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

[Lesley Cox]

Railway sleepers are really a great resource. I used to be able to buy them for around $5 each. Now they're closer to $100! The ones we get are made from Australian jarrah which is I think, Eucalyptus marginata, a very very hard and heavy timber. Now they're also made from Cupressus macrocarpa.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

I believe Degenia velebitica is short lived Tony - at least I don't think I've been able to keep a plant for more than two flowering seasons... 
But as you say, it does seed out freely - I've got a nice little colony on a slope now that should produce a good view in a month's time ! 

[Anthony Darby]

Railway sleepers are really a great resource. I used to be able to buy them for around $5 each. Now they're closer to $100! The ones we get are made from Australian jarrah which is I think, Eucalyptus marginata, a very very hard and heavy timber. Now they're also made from Cupressus macrocarpa.

Not sure if you are allowed to buy old railway sleepers anymore? I have some at the front of my snowdrop border, but they ooze tar even on a cold day.

[Maggi Young]

 It is not permitted to sell old railway sleepers anymore in the UK: because of the contamination from the oozing Anthony describes and the associated carcinogens.
We are told to emphasise this ( the banning of the sale)  on the radio programme.  

Large lumps of untreated wood in the size and shape of railway sleepers are available.... I'm told they are rather expensive.

[David Shaw]

I grew Degenia velbetica from see a good number of years ago and some of the resultant plants are still doing well. Fortunately because I don't seem to be able to grow their seed and they don't self seed for me.

[tonyg]

It is not permitted to sell old railway sleepers anymore in the UK: because of the contamination from the oozing Anthony describes and the associated carcinogens.
We are told to emphasise this ( the banning of the sale)  on the radio programme.  

Large lumps of untreated wood in the size and shape of railway sleepers are available.... I'm told they are rather expensive.

Thanks for reminding us of this Maggi.
I had a choice between 'new' sleepers (untreated) and South African hardwood ones which are also untreated.  I chose the latter which were cheaper.  I was told they are so hard that you need special equipment to cut them, hence they don't need treating

[Anthony Darby]

I think the special equipment is called a saw Tony?

[tonyg]

I was told that my 'mate with a chainsaw' would not be able to do it safely.  They have indeed a saw ... but a special saw

[tonyg]

Daphne mezereum, a seedling planted out 15 years ago.  For a long time overshadowed (almost overpowered) by an adjacent eleagnus, it has a bit of a 'lean' just now.  I am hoping it will grow back the other way towards the light now that the eleagnus has been cut down.  (A stump remains to be dealth with.)

Tulipa edulis is quite compact if it emerges in bright, cold conditions.  Even in the garden it quickly elongates in mild conditions.

Fritillaria stenanthera, raised from seed sown 9 years ago.  This is the most impressive flowering so far.

Allium akaka will not flower for a while but the foliage is very striking at present.

[Lesley Cox]

Jarrah can't be cut with a handsaw and a chainsaw is blunted within seconds. So it has to be cut with heavy machinery, industiral type saws. Of course the older, the harder. I've not seen any of our sleepers oozing tar, even on the hottest days. Parts of the road though, that's a different matter.

[angie]

Tulipa edulis is lovely in the sun. I don't seem to have much luck with my Daphne it just goes so leggy, wandered if i could cut it back?
Angie

[tonyg]

Having seen some stunted plants in the wild with plenty berries I think you might be OK to cut back ... but don't quote me, daphne can be moody.  Mind you, if its leggy and not flowering much you have little to lose.  Someone did once comment that mine was a nice form.  Just luck though since it came from seed.  Perhaps you need to start a few new ones that way and keep the best of them.

[angie]

I think you are right I have lost some Daphne's in the past for no reason, well one was my fault I stepped back and fell over it and it was crushed to death . I think I will give this one the chop as I say its not nice anyway.
Angie

[ChrisB]

I cut back a D. tangutica successfully.  It had grown really leggy, was a self sown seedling anyway and I decided to give it go.  It has come back nice and compact, so now I have no qualms about pruning them when they need it.

[Luc Gilgemyn]

In what season did you cut it back Chris ?