Small Web Album of my garden, the sick Conifers, and other questions
 

Ref: my previous post about sick Conifers; I've put up some photos on a
Web Album.

Also some shots of the 'meadow' that I started working on last year, and
some mystery plants some kind folks might want to try to identify
(nearly all of them :))

http://www.genesis-x.nildram.co.uk/l...urgler/270705/

Thanks.

--
[H]omer

Problem with cats in your garden?
Try this: http://img169.exs.cx/img169/6382/kitten8va.jpg

[H]omer wrote:
Ref: my previous post about sick Conifers; I've put up some photos
on
a Web Album.

Also some shots of the 'meadow' that I started working on last
year,
and some mystery plants some kind folks might want to try to
identify
(nearly all of them :))

http://www.genesis-x.nildram.co.uk/l...urgler/270705/

My stabs at identification:
FB unknown macro: houseleek?
Unknown shrub 0021: a nicely coloured form of elder.
Another unknown 0028: Shepherd's purse seeds in front of Redshank or
Persicaria?
Another unknown 0029: Water-pepper, perhaps?
What flower? 0030: it's in the wild cabbage family, and without a
clear view of the leaves, I'll just say Wild cabbage.

_Lovely_ meadow. Don't be disappointed if the grass takes over as the
years go by: you may need to do surgery.

My guess is that the sick conifers are suffering from starvation or
thirst or both: I bet those pots are full of roots.

--
Mike.

Mike Lyle wrote:
[H]omer wrote:
Ref: my previous post about sick Conifers; I've put up some photos
on a Web Album.

Also some shots of the 'meadow' that I started working on last
year, and some mystery plants some kind folks might want to try to
identify (nearly all of them :))

http://www.genesis-x.nildram.co.uk/l...urgler/270705/

My stabs at identification:
FB unknown macro: houseleek?

I got these from Suttons (along with literally hundreds of other
plants), but they were received and planted unlabelled by a friend in my
absence (yes ... he's an idiot), so I have no idea, other than the fact
that they arrived in mid-May in the form of mini-plants. I'm 100%
certain they're not weeds, and about 75% certain they're not (supposed
to be) vegetables.

Unknown shrub 0021: a nicely coloured form of elder.

I was just watching the Midsummer episode of GW recorded off Sky (I've
been away overseas), and Monty pointed out an almost identical Elder
they have at Berryfields, maybe even the same variety. That mystery has
bugged me for a while now.

BTW - the photo *really* doesn't do them justice; the leaves are
actually a stunning burgundy colour. For some reason, Adobe Photoshop
Elements decided that they were supposed to be green :)

Another unknown 0028: Shepherd's purse seeds in front of Redshank or
Persicaria?
Another unknown 0029: Water-pepper, perhaps?
What flower? 0030: it's in the wild cabbage family, and without a
clear view of the leaves, I'll just say Wild cabbage.

Here's all the varieties that I *expected* to appear:

http://www.designbynature.co.uk/ente...rget=p_55.html

I did cheat a bit, by throwing in some leftover seeds collected from
last years annuals, but most of it is proper wildflower varieties.

_Lovely_ meadow.

Thanks :)

I am *really* pleased with it, and the locals fairly queue up to see it
too; it's quite an attraction.

Don't be disappointed if the grass takes over as the years go by:
you may need to do surgery.

I'm fully expecting, and prepared for, that inevitability. However I am
determined to never again used any form of weed killer on that area,
since I'm trying to build a micro ecosystem rather than just a pretty
view. Even digging up large(ish) patches would have an adverse affect on
any resident wildlife. I hear that Yellow Rattle is quite effective
against invasive grasses.

The bit you can't (easily) see in those photos, is the row of 25 wild
shrubs along the fence, that forms a hedgerow comprising of Dogwood, Dog
rose, Field Maple, Hawthorn, et al:

http://www.naturescape.co.uk/info/collectiona.htm

Oooh, I've gone all Conservationist :)

My guess is that the sick conifers are suffering from starvation or
thirst or both: I bet those pots are full of roots.

Sadly the rootballs are only about the size of footballs. The Conifers
have only been in those pots about a month - you should have seen the
crap they were planted in before! (See my earlier 'Sick Conifers' post.)

It's only a temporary home while I figure out what (if anything) I'm
going to do with them.

--
[H]omer

Problem with cats in your garden?
Try this: http://img169.exs.cx/img169/6382/kitten8va.jpg

[H]omer wrote:

Also some shots of the 'meadow' that I started working on last year

And here's the original *very* hi-res copy of the meadow photo
(2400x1800) for anyone interested:

http://www.genesis-x.nildram.co.uk/i...7_edited-1.JPG (~1MB)

--
[H]omer

Problem with cats in your garden?
Try this: http://img169.exs.cx/img169/6382/kitten8va.jpg

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 19:46:21 +0100, "[H]omer" wrote:


My guess is that the sick conifers are suffering from starvation or
thirst or both: I bet those pots are full of roots.

Sadly the rootballs are only about the size of footballs. The Conifers
have only been in those pots about a month - you should have seen the
crap they were planted in before! (See my earlier 'Sick Conifers' post.)

IMHO those conifers will never re-grow. Ditch them and put new ones,
or something more interesting in your tubs.

Pam in Bristol

"Mike Lyle" wrote
My stabs at identification:
[...]
Another unknown 0029: Water-pepper, perhaps?

Could be Knotgrass - Polyganum aviculare.

Sue wrote:
"Mike Lyle" wrote
My stabs at identification:
[...]
Another unknown 0029: Water-pepper, perhaps?

Could be Knotgrass - Polyganum aviculare.

I considered that, but the flower heads didn't seem right, and I had
an impression -- perhaps wrong -- of greater size. But your shot is
at least as good as mine.

Question: does water-pepper taste good enough to be used in food?

--
Mike.

Pam Moore wrote:
On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 19:46:21 +0100, "[H]omer" wrote:


My guess is that the sick conifers are suffering from starvation or
thirst or both: I bet those pots are full of roots.

Sadly the rootballs are only about the size of footballs. The Conifers
have only been in those pots about a month - you should have seen the
crap they were planted in before! (See my earlier 'Sick Conifers' post.)

IMHO those conifers will never re-grow. Ditch them and put new ones,
or something more interesting in your tubs.

I was afraid of that.

Oh well, another two bite the dust :(

--
[H]omer

Problem with cats in your garden?
Try this: http://img169.exs.cx/img169/6382/kitten8va.jpg

"Mike Lyle" wrote
snip
Question: does water-pepper taste good enough to be used in food?

I can't find anything actually recommending it to eat, although there are
lots of references to it having a hot peppery taste when chewed. This
webpage says it has 'an acrid biting juice':
http://more-than-mint.kategilby.co.u...rs/wldfl10.txt which
doesn't sound very palatable. I can't see it listed in Richard Mabey's food
for free.

It apparently used to used to repel fleas in bedlinen and had folk names
such as Smartweed and Arsmart because it caused a smarting sensation to
skin - presumably when it was left in the bed by mistake. :)

"Sue" wrote
It apparently used to used to repel fleas in bedlinen and had folk names
such as Smartweed and Arsmart because it caused a smarting sensation to
skin - presumably when it was left in the bed by mistake. :)

Apologies; should read: used to be used to...

I think your pots are too small for your conifers...and although they don`t look too well now if it was me I would plant them in a border or an area with lots of soil and make a fuss of them for a bit with some compost a little feed and lots of water and give them a chance to return if they don`t you can always pull them out. :)

Lovely garden by the way. :) :)

Cherry wrote:
I think your pots are too small for your conifers

Yes, it is only *temporary* though.

Lovely garden by the way. :) :)

Thanks :)

However there are a few aspects of it that I am still very unhappy with:

The lawn is abysmal.
There is a massive crater where the front garden used to be (work in
progress).
The borders are untidy.
The roses need taming.
The water fountain needs de-algae-ising.
The Hawthorn tree needs a better support (the wind is terrifying round
here).
Many plants just don't belong in this climate (we brought them with us
from our last house, further south and more inland, and I haven't had
the heart to let them go, for sentimental reasons).
The patio needs weeding.
This year's hanging baskets (my first attempt) are a joke.
I've grown *far* to many lettuce, all in one go, and too close together.
IMHO the 'Mini-Greenhouse' was a waste of time, money and effort; either
that or I just don't understand how to make best use of a greenhouse.
The loss-rate of the summer annuals (that I bought mail order) is
greater than 50% :(

Overall, it's been a very expensive education.

--
[H]omer

Problem with cats in your garden?
Try this: http://img169.exs.cx/img169/6382/kitten8va.jpg