Photo of Andres Nursery (Belgium)

[ideasguy]

Thought I'd surprise my good friend with this photo he sent me recently

[greenfinger]

It's not because I have seen a lot of vanity in my life that I'm totally free myself from this vice.
Au contraire. First thing I did when I opened this Forum and I saw the hubberlinck was clicking on it. And what seemed the case: au lieu of seeing the queen of my work a most frustrating text hit me in my bifocals: "It seems that you are not allowed to download or view attachments on this board."
This whole thing really is shortening my life. Is there still anybody out who can help me?

[Pixydish]

It is lovely! And complete with cat! How flat it is there - so different from here where one never sees the horizon as it is always blocked by mountains on either side.

[greenfinger]

Indeed flat. That's why we are called during centuries already the Low Countries. (i.e. Holland and Belgium: our highest "peaks" in the east of the country are about 600 and a few meters).
About the border itself: I applicate (or try to) the principles of the Dutch plantsman Piet Oudolf and the Americans James Van Sweden and Wolfgang Oehme. (=a majority of perennials, strong hardiness, needing not too much staking, not too much improvement of the cultivars so they are still near their ancestors the plants in free nature and have a good resistance against diseases and pests).

[Pixydish]

I love Piet Oudolf's books on the Natural Garden. I pour over the photos and text and take copious notes. When I saw your border, it did remind me of his book 'Planting the Natural Garden', so it does not surprise me at all that you are familiar with his planting principles.

[greenfinger]

I had the intention only to bring in pictures about what is going in the garden this very moment, but I'm getting the blues. Last January was the most grey one since I can't remember when.
Adieu "good" intentions, let's grab in the picture album.
The last two years I started designing a round garden. Later I will write more about it, but in the meantime some anti-depressivum.
For Ken: nr. 597 is Salix erythroflexuosa.

[Kew]

Beautiful pictures, Andre. I love the butterfly close-up.
Your corkscrew willow is a fine specimen too. When you get a brancg of reasonable size maybe I'll make you a walking stick!
I'm told a twig from this plant can be simply pushed into the ground and will root very quickly. I have done this just last year but not seen any result as yet. (It was at my now redundant plot...) 

[greenfinger]

By that time I'll need one I suppose
As for the quick growing: two years ago I used willow twigs as plant supports left and right in the borders. The next spring, when I went cleaning up the beds, I couldn't pull them out anymore, they all had rooted!

[Kew]

Ah! So it does work!
By the way, Your butterfly is a Peacock butterfly; inachis io.

[greenfinger]

Do you run after the butterflies, Ken, with a little net?
And now up to the dictionary: what's Peacock butterfly in Dutch?

[Kew]

 
In het Nederlands:
De vlinder van Peacock
 
Sorry, very simple, but that's the official translation.

[ideasguy]

I'm told a twig from this plant can be simply pushed into the ground and will root very quickly.

On that note, In my very early days of gardening, I pushed sticks cut from a Flowering Currant bush into the ground to give support to a wayward plant.
The plant died, and the sticks took root.
Not remarkable in itself - except - I had deliberately pushed the sticks into the ground upside down. 
Success is guaranteed 

[greenfinger]

 
In het Nederlands:
De vlinder van Peacock
 
Sorry, very simple, but that's the official translation.

Oh you, disturbed soul! Put down the net and take up your book van vertaling English-Dutch 
Try this one:

[Kew]

Now that's a very interesting butterfly. It's actually the 'emmess. exploreria. iconia'.

[greenfinger]

Are you sure it isn't the 'oculata pauwonia journalia pulling leggia'?
We simply call it a "dagpauwoog".