Camellia

Very beautiful flower Shirley. Mine are starting to bloom as well.
Do you have a name for this one?

Klahanie, this came from an aunt of my husbands when she went into a hospice. It has always been kept in a pot. I love it, but no varietal name I'm afraid.

There are so many lovely ones. I would find it hard to choose. The deep red one I had at the flat got destroyed in the move. Now I only have my little ‘Cupido’. I may get another in time. They are shallow rooted which works well here as our soil is so bad. Trying to plant 2 roses today we hit rock and had to change plans drastically.

So beautiful Shirley. I only wish my garden suited them!

Karen, you hit rock?!! That's not good ... :o(

Jane, this Camellia has always been in a pot, never in the ground. Do you mean your soil or your garden style doesn't suit them?

A beautiful Camellia, Shirley! :)

Not sure whether it was rock or concrete Shirley. Either way it’s not good.

Thanks David.

Karen, this is the problem I always have in the front gravel garden as there's so much rubble under it. It's a rare occasion for me to plant anything new in there now!

We can only do our best Shirley. Remember my last garden? We discovered that 2 feet down we had pure golden sand and beach pebbles. Trees would grow so big and then just stop or die. I mean, who has perfect loam? We just do what we can with what we have.

Karen, I remember your soil conditions all too well!

I bought a small Blueberry shrub this morning, it shall be planted in ericaceous compost in a large pot as I know it would die in our Sussex clay.

Hi Shirley, I think both really. I've tried two in the past, that weren't happy. Swooping cold winds and bright sun didn't help even though they were in the most sheltered part of the garden.
I shall enjoy yours and everyone's pics on here. 😊

:o))

I can't grow anything that needs acidic soil/compost as our water here is very hard. It's not possible for me to collect rainwater either. The roof of the building is 7 floors above us & the downpipe is hidden behind a wooden panel on the balcony. We had lived here for years before I found out what was behind the panel! Then it was only because the housing association took away the asbestos that must have protected the rainwater downpipes that I discovered it! At least I think that's what the asbestos was for - what else could it have been used for afterall you wouldn't expect them to catch fire!!! :D :D :D

Asbestos ... nasty stuff. We have 3 water butts to collect rainwater which I use as much as possible.

Balcony, I’m confused. We have very hard water here too…but acidic soil. Oh, but perhaps our water comes a long way.