Making the Best of It... (Was 'Blog from an Untidy Garden')

[tonyg]

Lesley - there is no such thing as a bad gardener!  Anyone who practices our wholesome, life enhancing hobby is GOOD   The world needs less man-made, indoor things and more natural, outdoor things, we are doing our bit, even if we do have the occasional bad day

[Lesley Cox]

Well I didn't so much mean that I am BAD as in wicked but bad AT it, if you see what I mean.

[tonyg]

Aaah - yes, in that sense I am very bad  

But despite that, I do have some spare seed of Corydalis malkensis.  If anyone would like some it could make two or thee portions.  Just PM me with your address. 

[tonyg]

All corydalis seed now on its way to faraway places.

As the spring progresses pressure on my time has brought gardening almost to a halt.  (Although I have hopes for a few hours tomorrow   Small is beautiful could be the alpine gardeners motto.  In my case each trough is a small garden ... but even in an area this small there are weeds!  Below are some pictures of a trough I planted up a year ago.   A small trough made using the double box method about 15 years ago.  The first pic is from just after planting while the second was taken recently.  Most of the plants have only grown slowly, although the tiny phlox has spread nicely.  I have grown this in a grdaen bed but its diminutive size makes it ideal for a trough.  I am also heartened to see gentiana verna flowering for a second season.  The dandelion seedling (which has many siblings elsewhere ) has been removed using a chunky pair of tweezers which are also very useful for collecting spilt crocus seeds

[Ragged Robin]

I was thinking on my walk this morning about planting a trough with Alpines to give me an Alpine fix whilst here - your trough is really attractive Tony with the slate crevices.  Lovely Gentiana verna and what is the serrated leaf plant on the left?

[Maggi Young]

Robin,  I've just realised you are in the UK but not coming to the Aberdeen Show tomorrow.... naughty, naughty!!


 or there's the Southport AGS Show, too.......

[Ragged Robin]

Maggi I would dearly love to come to Aberdeen - you know I like Shows  Good luck to everyone exhibiting and setting up I look forward to seeing photos so I'm virtually there 

[tonyg]

I was thinking on my walk this morning about planting a trough with Alpines to give me an Alpine fix whilst here - your trough is really attractive Tony with the slate crevices.  Lovely Gentiana verna and what is the serrated leaf plant on the left?

It's a good time to be planting an alpine trough.  You should be able to get plants ready to flower now .... then you can enjoy them before you move on again! 

If you mean the plant to the left in the close up of the gentian, it is Saxifraga cotyledon (or raised from seed ex S cotyledon so perhaps garden hybrid.)  The only time I have seen it in the wild was in the Valais!  Near Saas Fee where we will have an appartment for a week before we visit Les Marecottes in August   It is not difficult to raise from seed and this form offers cutting material too ... I could try bringing a few bits with me.

[mark smyth]

RR are you coming over for a visit?

This is my Pulsatilla alban lutea - much too big for the crevice it grows in

[Lesley Cox]

For small crevice gardens, perhaps small, compact cushions are best. A lovely Pulsatilla though Mark.

[Ragged Robin]

RR are you coming over for a visit?

This is my Pulsatilla alban lutea - much too big for the crevice it grows in

Mark, what a fantastic Pulsatilla - it absolutely lights up the crevice - the foliage looks great too 

Looking around and enjoying a completely different form of gardening in England whilst on holiday 

[angie]

Hope you enjoy your break and I like Maggi would have loved to have seen you at the Aberdeen show, maybe next year. There is always a room here for you, but breakfast wont be anything special as everyone that knows me can tell you I CANT COOK  .
At least the weather has warmed up a bit. I was down at the Malvern Spring Show and its was cold even for a Scot.

Angie

[Ragged Robin]

Angie, what a kind offer    One day I would love to make it up to Aberdeen to see you all - and your gardens, of course   i am always interested in what others grow and how - which is why I'm lingering here waiting for some pearls to drop 

[angie]

Robin I will hold you to that promise.
Angie

[tonyg]

The crocus harvest is almost complete.  Warm weather always brings a rush of seed pods and this year has been no exception.  Pictured below is Crocus cvijicii, which opens its pods at the sides, spilling the seed close to the shoot.  The shrivelling topgrowth leaves a hole .... into which the seed may fall and 'plant' itself at depth.

A chunky pair of surgical tweezers is very useful in the greenhouse.  I collect spilt seeds with it and it is very good for tidying the dead flowers from cushion plants.