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Annuals as cut flowers, and update on gardening jobs!

(344 Posts)
Namsnanny Sat 14-Mar-20 22:17:42

I've just received my Creeping Phlox plug plants from T&M, a bit earlier than expected.
There are 60 of them in pink, red and white strip, blue, and lilac. All in good nick, so I've just spent the evening potting them up. In a day or two's time I'll put them into the conservatory which has no heat.
Then outside for a short while.
They are on the way to a raised bed, that I hope they will spread and fill.
I've never grown them before, but I am looking forward to the colour and scent in the garden!

Next I will plant some seeds, probably Cosmos, which I also haven't grown before, but I want something reliable for cutting for the house.

Anyone advise annuals for that purpose?

The year is skipping along!

Whitewavemark2 Sun 28-Jun-20 07:22:14

namsnanny your cuttings look ok to me. I’ve taken some rosemary cuttings and they are definitely struggling.

My daughter gave us a rose for out 50th Called Golden Celebrations. A couple of years ago. The flowers are huge but the growth is very lax and the heavy heads hang down. Not sure if I can encourage stronger stems. I feed it etc, must look it up. It’s a David Austen I think.

I’ve got one Japanese anemone flower out ☹️ That always reminds me of autumn. I hope it’s just a rogue one?
Just started to cut out the spent delphiniums. Last year I did and they flowered again right into late October.

Namsnanny Sun 28-Jun-20 12:31:16

Funny you mention Japanese anemone as behind the above Huchera is o e which is in bud, and I thought the same as you...midsummer is only just over but is the weather telling the garden autumn is here!

Namsnanny Sun 28-Jun-20 12:34:45

*travelsafar ... just wondering what the purple flower the bees like in your lawn, you mentioned earlier, was?!
Any chance of a photo?
Anything that attracts the bees I fancy!

Namsnanny Mon 29-Jun-20 15:37:30

I love these two plants and colours together!

Namsnanny Wed 01-Jul-20 23:32:14

Cold tonight. We've actually put the heating on for a bit.

Cutting Honeysuckle back most of today. It's swamping the rose compassion.

Potted up some Dahlias, they are a bit leggy! We shall see how they cope.

This beautiful moth kept me company this evening! I've never seen one with this shape of wing before. Also being so white, its quite unusual I think.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 05-Jul-20 08:06:33

I’ve never seen such an unusual shaped moth either. It is lovely.

Are we ever going to get rid of this wind. I have the heater on in the conservatory sat having my morning cup of tea. It’s horrible out there.

I’ll try and find out what it is I have some books on moths.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 05-Jul-20 08:10:37

Actually google white moth.

Is it a White Spring Moth?

There some absolute beauties.

Whitewavemark2 Sun 05-Jul-20 08:12:59

Oh no I’ve just seen the lines so not that!

Slant lined Moth or

Hants Moth.

There are so many!

Namsnanny Mon 06-Jul-20 18:04:22

Yes I know Wwmark"!! I took your advice and googled, and there are more than I every thought.
Even those that look similar, have enough differences to confuse me when I'm trying to identify it.

I'm not sure but I think we had a red admiral butterfly on the Verbena plants. It was too quick for me to take a picture!

lemongrove Mon 06-Jul-20 18:27:04

Lovely moth nams no idea what it is though.
There are lots of white marble butterflies about just now, and they are speedy little things.A few gorgeous red/ terracotta ones around too, but they rarely give you time to identify them.?

lemongrove Mon 06-Jul-20 18:28:08

Also....are those just surfinias? Wonderful colour, they almost glow.

Namsnanny Wed 08-Jul-20 00:28:10

Yes lemongrove thats right, Surfinias, with Lysmachia. A great combo, as they are both thug-ish, so fill out baskets quickly and cope well together.

Namsnanny Wed 08-Jul-20 00:39:32

still searching for the name of the moth.

I hope your Delphiniums do flower again Wwmk2. I only have one or two because of the slugs and snail, but they are still flowering.
I've still the rambler to cut back. Not that I can do it. I'm thinking of getting someone in to do it, as one of them is such a thug, its over 12ft tall!

Whitewavemark2 Wed 08-Jul-20 06:39:38

namsnanny

I’ve got one of those long poled secateurs. It is invaluable and makes life much easier. In fact I go around the garden with it snipping at all sorts of levels - saves bending.
I’ve cut the Delphiniums down completely and they now need feeding. Then I’ll see what happens.
Actually have a gap now where the Delphs were. Looking for a late summer flowerer.
Any excuse?

Namsnanny Wed 08-Jul-20 18:52:25

Thats a good idea! Is it very heavy?
I'll look around and try to test a few different ones out.
Now I've got an excuse grin

Pot of dwarf Dahlia? They are almost cheap enough to throw away at the end of the season.

Whitewavemark2 Wed 08-Jul-20 19:02:46

Excellent idea. Dahlias it is?

Namsnanny Thu 09-Jul-20 19:30:35

smile

Namsnanny Fri 10-Jul-20 14:30:11

The sweet peas are growing longer and longer stems! Must be all the rain we've been having.

Alright, I admit it I had to measure the longest ...16inches!
Yes I'm a bit bored today smile