Spritzhenry's Outbox

I think you have a built-in advantage by living where you do, however, I am very impressed at how little help you have to maintain your kingdom in the condition it's in, as well as being open every day! Wow! Brave man! I do have another question - when did you take the photo of the daffodils and are those Hellebores I can see amongst them?

Later...my goodness, Reg! How on earth do you manage to keep it all looking so beautiful? You must surely have help? How much land have you actually got? Sorry about all the questions, hope you don't mind.

Hallo Reg - welcome! What a lovely garden - all that water! I am just going to type in your website address and have a closer look at you - well, your garden, I meant! :-)

Hi - it's nice to meet you! It sounds as if you have worked your socks off, especially with two young children! Good for you! I am not into veggies, but mad about my (flowery) garden! Nobody can know everything, but you'll find that if you post a question, one or more of the great members on the site will come up with an answer...So if you need help about flowers, just ask! Do post some photos, it's always interesting to look at other people's gardens. :-)

Just stunning - love it! What's the name of the purple Aster please?

That is such a lovely colour - I shall be seeking it out for my Autumn border!

Fun, creating a new border, isn't it! Also very interesting looking at the different choice of plants. Did you opt for a colour scheme?

Is your back O.K. after all that digging? :-) By the way, what are fox-and-cubs? I assume weeds but I'm not familiar with their name. My weekend has been spent clearing the borders of fallen leaves, and I've also been cutting back lots and lots of perennials, e.g. Phlox, Veronica, Salvia and Lysimachia. The new shoots are showing round their bases so I felt it was time. Not finished yet, but next is forking in compost. I reckon my back will be feeling the strain, too!

You can buy a simple soil testing kit very cheaply which will tell you if you have acid or alkaline soil. I think B&Q had them, or your local Garden Centre might. P.S. Want any more ideas for plants??? Book offer still open! :-)

Why not grow some flowers etc in tubs in your front yard? At least you'd have something pretty to look at and to brighten things up until spring. You could also plant bulbs especially tulips, it's not too late for those. It's also a good time to plant trees and shrubs while they are dormant, but I think it may be too late for perennials to get established if you are getting frosts. As Andrew says, it's possibly worth trying, but be prepared for some failures! Take a trip to your local Garden Centre and see what's in flower.

Not sure about the moss, ukslim. I'll have a look tomorrow, it's pitch dark now! As to the yoghurt, yes, I've repeated it, with another potful. (The dog was amazed and thought he'd try licking it off!) Can I paint the manure mix over the yoghurt? Would it be best to wait for a while first?

Are you able to grow Rhododendrons and Azaleas in your area? You can buy various sizes/colours if so! Also, if you do have acid soil, Camellias are wonderful for early colour. Both are evergreen. Euonymus doesn't mind shade - try 'Silver Queen'. You could grow Hostas which like shade, Tiarellas, Anemones, Lilies of the Valley, Brunnera 'Jack Frost' - a wonderful shade plant. My favourite - Omphalodes cappadocica 'Cherry Ingram' - beautiful blue flowers. Lots of hardy Geraniums will grow happily too, and Campanulas if not too shaded. Want any more ideas? I have a book called 'Best Shade Plants' - so the list could be a long one! Just ask!

We are very rural, near the coast so I expect the air quality is good. Certainly my asthma has been very much better since moving here! The trough gets sun in the morning but is in shade for the reat of the day.

Please read my blog, I've just this minute posted it! YES they do survive, the proof is to be seen in my garden, I planted out about 8 water-rooted Penstemons which are still flowering now!

Does anyone know the name of this repeat-flowering rose which has peach buds opening to cream flowers?

I've looked it up in my Hillier and it looks like Euonymus 'Canadale Gold' both from the picture (which looks like your shrub), and the description.

Andrew - I noticed some die-back at the side of one yesterday, should I cut out the dying branches, do you think?

Yes, I did that with the other one I have. It is a slightly different variety with a rather sprawling habit, so I cut it really hard back. It has still sent out long shoots, but the leaves are bigger, it's true. The one in the photo is rather elderly and in a mainly shrub border so I don't intend to cut it back hard,

Our other (weeping) ashes are the last to get their leaves in the spring, and the last to lose them in the autumn, so maybe it's just being normal?? (I hope) :-)

You're right, and the berries will be long .gone by then, too! Shame, I like holly in the house for Christmas. It does grow wild on the moors a shortish drive away, so I may get some - I did last year.