Elleme's Outbox

I think it would depend entirely on the rootstock it's been grafted onto.

I received mine the way many probably did - it turned up, presumably self-seeding from another garden nearby. It grows like a weed but is pretty and often seems to seed in inhospitable places like at the base of shrubs, so I allow it to stay and edit out some of the unwanted extras.

Before it was in the ground I had my bay tree in a tub outside, no problems, but it was right next to the house wall. There it didn't get snowed on and probably benefited from heat loss from the house.

If it's leaf cutter bees the holes they make are very neat and round. They are solitary bees and take them for nesting. They like roses although I've also found similar holes in tutsan. Bees in general aren't doing too well at the moment so if it's them I'd say live and let live.

They're good at teaching us how to relax - until they have one of their mad running up and down the stair sessions.

Also, from the ASPCA website.

Amaryllis

Additional Common Names: Many, including: Belladonna lily, Saint Joseph lily, Cape Belladonna, Naked Lady

Scientific Name: Amaryllis sp.

Family: Amaryllidaceae

Toxicity: Toxic to Cats, Toxic to Dogs

Toxic Principles: Lycorine and others

Clinical Signs: vomiting, depression, diarrhea, abdominal pain, hypersalivation, anorexia, tremors.

It's quite pretty for something created by a grub! One of Nature's surprises.

My hubby's the same. Coaxing him out at weekends can be a bit tricky!

No snow and about 7 degrees milder than yesterday - though that's because there's some big rain clouds acting as a duvet. Since it hasn't started chucking down yet I'd best go out now.

Sanbaz, I have SAD, I was diagnosed with it by a doctor. I don't get on with lightboxes so well (most people respond well to them, though, so don't let that put you off) but it's one reason I do the outdoors winter exercise every day. It makes a huge difference to my mood. I guess the combination of endorphins and natural daylight helps but I'm lucky because I can fit that into my day and not everyone can.

Outside in do a lot of lightboxes but they are not all that cheap. Worth it if it works for you though. If going down the ebay route (generally cheaper) look for something with 10000 lux. 5000 will have some therapeutic effect but you'll need to sit closer to the light, and for longer.

I miss having anything to sow or seeing much change in the garden, but I find that the more I stay in during winter, the grumpier I get. So it's on with the woolly hat and a fleece and out for a walk most days for me. When the sun pops out, it's lovely out there and it's nice coming back and making myself a giant mug of tea. I'm still looking forward to bulbs coming up and getting all indecisive with seed packets next spring, though...

I don't tie mine in London either. I wouldn't have thought they usually need it in Sussex, unless you've got a colder local microclimate.

Nicotiana is perennial in warmer climates and an annual in colder ones. I have sometimes found that nicotianas survived winter where I am (London). I never pruned them although I removed some tatty bits, they died back to the base leaves. That was N. alata though.

Tonight's going to be frosty so best do it today.

I've got some flowers (and buds) on my Myrtle. I cut it back loads last winter as it had really outgrown the space and it was either that or take it out altogether. I guess that delayed the flowering way past its usual time. Apart from that, a borage plant has started to flower which I sowed earlier in the year.

You may as well keep them going - if any of them don't survive the winter you can start some more early next year. My tabascos are doing fine on an indoor windowsill. I was a bit worried that they wouldn't overwinter in an unheated greenhouse so I brought them in.

Verbena bonariensis is a good choice too. I've also had butterflies on red valerian (the painted ladies were all over it earlier in the year) and oregano.

I just ignore them.

I chuck snails in my compost bin too - might as well put them to work!

This whole site is plantaholics anonymous! If I was over your way I'd join in but I'm not. Have fun. :)

Sorry to hear about your loss. I was thinking of crocus bulbs too. They need 6 weeks after flowering to take up energy from their leaves before you can mow the lawn again, though, so if you like a very tidy lawn it may not be suitable. And I guess the word shape might change a bit as they naturalise and increase.

Charity isn't Mahonia japonica, it's Mahonia x media. As far as I know all the mahonias I can think of have yellow flowers.

Let's face it, if you subscribed it probably wouldn't turn up on time at present because the post is so messed up!

Where did the RSPB say that birds don't eat cotoneaster berries? I'm surprised because it's on their list of recommended plants on their website, as follows, but perhaps they say something contradictory elsewhere.

http://www.rspb.org.uk/wildlife/wildlifegarden/atoz/c/cotoneaster.asp

You could keep a hawthorn as a shrub since they get used for hedging plants, as well. But I know the robins in winter love my neighbour's large cotoneaster horizontalis, which also benefits the bees in spring. I find my berberis darwinii gets stripped of berries fast, but that's by blackbirds in summer rather than autumn. None are left by then.

Thanks, I give it a haircut every now and then. I haven't really got the space to let it grow naturally.

I've got 3 tabasco plants sitting on the windowsill in here. They are still in fruit and I haven't used all the little chillies up so I'm picking them for meals gradually. Sometime next spring they will go back in the greenhouse if they survive. Since tabasco have a fairly long growing season I'm hoping for an earlier crop next year, but will sow new seed in spring just in case.

Seaburngirl, iplayer is a website accessible to anyone in the UK.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/
You can catch up with programmes from tv or radio that you've missed. I find it very handy.

I know Ramsgate a little bit and I like the garden centre that is just a little way past Quex House - unfortunately I don't remember the name of it. Whether they will have what you want in stock next year is another matter, but I thought the plants were good quality.

Oxalis corniculata, Heron. I know that spreads like wildfire. Having just looked it up, looks like O. latifolia and O. debilis are invasive too.

Gardener's delight are very tasty, the only problem with them being that they can split sometimes if the watering is inconsistent. Sungold seem to be considered very good, I haven't tried those yet.

When I grew tomatoes for the first time I did it from seed, much more satisfying I think. if you want to do that, go for it.

Welcome. :)