Thursday 10 January 2013

What's growing?

While browsing my favourite blogs lately I came across Sue Garretts post 'On starting blocks and itching to go' and immediately I found myself eager to get outside with the camera and start snapping away at all the fresh growth bursting through the borders.
However once I got out there, far from the lovely buds Sue was greeted with, this is what I'm faced with



This is the first thing I'm greeted with, pretty naff huh! This is all damage caused by dogs and has made my lovely garden resemble a quagmire (insert sad face here).














But look what else I found, a Leycesteria Formosa self seeded seedling. Leycesteria aka Himalayan Honeysuckle ot Pheasant berry bush is a must have for my garden.
It's pretty hardy and is capable of staying in leaf all through the winter depending on its location. The wind has stripped the leaves off some of the plants I have in slightly more exposed areas (in other words 15ft to the right of the ones in full leaf) but even these will perk back up in Spring, will grow rapidly in one year and produce amazing Purple bracts for some months.




I love this Hebe for its enthusiasm all year round. This particular one is at least 10 years old now and despite being in an exposed garden the shrub is now approx 9ft in height and easily has a circumference of about 16ft - it's moosive!
This particular one flowers a couple of times of years and it's just coming to the end of a flowering point just now but it's still nice to be greeted with lovely Lilac flowers and plenty of greenery on these dismal winter days.
Another plant that is easy to propagate too, I literally snip off 6" cuttings from the ends any time from spring to early Autumn, strip all but the end leaves off and leave them in a small tub of water until they root approx 4 weeks later (depending on the time of year). They're then potted on and will romp away quickly.







I had planned to throw this Clematis out this year. I've had it about 7 years and it has never flowered so I figured it wasn't worth the effort but when you're faced with buds like this forming on it how can I throw it out? I can't remember the name of it and the label has faded too much but I keep records of these things so I'll check it out.
The plan now is to re-pot it in new compost, prune it and give it a 2 year reprieve.  We'll watch and see what happens!


These are cuttings I did a few weeks ago and I honestly expected them to be dead and rotten by now. Cuttings are not my expertise, in fact the only cuttings I manage with any degree of success is Willow and Hebe (the easiest you can get).
These are Dogwood at the top and Olive at the bottom. The Dogwood actually has tiny buds forming so I'm hoping that's a good sign. The Olive is from a baby plant that snapped in half, rather than just compost it I thought I'd try cuttings from it and see if they work. They're looking pretty hopeful so far but I know nothing about this plant so I'm not getting my hopes up.










 

16 comments:

  1. Must be lovely to see some green in your gardens. We're still dressed in Winter Whites here.

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    1. I'm surprised we're not covered in white too carolyn, but there's plenty of time yet lol.
      That Hebe will probably keep it's leave no matter what the temp is but if we get a Northerly gale wind then it'll be stripped bare and look like the rest of the garden
      :(

      Linda

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  2. Always good to come across another Scottish gardening blogger. Last year I decided to have a go at the veg thing, I was rubbish, think I will just stick to my ornamental stuff from now on. You have encouraged me to take cuttings from my dogwood, a plant which I feature at the moment.

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    1. You should retry the veggies Alistair, it'll be worth it in the end honestly.
      Definitely try the Dogwood. I've only succeeded with it twice before so I'm hopeful that this little lot may produce at least one future shrub.
      I'll head on over to your blog and check it out.
      Thanks for popping by.

      Linda

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  3. Linda, I just recently discovered your blog in the new listings at Blotanical and am enjoying it very much. I do a regular "garden blogs of the month" feature on my blog, Jean's Garden, where I review and recommend garden blogs that I think my readers would enjoy. Your blog is one of three that I am highlighting this month. My post reviewing your blog just went up, and your blog will be featured on my sidebar throughout the month.

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    1. Thank you Jean for including my Blog. Have to say I have had quite a wander around your own too and have found plenty of information for me to be taking in.
      Thank you

      Linda

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  4. Linda, You have a lot going on in your garden compared to mine -- just snow and ice here in Pennsylvania. Love your blog. P. x

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    1. Thank you Pam. I was reading and joined your own blog just earlier today, I especially loved the fact that you had a Fawn helping you garden :)

      Linda

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  5. Linda I love to see that there are some things growing in the Northern Hemisphere...like Pam we are snow and cold here in New York State. Lovely to find your blog through Jean. She also featured my blog 2 years ago and it has been a whirlwind since then. I have not been on Blotaical much due to work taking over my time but hope to get back there soon... I look forward to following your blog.

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    1. Thank you Donna, Blotanical is introducing me to heaps of blogs that I couldn't have found through Google.
      I hope the snow isn't too bad for you over the pond?
      I've tried to find your blog but don't seem to be able to find a link. I shall keep looking though, I'd love to see what a blogger from New York state has to say :)

      Linda

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  6. I'm loving your blog Linda. I must comment on that beautiful background of bamboo-I have an affinity for it. I too seem to have trouble with cuttings and find that I get better results by layering the lower branches. I never tried olive, I don't know if it will grow here-must research! Jean's Garden recommended you and I'm glad she did. Sandi

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    1. Hi Sandi, thank you for your lovely comments.
      I have to confess that the Bamboo background is a Blogspot interface and not a product of my own gardening expertise. Sadly I suspect it's the best I'm going to get lol.
      I am a follower of yours via FB and I have to say that your image of the tree Peony flower is gorgeous.

      Linda

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  7. Your garden is full of promise. I, too, would not have a garden without Leycesteria formosa and I am most impressed with your olive cuttings.

    Try to look on the damage to the lawn as canine scarification - you never know, it might help.... (insert optimistic face here).

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    1. I'll take your optimistic face and hold onto it, thankyou.
      I've been following your own blog - I was amazed with your Pepper success and has motivated me to give it a go again myself despite previous failures.
      Those Olive cuttings are still alive, so here's hoping......

      Thank you for your lovely comments
      Linda

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  8. Hi there - found my way here via Jean's blog. My back lawn looks like your ground but mine is due to a badger digging for worms, very annoying.

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  9. Hi PG,
    I always think it would be lovely to see or know there are badgers on the land but I'd soon get cheesed off if they were damaging the place like that.
    Is it a year round problem for you?

    Linda

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