My Garden Progress

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.

 

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

 

@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.



Hebes have varying success with pollinators from what I've read. 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!

Hope this helps,

Nick

 

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 'Indigo' 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

 

Sorry, can’t help you with that. I always think they look like big weeds

 

Hello all

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

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

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

Sorry for the moan.

Thanks

Kevin

 

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

 

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

 

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