My Garden Progress

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by Kevin Cowans, Jul 19, 2018.

  1. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Hi Kevin
    Well, if it's a small Shrub that Bees etc like you could try looking at Hebes, Keven.
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    They're slow growing and evergreen. There's also quite a few different varieties of different colour leaves and flowers, so you can have a look at them and Bees and Butterflies like them.:love30::thumbsup::cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
     
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    • Freddy

      Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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      Good suggestion. I don’t know too much about them, but I understand that some are less hardy than others, so worth bearing in mind.
       
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      • ARMANDII

        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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        I've had a White flowering Hebe at the front of my House, which is North facing, that was a small cutting taken back in the 80's(:old:) and has survived all weathers.
        But, you're right, Freddy, some of the newer varieties might not be as hardy, but all the ones I've seen in Plant Nurseries have been hardy. Worth checking on if Keven decides a Hebe might be for him.:cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
         
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        • Kevin Cowans

          Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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          Hello @Sheal @ARMANDII and @Freddy

          Thanks for the suggestions, I will look them up.

          Lastly, do any of you happen to have any experience of the Buddleia 'Buzz' Cultivars?

          Apparently, they are Sterile so will not self seed.

          Thanks

          Kevin
           
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          • Nikolaos

            Nikolaos Total Gardener

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            @Kevin Cowans Some excellent recommendations here, Sedum spectabile is very good but make sure you don't get Sedum spectabile x telephium (often referred to as 'Autumn Joy') which I have, it's a hybrid that looks very similar but largely just attracts honeybees and no butterflies at all. I am replacing mine with this one which AFAIK attracts a greater diversity of pollinators, but any 'true' spectabile should do that, I think. :)

            Sedum spectabile 'Iceberg' (Hylotelephium)

            Hardy geraniums are indeed great for bees, I grow 11 and this one is by far the most popular with them...

            Geranium 'Johnson's Blue'

            Regarding the 'Buzz' buddleias, yes, I'm pretty certain they are sterile. I bought a set of three, but the magenta was a complete failure and the purple one wasn't much better. The one I've kept ('Ivory') grows to 6ft and is quite floriferous, always does well for me and has never needed feeding, but that's probably due to my very fertile heavy clay soil.

            DSCN1349.JPG

            Hebes have varying success with pollinators from what I've read. :dunno: My wildlife gardening book recommends 'Great Orme', 'Midsummer Beauty', franciscana and salicifolia. I only have Hebe 'High Voltage' which the seller said was very good for bees and butterflies, but it's not large enough to flower yet so I can't confirm that! :noidea:

            Hope this helps,

            Nick
             
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            • Kevin Cowans

              Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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              Hello @Nikolaos

              Thanks for the reply, and the information, yes it helps.

              I need all the help I can get :)

              I think what I may do is to try the Buddleia 'Buzz Sky Blue' and see how that goes for a year and then go from there.

              Unfortunately, it is too late now this year so I will look to ordering one in the Spring.

              Thanks

              Kevin
               
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                Last edited: Jun 23, 2021
              • Freddy

                Freddy Miserable git, well known for it

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                Sorry, can’t help you with that. I always think they look like big weeds :heehee:
                 
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                • Kevin Cowans

                  Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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                  Hello all

                  Well, if I did not have bad luck, I would not have any luck at all :sad:

                  As you are aware, I had some work done on 07 October to correct some issues with the Patio and also had the front lawn edged in what I was assured were Kandla Grey Indian Sandstone Setts, twice, to match the back garden.

                  Something has not sat right with me since the edging was done and now I know why.

                  I sent some pictures of the edging to the company that supplied the Landscaper and they have confirmed that they are Raj Green and not Kandla Grey.

                  Not a happy bunny :wallbanging:

                  Since I found this Landscaper on Checkatrade I am following their procedures to try and get the edging redone using the correct stone.

                  The first step is to send and email to the Landscaper outlining the issue, I am going to give them 1 week to reply, if I do not hear anything after that time the next step is to post a negative review on their Checkatrade Profile which will be picked up by the Checkatrade Staff who will contact the Landscaper about the issue before posting the review.

                  If nothing is done after 5 days to resolve the issues then the review will be posted.

                  I am really not doing well.

                  I do not cope with this time of year well, I have the bad plastering to get sorted, now this.

                  Not happy :sad:

                  Sorry for the moan.

                  Thanks

                  Kevin
                   
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                  • ARMANDII

                    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                    We're always here for the moans, Kevin,:dunno:. You can join the GC Club of those of us who don't do well during the dark, cold, wet days of the Winter and know you're among friends.
                     
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                    • Kevin Cowans

                      Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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                      Hello @ARMANDII

                      Thanks for the reply.

                      Unfortunately, the weather is not the issue for me at this time of year, it is rather more personal.

                      Not many people will read this so I will tell you :)

                      My Dad passed away on Christmas Day when I was 5 years old, something I have never recovered from and because of the way my memory works the memory of that day is forever with me.

                      Thanks

                      Kevin
                       
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                      • ARMANDII

                        ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                        Hi Kevin, I, and many of the GC Gang, suffer from the same sort of grief and feelings believe me. I lost my Wife 19 years ago and, to be honest, have never recovered from that so, again, you are among friends.
                         
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                        • Kevin Cowans

                          Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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                          Hello @ARMANDII

                          Thanks for the reply, roll on January.

                          Now back to the garden.

                          Did you see my reply to your Post regarding the Clematis in the front garden, Post #175, you never replied.

                          Thanks in advance

                          Kevin
                           
                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                          No, sorry, Kevin, I must have missed that, I'll have a look.
                           
                        • ARMANDII

                          ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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                          Hi Kevin, well, that position doesn't look too bad for a Clematis "Nelly Moser" but from the early years of experience of growing Clematis I know that I had "one or two" failures. Having said that Clematis in it's many varieties is more than worth the odd disappointment here and there and, in fact, gardening as a whole is subject to both success and failure. I have just done an approximate count of the Clematis in my garden and it stands at around 203, and that doesn't count the 9 sitting in pots waiting for some reasonable weather for me to plant them.

                          Clematis "Nelly Moser"
                          [​IMG]

                          Clematis won't be on sale, at reasonable prices, until Spring so I would hold fire on any decisions apart from changing my view to my present one of leaving the Clematis where it is at the moment and seeing what state it is in in the Spring before replacing it if there is no sign of proper growth.
                          Nature and gardening don't bow to our desires for everything to be nice and tidy and everything in the garden to do as we want.......but that's how we learn.:dunno::heehee:
                           
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                          • Kevin Cowans

                            Kevin Cowans Super Gardener

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                            Hello @ARMANDII

                            Thanks for the reply.

                            I have left the Clematis, or should I say, the cane, where it is and will check on it in the Spring.

                            If there is still no sign of any growth I will look at ordering a replacement.

                            Also, I think you really need to look up Clematis Anonymous

                            Thanks

                            Kevin
                             
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