Carolyn's Inbox

This is Lovely :)

what a brilliant picture

Whats the addy for your gardening site?

Wow,
that looks beautiful.
I have a new one it's tiny compared to yours.
Do you prune it and if so how much?

I't will be interesting to see how it looks after you've transformad it. Be sure to put a photo.

WOW! looks great, lots of produce.

Yes you can eat beet greens as salad but they are bitter!

It is nice to get out to see a lovely old garden now and again, isn't it? This looks like a great place, especially for planting ideas and picnics. Thank you for letting us see it.

I went to Mottisfont a few years ago in June for the roses and it is REALLY spectacular at that time (although crowded of course).
I think the wedding plant you saw Carolyn would have been a viburnum. I have one in flower just now; hydrangeas flower later in late July and August

These historic places are so interesting. You sound as if you enjoyed yourself, and being you didn't see it all you can look forward to another visit.
There are some places around here I must go to this year e.g. Aberglasney. There was a series of programmes on the tv about its restoration some years ago, presented by Penelope Hobhouse who I believe designed at least part of it. And I'm ashamed to say I've never been to the National Botanic Gardens of Wales although I only live just a few miles from it. Must go this year.
Enjoy your next visit to Mottisfont Abbey and wherever else you go. : )

This looks so restfull.

This tree must be very old

What a fantastic tree.

love the mauve...

The illustrious Alan wrote an article in the Sunday paper quote "now that the risk of frosts has passed it's time to plants out your tender plants:" unquote. I had already started - and did lots more yesterday - so they will just have to take their chance.

OMG frost:O iv not got enough to cover all my stuff outside :( il be on hooks along with u Sarah :(

I'm going to be on tenderhooks tonight with all this talk of frost :-( You say for next 4 days?! Not sure my nerves will cope with it........

what a productive little plot it's amazing what you can squeeze in! I'm itching to plant out all goodies which have all exploded into growth with all this sunshine but I'm holding back til June this year as I'm not risking all my precious plants to Mr Frost! Its getting a bit of a squeeze tho!

I quite agree with you about the tv Carolyn. I can't stand the rubbish that's on it. I spend most of my time in the garden whenever I can. It's much more relaxing, interesting, and healthier.
I must say I've also used slug pellets on times. I try to hide them in the hope that the snalis will die out of sight of any birds, and not get eaten, but most birds in my garden are small, like sparrows etc and I don't think they eat snails anyway.
Good luck with your vegies. I'm sure they'll be delicious.

That really the hardest part Carolyn you ve loved them tended them then you pull them out! Well done manys the time i coulndnt bear to do it and ended up with a mass of sub standard plants instead of fewer better specimens! As for snails I inherited a pretty overgrown garden but also several thrushes which do sterling work on them.you got a corner you can let grow wild?Nettles great for butterflies caterpillars birds etc reluctant to use pellets as dont know what they do to birds that eat snails.

good idea, Carolyn...will do that.

sounds like just the plant I need.(the little low growing blue).. I have a sunny sandy loam front garden spot where I plan to plant escholtzia(?sp) California Poppy. They have (by the packet) "Silky, golden-orange flowers ...bloom early ...lacy blue-gray foliage. ...compact...drought tolerant and sturdy." and I'm looking for a low growing perennial blue for complement to the poppy's orange. My zone is zone 5 b... you are probably zone 7 or 8 right?
maybe I will have to look for an annual... I have clumping lobelia which is a beautiful sky blue...but it is too tall to interplant with the poppy.
Have always loved foxglove and delphiniums... hope to have better luck with them this season so I'll have some pics for show and tell on goY.

Oh I hope I can get mine to look that nice. What is the little blue flower lower right corner?

My understanding is that there is no getting away from the fact that peat is a good growing medium. The question for me is, however: is it worth it? Considering the potential damage we may be doing, and considering I am not interested in producing show-quality blooms and plants, do I really need to use peat-based compost routinely? For me, the answer is no. I grow 2 blueberries and I use ericaceous compost for them, but that is 2 plants out of however many hundred. The rest don't need peat, so why use it?

Hi I heard very similar on Gardeners World last week.Monty was really knocking the peat free compost. I was really surprised too.

That's a good idea.

My u have been Busy :O

Like2see yellow/green leafs :)

Someone is going to be eating like royality this summer..!

Wow,... lovely variegated holly.