(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to catnip, polyanthus, vegetable growing on 2008-03-14, 08:52:00

The photo is of two Polyanthus Blue Shades plants. I love the way the reflexive flowers are held in the air, saying please pollinate me to passing insects.
They are Blue, with occasional white, and dutch porcelain coloured flowers. There are two plants on the left border and two plants on the right.
After I woke up I spotted the Black Cat that has been entering the garden.Once she ran off I went outside.She has been eating the Catnip Six Hill Giant, which has had all its growing tips chewed off!
I dont mind Insect damage but I dont even have a Cat!I loved the picture of the flowers. Its never occured to me that the plant would attract the attention of the Neighbourhood moggys!
I might have to dig it up and grow it on a bit.It is only a baby plant and cannot take a lot of Feline damage.When its bigger it will be okay.
The Bird table has been moved about today to by the Viburnum. The birds still flew down to it, although the Cats visit cut the visitors short. They have many eyes the Garden Birds from the Privet hedge.They are wise to the cats visit!
Three more nights to go for me. I am keeping an eye on the weather as I walk to and from work. Dry weather is what I need so I can clear the next allotment bed/s. Two long ones perpendicular to the Potato bed.
I have Onion Sets to plant, Potatoes in April, and Cabbages growing on. I have planted some seeds for Brussel Sprouts and more cabbages in the Greenhouse!
I wander if the Catnip will survive the end of Winter?

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to polyanthus on 2008-03-08, 15:19:00

A late Saturday post before bed, and another long day tomorrow. I had planned a day at the forgotten plot, but was so tired after two hectic days at work that i have delayed it untill my next days off.
Hils took me to a nursery in Swillington, where we spent two hours wandering around plant heaven, and all manner of garden sundrys.
I came back with a modest collection of plug plants for sixty pence each, two Herbs for £1.10 each, a bird seed bell for the garden birds, and two Eryngium bulbs for the butterfly border.
The plug plants were six Million Bells trailing plants, Two Bectopa Snowflakes, Two Fuschias, and one Geranium plug plant.
With Cats help (She is out from hospital and better now) I made the four tier greenhouse in the living room, then moved it outside. All my seedlings have now moved into the greenhouse.
I planted eighty four cells with French Marigold seed tonight.I have the first photo of the Forgotten plot (Allotment) today. I took Hil's up to see it.
I walked the edges of it. It is about thirty feet long, and twelve feet wide.We met one half of the couple who bought Fifty pounds worth of Manure which is stacked at the far end of the Allotments by a tap.
The plan is for me to start monday to clear the Allotment, one third at a time. It is overgrown with grasses, brambles, and tall dried red weeds.I need to clear the paths down the edges and think how to make the plot into four beds...
The photo is the Polyanthus Blue Shades, I love the variety of colours from dark blue to white to dutch porcelin colour. The flowers are held above the leaves on stalks, like the Harlow Carr Candalabra Primulas from last summer.
I will recharge the Camera batterys for Monday.Enjoy your weekends wherever you garden.

(Via Snappy's Gardens Blog)

Posted by admin to polyanthus on 2008-03-04, 03:02:00

The Polyanthus Blue Shades showing many colours besides blue! A white flower, and a cup like blue and white, like my Dutch coloured pot with the Queen Of The Night Tulips.
It was a cold start with some frost on the bird table. The garden birds have been flying in and out all morning.
The mouse was back today feeding on sunflower seeds that have fallen from the feeder.He has moved to the Butterfly Bush end of the right border.
I want to plant my signature plant today. At Hampsons I found a perennial Astrantia Major which is what flower adorns the top of the Blog page. The colour on the packet is pink, but still the recognisable pin cushion flowers.
Snappys garden will have an Astrantia Major I hope flowering in the summer!