Friday 18 November 2005
Delphiniums, eschscholtzia and blogs
Gardening and keeping a blog are similar pursuits in several ways: admirable, solitary, not too expensive, absorbing and providing salutary exercise, the first for the body and the second for the mind. I have nothing more to say about this, except that I know I should do more of the former but that this is ruled out partly by my extreme physical laziness and total lack of interest in things horticultural, and partly by my good fortune in having a wife who is a brilliant gardener and needs exactly this kind of relaxing occupation after long days teaching mathematics.
6 comments:
Tell me what you have blooming in your garden right now - and it won't be the flowers in your title - I need cheering up and I haven't been able to spend much time in my garden this autumn.
I think I can sympathize, Tony. I actually traded a wedding shoot for landscaping services this year.
Ruth, I don't normally shamelessly self-advertise on others' blogs, but if you need some cheering up, there are some flowers at both http://www.synthaetica.net and http://www.shadowmoon.com/photo-galleries/nature.htm
OK Ruth, my wife Anne is preparing a few notes which I will put in a comment this afternoon.
Meanwhile there are some flowers visible here, but Dawnne's pictures are much better.
Ruth, Anne replies to your query as follows:
At the front the stripey arum italicum leaves have come up and are looking good. Also, the abelia still has flowers—and surprisingly the lavender (French) is still in flower. I never know when to cut it back because it’s always in flower it seems.
At the back, the pampas grass and hydrangea heads dominate one of the beds. The leaves of the cherry tree haven’t yet fallen and are yellow. The heads of the sedum are a deep red and there are berries on the cotoneaster.
The viburnum tinus should be smothered with flowers and buds now and there are some but I cut it back earlier in the year to try and keep it under control. It’s already over 6 feet high, so lots of new growth but not so many flowers. There are flowers too on the viburnum fragrans but not as many as I’d like although I’ve had it now for 5 years or so and its parent plant in my parents' garden is covered at this time of year.
I’ve still got red geraniums out and looking good but they must be moved for protection this weekend. Also the gaillardia continues to flower, and the fuchsia, as do the marguerites. The gaillardia and fuchsias are hardy but I suppose the marguerites won’t make it through the winter though they might self-seed, but I grew those from seed this year anyway so I can always do the same next.
Lots of buds on the witchhazel which we’re looking forward to—and I like the helleborus (foetidus) which will come out in late winter/early spring.
Tony writes:
Don't see why she should be the only one to show off her expertise, so here are some notes on my own corner of the garden:
My lamellotias were disappointing this year but the red fibulas have lasted well and there is a huge clump of costefectiva ranunculacae (known here in Sussex as Old Man's Fly Buttons) which should be spectacular in May.
I am truly touched at the response to my little wail - thank you Tony, Anne (i read the list the way some people read recipes) and Dawnne. I do feel better now.
I have some costefectivalotovcash in my garden but sadly, due to my brown fingers they are all moulting.
(No gap here at all)
Minerva
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