Jell-O
03.05.2024 - 14:24 / ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com / Cathy
Once again, a large degree of editing was required to get today’s selection down to six or thereabouts, to meet the rules of Jim’s Six on Saturday meme. Why not visit his blog to check out his six and those of other bloggers around the world?
Let’s start with the burning bush, shown above – Nandina domestica ‘Obsessed’. I picked a sprig of this a few Mondays back to accompany my first tulips in a vase, but it was barely smouldering then – I don’t think I have ever seen it as fiery as this before. Likewise, I don’t think the rhododendrons have ever been as colourful or as prolific as they seem to be this year, and they are not yet at their peak – I know they don’t appeal to everyone, but in a garden the size of ours they make a huge impact.
Snowdrops have also made a big impact, but back in January, February and March, so a snowdrop blooming at the end of April and into May is a curiosity at best and at worst an unwelcome intruder into spring. The bulbs (Galanthus ‘Polar Bear’) were bought from eBay at the tail end of the season, and I rather expected them to be in growth and ‘in the green’, but clearly hadn’t read the description as they arrived as dry bulbs. They are a later flowering variety, but ‘later’ as in March, and I wasn’t particularly optimistic of them flowering this year, but the bulbs seem determined to do so. There was no point planting them outside, as they wouldn’t be seen under the spring growth in the woodland, but they will be in due course where hopefully they will revert to a normal timetable next year – I certainly can’t get excited about snowdrops in late spring!
I have trawled through emails and online catalogues to see if I can identify some of the tulip mixes I am currently enjoying, but with
If you love something, make it flat—that’s how the saying goes, right? When it comes to flat croissants, at least, that’s definitely the case. We all know (and love) the classic flaky croissant, but bakeries and home chefs have taken the pastry to new heights (or lows?) by flattening it and frying it to make it even crispier.
Having decided to spare a few allium (probably A hollandicum) for today’s vase, I sought other material on the purple spectrum, cutting Geranium phaeum ‘Raven’, a deep purply-blue aquilegia and foliage from Persicaria ‘Red Dragon’ – but the combination just didn’t seem to work. Glancing up at the wisteria W floribunda ‘Multijuga’ in all its glory, it occurred to me that the purple hints in the racemes were on the same spectrum as the allium – would they last in a vase? I have no idea, but I decided to give them a try.
We have had some very pleasant days this week, warm and mostly sunny and never uncomfortably hot, so lots of gardening jobs have been done – perhaps as well, as our open days are suddenly creeping up really quickly. I still took time out to go for a walk on one of the days, choosing a route I have avoided for some time because it crosses fields which will have been muddy and difficult to walk through for many weeks. Taking a slight detour, I entered a small woodland which from experience I know is host to naturalised bluebells. Unfortunately, a fallen tree and overgrown paths meant I failed to get the full experience this year, but it made me aware just how realistic our own little woodland is. Despite being planted with trees, bluebells, wood anemones, wild garlic, fritillaries, snowdrops, comfrey and more, many other things have arrived uninvited and there is a real woodland feel to it, even more so at this time of year, as the green canopy closes in and brings an air of coolness and greenness. Lovely…
How to Plant and Grow Parris Island Cos Lettuce Lactuca sativa ‘Parris Island Cos’
Last month, the job listings page for the American Climate Corps went live. The ACC is a new program developed by the Biden administration that plans to mobilize young people into careers fighting climate change and environmental injustice. These roles span the country and both private and public sectors. Like other corps-type jobs, these roles will be term limited.
I'm that person—the one who has no problem giving the silent treatment to the stack of dishes piling up in my sink. Cold, globby textures and grimy water gross me out to no end, so any tool out there that can speed up the process and get it over with is a win in my eyes.
Having mentioned before that the rhododendrons seemed to be flowering better than any other year, I can also say that I don’t recollect ever seeing anything with blooms as dense as this before – R. yakushimanum ‘Vintage Rose’ is absolutely astounding! Mind you, I don’t think I remember seeing destruction quite as quick or efficient as that experienced by Fritillaria imperialis either!
Hebes are popular evergreen shrubs, mostly native to New Zealand although some are native to Australia and South America. They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, and are suitable for growing in a range of sites and planting schemes. Hebes are excellent in shrub borders, used as ground cover or low-growing hedging, and are relatively low-maintenance.
Zinnias are easy to care for and bloom fine, but if you want one that’s dense and shines from afar, you’ll need some pro tips and we are here with them all!.