What I got up to yesterday

I would think your plant (bottom picture) is a Cornus(Dogwood) of some variety Jen. Probably have nice stem colour in winter(red?)
If you know anybody who has a mattock, I find it a really useful tool for grubbing out roots....(if there are any left to get out)

Yep that fork is cream-crackered, good job you didn't get thrown over when it snapped Jen, better ask Santa for another one, I prefer a fork to a spade especially when trying to get some roots out of the ground, its too easy to chop through them when using a spade then you often end up doing the job twice over...
You are going to have some good times ahead planning and replanting the garden, making it your own...

Thank you Paul, I've just looked up Cornus and I'm not sure. Don't remember the red stems standing out last year. Think hubby would get into a panic if he saw me with a pixaxe. He would think I would take my toe off, which I probably would :-). But if I come across anymore as stubborn as that was I will sneak it out of his tools and have a go.

Yep, I think you could say the fork is a goner Lincslass. I luckily found a older one in the shed so could carry on. I've been making notes all the time been on GOY but it's getting hubby to agree. He finds it hard not getting the time to help with the garden so like to help plan it and then I do all the work lol. All I could get out of him this morning is he wants some more primulas.

You can get a mattock without a pick axe on it. Ground workers use them. Mine is a very heavy tool but not at all sharp.
The stems of Cornus will only stand out as bright red(colour depending on variety) if the shrub is cut down regularly. The young stems are brighter than older ones.

Thanks paul, will look into that, just been looking at dogwood again, the berries are right. Might post picture on question and see if they can narrow it down to which dogwood.

Paul, just looked up pruning of dogwood and it says should be pruned down to a stump to get the coloured stems, if not pruned then lose their colour so that could explain why never saw it last year. Plant very leggy and I don't think it's been pruned in years.

I always pruned my cornus(different variety) every spring.hard, down to ground.
Maybe it's Argenteo margenata. Just had a Google.

I've been looking as well, its the leaves turning red, could it be Alba Elegantissima? Anyway I'm going to cut it right back and just see what happens. Thank you so much paul.

Well done u in getting that lovage out..I have broken so many forks over the years...I use a pick now!

Thank you Sandra. Lol, I've never broken one before but then never attached a garden before like I am this one. My other gardens have been looked after by previous owners so I've just kept them tidy and added a few bits to them.

My ground is so full of stones the forks that still have handles have bent fork spikes..lol

My OH gave me a stainless steel spade and fork one Christmas. They are wonderful - can really recommend them. Purists might say you can't sharpen the spade but it does everything I ask of it. And the handle can't snap.

That sounds like a good idea Sue. Will have to make a few hints :-). Next week, ws are going to Birmingham NEC to the Grand Designs show. Hubby loves the program and when he suggested it he made a point of saying that there will be a gardening section. Anyone would think I'm getting this gardening bug. There might be some stainless steel ones there.

Sorry to hear about your fork. I'm glad you didn't get hurt :)
I wonder what you'll plant in that gap ? Please let us know :)

Thank you hywel. Tim and I were taking about it this morning. I want something that has fairly long flowering and is a perennial. The spot is fairly sheltered, backing onto kitchen wall, with workshop one side then conservatory other. Its light shade. Thinking maybe a Penestam - just Jayne but if you have any ideas I would love to hear them as my knowledge about plants is very limited.

Have a look at Potentilla Red Ace. Potentillas flower all summer. They normally like full sun but it tends to fade the flowers on the red ones, so light shade is better. (Light being the operative word) Remember that your Apollo will grow to three to three and a half feet wide now it has room.

Thank you Sue, have just looked it up. I used to have a yellow cinquefoil in my last garden but this one looks really nice. I've taken a lot out of my back garden and the border that has the holly hedge behind it is now also bare so have plenty of room. The whole of that was filled with just Lysimachia punctata L. and weeds, the same as the end of the garden border. Don't know if you remember but that was also one of my ID questions, there was yarrow, nettles and brambles mixed up in it and you told me about the colour of nettle roots. I have now cleared them all out but that is shady in summer due to the trees being in leaf. So got lots of areas that now need planning and planting. I will show Tim tomorrow (he is out in workshop working) the Red Ace but I really like it :-).

I'm not very good at giving advice Jane sorry. The only thing I can think of is a hardy Fuchsia :(

Thank you Hywel. Even with hardy Fuchsias I've never been very good at getting them through the winters. I've got one in a pot and I'm going to try my hardest to see if that survives. If it does then I plan to get more next year.

Put it in the ground Jen, or else insulate the pot well.
If you want some cuttings next year let me know.

Oh sorry, I called you Jane instead of Jen lol I must be more careful. My fingers are clumsy with a keypad. I've always got to check what I write before I click 'Add comment' !

Sorry had no internet yesterday and Monday evening, it came back last ight but was so slows was losing the will to live.

thank you Sue, I plan to wrap up the pot in bubble wrap, and put it in a very sheltered area and cross fingers.

Don't worry Hywel, I get called all sorts, I'm used to it. My actual name is Jeanette. My Mother would not allow anyone to call me Jean, saying if she wanted me named Jean she would have called me Jean. I don't like Nettie so my brother called me Jen and it stuck. People then think I'm a Jennifer so call me that or Jenny or Jennifer. So as said not to worry

Sorry sue, I was so excited that had internet back I forgot to say thank you for your offer.

Cheers Jen! I forgot to mention that Potentilla fruticosa Red Ace is a shrub not a herbaceous plant so if you do decide on it make sure there will be room for it when the Apollo recovers its proper shape. Something herbaceous might be better actually as it could be moved if necessary when Apollo has grown back.

Thanks Sue, there is quite a lot of room and where I've cleared other plants out think the Apollo has enough room plus had read that Apollo can be lightly pruned in I think it said September to keep it small. We have more or less decided to go with your idea of Red ace. Hubby still wants some more Primulas. Every time I ask him what he wants all I get from him is more primulas :-).

Bless him, he's got the right idea...wild primroses are good too as they are tough and self seed easily - at least they do here.

Thats his way of thinking. We already have quite a few but he wants more. Found there is another plant I've got to dig out this morning. In the back garden. Don't think previous owner had read the label that was still attached to the plant before they planted it there. I finally got around to looking at the label. Its a Cornus Kousa and its planted right up against next door side house wall. Label says it gets to 7m tall and 5m spread. Looked it up and it looks very pretty but will be too big for my garden and don't think next door would be happy, it planted only about a foot from their house. Lucky its still fairly small so should not be a problem to get out.

Easier now than later - but what a waste of a nice plant isn't it?

It can't have been long planted, came up with nice root ball. Phoned next door. They have very big garden with plenty of room and asked her if she wanted it and she said yes so its not gone to the tip :-). She was out so said I would put it by her door which I've done. Would have loved to have replanted it here but I've just not got the room for such a big tree.

Hopefully you'll be able to see the top of it when it gets bigger...

Getting that lovage out sounded like hard work to me Jen, so well done to you. ?
And breaking that fork.... well you better stop eating all that spinach.... it's making you way too strong! Lol.

Lol Maggie. Sorry for delay. The Internet hub is in the workshop and I only am able to connect to it in the conservatory and in this weather it has been too cold to sit out there so not been on the site much. Hope you are well. The funny thing is I had spinach last night. :-)

Just call me "mystic mag" Jen! Lol ?
All is well here thanks Jen, hope you and yours are well too.
And I know what you mean about not getting on the site much , I've only just lately got back onto it too, (my sister was taken into hospital with infection, and I was busy sorting her stuff out along with work ect.., she's all well now though thank goodness! ?
Next big thing is Christmas though ah.....?, Comes round so quick doesn't it....too blooming quick me thinks! Lol.
Well I'm off to do some present shopping now and get some of it out of the way! Toodle ooo for now Jen. ?

I am so sorry Maggie that your sister has been so ill and glad that she is now on the mend. Enjoy all your shopping. Jen

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