Sunday 22 April 2012

April Jobs

I'm taking a break from my Cornwall posts to share what I've been up to in my garden. I've been lucky enough to have three and a half weeks off work for Easter - back to school this Wednesday (boo!). So I've been able to catch up on a few tasks around the plot. One job was to dig up seven Erisimum from the front garden, which we are hoping to have re-landscaped soon, and move them to the back garden to fill some gaps. Thanks to the rain we've had it was a good time to do this, and so far they seem quite happy in their new homes. I am making sure I keep watering them daily for the time being.

Now where shall I put you?

Settling in to their new homes.

This Erysimum looks like it's always been there.
I am very fond of these plants, which last perhaps three years before going leggy and giving up the ghost. Still, it's a wonderful three years, and in my garden they flower from March until at least November with regular deadheading. Some plants don't even stop flowering at all - as you cut spent flower spikes away, there always seem to be new flowers coming. What great value! And they love my chalky soil, which is a bonus because not a lot does!

I've also been keeping a close eye on my seed trays. Most things seem to be germinating, except for some unusual varieties of Kniphofia which may take a long time to germinate, if at all!


I had a great day out with mum on Tuesday, on one of our Nursery Cruises. We started off at Mark Cross, north of Heathfield, a venue chosen for its quality plants and even better quality scones! We then headed down to Staverton Nurseries at Halland, near Lewes. This is a fantastic garden centre with a huge range, and everything is really competitively priced. We then had a picnic of some rather messy egg sandwiches, then headed into Lewes. We shared a yummy piece of carrot cake in Bill's, and got starstruck when we saw Jason Hughes (Ben Jones in Midsomer Murders) at the next table with his family. Then we visited a little nursery right in the heart of the town, which has cleverly obtained this busy site as a sales point for their out of town nursery. We picked up some lovely Verbascums here. What made the day even more fun was that I had a large wad of garden vouchers, saved from recent kind gifts. Guilt-free spending - what could be better!


This is not all of the haul - there was also a late-flowering clematis and various other bits and pieces that wouldn't fit into the greenhouse. And today I managed to plant the fully hardy plants, together with around thirty lilies and gladioli that I already had in stock. So it's been a very productive week here. Hope you've been having fun in your garden too!

7 comments:

  1. Hi Martin! It is always fun to visit nice nurseries and even better to have garden vouchers for spending. Looking forward to seeing how your garden progresses. I love verbascum. It’s great for a vertical accent.

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    1. These are quite unusual varieties, one with white flowers, the other violet, and the leaves are not hairy they are tough and shiny. I forget their name now, but they are great plants.

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  2. Hi Martin, I am glad to read that you had some time off and have been able to garden and do some plant shopping. Sounds like you really enjoyed it! The erisimum looks like a wonderful plant and it certainly is a workhorse in your garden and seems to be right at home in the new location you planted it into. Your nursery trip has been quite successful, too. Looking forward to seeing all these beauties flourishing in your garden!
    Christina

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    1. I'll certainly keep you posted Christina!

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  3. Hi Martin, pleased to hear you had some much needed time off to do some gardening (and relaxing). I love nursery shopping, you just don't know what goodies you'll find on ever trip. Looking forward to your garden updates!

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  4. It's been great to have so much time off, but it makes going back to work a lot harder! :>)

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  5. I love where you put the Erysimum. What a lovely flower.

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