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Hello

• Message 1. 

  Posted by claire (U14571809) on Sunday, 1st August 2010

  Wasnt sure where to introduce myself, sorry if its in the wrong place.
  Im new here and fairly new to gardening.
  Ive always adored gardens but I an no gardener!!
  I started with a small border with a few plants but nothing special, Ive got my inspiration from my father in law who has the most beautiful cottagie garden.
  This year i have extended my borders and very proud of it, i also have a herb garden, a lavinder patch and now on the look out for a green house ready for next year.
  At the moment i am like a child in a sweet shop, i am very excited about how plants produce seeds.
  I do have one question, I would like flowers in the garden early in the year as i found this year my garden so drab.
  I presume i should be planting snow drop, crocus and daffodil bulbs is there any others ?? and when should i be planting them?
  cheers Claire

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• Message 2

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  Posted by Salino (U2550900) on Sunday, 1st August 2010

  Hello Claire, it's nice to meet you and I hope you enjoy writing and swotting up in here, so to speak.
  
  Exciting times ahead for you with a new garden. For Spring bulbs you can start planting daffodils now and crocus but Tulips usually wait till October or November although despite what the books say, I've planted them in August and they've done fine.
  
  I recommend Clematis alpina varieties to climb up anything, trellis like or through other large shrubs if you have any. You can plant them now. One of my favourites is Clem. Alpina. 'Frances Rivis'.
  
  Hellebores flower early on, from about January. They are nice too, but a bit expensive I find in garden centres, but we must have them.
  
  I also love Epimediums, Pulmonarias, and Brunnera's especially one called 'Jack Frost'.
  
  See if you like them too
  happy gardening.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Salino (U2550900) on Sunday, 1st August 2010

  ...I have just noticed you are excited about how plants produce seed. I will tell you that, should you buy Hellebores as I recommended above, they will seed liberally all around the planting area [if you don't cut the flowered stems off], and you will be able to dig up the little ones and pot them on the following season, and eventually - may take a couple of years - have your very own plants with various ranges of colour - perhaps unique to you

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• Message 4

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  Posted by punpun (U14553477) on Sunday, 1st August 2010

  Hi,
  And a very warm welcome,
  you'll learn a lot here as this is just a gardening come friendly forum.
  
  nice o have you here.

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• Message 5

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  Posted by As_Iff (U13951957) on Sunday, 1st August 2010

  Hello Claire,and welcome.
  I`ve been gardening 40 years, and I`m still `like a kid in a sweet shop.`
  It seems there is always something new that I haven`t grown before, and that I must try!

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• Message 6

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  Posted by michelle78 (U7007319) on Sunday, 1st August 2010

  Hi Claire,
  
  welcome to the boards! Make sure you post some pics of your garden on the photos thread - there's one every month to show what's looking great right now.
  
  For early colour you could go a long way with anemone blanda - in the sunshine they are very cheerful flowers and they spread themselves aroudn very quickly. You can plant them in the autumn, just follow the instructions on the packet.
  
  Iris reticulata are also really early flowerers too and quite long flowering.
  
  If you want something a bit bigger flowering than a small bulb and have room for a small tree my default tree recommendation is Prunus subhirtella Autumnalis. A flowering cherry that flowers a little from autumn through the winter in mild weather and then come spring it comes into full flowery bloom. It also has great autumn colours and doesn't get tooooo huge, has a light canopy so you can have plants under it. All in all, the perfect garden plant.
  
  Erysium Bowles Mauve flowers from April to November non-stop. Its also evergreen so is a bit of a must have. It can be short lived, but is dead easy to take cuttings from at any time in the summer/autumn so you can also have reserves if one succumbs.
  
  Gardening is one bug that definitely stays with you, isn't it?
  Mich

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• Message 7

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  Posted by Trillium (U2170869) on Sunday, 1st August 2010

  I love witch hazel - Hamamellis mollis (I can never remember how many m's.). A wonderful, very scented shrubby tree with spidery lemon-yellow flowers in the first mild spell after the shortest day. Put it in a shady, ignored corner and take no notice of it for most of the year. But in Dec/Jan it's the best plant in the garden.

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• Message 8

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  Posted by Joe_the_Gardener (U3478064) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  Hi Claire,
  
  Welcome to the board, where you'll find out pretty much everything you want to know.
  
  Can I suggest that when choosing daffodils go for the ones that aren't enormous and which leave you with great big wodges of leaves. They may be cheap - you can get about 25kg for a tenner - but they do get in the way. Smaller varieties such as February Gold, Tete-a-Tete, Hawera, Triandrus, Jonquilla and some of the white ones with yellow or white centres are usually available at a good price and will be more satisfying in the long run. The leaves are much less conspicuous during the six weeks or so before you can cut them.
  
  If you want the big, blousy daffodils you can go and have a look at a road verge any time! Your garden space is more valuable.
  
  Joe

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• Message 9

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  Posted by nanpickle (U14258493) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  Hi Claire, Welcome. You could try sowing some forget-me-not seeds August-September, they will give you an early carpet of pretty blue flowers, are easy to pull up when finished and will come back each year. Nan x

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• Message 10

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  Posted by Daisy136 (U9682560) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  Hi Claire. Welcome to the boards. You will get all the information you require here from people with years of experience. You will also have a chuckle or two. I would look at gardening programmes, gardening magazines for ideas or just go to your local nursery or garden centre to see what they are selling at that time.

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• Message 11

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  Posted by claire (U14571809) on Monday, 2nd August 2010

  Thank you so much for all your replies, its lovely to feel so welcomed.
  I will certainly take some pics of my garden.
  Ive had a read of replies but will take some notes and look up your suggestions.
  I look forward to getting to know you all and pick up some great tips
  many thanks
  Claire

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