The Good, bad and getting less ugly.....

Coming on nicely MG. Is it the japaneses knotwood you've got 'cos if so, I think you have to report it to some authority

I love your flowering pots Magna...well done! I don't have the patience to do annuals in pots, so envy you this :)
The fern is looking great in it's new home. I can't help you id the hedge, sorry.
Your seedlings, what ever they are, are looking good. I do hope they don't turn out to be weeds for you:)
My semi-aquiliegia is just about to set seed as is my Viola labradorica, are you interested?
As I've said before I don't normal do seed but I am keen to help you produce your propogation garden and don't mind collecting for you. Did you already say you had lupin seeds?

I am going to be collecting wild lupin seed soon.....think I will need lots though so if you have some going spare I would gladly take ANYTHING you would be kind enough to send me....Also - I am fundraising for a new palliative care hospice...so thinking of plant sale for any extras with profit to the hospice . the Kilbryde Hospice (but thats another blog..... lol ) xxx

Busy Magna again !
I, too, have early memories of London Pride, so I can understand your thoughts about that.
You're doing very well with all your improvements, and Mylo obviously approves too :o)

Sheila - Ive been doing a bit of research on the dreaded japanese knotweed and spoke to my mate in the know who said try and treat first as otherwise they might slap some massive order thing on me that will costs me thousands I do not have..(the provider of the killer potion)....Insurance doesnt cover removal as far as I can ascertain....I know for sure that I MUSTNT compost the cuttings and need to burn them.. am going to see if this potent concoction works before I call in the authorities...will do a bit more research though, Its got into my garden from "no mans land" stretch of about a metre between me and mr backing on to me..who doesnt garden going by state of his front (knee high grass) so will see if I can get rid of it...if it returns next year I will need to get the authorities in I think :(

Thanks TT....it used to grow under my grannies neighbours hedge like a weed.....alongside a massive fuschia bush....spent hours under that fuschia mesmerised by the contrast between the bulky leaves and the delicate stems and oh so delicate flowers....they are gorgeous if you look really close at them :) then popping the seedpods on the fushia lol.....

OOOooh... childhood garden memories ...
London Pride, Grape Hyacinths, Lily of the Valley :o)

Well fingers crossed you get it sorted without it costing you anything. I too, love those old plants: London pride, aquilegia, lily of the valley etc. bring back so many memories

Hi M. You've def got your work cut out for you! Re the knotweed, I know you've been put off involving the Local Authority and don't know what your local one is like but if it is spreading from someone else's land then my understanding is that they would be liable for the fact that they have not reported/controlled it so unlikely that any LA would have a case against you. Check out http://www.japaneseknotweedscotland.com/scottish-law. Of course you don't want to land your "mate in the know" in hot water but it's highly unlikely that you will be able to eradicate this without the land adjacent being tackled so perhaps once your current attempts to eradicate are completed, it would be worth reporting the stuff in no mans land on the basis that you want to protect your garden from being susceptible :-)

Good luck with the knotweed MD. Is it coming in from next door do you think? I'm about to begin second leg of propogation and would be happy to send you some plants later on in the year! Don't let me forget now! :D oh, and let me know if there's anything you really fancy!

Thanks again...if it comes to it I "should" get mates rates via my buddy in the know......Its only 3 crowns I have at the moment...Ive tried looking through into other garden but cant see because of all the detritus.....Ive been on that website you mentioned Julie, its in my favourites.....Karen I will be over on your page making a wish list lol ;) dont think theres anything I dont like....having a bit of a daisy fixation at the moment.... rescued some Black Eyed Susans yesterday (someone has them as a kind of hedge and they escaped to cracks in the pavement...managed to get 2 out with roots) and today I purchased some Livingston Daisies (cant spell their right name) and one Osteospermum...that I am going to be taking cuttings from..I know I wasnt going to buy any more plants but was eyeing up roses and the wee garden centre was tiny and the man was being so nice I couldnt leave without spending a few quid....less than a fiver for 9 livingstons ( in those horrid polystyrene blister pack things that I hate) and the osteospermum...and Ive got my echinea to come.....still growing away :)

Magna, sorry you have dreaded JK. do try your best to get rid but also do the right thing and let someone know, if it is coming from next door they might be letting it grow! I love your seedlings and your pots are so colourful. Everything is coming on nicely. Job well done.

Karenfrance had similar with her neighbour re JK....her neighbours were quite ignorant about it until she educated them. She did a blog. Beechgrove garden also have a fact sheet on it Magna....it was from here that KF got info on treating it.

Scot. I knew someone did a blog and was not sure who! Yes you are right it was Karenfrance.

your doing great there magna! love the annuals-i didnt buy any so i havent got much colour at all this year.
i like your mosaic path aswell can imagine some little colourful flowers growing in the edges!
Is honeysuckle a climber? im wanting a trellis next to my back door.
bless mylo, always imagine cats just laying around watching all the hard work and thinking- 'rather you than me' :o)

Going to find KFs blog, thanks again everyone..mr doodle just came in, laughing at me sitting in lappy in the dark chatting to u all when dishes still in sink lol.... So banished back to my phone....

Leigh Leigh, yes its a climber, grows like the clappers, I'm just about to try and root some if I'm lucky( and should be from what ive learned so far) I can send you some? No idea what variety it is but it smells divine x

You've got a lot of work ongoing there. Good luck. It will look great. Your flowering tub is very pretty, and Mylo seems to be enjoying it all :o)

Thank you Hywel. Seeing everyones finished gardens on here is giving me the inspiration I need to keep going :) just need to tackle it one corner at a time :)...... Mylo is in the bad books as she slept on my bed last night and snored...all night - hence me getting very little sleep !! :)x

I got seeds and plants for you too!
As for knotweed, what a pain.
Prudence slept on our bed last night too, all 37 kilos of her!
Looking forward to the 'long bed blog'!

Thanks Lulu, will do "the long border" later in the week x

Looking again at your problem hedge I suddenly thought - why not take it out altogether and plant some tall roses like Queen Elizabeth instead? It would make the garden seem more spacious.

Sounds like a plan...... I am going to completely chop away the project corner side and see how that side copes before doing the "other" side of the steps........eek....Must say - Mr Doodle IS NOT amused at the current state of the hedge with my topiary lol x

good look with the topiary magna lol im sure mr.doodle will be pleased when its looking nice-tell him to do it if hes that unhappy lol :- )