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Clematis Armandii is a bit of a thug, so I wouldn't recommend for that situation. However I have one (cheap from Morrisons!) called clematis x triternata rubromarginata. It's delicate and cute. Not supposed to be evergreen, but it's holding on well. The sites say it's vigorous, but I haven't...

There is a nice dwarf perennial pea lathyrus vernus albo-roseus. Doesn't spread, doesn't climb. But sadly, no perfume. I've never managed to grow the white sprawling one - only the Barbie pink one

I’m quite sure that this is not Camassia in your first pictures. Not that I can tell what it is, but I would take out one and see if it has a bulb or roots like a grass or roots like a cordyline.

yeah... I hacked at the roots a bit and pulled them out.

When I've grown Salvia Patens, they have managed outside down here in the balmy south, but that is in pots under the shelter of the overhanging roof, so they stay fairly dry. I'd say they can cope to about -3 as long as they are not too wet. Any lower than that and I pop them in the garage...

Thank you @NigelJ

Thanks for the replies.

Yes the dreaded beetle , it’s easily sorted with a spray .. but where it was it was a shared hedge and it was me paying out and cutting it all the time ..

tumeric makes for a good dye with cotton based stuff but it leeches slowly so dont wash it with other stuff. I dyed string with it to make gold decorations for christmas. just a small amount of powder (i guess crush the live root instead), in with some boiling water and the string for 13 hours...

Wood probably won't be affected, terracotta depends on whether frost resistant or not, higher quality pots are likely to survive better.

A Camellia is another one you could try @fuchsialady, they are shade loving and need a soil based ericaceous compost. I also have Phormiums growing in shade in the ground but they are happy in pots. You may need to repot and divide occasionally.

He is fine so far, but I think being at the end of his life, he must be 13 or so years old, and always had a respected relationship with the foxes around us, he is still doing well. He never was a house cat. He has lived outside all his life.

Hi,I take welding for granted because I've been doing it for so long but I never ever take safety for granted and I should have stressed this sooner; I don't want any member or anyone to get hurt because I've encouraged them to start welding; all types of welding has dangers; some not...

Hi,Thanks @ricky101 a very good point and why I'm so keen to get this area clear of couch grass allowing me to plant shrubs etc next springtime. Hopefully once the new garden starts to establish it will prevent further soil loss; I don't want to start mowing grass again up there umpteen times...

Hiyou can soak rice overnight and use that to water your orchids , and then you can cook the rice to eat , win win

Our allotment cage is just coppice hazel posts and netting stretched over the top. Tbh we don't need it anymore because there is such a lack of birds that we leave it open now.The only bird issues we have is the occasional wood pigeon going after the pea shoots or cabbages and for those we...

Sorry for your loss. And as you say, a little bit of Spring cheer for her.

I believe they like hot fairly humid conditions and mostly for longer than we are likely to get in the UK. They are probably an annual plant as well, growing the following year by nuts already buried by the parent plant, the year before, in a natural setting.