Firstly, apologies for the very long post. Past experience tells me that if I don’t say it now then I’ll never bother to as has happened many times before.
So, I paid Dobbies a visit yesterday…
I planned to spend nothing, or rather to only spend a few pounds on the odd thing if I found it…
Hmmmmmmmm, funny how plans don’t always happen as you may wish isn’t it?
On our way there I asked my mum what she planned on getting, her reply was:
“Nothing, I’m not buying anything.”
“Really? So why did you come all this way?” I replied
“Because you wanted to, and we’re coming for a nice cup of tea.”
Hmmmm thinks I, feeling bad that I’ve put her out.
Funny how her plan didn’t quite happen like that either!
Naturally she attempted to blame me, yet I only encouraged her to buy one thing! (On buy one get one free, so it was a good deal!)
Well, some deals were too good, like £6 plants reduced to £1! So even though they’re nearly dead, I can wait until next year to fully enjoy them…
I did manage to get some plants I actually intended on, some Cyclamen and Violas for winter colour, but somehow other plants managed to also find their way into our trolley, I have no idea how they got there though. I just have to hope the Fox doesn’t empty all my pots again.
Sadly I’ve had to make the decision to completely stop them coming into the garden… So sometime over the next few months I’ll be buying chicken wire to put across the entry points, a few days ago he emptied some of the pots again, it’s becoming so frustrating now to find my pots ripped up that I might as well not have any at all. But as some are nice, glazed or modern stainless steel pots I want to actually use them!
I do like to see them, and it is nice to know there are some living so close, I’ll always enjoy that but having only three lilies survive in pots that should be full of various bulbs and other plants really just isn’t on. Last winter I regularly found my cyclamen ripped out and on the tier, what a waste of money, they never even got the chance to attempt to get their roots in.
The blue pot is his favourite to target…
So, I paid Dobbies a visit yesterday…
I planned to spend nothing, or rather to only spend a few pounds on the odd thing if I found it…
Hmmmmmmmm, funny how plans don’t always happen as you may wish isn’t it?
On our way there I asked my mum what she planned on getting, her reply was:
“Nothing, I’m not buying anything.”
“Really? So why did you come all this way?” I replied
“Because you wanted to, and we’re coming for a nice cup of tea.”
Hmmmm thinks I, feeling bad that I’ve put her out.
Funny how her plan didn’t quite happen like that either!
Naturally she attempted to blame me, yet I only encouraged her to buy one thing! (On buy one get one free, so it was a good deal!)
Well, some deals were too good, like £6 plants reduced to £1! So even though they’re nearly dead, I can wait until next year to fully enjoy them…
I did manage to get some plants I actually intended on, some Cyclamen and Violas for winter colour, but somehow other plants managed to also find their way into our trolley, I have no idea how they got there though. I just have to hope the Fox doesn’t empty all my pots again.
Sadly I’ve had to make the decision to completely stop them coming into the garden… So sometime over the next few months I’ll be buying chicken wire to put across the entry points, a few days ago he emptied some of the pots again, it’s becoming so frustrating now to find my pots ripped up that I might as well not have any at all. But as some are nice, glazed or modern stainless steel pots I want to actually use them!
I do like to see them, and it is nice to know there are some living so close, I’ll always enjoy that but having only three lilies survive in pots that should be full of various bulbs and other plants really just isn’t on. Last winter I regularly found my cyclamen ripped out and on the tier, what a waste of money, they never even got the chance to attempt to get their roots in.
The blue pot is his favourite to target…
See, one lone sad Lily and a tiny viola… The Green one on the right also gets attacked but the Primula Vialii must have good roots because he’s not yet dug it out…
Now, on to my bounty…
Brachycome
Dahlia, I have never bought Dahlia’s before and I’ve never been particularly taken with them, but the friend to this one was just too stunning…
Stunning!
Viola’s for the hanging basket
Cyclamen that, hopefully this year will survive…
Ophiopogon planiscapus 'Nigrescens' black lilyturf… Now I’m having difficulty deciding where/how to plant this. Initially it was to go on the tier amongst the white pebbles/flint to create a nice contrast. But then it would also look fantastic in my large steel (empty) plant pot that Mr Fox has recently ripped up. The black of the leaves combined with white cyclamen would look amazing. Then as the iris and bluebells come up next spring, it’ll still look stunning.
Which would you go for?
Even this Coreopsis looks amazing next to the black lilyturf…
Some of the Scabious has gone to seed… I ought to collect some for next year…
Today has been spent outside weeding the back border under the bird feeders and cutting the hedges. The hedge at the back is getting far too high and only by cutting it have I realised just how dark things were because of it!
It’s not actually my hedge, but I know those behind me are elderly… Last year a relative must’ve cut it for them, but this year I haven’t yet heard the relative mowing the lawn nor their children playing in the garden… I figured if they didn’t want me cutting the hedge they’re more than welcome to come and tell me so, but as it is well over 6 foot already, I do have the right for it to be cut and since I don’t believe they are able to cut it, no doubt I have done them a favour.
They cannot see my house from their garden – I can’t see their lawn at all even from our upstairs windows and can only see one of their windows, so it’s not like it’s a privacy issue. Only occasionally have I seen an elderly lady out in the garden, throwing bread out for the birds, well I assume she’s elderly; I could only make out the top of a head with white/grey hair.
It’s a shame they don’t/can’t do more with their garden as it is huge, it’s the same as mine and my neighbour’s combined, and my neighbours must be double mine!
So yes, my arms are dead now – holding loppers at full stretch to get the furthest branches is hard work!
My mother phoned me to let me know about some chairs in B&Q that had been reduced from £60, to £40 and now to £15!!! Wow, they’re the lovely wide-seated ones with arms, so at that price I couldn’t say no – I have been looking for chairs/tables but decided against them because they’re non essential at the moment…
So now I have my own ‘throne’ very nice… I need to seal them though before I put them outside, so for now it’s by the kitchen door so I can pretend I’m outside :)
6 comments:
Ah! But you know this happens! It always happens to me when I go to a fabric shop with a friend! They need fabric but I'm only along for the ride (and the coffee) but who ends up buying yards of the stuff? Me!So I can feel for you but think what fun you will have when they all do their thing and look lovely! Val
Hi Liz.....well havn't you had a fun day.....don't you just love buying plants?
Cyclamen are so gorgeous.....mine have not lasted other years but I have planted them in a different area, so perhaps they will do better......
I think your beautiful 'Nigrescens' needs to be planted in a place where it will shine....stand out from the crowd.......
Good luck with Foxy.....he may win the battle you know....as cunning as a fox.
BTW if you use blood and bone in pots that is why he is digging at them......but I expect you knew that......
I think you rather enjoyed your safari Liz ;) and I enjoyed sharing it with you!
I put some Cyclamen corms in once and saw nothing for about five years, by which time I had of course forgotten them, so a nice surprise! Last year, the Cyclamen plants I put in did best in poor soil not far from the roots of a fir tree!
We used to have foxes visit the garden at night (before a neighbour who didn't like them visiting their garden had the council 'do' something about them!) but they never interfered with plants, there was evidence though that they 'played' with things such as dog toys etc.
Enjoy putting your lovely new plants in!
Hi Val - Heehee, so familiar! whenever I go on holiday with mum we have to drag her away from craft shops, I think I might possibly have spent most of my early years living in craft/sewing/material shops...
It's a shame it's a dying hobby to be honest. I used to enjoy cross stich, and other crafts like quilling... They just take up too much room! (and the camera and lenses don't????!)
:)
Hi Cheryl - I like buying plants a little too much... And I'm worried actually that because I spent this money I now may not be able to get the bulbs I need. Hmmmm another time maybe.
I do hope your Cyclamen survive this year for you. I do have some coming back, three or four I believe but I'm not counting on them flowering... Will have to wait and see.
The black lilyturf was planted today, it's in the upper tier. I just need to add some chives/alliums to go with it to have a nice contrast, plus I hope the onions will put the cats off.
Ha ha, oh dear I'm worried about the Fox now... Perhaps it's time to get a dog...
(I don't use blood and bone, he digs in the pots to bury eggs!)
Hi Jan - Very interesting to hear about your Cyclamen! Hmmm, perhaps I should put some around my small cherry, it would certainly help bring some colour up there, as it's somewhat neglected...
Mine dig the pots up to bury eggs in them! And I assume the soft compost in pots is just perfect - although I do occasionally have holes in the ground too.
I wouldn't get rid of them, I just want to deter them somehow.
I'm turning into a twisted nutcase over here trying to out-think them! ha ha.
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