Ask louise

Discussion in 'Gardeners Corner Question Time' started by Louise D, Jul 30, 2011.

  1. Louise D

    Louise D Head Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Messages:
    1,572
    Occupation:
    Medical.
    Location:
    Somerset Coast
    Ratings:
    +502
    1. How did you come to join Gardeners Corner?
    Searching for different gardening sites to the other 2 i'm on because i wanted a change, this one just jumped out at me, plus i liked the sense of humour on here !

    2. Name the countries or counties you have lived in?
    Lived in Florida, USA. for a year when i was 29.

    3. Describe the type of work you do.
    I'm in the medical 'field' and work out in the community making house calls to elderly people.

    4. Describe how you first got into gardening?
    At about 9 years old when i'd trail around our large garden after my mother - watching every move she made.
    I was given a space in the greenhouse and could 'play' in there, i grew sunflowers and made mud-pies !!!
    Had my own first garden (and home) at the age of 20.

    5. What would be your dream type of garden and do you think you will ever be able to achieve it?
    I have several 'dream type' gardens !!!

    A wildlife garden set in pretty Devon countryside.
    A tropical garden a la Abbotsbury
    An English country garden in a pretty Devon location.

    I didn't say i was easily pleased :WINK1:
    Doubt i'll ever achieve any of them :cry3:

    6. Have you any particular favourites in celebrity gardeners, flowers, shrubs and/or vegetables?
    Geoff Hamilton, Alan T, Carol Klein and Joe Swift.
    I love all perennial plants/flowers, love to the bend gardening rules and succeed with plants that shouldn't be hardy, love bronze coloured plants, pink flowers, and loathe red flowers !
    Love clematis, irises, gerberas, alstroemerias ....... the list is endless :D

    7. Have you ever entered any of your plants into shows?
    No, because i'd want them to be perfect and they're not !

    8. If you had a garden created in your memory, what plants do you think would most adequately sum up you and your life?

    A large typical English country garden and this song .....
     
  2. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    Messages:
    60,996
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired - Last Century!!!
    Location:
    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
    Ratings:
    +117,289
    What is the style of your garden at the moment?

    Have you tried bronze fennel in your garden?
     
  3. Louise D

    Louise D Head Gardener

    Joined:
    Mar 24, 2011
    Messages:
    1,572
    Occupation:
    Medical.
    Location:
    Somerset Coast
    Ratings:
    +502
    As i have 2 gardens, 1 front and 1 back, i have 2 styles here.

    The front is a cottage garden, lots of billowing colours and heights (low-high) and a lawn that's more of a path and surrounded by 2 hedges and 2 house walls.
    It's a very hot, very dry, very sunny and very sheltered garden.
    It's gently sloping.

    And the back is a 4 tiered area, because of being on a hillside (previous owner levelled the steep lawn that was).
    Those tiers comprise of ....
    * 2 lawn and shrub areas
    * 1 gravel area (top tier and v v dry) surrounded by shrubs
    * 1 rockery area - this had only alpines in until earlier this year when i replanted the area to be more of a rock 'garden' - put in a low Hebe and a low (hardy) Fucshia.

    The back has no shelter from other houses/roofs because they're all 'below' me .... hillside again !
    So it's battered by south westerlies - not cold but can be destructive, so i've planted tall shrubs to become a bit of a windbreak.

    The soil throughout is stoney, alkaline and poor, i enrich it in areas that i want to plant specific things and leave the rest au naturel !

    Reading that all back makes it sound like they're both huge .... they're not, they're tiny !
    The back's about 25'x25' and the front about 30x30' !
    I once read that a small garden is made smaller by 'thinking/planting small', so i make sure that i 'think big' :WINK1:

    I've not tried bronze fennel but will look it up now :WINK1:
     
  4. shiney

    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jul 3, 2006
    Messages:
    60,996
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired - Last Century!!!
    Location:
    Herts/Essex border. Zone 8b
    Ratings:
    +117,289
    It's known as bronze fennel but only really looks that colour when the fronds are young. The effect of the plant is quite good with a slight bronzy green overall look to it.

    It is cut right down to the ground in winter and then it starts coming back in April. By early May it looks like this

    [​IMG]


    The fronds before they open

    [​IMG]


    By late May it is this high

    [​IMG]

    and by August it can reach 6-7ft and start looking green.

    It has flat flower heads in yellow and you can harvest the seeds for cooking around October. The fronds can be used as a herb at anytime.
     
    • Like Like x 1
    • Louise D

      Louise D Head Gardener

      Joined:
      Mar 24, 2011
      Messages:
      1,572
      Occupation:
      Medical.
      Location:
      Somerset Coast
      Ratings:
      +502
      That would be a stunning addition to a border, thanks, Shiney :thumbsup:
       
    Loading...

    Share This Page

    1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
      By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
      Dismiss Notice