October 2024

28-10-2024

winter jasmine in flower

winter jasmine

self-seeded foxgloves

this one took over my agapanthus pot and a water figwort joined it

foxglove water figwort

this foxglove self-seeded in the pot with the poppy and is joined by lots of other plants: verbena bonariensis, foget-me-nots and more

foxglove verbena bonariensis

houndstongue seedlings

I threw every houndstongue seed I found - and I found a lot - every time I came in from the garden I seemed to have some stuck to my clothes - into these pots. They seemed to take a while to do something and next thing I knew I had a pot full of seedlings - as many as I need, assuming they all grow into reasonable plants. Also primula seedlings amongst them.

houndstongue seedlings

houndstongue on the left, primulas on the right

houndstongue seedlings

Geranium molle and robertium seedlings

geranium molle

26-10-2024

Sometimes we should just slow down and let plants grow, self-seed, get established and observe. I had huge cardoons in my last garden, which I loved. I had one seedling in a pot I brought with me but it died so I recently bought a cardoon. Before it was even delivered I see this cardoon seedling which grew from another pot I planted in the ground. I'm pleased to have a seedling from my original plants.
 
cardoon or artichoke seedling
 
I finally planted out my teasel seedlings which I had potted up from tiny seedlings I found in various pots
 
teasel seedlings
 
in reviewing my photos I see I have a number of teasels, to the right of the evening primrose (bristly oxtongue in the front)
 
 
in that pot next to the green alkanet and hogweed,  I guess didn't really need more teasels but they'll be nice to have.
 
 
smooth hawk's-beard (Crepis capillaris)
 
smooth hawk's-beard Crepis capillaris
 
before I even watered this pot, I noticed the fungi, I've never had so much fungi in pots, maybe it was in the compost I bought (I haven't had to buy compost in a long time since I had my own in my last garden but had to leave that behind)
 
fungi

 

18-10-2024

my visiting white cat, loving the catnip plants

Livingstone daisies, still going strong - if the sun comes out - they only open in the sun and it's rained so much recently haven't seen them every day

I bought 4 huge perennials from Plants Direct (in Roundbush near Aldenham), Lamium maculatum Roseum

Tradescantia virginiana

Stachys byzantina

Primula denticulata

Of these 4 plants 2 have the Perfect for Pollinators seal (Lamium Roseum and Stachys Lanata (synonym of byzantina)) but in researching online, both Tradescatia and Primula denticulata are mentioned as being good for pollinators so I will observe in the spring / summer if pollinators visit.

16-10-2024

another green alkanet I have which is still getting established - it didn't bloom yet, common hogweed above it, teasel to the left in the pot

green alkanet common hogweed

finally planted some more bulbs, Urginea maritima, as recommended half the bulb above the soil and I added pebbles / grit for more drainage, I've not grown these before so not sure best methods but I'll see how they do in pots, I understand they don't like the wet so hoping the pots give a drier environment

urginea maritima planted

ranunculus, which I love but have not figured out best methods, I put a layer of grit and put the (soaked) corms on top of the grit and covered with compost, I understand they need protection so if it gets very cold I can put the pots in a more protected place

ranunculus planted

I also planted 3 pots of daffodils

3 pot of crocus

Little Princess tulips (in only a few days they're been covered with the beginnings of spider webs

 

I planted the trough up with Sainsburys daffodils and topped with pansies from Plants Direct

pansies

30 daffodil bulbs for £3 is a bargain I couldn't resist

Sainsburys daffodils

pansies

before I could plant up the trough I had to remove the self-seeders I wanted to save, water figwort and primulas

those primula seedlings potted up

primula seedlings

the water figwort seedling potted up

water figwort seedling

11-10-2024  The speckled petunias are still going strong, amazing and I even saw a bee on one the other day.

speckled petunias

I love green alkanet. I had one or two green alkanet blooming in a pot this year unlike my last garden where I had lots. The 2nd photo shows a large green alkanet I planted out as a seedling which I brought with me. I hope for flowers in the spring.

green alkanet

These are plants I have in my patio cracks (green alkanet, spear thistle, moth mullein). It's always difficult to decide if I should transplant them in hope of flowers or leave them to sort it out. I tried removing a verbena bonariensis thinking they were tough and would survive but it died. I had a moth mullein (Verbascum blattaria) bloom on the patio quite happily this year. I am sure I cannot move the green alkanet and spear thistle now so will leave them and see how they do.

green alkanet

spear thistle

verbascum blattaria rosette

4-10-2024

I love what's growing in this tray!

So many of my pots have self-seeders, it's time to repot some of them. This pot started with baptsia seedlings which don't seem to be doing well, one has died. If I want the remaining two baptisia seedlings to survive, thought I should remove the self-seedeers, esp top centre verbascum blattaria, below that fox-and-cubs and a few small primulas.

verbascum fox-and-cubs seedlings

the seedlings repotted, clockwise from left, primulas, fox-and-cubs, verbascum, unknown

primula seedlings from other pots

primula seedlings

the baptisia seedlings with lots of room now and no competition - for now, I read that baptisia dies back in winter but starts growing again in spring but not sure if the seedlings will revive but on their on in that pot will make it possible, now I just need to label

baptisia seedlings

this pot is the next to tackle

and this pot of aquilegia seedlings looks like it has some primula seedlings as well

aquilegia seedlings

one of the great things about my new garden are all the hardy geraniums,

hardy geranium

hardy geranium

verbascum Arctic Summer well-established with enormous leaves

verbascum Arctic Summer

the navelwort is surviving despite being a bit crowded out by the fox-and-cubs spreading

navelwort fox-and-cubs

a green alkanet seedling I brought with me and planted in the ground, getting established, hope it flowers early next spring

green alkanet