My Expedition!
By spritzhenry
33 comments
When you are still run down after flu, what’s the best thing to do – apart from see the Doctor, I mean! Yes of course – go to the Garden Centre and start on the plan. Where my poor, late lamented Eleagnus was, if you remember, I planted a new shrub – Ligustrum lucidum ‘Tricolour’.
But as the Eleagnus was about 12’ across by 8’ deep, this left a huge space still to fill. While I’ve been indoors in the last few weeks, I’ve been thinking what I’d like in that bed – one ‘must’ was a climbing rose on the back trellis, and I decided on ‘Handel’. And I found one at the GC, so today I planted it! I had to dig out a half-dead Teucrium, but that was no loss.
I won’t be able to buy the other plants I am planning for this bed until the spring, but since planting Hamamelis ‘Rubin’ last winter, I’ve been waiting to get a yellow one – and found H. x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ which is even beginning to bloom!
I spotted some beautiful glossy Bergenias – with maroon leaves! I could definitely fit two of those in!
So I started to dig an enormous hole for the Hamamelis, having shifted some other plants around to make enough space. Whoops! I got so far down – and hit something hard. I just couldn’t shift it – so out came helpful husband with his pickaxe. No wonder I couldn’t get it out – a lump of stone the size of two house bricks!
So in went the Hamamelis with the two Bergenias. I like the combination and the Bergenias should flower in February, I hope!
After that lot I have to admit that I was exhausted – well, the Doctor did say I’d had a bad bout of flu and I am on antibiotics – so my beautiful new Primulas will have to stay in their pots until tomorrow, when they will replace the Cyclamen which have flopped now. Here are some of the Primulas I chose – it was a difficult choice – I’d have liked to buy some of every colour!
Well, which would you have chosen? There were red, purple, pale yellow and pure white as well as the ones I came home with. It looked like a rainbow on the GC shelves! Yes, my first expedition did cheer me up – but oh dear, I’m tired now. Time for a nap, I think.
14 Jan, 2009
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Comments
I wish my family would give me vouchers - it's such fun choosing, isn't it!
14 Jan, 2009
Lovely photos.
Especially the white Primula.
Beautiful. :o)
14 Jan, 2009
Great photos with lovely coloured flowers.
14 Jan, 2009
Well done Spritzhenry, I expect you were itching to go out and fill that space, love the prims especially the second picture such delicate colours, husband has vouchers (have made my list....lol) just have to persuade him thats what he wants, what he really wants......!!
14 Jan, 2009
Good excuse for a trip to garden centre.! Hope you are feeling better.Like the white primulas with orange centres.Lots of shade in our garden so tend to go for white shrubs etc....theyre good for lightening up the area.
14 Jan, 2009
I'm knee deep in mail order catalogues at present - they all arrive at once in early January. Nearly as much fun as going to a Garden Centre and a good deal warmer just now
14 Jan, 2009
BUT- that wouldn't have been an expedition, would it?
I am ashamed to say that I haven't looked at what I need to order yet. I must get on with it!
14 Jan, 2009
Spritz you must have been exhausted after all that , for a moment there I thought you had found buried treasure ! ,
Lovely photo,s , looking at catalogues isn,t quite the same as the real thing is it .........and I bet you will sleep well tonight ........
14 Jan, 2009
You must be delighted with your expedition, Spritz and with the work that followed. You will sleep the sleep of the just tonight! Love the bergenias with the Hamamelis.
14 Jan, 2009
What a wonderful expedition Spritz, it truly was worth the effort wasn't it. You deserve a cuppa and a nap now.......
14 Jan, 2009
I agree browsing catalogues is not the same as getting out there and buying at a Garden Centre or nursery. But the down side of being a plantsman is sometimes the only place in the country stocking the plant you want is 200 miles away
14 Jan, 2009
Love the new babies Spritz, and i would have gone for the orange, but i do like them all, truth be know think i would have got at least one of each! lol i bought a tray in B&Q the other day for 50p because they had dried out and had no flowers on, so i have sorted them out and planted them all together in the front garden, so will be suprizes all round when they start to flower. they are looking very healthy now and i know i have at least one orange and one pink as they are in bud and showing colour...i have been a bit naughty today, and while listing on ebay found myself brousing in the plant section, and bought a lovely new Pittosporum, as you already know....and completely by acident, i have to take our flower co-ordinator from the church (we have a big thing going on there on saturday) to the cut flower wholesaler - they won't let her in without a florist! and gues where it just so happens to be.......yep on the side of a rather nice nursery, and as i will be wearing my work uniform, i will also get wholesale prices...oh dear! thing is absolutely flat broke, will i be able to resist the temptaion of taking my credit card one wonders!........
14 Jan, 2009
Oh Angie - you'll have to keep your eyes shut, or wear a blindfold! No hope otherwise!
14 Jan, 2009
or better yet just don't take the credit card, i could just try hiding it from myself....or even better ask Brooke too! lol - i'll never find it then...i do have to behave myself, it's all very well buying off ebay, it's money i made on there selling plants. but i really must be good on the credit card, if i have any chance of buying all the bits i want for my willow dome at the end of the month.....so i will be good.....i must.....promise (sort of! lol)
14 Jan, 2009
SShhh! Don't make promises you can't keep!
14 Jan, 2009
...fingers crossed behind my back! lol
14 Jan, 2009
BEHAVE yourself!
14 Jan, 2009
...i'll try x
14 Jan, 2009
Good choice Spritzhenry, I,ve also got vouchers to spend so browsing catalogues and hoping to get lift to local G.C. also when everybody has recovered,patience not my strong point and Angie Spritz is right, you gotta behave!!!!!!!!!!l lol
15 Jan, 2009
Lovely Flowers/Shrub Spritz its so hard 2 choose what u want when uv a Limit 2 spend isnt it , I always have a Limit so i just buy what i really need & now lots of what i purchased last yr iv grown more from seeds /Cuttings which didnt cost a thing :) Looking forward 2 seeing more photos X
15 Jan, 2009
Great therapy Spritz! Take care and hope you are soon feeling fully recovered from the flu. Keep warm. xx
15 Jan, 2009
Barbara, get yourself a jab next year!! They're free lol, but you would need another excuse to purchase more plants...
15 Jan, 2009
I did, Andrea! I have had them every year for a long time, as I developed 'late onset Asthma'. I asked the Doctor why i had still had flu and he said - 'Well, it probably would have been worse'!!!! I dread to think what THAT would have been like!
BTW - do you really think I can't come up with excuses to visit GCs? I am the world's expert on 'reasons I need a new plant'! LOL.
15 Jan, 2009
M, the flowers will be large 'panicles' of white flowers and they are meant to be fragrant. I posted a photo of the leaves in close-up - they are quite big - I would say maybe 3 - 4" long? The photo is on page 2 of my pics, middle row.
I think it's quite funny - there's me looking through all your exotic plants and envying you, and you are doing the same the other direction! I can see that you might want to change plants, I do find that enjoyable, re-planting my containers each season.
15 Jan, 2009
Loved your plants & choice of primula's, hope you have a good sleep.
15 Jan, 2009
You had fun ;-) I find it hard to decide on colours too and end up having one of each!
16 Jan, 2009
Handel is a lovely climbing rose. Very delicate colours. I had one in the old garden. It's going to look nice there Spritzhenry.
18 Jan, 2009
Thanks, Hywel - I had a vague picture in my mind of the colour and found its name in a catalogue that came 'free'. It has an AGM, too. I am hoping that it grows well and flowers this year!
18 Jan, 2009
I'm sure you'll be pleased with it.
18 Jan, 2009
Right doctor Spritz, I'll go to the garden centres, and maybe spend some money, I haven't had flu so doing this will stop me getting it. What about if i over spend, have you a remedy to stop husband being a bit upset??? : )
Gail x
20 Jan, 2009
Oh, yes, it's easy.
1. Go on your own
2. Tell him they were on special offer.
3. Hide them in the carboot until he's out
4. Say airily "You know I've been looking for this for ages, dear!"
5. DO NOT show him the receipt.
6. Buy him a little present while you are there.
Want any more fiendishly clever and devious tricks, Gail?
20 Jan, 2009
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Sorry you've tired yourself out but it is a lovely blog and beautiful plants. I've still got some garden vouchers to spend so I am looking forward to that as soon as the weather improves and I can get my trike out!
14 Jan, 2009