It’s been a wet, grey week here on the North East Coast. I’ve not needed to do much watering all week, which is nice but it’s been too wet to do many other jobs. I’m working through clearing one corner of the garden ready for a second shed. Alice is reaching the age where she has lots of outdoor bits that need storage. So the second shed is just going to be a small one for some of her bits. The lilac has had a good prune this week and a few other things need pruning now they’ve flowered. I had some good news earlier in the week. We had entered a competition for Grow Your Own for Welfare Week and we heard back to say we have won £500 worth of vouchers for woodblocx. I think we’re going to use it for a bench with a planter built-in.
1. Sweet peas
I didn’t grow sweet peas last year as I was limited for seed growing with building work and I regretted it through the summer seeing everyone else’s photos. I got two types on the go back in February. One was a Johnson’s mixed bag, the others were air warden. They are a bit of a mess growing up the obelisk but lots of blooms are coming.
I’ve been able to start cutting for small vases inside.
2. Sutton’s Dwarf Broad Beans
The broad beans are coming along well in the veg patch and I should be able to start harvesting. They’ve been an easy grow with minimal fuss.
3. Sambucus racemosa ‘Sutherland Gold’
I’ve dug out a dogwood that hasn’t been doing much for a while. It didn’t quite fit with what was going on around it and the stems weren’t the most exciting for the winter interest they can give. To replace it I have got a Sambucus Racemosa. Bought from my local peat-free supplier it’s a bargain as they offer free delivery so I was able to restock on Dalefoot compost as well. I have a Sambucus nigra opposite and it has grown well. They offer nice foliage, pretty flowers and they are tolerant of my sea winds. This is going to be going between two Acers, ‘Osakazuki’ and ‘going green‘ and I think the colour will look good amongst the other two. It’s only small currently but they shoot up fast. I’m going to be planting up the undergrowth with some of the patio pots to clear it ready for the builders. So it will probably end up with a few hostas and heuchera surrounding it. Large rounded foliage to contrast against its jagged leaves.
4. Dahlia-charity purchase
This dahlia was for sale in a charity box outside someone’s house round the corner. It was labelled as pink dec. I don’t know any by that name but it’s a very nice vibrant colour.
The flowers seem to be more of a double variety without the open centre for wildlife like my favoured bishops but it is looking pretty on the patio where we can see it out of the window.
5. Fuschia-Trudi Davro
I took cuttings of this Fuschia a few months back. The parent plant suffered during drought but this one has gone onto flower quite happily. It’s a trailing Fuschia designed for hanging baskets or for the edge of large pots. I haven’t got anywhere in mind for it right now but it’s looking nice currently.
6. Hydrangea runaway bride
I’ve moved my two runaway brides into the pots either side of the front door. They were in pots on the patio but as mentioned the patio needs clearing ready for builders. The plants in these were looking a bit tired so I’ve moved the hydrangeas in. I reckon I’ll probably only be able to grow them on in these for a year or two but it’s a pretty addition to the step.
Unlike other hydrangeas, these were bred to flower along the stems so they can produce more flowers that many varieties.
Lots of work to get on with around the borders. The area the Sambucus is going into needs some work. The climbing roses need a bit of training in. They’ve flowered beautifully this year but need a bit of training to ensure they do again next year. I’m going to be trying to get the garden in order as much as I can before the builders return to minimise damage.
This dahlia is beautiful Joshua. A color that I don’t have, among many others yet. 4 have started to bloom here.
Regarding the broad beans, I always sow ‘Aguadulce’ and they produce a lot of beans. Now it’s over. I hope you get an honorable crop to eat for all 3
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Plenty of broad beans. Should have a good crop of them. Getting a reasonable amount of produce from the one bed. Mainly growing to show Alice but nice that it’s getting us a few meals.
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You are very good at winning competitions, congratulations. Love the dahlia and really like your sweet pea support.
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I thought I had commented and then it disappeared so forgive me if I am repeating myself. You are very good at competitions, congratulations. Beautiful dahlia and really like your sweet pea support. 🙂
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The sweet pea support was an Aldi special a few years ago. Not really tall enough but looks nice. Nice to win the vouchers. We could do with a bench area big enough to sit a few.
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Air Warden is a great sweet pea – great choice. Also love the hydrangea in that grey container – a stylish combo.
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It’ll probably only last in the tub a year or so but should look nice there.
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That dahlia is a beauty – a great colour. Your sweet peas are looking healthy. I’ve ended up with a new Sambucus too – also very small and a border will require a bit of re-organising to find space for it. You seem to do well with competitions – well done!
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Plenty of time to enter competitions right now. I cleared the border space and got the sambucus in. It be a while to establish but I think it will look nice.
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Lovely dahlia colour. You do do very well in competitions. It will be interesting to see what you buy if it is that seat – it sounds interesting.
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The dahlia is a nice bright burst on the patio. I’ll probably hold off on spending the voucher until the building work is done.
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I’ve never grown dahlias, but seeing that one I think I will consider it! Oh, free delivery! It’s what I wait for in online nursery orders!
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The Dahlia is lovely and they are such photogenic flowers but after my experiment last year I won’t be tempted again. Wasn’t the S&S as much as the earwigs!
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I’m surprised mine flower so well as I find tons of earwigs digging. But maybe got enough slug eggs to eat. Love the dahlias though now I’ve grown them. So many choices and colours.
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Reading Jim’s post reminded me that you had a young gull in your garden, did it survive?
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The RSPCA came to take it to the vets. As it’s wing was damaged I imagine it will have been put down but never heard back on what they did. But didn’t really want it slowly suffering. The other gulls were attacking it and it was scabby and attracting flies.
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Thanks for letting me know 🙂
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They’ve been particularly aggressive this year. I think in part down to less food. Dive bombing people walking down the street yesterday.
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Should be OK now the tourists are back. Fish and chips and sausage rolls to steal… 😉
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That is a beautiful fuchsia.
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well done on getting your sweet peas moving. mine are about done now, from an october sowing. next year I think i will sow a second batch in february or so, to extend the season.
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I’ve planted them a bit too thickly. It’s a mass of them climbing over each other. I’m going to need to feed them well to keep them going.
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