Gran/Grandads Gardening Corner

Went with DD1 to garden centre this morning to buy replacement Erysimum plants for 2 of hers which have gone woody and died. I find they do that sometimes, she probably didn't cut off the dead flower stalks. Of course I ended up getting her a few extras - Delphinium and Aquilegia to self seed hopefully, and some more Heuchera. Also some attractive boulders which sparkled in the sun and some dangly lights. Cost more than I had planned but at least we got 2 free bags of compost with some vouchers that came in the post!
Being lazy this afternoon, it is too hot to be energetic.

I am surprised they haven't sprouted already. I don't know the answer, but would have thought it worth a try. Good luck!

Anyone any idea whether it's too late to plant tulips? GS brought me half a dozen bulbs back from his weekend in Amsterdam (please feel free to burst into song!??). Will it damage them if I plant them now? I usually get them potted up in November.

Happy Easter and Gardening everybody.....the sun is out.????

I'm another one who goes straight to the poorly plant section. Sometimes I wonder why the plants are there. A couple of weeks ago I bought two azaleas about to bloom, for half price.
I potted them up into tubs and they look great.

I always check the 'sick bay' at garden centres, have bought some bargains but also some duds!

I bought a few odds and ends in a sale at a well known garden centre chain. Hugely reduced as they had gone over but they will be good next year. Fritillaries, small pink geranium, allysum, erysimum. As I'm always doing this I never know what is growing in the garden. Later on at the end of July there will be reduced tatty looking shrubs and standards like pyracantha, photinia and olives greatly reduced. This garden was empty 5 years ago so everything helps. Occasionally something grows from the previous garden here (an old bungalow knocked down). I have a beautiful standard wisteria that couldn't be sold because it had a tiny birds nest in the middle. By the time the birds had flown the nest the season was over and I bought it cheaply. Its all good fun but addictive.

I have to do a spot of bricklaying over Easter. A small retaining wall has collapsed. Probably weakened by me and GCs sliding down the lawn on a 10 metre sheet of parachute silk and landing with a jolt (not good for my knees or the wall!)
I wish you would all stop buying plants that I think I need!

Went to a garden centre yesterday and bought two spireas 'Magic Carpet' very pretty, also a rock rose ( Cistus, Sunset) to replace an old one and some new catmint ( Nepeta Six Hills Giant) for our DD as her cat loves ours so much.

yes, it's pricey alright, but all the pottery is handmade and handpainted, they do sell some lovely things.
Go in Summer and then in Autumn to see the flowers at their best.

Great place!. The only thing I bought was a chocolate brownie. . The tulips were a picture.

Thank you Roses, I am looking forward to it, and yes we are going to eat something sinful! I saw on line that they do a geranium design which looks similar to the Rozanne which we all love. Thought I might buy the kitchen utensil pot for my neighbour who is mad about them until I saw the price - £44.99! I might run to a spoon rest, the cheapest item they do.

Hope you enjoy the Aston Pottery on Thursday shysal ( I bought a butter dish with a rabbit on there once.)

Beautiful trees! Pity the blossom is so short lived.

And Kanzan, planted just four years ago.

Amanagowa in full bloom today.

I like the look of 'splash splash' it would be look nice in my shady borders.

Rosesarered, I mentioned Aston Pottery/Café to DD and family today. They live very close but have never been, so we are all going on Thursday. Looking forward to it. Thanks for the recommendation.

!! Don't know what the I pad is doing! Spilsh Splash, of course!

I bought a splash aplastic last year, I hope it flowers as well this season!
Liz46 what a great idea, I'll try it!

My dentist was telling me that he bought some saffron crocuses on line last year, at great cost, hoping to create wonderful culinary delights. He nurtured them, forbade his family to go anywhere near them, and harvested the stamens, only to receive an email recently apologizing for sending bog standard crocus bulbs. They are fortunately not poisonous!

I bought about half a dozen gazania plants last year and the flowers were beautiful. I took off the dead flower heads, put them in an envelope for the winter and planted them in compost a couple of weeks ago. They have started to come through so I am stupidly pleased and hope they are as beautiful this year.

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Had Splish Splash a few years ago as they are good for the shady part of the garden,
But they have vanished now! Mystery.
Don't mention Thompson and Morgan as the plants they supplied us with arrived ten days later wilted and diseased!! After ringing them yesterday, they say we can send them back ( they won't collect them) but we have to pay for it, and they will then 'take a look at them' and decide what to do.They had obviously sat around in a depot as they were supposed to arrive within three days.DH has emailed their HQ to complain at this treatment of customers.Won't be using them ever again.

Just Googled Splish Splash, it flowers May - September according to Thompson and Morgan - not bad!