As inspired by the "Your Hobbies" request - Photography and propagating plants.

Hi All, New member here - the site asked me to share hobbies - well Gardening Obvs. but also photography. Heck growing something great and then photographing it go hand in hand don't they? I like to normally post my plant images over at ePhotozine but now i can post here too
This winter seemed to go on for ever so i did a different flower each day project for January and February - hard months to find flowers - but it made me think of what might cheer me up next year - primulas and crocus are there for certain. But when you really look there can be loads. - Winter Honeysuckle is on my wish list to acquire this year too.
I also like growing new plant from cuttings/runners etc. Its nice to then be able to find new homes for stuff you like.

 

Welcome Stuart and +1 for Lonicera fragrantissima, one of my favourite shrubs, wonderfully scented and a great source of nectar early in the year for pollinators when not much else is around for them!

Nick

 

As well as L fragrantissima there are a number of other winter flowering honeysuckle worth considering including L purpusii, L elisae and L standishii all are pretty hardy and have scented flowers early in the year.

 

Wish I had any room left for them after planting fragrantissima, Nigel! Didn't realise quite how large it would grow when I planted it!

Edit: They all seem quite variable in their eventual size, that's very interesting as I'd never compared all the winter-flowering species. I'm wondering if they all grow largest in clay soils now as mine is so large.

Nick

 

I have a tangent to that, taking photos of [a tour of] my garden every week or two.

Very cathartic to see the progress that plants make, over the years.

My mates spend as much as I do on my garden on ... Golf. All they have to show for that is a deteriorating handicap, as they get older. Whereas I have forever improving and maturing plants ... and the photographic evidence to remind me of the fruits of my labours.

I'm thinking of getting a drone. Never thought of a good reason to own one, although programming a "course" for it to fly and then getting it to fly that regularly might give me a hoody of stiching together bits from different seasons to get a "best of" video at the end ...

The thing that leaked my interested was a video during lockdown on NGS website where, as a substitute for actually being able to visit a garden, the owners posted videos. One had a drone flying through/along the border, just above plant height, which is a view * perspective you cannot get from the path / border-edge

 

Wow Kojo No Mai looks like a great shrub that stays small - thanks. I've tried heathers before but they get lost in the summer growth of everything else.
I've now ordered a Lonicera fragrantissima to add to my winter flowering collection. I'm keeping an eye out for good value versions of everything else. thanks.
Meanwhile this forever rain is lushing up everything else.