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What's Looking Good In May 2022

Discussion in 'General Gardening Discussion' started by shiney, May 1, 2022.

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  1. Nikolaos

    Nikolaos Total Gardener

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    Didn't you also grow an E. pininana in a pot at one stage, @pete? I've always fancied an Echium but even the hardiest ones are just a tad too tender here in Notts. :sad: Could I possibly get away with growing one in a pot kept under my eaves and close to a wall in the colder months?

    Nick
     
  2. pete

    pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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    Definitely Nick, pininana is ok down to minus 5 it's usually the wet combined with the frost that does the damage.
    It should sail through a winter like last year, but you just never know what the weather will throw at you.
     
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    • pete

      pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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      Failing that have you tried Echium vulgare,it's pretty much hardy, shorter, but attracts bees like crazy.
       
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      • Nikolaos

        Nikolaos Total Gardener

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        Thanks very much for that Pete, glad to know it's worth a go! :dbgrtmb: Yeah, I did consider Viper's Bugloss but it's more of a ground plant than a pot plant to me and I'm trying to improve my container gardening skills. Got hardly any ground left at this stage anyway! :biggrin:

        Nick
         
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          Last edited: May 26, 2022
        • pete

          pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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          I dont have any seed ATM, but I could perhaps send you some seedlings of E. pininana.
          I have them appear at times through the summer, it does self seed but not to the point of being a problem.
          Vipers bugloss is a bit of a thug on good soil, but great on wild shingle or sandy areas, but then again, not impressive.
           
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          • Perki

            Perki Total Gardener

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            @pete I have grown Wildpretti a few years ago from seed got it through its first winter in the GH in a pot but the second winter killed it off while in the GH. I've got some Pininana seedling on the go at the moment they are a bit erratic germinating, I believe they are bit hardier. I forgot I do have some Echiums amoenum I thought I'd lost them bit they are coming to.

            Your Welcome @Nikolaos ;) don't forget about Phyliss Fancy - Mystic spires or the larger indigo spires and the leucantha group all bit on the tender side but worth the effort :biggrin: Could always add a Agastache Kolbri for hint of orange :whistle:
             
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            • pete

              pete Growing a bit of this and a bit of that....

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              I think Wildpretti is more tender than pininana, its hairier for a start and collects water like a sponge.
              I've never tried amoenum, its a new one on me.:smile:
               
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              • Nikolaos

                Nikolaos Total Gardener

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                • Logan

                  Logan Total Gardener

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                  Thanks Pete about the 3rd one, it's lovely.
                   
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                  • shiney

                    shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                    I haven't been able to get to the computer where we keep our photos on a separate hard drive (Mrs Shiney's computer) and still can't get it to link to mine so I only tend to post them in batches when she's not around :heehee:

                    This time of year the front garden has more colour.

                    Some Irises and Clems.

                    Very little is organised in our garden. Plants are left to grow wherever they want and if/when we plant new ones they go in the nearest available spot.

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                    • shiney

                      shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                      We have a large variety of Weigelias, a few in the back garden, and with a whole range of colour and variegation. They mainly look after themselves very well - something that we both approve of :)

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                      This was/is an overgrown jungle area that we have been working on. It was completely hidden by enormously overgrown Dogwoods and full of weeds. A lot of the weeds can't be dug out but the area looks OK when the surface ones are removed and then raked with a spike rake.
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                      This is from the other side
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                      • shiney

                        shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                        Random shots around the front garden

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                        We had an enormous collection of Aquilegia that got totally destroyed by Aquilegia Downy Mildew about ten years ago. Some are just coming back
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                        • shiney

                          shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                          I said I hadn't accessed my photos for a while so I'm going to continue to bore you with them :heehee:

                          Still in the front garden

                          Some Hebes that should flower very soon. They seem to have more flowers coming than usual whereas a lot of flowering shrubs and trees have done poorly because of the very dry conditions - especially all the Lilacs
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                          • shiney

                            shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                            Hostas do well in our garden

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                            Part of our Hosta nursery area
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                            People are always generous and drop plants in for us to sell. Someone had these four giant ceramic pots dropped off to us and they are completely overgrown with Hostas. In the winter we shall split them and pot them up. There must easily be a hundred plants there!
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                            Another good seller is Allium siculum (Nectaroscordum) and we have just delivered 100 of them (with other plants) to a charity garden centre. Bottom two pictures are where we now 'cultivate' them for giving to the centre.
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                            Some more plants we are selling (just about to give another £500 to the charity)
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                            Some of the runner beans that have been ordered are waiting to be picked up
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                            • shiney

                              shiney President, Grumpy Old Men's Club Staff Member

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                              More random shots

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                              This is Lamium maculatum (dead nettle) with white/silver leaves and pink flowers - about to open
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