Whilst still quite warm, it's been a fairly overcast day with a light, cool breeze. Just right for getting stuck into the garden, and I've been emptying pots and planting out like there's no tomorrow. Petunias and bedding begonias, both of which were bought in September (shame, shame!) have finally been planted out, and a variety of other perennials that have been languishing in pots too small for them have found a new home. It's such a delight to scrape back the mulch, dig in the soil and find that it's lovely and dark and damp. Just itching to delve my fingers into it - except that I cut my finger again yesterday. Never mind, lots of sticking plaster, and away we go.
Overgrown garden a couple of weeks ago ....
... now cleared, composted, mulched and lots more new plants.
Some more grasses that I had forgotten that I had.
Forgotten the name but is very strikingly coloured.
A somewhat nondescript plant with 'flower heads' like barbed wire.
Miscanthus zebrini (see horizontal stripes)
19 comments:
I'm liking the grasses more and more.
Sounds like a very satisfying time in the garden.
p.s. just a quick question, re. tomatoes...do you guys prune yours...mine have become very bushy and I've got them staked, but the fruit is well hidden beneath the bushiness of the plant, and I was wondering if they need the sun to ripen and redden...sorry if this seems like a silly question, but this is all new to me...thanks :)
Kali - if your tomato plants are too thick with leaves and they are keeping the sun off the fruit, as well as making it difficult to reach the tomatoes, then definitely thin out some of that excess growth. Also, Hobart isn't having a very hot summer (very envious) so you will need to allow more sunshine into the bushes. We have some like that at the moment, and because they were tied up late, they are almost trussed up like a chicken. Now that you've reminded me, I'll hopefully go and do it tomorrow.
Oh great...I was thinking this might be the case...first thing tomorrow then...ta!
It sounds like you are enjoying playing in the dirt again. Glad it has cooled off somewhat. Enjoying the garden pictures as always, like the zebrini!
I haven't had much interest in ornamental grasses until seeing the pictures of yours Alice. They're beautiful! Do you have any trouble with them being invasive?
I've taken the plunge and started my own blog....wanted to be able to chat with all you clever people out there. My daughter has been encouraging me to do it...so I did! Just yesterday.
I left a comment for you back on January 4th. Don't know if you saw it. Tells a little about me.
Our temp is 17F today (about -8C)and the wind is icy. Wish we had some of your warmth! Happy planting!
Kerri - congrats. on starting your own blog; hope you get to love it as much as everyone else does. I've re-sent an email in reply to your earlier comment - hope it goes through this time.
I've had no trouble with the grasses becoming invasive, although I'm keeping an eye on the Miscanthus sinensus. Many of the grasses would look better if they had some mates, ie. more plantings of the same type in the one area, although they can make quite a good accent plant, too.
Hi Alice,
It looks like you did a lot of work cleaning out that bed. It looks great. Was it planted with annuals that you removed?
Glad you enjoyed your 4-day get-a-way.
It all looks so lovely. I can't wait until I can get my garden looking that good :) Hope your finger is better now...
Zoey - I don't really grow many annuals now, although what I cleared out were Queen Anne's Lace, Osterspermum, Larkspurs, Alyssum, Aquilegia (all self sown) and Stocks, Sweet Peas, Phlox, Violas and numerous weeds. I planted petunias and a number of perennials, and tidied up the pelargoniums, aquilegia, diasca, lamium, alyssum, penstemons, violets and several other things.
Hey Alice. Welcome back from your holidays. We missed not reading your posts for a couple of days. I love the zebrini - what an attractive grass!!
I'm glad you enjoyed your get away. I am due for one myself! Your garden looks great and I'm sure you enjoyed puttering in it. I managed to putter in mine yesterday. Ahhh heaven.
I don't know what you people are talking about - bushy tomatoes! I get tall spindly ones that bear three pieces of fruit before dying. There's no need to trim them back to get to the light - there's hardly any leaves on them in the first place. Maybe my garden just needs my mothers' touch!!! Good excuse, no?
Tanya dear - never mind about your spindly tomatoes, 'coz now that you have a car, you can go and buy all the tomatoes you want. Yeah, I know, it's not quite the same.
By the way, can you hear the rain bucketing down here? You know I adore wet days in summer.
Hi Alice…
Nice to visit you over there, and its lovely to see what’s happening on the other side of the world right now. I feel quite envious of your summer time, I can’t wait to be out in the garden again. It’s my passion, well, next to John my husband that is!
I see you’ve had a little discussion about tomato plants. I grow them outdoor as well as in the greenhouse and in both instances find that the leaves become too prolific and shield the fruits from the sun, so several times during their growing period, I have to cut the leaves back. I agree, they can often be a bit stubborn to ripen too, but then I’ve found that by hanging banana skins amongst the trusses, soon gets them going.
I shall say hello again, In the meantime, I’ve got lots of reading up of your blog to do. You’ve got a terrific following, well done! Marion
Marion - thank you so much for your comment. I'm really going to enjoy reading about gardening and whatever else is happening in Wales. From a gardening point of view I often think I'd gladly swap my summer for yours.
Alice, I don't know how you have time to plant and tend all those gardens and keep up with your blog. You must be an early riser to get all that done! Incidentally, your top photo is really nice -- I love how you caught the sunset in your window.
Judith - it's actually the wrong end of the day - that was the sunrise in the window. I do get up fairly early, usually between 5.00 - 6.00am, perhaps a bit later in the winter. Of course, sometimes when I can't sleep I get up at 2.00am and read blogs!
Oh my Alice you've got all my respect because you are always so busy as a bee in your garden. I'd almost get a bad concious for doing nothing outside at the mo, but luckily I know I just can't cos it's all frozen lol
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