My wee patch

[mark smyth]

Here's the left side of my garden - looking out from the house. I'll do the other side tomorrow and troughs also

What you see are various hardy Geraniums, Ranunculus, Dianthus. Dactylorhiza, Helianthemum, Arnica, conifers and Euonymous

[ashley]

Thanks for showing us around Mark.  You have a nice collection of geraniums.  What's the one immediately to the right of the pinks?

[angie]

Mark very nice indeed  , I see you are like me, no brown soil showing. Looking forward to tomorrow episode.

Angie

[mark smyth]

'Blue Cloud', Ashley http://www.marksgardenplants.com/blue-cloud3.html It's among the first to flower every year. Once it's over cut everything to the ground and it will flower again

[mark smyth]

Thanks Angie. Yes little or no soil but it didnt stop chick getting in from begged compost. The plan is to top dress with fine bark this summer

[ashley]

Thanks Mark.  Do you find that many geraniums repeat flower if cut down (& fed?)?

[Lesley Cox]

Lots of interest and interesting plants there Mark. Sometime I want to send Geranium papuanum to you but you might need to keep it covered in the winter. (Which reminds me, I have a couple of parcels and some seeds to get away today. They are delayed already.)

[mark smyth]

I dont feed my herbaceous plants. Most Geraniums that flower once will flower again if cut back. This doesnt include Magnificum. I usually tell people to buy Geraniums that flower until autumn

Just realised my garden makeover happened 10 years ago.
Here is the bed above being made, nothing in it and how it looked in 2004

[mark smyth]

The red flowers are Arctotis Red Devil with some Nemesias

[mark smyth]

A 10 year comparrison

[Luc Gilgemyn]

My goodness Mark, you put every square inch to (good) use !!  

Do you grow any early flowering bulbs in between the herbacious plants ??

[mark smyth]

one or two Luc  - Galanthus, Narcissus, Muscari, Colchicums, Ranunculus .....

[angie]

What a difference in the ten years Mark everything has filled out so much. I suppose it's the same here I have filled out a lot in ten years
I think geraniums are such a worthwhile plant. I have lots in my garden and they give so much colour after all the spring flowers are finished.
Angie

[mark smyth]

Angie it started off bulbs only over planted with Arctotis in May. I used to buy Arctotis 300 plugs at a time and maybe 100 Nemesias. Every year was a different colour using Arctotis Red Devil, China Pink and Flame. Gradually some of my Geraniums were planted and more plants were added over the years. Now there is no room for annuals en masse  Would I go back? Yes

[Lesley Cox]

I have filled out a lot in ten years

Me too Angie