Comments for The Stopwatch Gardener | A gardening blog for time-poor plant fanatics

Comment on In bulbs we trust by The StopWatch Gardener

The StopWatch Gardener — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 16:11:52 +0000

Thanks Nigel – I have become so gun-shy of ordering from the catalogues because of wrong bulbs delivered; but I’m glad to know Happy Generation is more widely available. I don’t mind your double nice; it reminds me of my journalism teacher, who used to advise us to cross out “very” anytime we found ourselves writing it, and replace it with “damn”. And then cross out the “damn.”

I was thinking recently of an earlier comment you left on my post about edibles, because I’m enjoying much more tastiness now — tomatoes and strawberries and beans. I’m hoping my newer batch of carrots isn’t bitter like the last. Any idea why carrots go bitter?

Comment on In bulbs we trust by Nigel

Nigel — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:37:13 +0000

Sorry, rushed comment – I’ve used ‘nice’ not once but twice!! Mea culpa!

Comment on In bulbs we trust by Nigel

Nigel — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 15:35:56 +0000

How I agree about the bulb obsession. If I had a field, I’d go Dutch and plant squares of all my favourite varieties.

‘Happy Generation’ is usually in Parkers Wholesale catalogue. It’s a bit too ‘blood and bandages’ for me but is certainly striking.

Alliums’ faults are over-stated, I feel. They don’t all suffer from dying foliage when in perfect blooms and those that do are easy enough to site so their nasty trousers don’t show.

I have a nice patch of yellow Allium moiy – an ancient garden plant with nice glaucous leaves and buttercup yellow umbels, quite well on into early summer. It’s a nice partner to geums in the orange range.

Comment on In bulbs we trust by The StopWatch Gardener

The StopWatch Gardener — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:32:45 +0000

Thanks Nic – isn’t it frustrating how large-scale you need to do things before they make a visual impact? I picked up a great value perennial lobelia that I was able to divide into two plants right away and put into the border, but they virtually disappear amongst everything else. You must be very accomplished to have your allotment; I have a small raised bed which has produced a satisfying handful of vegetables and fruit for us this year, but the sheer size (and relative absence of flowers) of an allotment would overwhelm me. Can you recommend a good pea? I usually plant sweet peas in October to overwinter, and considering doing the same with eating peas this year.

Hi Esther – I wonder if the bulb company sent you the wrong thing? That happens shockingly often. I ordered pure white tulips and ended up with “spring green,” which isn’t a bad tulip, it’s just not what I ordered. I believe the green flowered tulips do hold their color for a long time, so it’s probably worth persisting to get a green one you like.

Comment on In bulbs we trust by Esther Montgomery

Esther Montgomery — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:27:09 +0000

Only the year before last did I start liking tulips. Last year, I grew some for the first time. One group were multi-petalled and bright yellow and were wonderful. The other group was supposed to be green petalled. I thought that would be restful and interesting. But they turned out to be the right shape but an unsightly salmon pink. It’s one of the rare occasions when I’ve dug up plants rather than cosset them.

Esther Montgomery

Comment on In bulbs we trust by nic@nipitinthebud

nic@nipitinthebud — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 07:36:30 +0000

those tulips are breathtaking (and strangely put me in the mind of seaside with their rock like stripes!). I tried flower bulbs at my allotment for the first time this year but have learnt that lots of bulbs are needed rather than the half a dozen I planted. Haven’t tried tulips but love irises and was delighted when yellow ones appeared after the snow. So here’s to a new bulb addiction forming )

Comment on My budding vegetable venture is getting nipped by the roses by Donegal Florist

Donegal Florist — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 13:46:42 +0000

Thanks for the wonderful read by your plants.
I really enjoy this blog.
Your blog post are always a great read

Aanee xxx

Comment on A perfect space: sanctuary in the garden by Jean

Jean — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:48:38 +0000

What a lovely space, Sheila. I’m afraid if I had a beautiful garden sanctuary right outside my office, I’d never have enough willpower to stay in the office! I, too, use rhododendron as a temperature gauge. One I have rolls up tighter and tighter as the temperatures get colder. When the air temp gets down below 10F, those rhododendron leaves look like needles.

Comment on A perfect space: sanctuary in the garden by The StopWatch Gardener

The StopWatch Gardener — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 12:57:30 +0000

Thanks Margaret. As you say, seclusion and even secrecy is a big part of what makes the garden sanctuary special. I must get more scent into my corner; two young zaluzianskayas are ready to plant out so I think they will be next. Your two spaces sound wonderful!

Comment on A perfect space: sanctuary in the garden by Margaret

Margaret — Sun, 15 Aug 2010 10:54:20 +0000

I love sanctuary spaces in gardens. I have created a space in my garden–a gravelled area with a bench and lots of scented plants–lavender, pinks, herbs. Its a lovely place to sit and relax and view the garden.

Another secluded space I have is in the vegetable garden next to the shed, no-one can see me there.

Lots of plants in my garden remind me of people (those who’ve given me the plants) and places (where I got them from or special places where I’ve seen them growing).