Spritzhenry's Outbox

What a lovely plant for shade - must look for this one - I didn't know there were climbing Aconites!!!

Well, there are tools you just have to have, like forks for digging, spades edge clippers, rakes etc, but in my case I cannot do without my secateurs which travel round my garden with me. Also, I have a small narrow-bladed trowel which fits neatly into my hand. It 'tickles' the soil beween plants, digs out small weeds, plants small plants and seedlings, and it WENT MISSING!!!! I was lost without it. I bought a replacement but it was not the same. After several months it turned up, minus handle, at the bottom of the incinerator. My lovely husband has made a new handle for it, so once again it's back at the end of my right arm, where it belongs! :-)

We lived in Kent for 34 years before retiring to Somerset and Sissinghurst was where I went to unwind and refresh my soul!!!! - thanks Andrea for bringing back lovely memories of a very special garden. I've been there in every season and can't decide which 'room' is my favourite - it's all so beautiful!

Thanks Joey - this link comes off the D for Dog website, so I knew about it!! It's a helpful one, isn't it.

Thanks. Andrew, may do just that! Andrea, have you tried putting Penstemon cuttings into a jar of water? If you do, and leave them for a few weeks, topping up if necessary, you will find that they root very easily and you can pot them up when the rootballs are big enough.

Now that really is clever! You techies...:-OOO (Glad the watering really did revive the poor experimental plant!)

Use the RHS plantfinder, there's sure to be either a nursery within travelling distance or a mail-order one for your plants. Here's the address...

http://rhs.org.uk/index.htm

Click on 'Plants', then on 'RHS Plantfinder' and type in the plant you're looking for, Bob's your uncle!!!

Had fun reading your plant list! Hey, come on, haven't you got a camera? Want to see some of them when possible, please!

I grew sweet peas in newspaper pots planted last October, too, and over-wintered them in my unheated greenhouse. They did well with no root disturbance. I ordered annual seeds in the autumn and planted some straight into the ground in the spring - e.g. Larkspur, Godetia, Clarkia and Candytuft. Others went into seed trays in the greenhouse, ie Antirrhinum, Brachycome and some perennials. I haven't tried seeds in the greenhouse over winter, only cuttings - penstemon - which worked well. (So I've taken cuttings off all my verbenas, a lavender and other perennials!! ) I do know that some people sow some annuals into their beds at this time of year, 'Which' did trials and found not much difference between autumn and spring sown annuals. They do need to be hardy annuals if you go for now, like Escholzia. I shall certainly buy plug plants again, they are obviously more expensive than seeds but I haven't got a heated greenhouse or propagator to start those varieties early enough, so they are worth it, rather than waiting and buying expensive bedding plants! Takes time to pot them on, and my greenhouse and coldframe bulge at the seams!

P.S. Did you look at the pics of vine etc I posted for you to see if you liked the idea of either for your trellis?

Nettles are horrible to cope with, but they are very good for your compost bin! Good luck.

Is it a houseplant or meant for the garden?

I would seriously recommend that you draw a rough plan of each area so that when you plant, you know the height and space that each plant will reach. Also you have the opportunity to colour code (such fun!) I really enjoyed planting my new border, and will soon have the chance to create another one where we had to remove a bramble-infested escallonia hedge - it's going to be purple, white and gold :-)

Is two-thirds of an acre big enough, do you think? People who visit us are always very complimentary about the garden...but I don't know...very hesitant...

I read an article in 'The Garden' magazine about this garden and decided to visit. They hold the national collection of Heleniums, but there's so much more to see in the two acres. I imagine that it would be beautiful at any season. A very natural organic garden.

Glad you've got an answer. Have a look at George's beautiful Brugmansias! Hope yours grows like his! He could advise you on its care, I'm sure.

Thanks - will have a try to keep them alive, maybe there's hope for next year...:-)

Yes, a Streptocarpus...needs moist air, bright light but not direct sun, freedom from draughts. You can propagate from leaf cuttings in summer and grow more!

Thanks for the compliment - it's been suggested but at the moment, no, I haven't gone any further with it... maybe one day!

Mine is doing exactly the same, if it's of any comfort. I'm sure it will be OK. Keep it watered if you've still got dry weather.

What a beautiful tree! I haven't heard of it before, does it only grow in Japan?