Author Topic: Eric & Anthea's garden at different times of year. (Read 113428 times)

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #450 on:** November 25, 2016, 12:11:06 AM »

We have taken the bull by the horns and Paul, who helps us in the garden has laid some nice new turf all over our vegetable patch. We no longer grow our own veggies and we have quite enough flower beds so now there is more lawn to cut. Anthea thought it was a waste of money but I told her to think of it as an investment. We no longer will have to pay Paul to dig it over and weed it several times a year

ideasguy · « **Reply #451 on:** November 26, 2016, 02:24:57 PM »

Awwww

That is not an easy decision to make Eric.

I'm planning to "decommission" an area which I use for potatoes for a different reason.
The boys want the football "pitch" extended

I have to agree - it will be much easier to mow that to cultivate each year. A patch like that quickly reverts to nature.
I have enough "wild life" areas without it

so the birds etc wont miss it too much.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #452 on:** November 28, 2016, 04:25:13 PM »

The Cotoneaster has a lot of berries this year, does this mean a hard winter or is that an old wives tale?

Palustris · « **Reply #453 on:** November 29, 2016, 12:09:31 PM »

O.W.T. The Cotoneasters in our garden are well berried every year. the ones on the way to friend's house are also always smothered in them. Strangely though the birds do not seem to eat them like they do the Holly and the Haws.

ideasguy · « **Reply #454 on:** November 29, 2016, 12:38:57 PM »

I find our Blackbirds save them (and Pyracantha) until Christmas week

It happens every year (at least that's when I notice them first).
They are stripped over the next few months.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #455 on:** November 29, 2016, 02:09:15 PM »

Our berries seem to stay there until they drop off and make a carpet on the ground and the summer house roof. I always imagined there was something about them the birds don't like. On the other hand we once had a flock of fieldfares descend on us and strip every berry in sight in a few hours.

ideasguy · « **Reply #456 on:** November 29, 2016, 02:34:30 PM »

They are fussy about their diet, that's for sure.

I have a number of varieties of Sorbus (Rowan Tree).
One with small red berries is stripped as soon as they are ripe every year - by the Starlings.
They arrive in a flock and after an amusing sight of frantic activity its bye bye Berries

Its been there since my fathers day and he noticed how they took our berries very early and not those of our neighbours.

In the front garden I have 3 trees with larger red berries and another small one with yellow berries (all grown from seed I collected in approx 1994).
They are definitely less popular. The Thrushes seem to go for them eventually.
I just did a survey - ALL berries are gone from the Rowan trees already this year.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #457 on:** December 28, 2016, 09:55:32 AM »

The cotoneaster berries are still clinging on.
This was taken a few minutes ago and the frost is still visible on the summerhouse roof.

Palustris · « **Reply #458 on:** December 28, 2016, 10:05:44 AM »

I think all the berries except for Sorbus cashmeriana (white berries) have gone this year.

ideasguy · « **Reply #459 on:** December 29, 2016, 06:13:59 PM »

That's a magnificent bush Eric! Thanks for posting the photo.

The berries on our Cotoneaster horizontalis (which grows vertically against a high wall

) have largely survived Christmas

I had a bumper crop of apples this year. Knowing that the blackbirds like to pick at them, I left the surplus where they fell around the trees at the top of the garden.
I can see lots of blackbird activity up there.
Its been mild this winter as you know. I reckon they are keeping the berries in reserve for the hard weather when (if?) it arrives.

Hope you enjoyed Christmas everyone

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #460 on:** December 31, 2017, 08:29:34 AM »

There is so little colour in the garden now I thought I would go round the house taking pictures of what we have indoors at the moment. Most were taken yesterday or this morning but about three of the orchids were taken just before Christmas.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #461 on:** April 18, 2020, 11:31:57 PM »

This Peony has just just come into full bloom. There have been buds waiting to open for a few days then this happened quite suddenly.

ideasguy · « **Reply #462 on:** April 19, 2020, 09:22:30 AM »

Beautiful photo of an excellent little shrub Eric and thank you for sharing with us.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #463 on:** April 20, 2020, 12:04:41 PM »

Thanks George, luckily it hasn’t had heavy rain to knock its petals off.

We have been sitting in the garden in the sun and the cherry blossom petals were drifting down on us like snowflakes.

Please can anyone remind me of the name of this climbing plant. It has black berries similar to Belladonna so perhaps it is related.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #464 on:** April 20, 2020, 04:06:34 PM »

A friend has informed me that it is a Solanum (Chilean potato tree), she has two in her garden.

ideasguy · « **Reply #465 on:** April 20, 2020, 07:09:26 PM »

Drat - she beat me to it. I was just posting my findings

Solanum crispum fits the description. Here it is
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanum_crispum

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The free-flowering cultivar 'Glasnevin' has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #466 on:** April 20, 2020, 11:46:45 PM »

Thanks George, and thanks for the link.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #467 on:** April 23, 2020, 09:11:26 PM »

Now it is Lilac time in the garden. Here are a few shots taken today.

With a bit of Apple blossom

A little clump of Sea Thrift

And a bit of colour coordination, the Cistus again.

ideasguy · « **Reply #468 on:** April 23, 2020, 09:37:00 PM »

Beautiful photos Eric-perfect as always.
You are weeks ahead of us in N Ireland. Our lilac is not ready to bloom yet.
Mary loves it for its heady scent-very strong but lovely as you know. Her Mum said the lilac was in bloom on the day she went to hospital and Mary arrived

1st May.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #469 on:** April 24, 2020, 12:53:51 PM »

Mary’s birthday is coming up. Please wishe her many happy returns from me.

A few from my walk round the garden this morning

The Choysia is in full bloom and the scent is amazing in this warm weather.

This delicate flower enjoys the shade. We have had it a long time having imported a root from my father’s garden in Barnard Castle and he has been dead 32 years. Another one my old memory has forgotten – any suggestions please?

Is this Spurge?

Finally an exotic flower we cultivate in profusion.

ideasguy · « **Reply #470 on:** April 24, 2020, 10:07:30 PM »

Thank you for the birthday greetings to Mary, Eric!

I'm delighted you are back posting photos and showing us the delights in your garden Eric.
I love Choisya. I was working beside mine today and every now and again I got this beautiful waft of scent. Its just as nice in the evening. Always a pleasant surprise as you walk in the vicinity. One of the best for scent in my opinion.
I used to have the variety 'Sundance' but it went down one sunset and didn't dawn again unfortunately

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This delicate flower enjoys the shade

I'd say it is a variety of Dicentra, the bleeding heart. Its an unusual colour so perhaps it is a cultivar.

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Finally an exotic flower we cultivate in profusion

Ah yes

I spend at least an hour each day at this time of year going around the garden with a long pointy tool digging them out.
The insects love them! They are getting plenty of nectar over here

I think its punishment for the days when I was a boy and recited One O'clock, Two O'clock....
My kids didn't quite understand when I nearly had a fit when I found them playing that game with some of my exotics

Have you ever noticed that Dandelions always grow in pairs? The seed blow in the wind until they hit an obstacle, usually my finest plants and grow into them

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #471 on:** April 25, 2020, 09:53:27 AM »

Thanks George, I am so glad you wrote to me.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #472 on:** April 26, 2020, 10:28:17 PM »

This warm weather is bringing things on quickly. Today the white lilac has come into full bloom too. For some reason the purple always comes out first.

The Shot Silk that climbs up the holly tree by the gate has opened up too

Yellow wallflower

Ragged Robin

A Peacock butterfly kept settling on flowers but I only had my phone camera with me and whenever I tried to get a shot it flew away. Eventually it settled on the grass and I managed this, not perfect I know because it wouldn’t spread it’s wings completely.

Eric Hardy · « **Reply #473 on:** April 27, 2020, 12:45:24 PM »

On my tour round the garden this morning, a White Bluebell.

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And interestingly, I found a white Forget-me-not as well.

Among my other finds was a solitary Lily-of-the-Valley hiding in a clump,of Sedum.

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A red Polyanthus

Some wild Garlic

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And a solitary Welsh Poppy

[

trishs · « **Reply #474 on:** May 14, 2020, 02:06:19 AM »

Hi Eric, lovely pictures. Glad to see you are still here

I just found my way back after five years! I think the pink plant your enquired about further up this thread is corydalis solida. We have it filling a shady narrow border underneath a fan trained pear.