Sunday 23 June 2013

Plant ID - again!

I don't know where my energy has gone of late but it's certainly done a bunk somewhere, the last couple of days I really haven't been able to face gardening, just the thought of more weeding is soul destroying.
I think I need to get my craft on and make some things for the garden for a change and then maybe I'll be able to face day to day weeding once again. With that in mind I'm going to have a go at making some of the cute dragonflies that are all over the web, more whimsy for the garden I know but look they're so darned cute

http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LucyDesignsonline
I think I have pretty much everything needed. I also want to make a few tiny ones to hang around the garden plant areas plus I want to make a few garden signs, a few benches, some stepping stones and whatever else I can conjure up. I dread to think what the garden will look like when I resurface from creating but it's a risk I shall have to take because some of the enjoyment of gardening appears to have diminished for me this year and I'm pretty sure it's because I'm not building things enough.

Everything is growing well both in the veg plot and the garden, I'm thinking the recent rain has worked it's magic and blooms seem to be appearing almost on a daily basis.

The blue flowers of this Cranesbill 'Johnsons Blue' almost match the blue pot perfectly. I once read that most 'Johnsons Blue' are not actually the true form because the true form should have a yellow eye. I don't know how true that statement is/was but this one is perfect to me all the same.



Asiatic Lily 'Vesuvius', I am so plesed with the colour of these, the orangey reds and honest yellows are so vibrant and look fabulous together.



Aquiligia has self seeded all over the garden to the point of it being a weed but I can never bring myself to pull them up and this is why - gorgeous aren't they.




Heuchera 'Coral Cloud' (I think) is looking very radiant at the moment.


I'm hoping someone can identify this next plant for me. It's growing in my daughters garden and I love it but need to know how to propagate it, it looks kind of cornflowery or Monarda type but I'm stumped so would love to know.


Before I get creating I need to force myself out for one more round of weeding. The old veg area is looking reeeeeally bad so I'm going to give it one more blast and then I'm covering it with poythene.


The bed on the left will be completely covered with polythene (I don't think the French beans are going to do much but I'll leave them there just in case) The bed on the right will be a different story - I will lose 1/4 of it at this near end because we are extending my workshop, the rest of it will become a nursery for some of my plants in pots that need planting out but have nowhere to go until the second half of the garden is underway (which won't be until we have the dog runs completed, which in turn won't be until we either fix our digger or hire one).
I've decided that I will concentrate on the upkeep of the actual garden areas only i.e the actual garden, the polytunnel area and the greenhouse area. I'm not going to kill myself worrying about the state of the journey to those places - it's simply too much for me to cope with. Besides like so many of you have told me the bees and wildlife love an overgrown area and with that thought in mind I can live with this




12 comments:

  1. I am in love with that dragonfly! I'm looking forward to seeing all the things you plan to make.

    Your flowers are so pretty.. the mystery flower is Centaurea montana otherwise known as perennial cornflower. You can propagate by sowing seeds in spring or by division in spring or autumn.
    Julie :o)

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    1. Thank you Julie, it's good to get a definite ID on that plant :)

      I'm looking forward to making some of those draginflies though I have to say your Fairy door is pretty darned cute too, I made to make one of those also :)

      Thanks for popping by

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  2. Julie is absolutely right we have this plant and it divides well. If fact it is so vigorous this is often needed. We have some on the plot which after the first flowering become really untidy and develop a bare centre. I then cut out all the straggly growth leaving any new growth coming in the centre to grow and provide a second flowering. It's also prone to mildew but giving it a mid summer chop seems to help.

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    1. That's good to know Sue, sounds like i may be adding another potential weed to the garden but it is beautiful isn't it. I guess I'll just have to keep on top of the straggly growth and give it a chance.

      Thanks again

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  3. Also known a Scottish Cornflower

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  4. Well I delighted to hear you're going to stop worrying about the overgrown area and let the wildlife have it's fun. Y'know, last night hubs and I walked back from the pub with the dogs through an overgrown field and you should have seen the wildlife we disturbed!! Brill it was. Why not set a little camera up somewhere and see what you spot?

    Everything is blooming beautifully and your little dragonflies will look so lovely dotted around the garden. I really envy you just being able to build things, I wish I could....power tools give me the heebie jeebies!!! Enjoy your crafting and have a good old chill.xxxx

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    1. I used to feel the same about power tools Snowbird, in fact a hammer would have had me running a mile lol. Once I had a go though I was hooked, the only thing I can't use because I have all sorts of horrors in my mind is the table saw - shudders lol.

      I'm not sure a camera would be a good idea because insects and things still scare the life out of me lol.

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  5. I'm glad to find out a bit more about Centaurea - I think it's so beautiful that I've just planted some among the veg in my patch! Bees love it so if it self-seeds or multiplies by creeping rhizome roots, I'll be more than happy!
    Your flowers are way ahead of mine (and gorgeous colour!) - my lilies are only just beginning to bud. I have to agree about weeding: it's just soul destroying and a real energy sapper. I make myself do a bit every time I'm near the garden but it's still a never ending job! Good luck with yours!

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    1. It certainly is a lovely flower Caro. I've marvelled after one in a town garden for years now but never knew what it was then my daughter moves into a new place and there's one in the garden, completely overjoyed I was.
      Good luck with the fight against those weeds, I feel your pain.

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  6. Your wild area is really pretty, so leaving it while you concentrate on maintenance of the more developed parts is a good idea. You have just inspired me. I have a blue glazed pot in just the same shade as yours and was thinking about what to plant in it. I am now going to get a Johnsons Blue Geranium. I always assumed, like so many other "blue" plants, that it was more mauve, but it's really blue! So thanks for the idea.

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    1. Wow, I actually inspired someone, I'm a muse. Ok maybe I'm getting a bit carried away but it feels great to be a source of inspiration for a fellow gardener. Thank you Lyn and I look forward to seeing your new Blue container :)

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