Â鶹Éç

Garden inspiration  permalink

What's your verdict

• Message 1. 

  Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  I enjoy hearing about your gardens, so now that Fall is coming how things do? What plant, tree or shrub were you most pleased with? Which was the biggest disappointment? What was a surprise? Is there an annual you will never try again? And this is the last but interests me the most, when you have garden visitors, which plant, tree or shrub was the most asked or commented on?
  I was most pleased with my Great Basin wild Rye and my Dinner plate Dahlias. Winner in the disappointment category has to be the Salvia, no more for them. Biggest surprise is my Sea Holly. I planted a root 2 yrs ago, didn't see it last year, and today it is in full bloom and I love it as does the bees. As usual my Castor Bean plants continue to win in the most asked about, runners up are the Dahlias and Wild Rye. So how'd it go everybody?

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message1

• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by Barny (U13453961) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  I strongly recommend the modern alstroemerias particularly the tall ones -Bonanza,Bolero and the Inca/Aztec cultivars-- hardy,vigorous and flower from May to the frosts. Wonderful in the border and for cutting and they last for ages. They don't seem to mind the rain.
  With the cold wet season my M.Betonicifolia (Himalayan Blue poppy) have been outstanding and that and the Peruvian Lilies are what folk comment on.
  Albion strawberry is outstanding and say about 50 plants will provide a continuous supply from May until the frosts.

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message2

• Message 3

  , in reply to message 2.

  Posted by Salino (U2550900) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  I'm getting tired very quickly of this English rose 'Gertrude Jekyll' that everyone raves about. It was nice in June but not much since and it's so terribly thorny and lanky in growth, I'm beginning to think it's awful and can't wait to get rid of it. I've had this issue with a number of these roses in the past.
  
  Non-gardeners love my Stipa Gigantea, and the way it throws up these high spikes from some grassy leaves. It's planted in next to nothing, mostly rubble with a handful of compost, yet it looks better for that, more flowers less foliage.
  
  Alonsoa 'Rebel' I like as a tender perennial, used as an annual. I hope to overwinter it if I can. It provides strong colour planted en masse.

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message3

• Message 4

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by koala_girl (U12702629) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  When people have been walking past my front garden this year, the thing that most of them have commented on is my lovely yellow rose called "You are my sunshine". I have three of them planted together and they have produced a mass of yellow flowers all summer long. No scent much to speak of, but they are in the middle of the lawn, away from the path, so scent is not strictly necessary.
  
  New things for me this year, which I will be growing again next year, have been french beans and the malva Mystic Merlin. The french beans have been fantastic - lots of lovely tasty beans for weeks now. Mystic Merlin is really pretty with lots of purple flowers.
  
  New things for me this year, which I will NOT be growing again include courgettes and dahlias. Both kept getting eaten by slugs and snails. I know when I'm beaten.
  
  My favourites, which I grow every year, have got to be the sweet peas and tomatoes. I have been picking bunches of sweet peas(Painted Lady, Gwendoline & Our Harry) for the kitchen for weeks now. The tomatoes (GD and Sweet Olive) are in pots on the patio and have been really good this year.
  
  

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message4

• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Summerchild (U14187397) on Sunday, 29th August 2010

  Hi John, the shrub most commented on is my purple-leaved Cotinus. It must love the place it is in, with the privet hedge behind it to shelter it from the winds.
  
  I am disappointed that my verbena bonariensis did not come back this year.
  
  Monarda and echinacea did very well.
  
  The only grass I grow deliberately, out of the lawn, is Bowles' Golden grass, which is a lovely bright colour and a foil for plants.
  
  Won't be growing annual asters again.
  
  Summer

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message5

• Message 6

  , in reply to message 5.

  Posted by John Moodie (U14353581) on Tuesday, 31st August 2010

  Hello Barny, Salino, Koala_girl, and Summerchild. Interesting, you have all listed plants you're pleased with, that I have looked at every fall in the seed catalogues. I've always put off buying them because I thought I wouldn't have any success. The Himalayan Blue Poppy, Alonsoa Rebel, Mystic Merlin, and Monarda. I think I should give them a try next spring. Thanks.

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message6

• Message 7

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 31st August 2010

  Salino - I have a Gertrude with ambitions to be a climber which is not good in its osition in the main corner of my front bed. Another poster on anothe thread recommended pegging it so I had a go.
  
  It's been brilliant all summer and full of blooms since late May. I've fed it and dead headed it regularly and it's been wonderful. I urge you to give it a try.
  
  The same trick worked on my Sceptr'd Isle and Teasing Georgia roses too. We had a really severe winter here with frozen ground and frosts lasting well into April and they'd already been clobbered by an even colder winter last year so I was reluctant to prune them so late in the usual way and simply pegged all the new growth.
  
  I shall be doing his henceforth with all my shrub roses.

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message7

• Message 8

  , in reply to message 6.

  Posted by abbotsmillmo (U13936954) on Tuesday, 31st August 2010

  Hi John,
  My very best favourite this year has to be Cleome, first time of growing it, it looks fantastic in my front garden. Although for some reason hasnt grown quite as good in the rear garden. Next favourite is my verbena, very tall and self seeding in every crack it can find. I was disappointed in Cosmos, double click Snow Puff. Didnt grow very well I dont think I shall bother with these next year. But it is always nice to try new things. Mo.

  Link to this forum: What's your verdict

  Report message8

Back to top