"Nick Maclaren" wrote in message
...
In article ,
Brian Watson wrote:

Correction to my previous post: "Ssh! We have TWO pod people in our
midst......"

What's a pod person?

In the film Invasion Of The Body Snatchers, a plant species comes to Earth
and grows plantlife clones of Earth people who then replace their human
equivalents in pods. Hence "pod people".

Their single-minded motivation (as is common in such films) is to take over
the human race and replace it by vegetation, much like the growth habits of
every ivy plant it has been my misfortune to encounter.

It is a boring, unattractive, genus with invasive habits and -as far as I
can see - no redeeming features that cannot be matched or exceeded by other
plants in similar locations.
--
Brian

THANKYOU for all your great advice - I'm afraid I havent had the time to
return here till now, but theres much food for thought.
Especially the stuff about Mums!
I now feel I have the confidence to take the first bold leap into the world
of gardening and get a big pot with some nice colourful ivy to put up my
scrubby old wall.

Will keep you posted of any significant ivy-related developments!,
Thanks again,
Dan.

"dg.dg" wrote in message
...
THANKYOU for all your great advice - I'm afraid I havent had the time to
return here till now, but theres much food for thought.
Especially the stuff about Mums!
I now feel I have the confidence to take the first bold leap into the
world
of gardening and get a big pot with some nice colourful ivy to put up my
scrubby old wall.

A very sensible mid-point solution.

After all, you can always take a shotgun to the pot...

--
Brian
Henry Fielding: "All Nature wears one universal grin"

In article , Brian Watson
writes
It is a boring, unattractive, genus with invasive habits and -as far as I
can see - no redeeming features that cannot be matched or exceeded by other
plants in similar locations.

1) What would you advise as a variegated evergreen self-clinging climber
on a north wall in N england which grows vigorously in poor soil with no
attention?

2) Would your alternative be as attractive to wildlife?
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Watson
writes
It is a boring, unattractive, genus with invasive habits and -as far as I
can see - no redeeming features that cannot be matched or exceeded by
other
plants in similar locations.

1) What would you advise as a variegated evergreen self-clinging climber
on a north wall in N england which grows vigorously in poor soil with no
attention?

I wouldn't want a variegated evergreen self-clinging climber on a wall if
the consequences might be those of an ivy.

I'd improve the soil and plant something more attractive.

2) Would your alternative be as attractive to wildlife?

Possibly. But I could still mount a very substantial bird feeder to the wall
if not, or as well.
--
Brian
Henry Fielding: "All Nature wears one universal grin"

In article ,
Brian Watson wrote:
"dg.dg" wrote in message
...
THANKYOU for all your great advice - I'm afraid I havent had the time to
return here till now, but theres much food for thought.
Especially the stuff about Mums!
I now feel I have the confidence to take the first bold leap into the
world
of gardening and get a big pot with some nice colourful ivy to put up my
scrubby old wall.

A very sensible mid-point solution.

After all, you can always take a shotgun to the pot...

I read that as "you can always take a shotgun to the Pete". Tempting.

However, I really don't understand either extreme of the ivy
league. It is a useful and attractive climber for circumstances
where you want a block of green and can put it with its vigour,
but it isn't attractive enough for use if something else better
is appropriate. I don't like variegated plants much, but can see
that some people like them, and it has some good forms.

And it is really NOT difficult to get rid of, except in the rare
case where you can neither dig it up nor poison it. I have heard
that it does get out of hand in the USA's Pacific North-West, but
that is there and we are here. Its holdfasts don't cause trouble
even to loose mortar - though removing it may - and, if you have a
wall where roots can establish, you have serious damp problems and
will get other plants anyway (e.g. buddleja).

I don't grow it deliberately, because I don't like it much, but I
can't see why it should be demonised.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

In article , Brian Watson
writes

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Watson
writes
It is a boring, unattractive, genus with invasive habits and -as far as I
can see - no redeeming features that cannot be matched or exceeded by
other
plants in similar locations.

1) What would you advise as a variegated evergreen self-clinging climber
on a north wall in N england which grows vigorously in poor soil with no
attention?

I wouldn't want a variegated evergreen self-clinging climber on a wall if
the consequences might be those of an ivy.

I'd improve the soil and plant something more attractive.

Such as?

--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Watson
writes

I wouldn't want a variegated evergreen self-clinging climber on a wall if
the consequences might be those of an ivy.

I'd improve the soil and plant something more attractive.

Such as?

Passionflower? Clematis?

--
Brian

In article , Brian Watson
writes

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Watson
writes

I wouldn't want a variegated evergreen self-clinging climber on a wall if
the consequences might be those of an ivy.

I'd improve the soil and plant something more attractive.

Such as?

Passionflower? Clematis?

I'm not sure passion flower will grow outside up here, and clematis
isn't self clinging. Most clematis aren't evergreen, and the most
available evergreen one, C armandii, is a bit tender and I'm not sure it
would do well on a N wall - mine is on a S facing wall.

I think you're struggling! ;-)

I wasn't trying to catch you out, merely I couldn't think of a good
alternative for ivy, and wanted to know if there was one. I have a
winter jasmine on my wall - it's not clinging, so I have to have wires
for it, and I think a good many people would find ivy more attractive.


--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Watson
writes

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Watson
writes

Passionflower? Clematis?

I'm not sure passion flower will grow outside up here, and clematis
isn't self clinging. Most clematis aren't evergreen, and the most
available evergreen one, C armandii, is a bit tender and I'm not sure it
would do well on a N wall - mine is on a S facing wall.

I think you're struggling! ;-)

No, *you're* struggling for want of a bit of trellis.

:-)

I wasn't trying to catch you out, merely I couldn't think of a good
alternative for ivy, and wanted to know if there was one. I have a
winter jasmine on my wall - it's not clinging, so I have to have wires
for it, and I think a good many people would find ivy more attractive.

Well, it's your wall and you seen determined to have ivy, so do.

It'll be your problem, after all, unless you move house before it wreaks its
havoc.

--
Brian
"Reality rarely lives up to TV, usually because reality has a smaller budget
and the opportunities for retakes are minimal."

Brian Watson wrote:
"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian Watson
writes

"Kay" wrote in message
...
In article , Brian
Watson
writes

Passionflower? Clematis?

I'm not sure passion flower will grow outside up here, and
clematis
isn't self clinging. Most clematis aren't evergreen, and the most
available evergreen one, C armandii, is a bit tender and I'm not
sure it would do well on a N wall - mine is on a S facing wall.

I think you're struggling! ;-)

No, *you're* struggling for want of a bit of trellis.

:-)

I wasn't trying to catch you out, merely I couldn't think of a
good
alternative for ivy, and wanted to know if there was one. I have a
winter jasmine on my wall - it's not clinging, so I have to have
wires for it, and I think a good many people would find ivy more
attractive.

Well, it's your wall and you seen determined to have ivy, so do.

It'll be your problem, after all, unless you move house before it
wreaks its havoc.

Hydrangea petiolaris.

I do love ivies; but I really would strongly counsel against growing
one on a house wall.

Mike.

In message , Mike Lyle
writes
Hydrangea petiolaris.

I do love ivies; but I really would strongly counsel against growing
one on a house wall.

Having just tried to remove one, I have to agree - sadly, though, as I
like them too.

Is Virginia creeper as tenacious?


--
Klara, Gatwick basin

On 30/10/04 23:19, in article ,
"Klara" wrote:

In message , Mike Lyle
writes
Hydrangea petiolaris.

I do love ivies; but I really would strongly counsel against growing
one on a house wall.

Having just tried to remove one, I have to agree - sadly, though, as I
like them too.

Is Virginia creeper as tenacious?

Yes but it's not evergreen and neither is H. petiolaris. ;-(
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.co.uk
South Devon
(remove the weeds to email me)

In article ,
Sacha wrote:
On 30/10/04 23:19, in article ,
"Klara" wrote:
In message , Mike Lyle
writes

Hydrangea petiolaris.

I do love ivies; but I really would strongly counsel against growing
one on a house wall.

Having just tried to remove one, I have to agree - sadly, though, as I
like them too.

Is Virginia creeper as tenacious?

Yes but it's not evergreen and neither is H. petiolaris. ;-(

And nor is Campsis - again suitable only for a south wall.

In my observation, there is precious little difference between
climbers when it comes to lifting tiles etc. and, with the self
clinging ones, you get a straight choice between adhesiveness and
likelihood of falling off.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

"Klara" wrote in message
...
In message , Mike Lyle
writes
Hydrangea petiolaris.

I do love ivies; but I really would strongly counsel against growing
one on a house wall.

Having just tried to remove one, I have to agree

Ha! Resistance to the Pod People is growing!
--
Brian
Henry Fielding: "All Nature wears one universal grin"