A Mixed Bag

Thats what a call pressies when you get things you like and will use instead of things that get stuck in cupboard or drawers and never used.

I quite agree Clarice. I still have lots of Garden Vouchers to use from Christmas yet, but I want to wait until I see something really nice rather than fritter them away on little things.

The calla lily is my favourite!

Yes it is lovely isnt it Sticki

Very nice birthday gifts, luckily my family usually come up trumps, I think they think I hoard too much already so now I get garden vouchers or something else for the garden..
I do like Auricullas, only have the dark one like in your pot but it is spreading now, all is doing well in your greenhouse and the garden looks lovely Cinders, I envy you the view, thats grand and adds a smashing back drop..

Thank you Lincs. Yes I am very lucky to have this view from my kitchen window. I can watch the lambs jumping around in the field.

Hi Cinders
That's Pops Plants,so now you are going to get hooked on Show Auriculas.That will be a bigger challenge than my Primulas,I would suggest you have a read on one of the Auricula Society site's re cultivation and compost.
I won a first prize many years ago the first time I showed one at a National Show and retired undefeated.lol

Wow Brian, well done you. I have always liked them, and have a few border auriculas, but don't think I shall get that hooked really, the friend I went with is more interested, but they are perfect little flowers aren't they. Well Pop did tell me about compost, very gritty and he keeps them very dry too. Funnily enough I did mention you, but he didnt seem to know you. I will go into the Auricula Society website.

Things are looking great in your greenhouse, i love your garden, so lovely. Seeing the fields with the lambs from your window...that's magic....:)

Thank you Beverley, thats kind.

That calla is lovely. I've got one called 'Black Eyed Beauty' - it's still in the bag, haven't got round to potting it!

lovely Cinders - what a beautiful Forsythia

Thank you Sheila, You'd better get on and plant it then !!

Thanks Paul

I think I'd better Cinders as I don't think it'll be growing much in the bag of sawdust!! lol

Lol :o)))

People still don't get the plant pressie thing with me Cinders, I'm glad your friends do x

Glad you had a lovely birthday visit,Cinders..some lovely gifts there,and all your greenhouse plants and cuttings are looking good ..you are going to have a lovely display in your garden,and that first prize is in the bag,I think Lol.

Annella thanks, I am lucky.

I thank you Sandra, I think you are being a little too optimistic !!

Your garden is looking lovely, so Spring like, OH used to collect Auriculas years ago, but he never got very far, most of them died, it was too cold where we lived, I can only imagine what a huge collection would look like, a sight worth seeing.

Nah,Cinders...positive ! :o)

They are lovely little flowers DD. So perfect. I have found out that the pink one I showed the other day is called Powder Puff.

Cinders would not expect him to know me,he would Probably know the 'Stradbrook' strain of plants but not my name he did come to shows i was running a few times. Auricula growers talk Auriculas in a little world of there own like nothing else is that inportant.Lifes to short for that.Mind you they are not the only ones.

Its a bit like the Streptocarpus people Brian, as you say these people that specialise - its all they talk about isnt it. I am probably guilty of it too.

Your garden looks amazing cinderella.
Wonderful birthday gifts as well.
Hope your weather stays good.

I love auriculas, and have wanted to start a collection. We are going to a nearby specialist nursery to get some in a few weeks. I hope you get some more.

Now I wonder why people give you garden gifts. Do they know something about you ? lol

Such a lot you've got in your greenhouse. Very healthy looking Pelargoniums. Good luck !

Thank you Willinilli.

Hywel, thank you. So you are interested in Auriculas too. I shall probably get one or two more, it gets a bit addictive once you start. I think my family have been trained well when it comes to birthday presents.

My greenhouse is so full at the moment because I am bringing things on for a neighbour as well. Fuchsias in there too, taking up lots of room. They say we are going to get a hard frost tonight so I have had to cover things a bit more than usual.

Your garden is looking very spring like, are those Hyacinths I can see at the bottom right of picture, bet they smell just great.
Belated birthday wishes, looks as if you had some nice presents.

Yes they are hyacinths Stroller, but they are nearly over unfortunately. they were lovely though. Thank you for your lovely comments.

Good Morning and thank you HB for your kind wishes. I don't like getting birthdays now, they make me feel old. Yes I have a lot of plants in the greenhouse now, I must go and see if they are ok as we had a frost and there is no heat in there. I did cover them all up well last night so they should be alright.

Oh yes I am going to become well addicted to Auriculas, like I am to cacti and fuchsias, and I am fast becoming addicted to heucheras aswell. Where will it all end lol

You may well ask ! lol.

You are doing a great job there Cinders, with all those lovely young plants! I love primulas of all kinds (except the bright bedding polyanthus). I look forward to seeing them as they grow. :)

Me too Karen, the ones I bought on Wednesday are almost out in flower this morning, they are doubles, tho I think I prefer the singles best, its nice to have both. One of my next tasks is to find space to make a little gravel garden for them. Might be easier to do it in a trough that I can put in the greenhouse for next winter.

That certainly sounds like a good plan!

Garden is looking lovely. I love auriculas too - but there aren't any specialist nurseries around here so I tend to come across them randomly, and rarely with names! However I'm very proud of my small display. Your greenhouse looks pretty busy too!

Thankyou Pennylane. If you want auriculas you could order some online. The ones I deal with are Pops Plants in Wiltshire. They have a catalogue, so if you google them you could maybe get a catalogue, and order some.