Front Garden Potterings with Pests!

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The front isn’t really how I would like it to be, but hey ho, I will get there gradually. I’ve spent a while deciding what to have either side of the garage door, and I settled on a Pair of ‘Blue Arrow’ Junipers. They are perfect because they grow tall and narrow (60cm) like Italian Cypress, but are tougher and have the glaucous foliage which I love and looks so good with brick walls. At my local GC they had exactly what I wanted at a good price with lovely terra pots to sit them in. Since then I’ve added a solar up lighter to each pot for the dark nights.

While I was there I spotted Photinia ‘Pink Crispy’, one of my all time favourite evergreen shrubs and a bright Coprosma ‘Pacific Sunrise’. These will be my winter interest pots. In the Spring I’ll cut some turf out and plant them. Don’t tell OH!

The third of these pots has a beautiful Nandina ‘Obsessed’ in, which I love. I find I am very fond of many of the Nandinas and also some of the Leucothoe which are similar in some ways. My favourite Leucothoe is ‘Rainbow’ and sadly I have yet to see one and add it to my planting! But Obsessed is a beautiful Nandina.

I spotted another one online called ‘Red Light’ and ordered 5 for winter interest in the border under the window. They arrived disappointingly small, but they look healthy and roots were strong.

They weren’t an impulse buy. I had been looking for warmer coloured winter interest under the window which is mostly Hydrangea paniculata ‘Confetti’ and Liriope Muscari which the builder planted. It’s not my favourite plant and there was too much of it. I’ve left plenty as it’s in flower and the blue flowers are pretty. The rest of the year it is dull and a little bit messy for my taste.

The Coronilla has grown very tall against its support and is now flowering again. I just love the scent, and the whole character of the plant is much more spring-like than the usual evergreens. The leaves are like delicate pea plants.

Something has made a real meal of my Roses foliage. I’ve pruned Roald Dahl as it was like lace! The Lark ascending is a little better and still producing flowers.

Along with those I have orange Osteospermums, pansies, violas and a few flowers on Geranium Rozanne which also has lacework leaves. There are a few of the little red cyclamen hederifolium which came from the flat too.

It will take me a while to get used to the amount of voracious pests we have in the South compared to Scotland. I’ve noticed so many (very welcome but rarely seen in the North) ladybirds and the horrid Cherry ‘slugs’ which I have never seen before. They really dined out on my Cherries. Next year I’ll be dusting them with talc as soon as they appear. That kills them apparently. They are a fly larvae particular to Cherries and occasionally other Prunus. Horrid little slimy black pests! The actual slugs here are big enough to keep as pets. When You go out after dark they all look up at you pleading for their lives. Scott is not squeamish in dispatching them with a pair of scissors. No way could I do it! Eugh!

Outside the side border is coming on well with the lavenders and ground cover roses alongside the Hydrangea paniculata ‘Graffiti’ which is fading gently.

The few sunny days we have enjoyed this week have done me and the plants a power of good. I’ve been out walking a lot which is good for body and soul. I do a 4-5 mile circuit of town which I always enjoy. I hope you are all looking forward to Christmas as much as I am. If not, then I hope you have a peaceful and restful festive season. My next job is to make the cake. Today I crocheted Dolly clothes. A poncho for Dolly to match the one I made yesterday for Niamh.

Have a good week friends! Love, Karen

• 17 Nov, 2024
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