-01T01:50:01.228+01:00Thank you, I am trying not to do too much, but it ...Thank you, I am trying not to do too much, but it is so exciting! I find new treasures all the time and I still don’t know exactly what’s growing in this garden – I’m dying to get the garden sorted so I can start planning what to do with it.HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-63616992610518796682015-05-30T23:42:01.746+01:002015-05-30T23:42:01.746+01:00So, you made it! Two truckloads of plants, one fo...So, you made it! Two truckloads of plants, one for everything else. That sounds about right. Now the new garden adventure begins. Enjoy. <br /><br />(I would have moved for that Ceanothus alone--it's magnificent.) Hoover Boohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03083294821646284424noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-28284036423429326032015-05-28T18:17:13.446+01:002015-05-28T18:17:13.446+01:00Good to see you moved in Helene, That is the bigge...Good to see you moved in Helene, That is the biggest ceanothus I have seen, what a beauty. When I first discovered Acanthus and planted it in our last garden I was well chuffed when it bloomed, most of the garden presenters would talk of how this was a grand architectural plant, not so easy to dig up when you want rid of it though.<br />Once you are well again, you have some amount of work ahead with all those plants, well if thats not stating the obvious! Good luck, glad you found what you were looking for.Alistairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17104382970502166560noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-2706846379552167552015-05-23T03:21:11.613+01:002015-05-23T03:21:11.613+01:00I do hope the owner of your old space appreciates ...I do hope the owner of your old space appreciates the lovely plants left behind! If not already a gardener, surely the vestiges of your garden will be an inspiration to become one! I really look forward to seeing your new garden take shape. The amount of work you have to do looks daunting, but then, it is gardening, which is the most relaxing work there is! ( But take care pushing and pulling big crates around!) Best wishes!debsgardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656883577922890561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-63712471365033184332015-05-21T04:40:50.307+01:002015-05-21T04:40:50.307+01:00Thanks Rick, I am not known for doing things by ha...Thanks Rick, I am not known for doing things by halves, nope….!!<br />I have a rough plan in my head, or more a wish or a dream I should probably say. I need to clear the garden for weeds and rubbish and then trim and prune for weeks probably – and only then can I see what space I have available. This will take time :-)HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-49668461253125804372015-05-21T04:38:11.596+01:002015-05-21T04:38:11.596+01:00Thank you Nadezda, I really want a greenhouse, it ...Thank you Nadezda, I really want a greenhouse, it is only a question of where to put it as I would like it to have some sun during the day and much of the garden is rather shady or shaded by the house. I will take plenty of time to make a decision about this so I get it right. The plants will just have to wait in pots while I decide on the hard landscaping :-)HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-9277615714155489292015-05-21T04:36:02.353+01:002015-05-21T04:36:02.353+01:00Thanks Beth, I hope to get a viewing of my old gar...Thanks Beth, I hope to get a viewing of my old garden as I have arranged with the new tenant to come back and dig up the acer and the rhododendron some time during the winter. I also offered to help him with the winter pruning of the roses, as he had never done anything like that before. Let’s see if he takes up the offer. HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-49598880911333769472015-05-21T04:35:54.323+01:002015-05-21T04:35:54.323+01:00Yes, it is so exciting and I can hardly wait to ge...Yes, it is so exciting and I can hardly wait to get started. I discovered that the cherry tree in my ne garden has lots of cherries, I do wonder what type it is and how they will taste when ripe – I have never had a cherry tree before :-)HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-31417719039451239292015-05-21T04:30:47.445+01:002015-05-21T04:30:47.445+01:00Thanks Angie, there is a lot to take in here, I ca...Thanks Angie, there is a lot to take in here, I can hardly believe myself that this garden is mine now – I wander around in the garden and find new things to see every day. The ceanothus is amazing, but the flowering season is rather short, it is already drizzling tiny blue flowers over the whole garden and it will all be over soon. But fortunately it is evergreen so a nice green bush – or more tree should I say – all year round. <br />The picked fenced garden would have been perfect for my roses, had it not been so shady there by the trees. I think I will have to grow fuchsias there instead, but they will love that dappled shade. I have only said hello to one neighbour so far, not sure if she was interested in gardening as we had just a brief talk. My cat is still indoors but is getting restless so I think I will have to let him out soon. I can’t believe he has managed to be indoors for 10 days without tearing the house down, it’s been fine actually.HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-61249871689301176682015-05-21T04:29:22.691+01:002015-05-21T04:29:22.691+01:00Thank you Christina, the ceanothus is growing in m...Thank you Christina, the ceanothus is growing in my garden, in what I now have named the Shade Garden, on the side of my house – definitely mine :-) I have no idea how old it is, could be 20, 30 years old or even older. Maybe someone here would know?HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-76571340981387978612015-05-21T04:29:15.315+01:002015-05-21T04:29:15.315+01:00Thanks Patty, yes this will be a long project, a p...Thanks Patty, yes this will be a long project, a project without a deadline – it just got to take as long as it takes :-)HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-52657302921284039972015-05-21T04:19:07.658+01:002015-05-21T04:19:07.658+01:00I am not sure if the new tenant realise how much w...I am not sure if the new tenant realise how much work I put in to make my old garden look nice for him despite taking out nearly 700 plants – but that doesn’t really matter, at least I think it looked nice when I left! The new tenant is not interested in gardening, but I have left him a list of all the plants I have left him, with the names of each, a photo of each and how to take care of them. Hopefully it will spur him on to take care of the few plants he now has. As for the soil I am sure that will be wasted on him but the remaining plants will still like it. <br /><br />The first thing I will do here in my new garden is to rip out that horrible glass fibre lining that is in every flowerbed and lay down bark mulch. It will take many years to make such a nice soil as I had in my old garden but I know how to do it now, the same way as the first time around.HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-6437810565199051232015-05-21T04:17:59.211+01:002015-05-21T04:17:59.211+01:00Thanks Sue, I have no deadline for the garden so I...Thanks Sue, I have no deadline for the garden so I will take each day as it comes, but I know it will take a long time so all the plants I lifted got slow-release fertiliser in the compost to keep them happy up until next spring if necessary. I hope I am finished by then!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6265213687739263373.post-65243997767586092092015-05-21T04:08:32.787+01:002015-05-21T04:08:32.787+01:00Thanks Julie, it will take a lot of time but in my...Thanks Julie, it will take a lot of time but in my head I have a rough idea of what I would like it to look like – now I just got to make it!HELENEhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16112289914239038835noreply@blogger.com