On 2009-11-29 18:09:08 +0000, "Spider" said:

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2009-11-29 16:47:57 +0000, "Spider" said:

"Sacha" wrote in message
...
Days and days of it with a few clear spells in between, are making it
hard
to get planting a newly dug out and turned over flower bed. It's
becoming
very boring to see this dire weather all the time and last night, we had
yet another horrible gale that went on for hours. However, I've been
told that the choice of what goes into this bed is mine entirely (I'll
believe that when I see it!) and so I'm able to enjoy a bit of
dream-gardening, at least. So far, I'm thinking of Dahlia Engelhardt's
Matador, Thalicturm delavayi Hewitt's Double (lots), Nepeta, Phlox
White
Admiral, Iris chrysographes, Nerines,
Dianthus Old Mother Hubbard, Diascia personata, Salvia involucrata and
as
Ray says when I list that lot to him - a rather bigger border
altogether!
;-) As an experiment - because it might not live - I'd like to try
Thunbergia gregorii up the wall. It goes mad at Coleton Fishacre but
they're so close to the sea that it suffers little in winter. And
because
it will be outside bedroom windows and the office window, I'd also like
to
try a couple of Lonicera for height and scent. As I say - one can but
dream!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon


Mmm .. it's chucking down gallons of 'stair rod' rain here, too. I'm
glad I
live on the uphill side of our road :~).

Congratulations on getting an entire border to yourself! Your planting
recipe sounds very pretty, except I can't find an image for Dianthus 'Old
Mother Hubbard' - not even on your website! You couldn't very well leave
it
out of a personal planting though, could you?!

It's one Ray bred here and you've reminded me to put it on the site!


Don't forget - I'll be checking! :~)

Yes - I *know* you will! Actually, I've just asked him if there are
any for sale and he's got to take ore cuttings. I do nag him about this
but does it get me anywhere.....

Dianthus seem to have fallen out of favour but I love them.


I love them too; alas, so do my snails. I keep trying to build up a
collection that will give me a 'Sweet William' tapestry of colour but with a
perennial performance. As you might gather from this, I love the darker
bi-colours.

Have you looked at this site. Ray has known Mrs Whetman for years and
I think she may be the only grower left in the area:
http://www.whetmanpinks.com/
Her plants are good and some years ago when I was doing flowers for a
wedding and the bride wanted pinks in the arrangements, I bought loads
of cut flowers from her. They were in perfect condition and just ready
for a wedding day.

We also have one that never went into commercial production, called Green
Lanes, bred by Cecil Wyatt who gave it to Ray. It wasn't successful
commercially because it has rather short stems but it's pure white and
with a scent that knocks your head off - wonderful plant. It's the ideal
buttonhole but I don't think anyone else sells it because it wasn't
considered a commercial plant.


Sounds like a good alpine or scree plant. It would have to be an alpine
table or pot, otherise you'd miss the scent.

Yes, we have an old sink planted up with alpines and I'd like to put
Green Lanes into it next year.


The Thunbergia is, well, bright! :~). I've often fancied growing one in
my
hot border, but didn't want the trouble of growing it from seed every
year.
Is 'yours' perennial, or do you intend growing from seed each year? Oh,
and
while I'm asking, how does it climb/cling? Will it grip your wall, or
will
you need to tie it in, or just point it in the right direction?

Spider

It's very bright indeed, though there's also the T. alata Lemon Queen
which might be a bit gentler on the eye! I like to get something that's a
bit of a shock in if possible and it should nicely 'catch' the colour of
the Crocosmia Krakatoa. It twines itself up and around things and at
Coleton has reached the chimney. If we do put it in, it will be to try it
as a perennial, though I'm not over-confident but all these things are
worth a try and we have to experiment here, so as to be able to tell
customers what we find things do in a fairly average SW garden!

--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon


If you plant the Thunbergii do, please, report on its progress. I'd be most
interested.

Spider

I will. Ray has promised to grow one on through the winter into quite
a large pot (in stages, of course) so that it has a good root system
before it goes in. We'll see how it goes from there. I would like to
grow Eremurus, too but they never do well here at all.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon