Hazel's Outbox

How did the open day go? Hope it was a great success Andrew.

That's really helpful, Andrew. Thanks very much for going to the trouble to list them all.

Crocus (as in croak-us)
Frogmella (no idea why, just sounds cute!)
Crystal
Adam Ant(as in "Prince Charming", glorious song of my youth!)
Orp (as in Orpine, frog plant)

Stonecrop/Sedum (aka The Frog plant according to my dictionary!)
Camilla (other half says looks like her..)
Bob
Dave (again, other half says he'd call a frog a good solid name like Dave if he happened to have one..)
Nigella
Anton
Sarkozy
Frank
Wayne (Rooney)
Shrek
Gerard
Carla (Bruni)
Silas Greenback

What a beautiful plant! Not heard of this type of forget me not...was it hard to find?

I love the colour on the chionodoxas. Really pretty. What's the jack frost one? Not heard of that...

They are really pretty, very architectural. Nice photo too.

Lily (as in Lily Pad or in Toad Lily)
Pad-rick (sorry, thats corny isnt it?! They will get worse...)
Macintosh (Mac for short)
Souwester
Brolly-meliad
Typhoon
Monsoon
Harry Cane (as in huricane!)
Tori Nado (as in, yes you guessed it!)

I'll keep trying! I love a challenge.

That is really magnificent. I must try to track one down for my shady border.

Many thanks, Fourseasons. Will pop them back into the cover then until the weather warms up.

Those colours are absolutely beautiful! A really fantastic piccy.

Wow! Thats absolutely beautiful! How lucky to have birds like that where you live.

Wow! I imagine that most of the red is from acers- they look amazing!

Wow, that really is gorgeous!

Perhaps a plastic, non porous pot rather than terracotta would help too to avoid the plant drying out so quickly...Good luck!

Thank you all for helping me decide- I am so glad I can just leave the magpie pair to get on with their nest building and enjoy their antics.

They are certainly big hefty birds, and get through quite a lot of the food and water i put out on the bird table.

As yet they do not seem to be bothering the other birds and, as you say, it will be good to be able to watch them nesting and raising their young. I don't think I have ever seen a baby magpie....are they black and white, too?

I'd second the idea for hellebores which I love, and add in some pulmonarias, snowdrops and some other woodland bulbs for the spring. ...ferns maybe? Is it dry or damp shade I wonder?

Ive had lots of ceanothus looking healthy and well on my mildly alkaline clay.

I always took my pelargonium cuttings in spring, putting them into very gritty compost and not covering them with any plastic bag or anything. They tend to rot in my experience so not too moist while they are rooting...

The only plant I can remember having crystal like deposits was Mesembryanthemum...I wonder if your plant is related to that? The mesembryanthemum I'm thinking of is grown as an annual.

Hope it doesnt sound rude, but it looks a bit as if its made of plastic....its not April fools day, is it??

Ive resorted to several bricks in the bottom of mine to stop the winds blowing it over. Its worked, so far!

Thank you for explaining all about the creatures you photograph. It really is fascinating, thanks Di.

Which clematis is this please?

We havent got any snow at all here. Its just sleeting and then melting. Very windy and cold though....Your garden looks very nice, but I dont suppose its helping you get on with all those Easter gardening jobs!

OOOH! Wish I'd been there- I LOVE a bargain! Lucky you!

I don't know the answer, but thoght it might make you feel better when i say that mine have done exactly the same.

Mine germinated quickly, they are very tall and weedy looking as if too much heat and light. I havent anywhere cooler than the present north facing conservatory to move them to...unless I pop them into a cold frame but that seems too chilly doesnt it?

I'll be interested to hear what others say!

That's really beautiful, Andrew.

Thanks! When i get my greenhouse I think it will be just the job.

What a useful holder thingy for your pots! Where did you find that? Fingers crossed for the petunias...