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Unfashionable

• Message 1. 

  Posted by Miss-polly (U14402803) on Thursday, 26th August 2010

  When I first started gardening, I must admit it I was a bit of snob when it came to picking some plants for my garden, thinking they are old fashioned and not for me, but the more I’ve got into gardening (and the more mature I’ve become) I’ve realised just what I was missing by dismissing plants as fashionable or unfashionable.
  
  I do tend to go for plants in their natural state rather than hybrids, I prefer softer / colours. But one my favourite plant is a stunning white gladioli that I’ve grown and last winter flowering pansies with their little happy faces that just keep flowering and flowering no matter what the weather was like.
  
  As anyone else been surprised at how their choices have changed over the gardening years and what are the plants that you turn to, that you know will give your pleasure.
  

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  Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Thursday, 26th August 2010

  Hello Miss-polly, yes I felt the same way. At first I wanted only rare or exotic looking plants. This changed after a couple years. I sell plants in the spring to mainly older people in the neighbourhood and what they buy is usually what I like growing and having in the garden. Geraniums, Pansies,Petunias,etc. I really like my Minni Glads. There is one not so common that I am most pleased with this year. After planting a Sea Holly root two years ago, it has finally shown it's self and is about to bloom. I had forgotten all about it and this spring when it first came up I actually thought it was a Cone Flower. It's bottom leaves are deceptive.

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  Posted by Lavande (U2362070) on Thursday, 26th August 2010

  I hated pansies when I was young. I thought they were old fashioned and barely acknowledged them, same with the deep coloured anenomes and sweet peas. Nor did I particularly like gladiolii or lupins.
  
  Now? I love pansies with their gorgeous little faces and adore anenomes,sweet peas and lupins. I have a couple of gladiolii now but vary between loving them and not being too sure. They're a bit aloof. Isn't it funny how we change. I don't know if it was a case of subconscious rebellion ie if your parents had them they weren't cool - no idea, and I can't remember when I did come to recognise the beauty of these flowers either. I always loved roses and geraniums though and remember my mum's scented geranium/perlagonium cuttings (sp?)on every windowsill in the house during winter

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  Posted by Summerchild (U14187397) on Thursday, 26th August 2010

  Miss-polly and John, yes I feel the same.
  
  At first everything had to be "subtle" or "themed". The blue border just looked washed out until some alchemilla mollis spread into it. The white border was boring and became yellow and white and then a riot of all colours. At first my change of attitude was because my partially sighted OH could not distinguish "subtle' plants, and then I came to love all kinds of jolly colours and exuberant growth and self-seeded suprises. Some very tasteful combinations have happened by accident, which makes me chuckle.
  
  Summer

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  Posted by Summerchild (U14187397) on Thursday, 26th August 2010

  Lavande,
  
  Pansies, geraniums, lavender, love 'em too.
  
  S

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  Posted by aeonium (U5004457) on Thursday, 26th August 2010

  Over the last 2 years I've been very taken with Nasturtiums. Ive got a very nice one that starts off yellow and becomes flushed with apricot as the flower ages.They will go in again next year

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  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Thursday, 26th August 2010

  When I first started gardening, in the communal garden at my first flat, I was very keen on impatiens and planted loads of them. I can't imagine why I liked them so much and never grow them at all now.
  
  My dad's garden has lots of spaces between the plants which he hoes assiduously to keep the weeds at bay. I am the complete opposite and cram in as many plants as possible. You can see hardly any of the soil so the weeds don't get a look in.

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  Posted by Miss-polly (U14402803) on Friday, 27th August 2010

  I agree with you Lavende I think you’re probably right if your parents had them they weren’t cool. I’ve got a climbing hydrangea that has beautiful cluster of small flowers, but I use to dislike those pink and blue mop ones that always seemed to be in old people’s gardens, (I sorry if I sound ageist) but mine lovely.
  
  As for tasteful accidents – I don’t believe it, its all planned !
  

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  Posted by groundelder (U11750698) on Friday, 27th August 2010

  My parents were not gardeners, so I grew up with hydrangeas, the odd rose bush, lobelia and tagetes in the summer and not much else.
  
  I hate bedding plants in borders now (don't mind the odd hanging basket) and would never buy a mophead hydrangea.
  
  My tastes tend to change every few years, but at the moment it's roses, lavender, lavatera, buddleia, hostas, ferns, acers and honeysuckle.

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  Posted by Summerchild (U14187397) on Friday, 27th August 2010

  Miss-Polly, you are probably right. There is some planning involved I suppose in saying to oneself, "I wonder what this will look like here, next to this?" Then when a wanderer pops up beside them it would have been one of my favourites anyway, or it would not have been left in peace. If it looked wrong, something would have to move.
  
  Certainly my willingness to experiment has increased.
  
  Summer

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  Posted by mister-grow-it-all (U14591945) on Monday, 30th August 2010

  hi i am drawn to variegated plant not every bodies tastes but the colour in my garden even when plants arento in floweris great

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  Posted by mister-grow-it-all (U14591945) on Monday, 30th August 2010

  hi i am drawn to variegated plants not every bodies taste but the colour in my garden even when plants are not in flower is great

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