Friday 21 August 2009

BACK TO THE FUN

Back to the fun stuff. I had a fortnight at Dad's without a computer but still some gardening to do. Unfortunately on returning to my garden I was overwhelmed by the amount of work needing doing. With many hours work and much help from Mike I feel a bit more on top of things.
The grape vine on the back of the house always does well and produces lots of tasty grapes unfortunately a bit small for eating but the birds enjoy and it is fun to sit and watch them do acrobats trying to get at the grapes.
Thanks to Rob of Our French Garden your post encouraged me to get back out there with my camera.
This is a fairly new clematis to me Ernest Markham.
Cardoons are wonderfully statuesque plants and it surprises me why so many people grow exotic plants that rarely survive our winters unless camouflaged with ugly sacking when I think this is just as fascinating.

Hermosa still flowering away.
Rosemoor such a dainty pink/white flower
I had meant to grow more clematis cuttings again but so many things to do and not enough time. I did pop some Macropetala ones in and they are shooting so fingers crossed. They are great grown in pots for a few years before they get too big.
These plastic mushroom boxes from Sainsburys have been invaluable to me for seed trays and for making cloches. Because the cuttings of clematis can't take up the moisture to support the leaves it is necessary to spray the leaves with fine mist until the shoots have formed and the roots are grown. Clever daughter for taking the time to do this whilst I was away.

Looking up the garden into the sun sorry not the best photo but it shows how this clematis Vit Blue Belles has grown so high in the tree.
It grew vigorously for many years and never had any flowers. About three years ago I decided if it didn't flower I'd dig it out and lo it flowered that year and each year since. I wonder now whether it had flowered before but so high in the tree I had missed it.

This was a bit that had flopped down so was easier to photograph.
Nelly Moser is having her second flush and keeping her colours well probably shaded more than in the spring by the trees.
Hydrangea are one of the easiest shrubs to grow from cuttings. Whilst they are small plants I keep them in pots and once they start to flower move them from the nursery to around the house so that the flowers can be enjoyed. I am particularly pleased this is doing so well it was a cutting from Christina a dear neighbour before she died at 91.

I decided to grow Morning Glory again and thought I'd try these ones, they are sweet flowers but need to be near where you walk to see and enjoy them.
These are lovely popping up here and can be enjoyed in and outdoors.
I love Passion flowers but the plants do grow a bit too vigorously for the number of flowers. This years heavy snow damaged much of this and so it had a heavy pruning and is more manageable now. It is nice to enjoy these flowers by the back door.
Now those of you from hotter climes won't understand that what may be grown like a weed to you is considered with much excitement by me. I have grown Oleander In the back porch for many years and love the beautiful flowers and lovely almond perfume. It takes so well from cuttings but be warned it is very poisonous to people and pets. In fact anything with almond scent is often found to be poisonous I read somewhere.

26 comments:

  1. Oh those grapes look so wonderful! Glad you are back home posting those beautiful pictures. I love oleander but dont have any right now.
    I like the way your clematis has grown up in the trees.

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  2. Hi Joanne,
    Good to see you and your camera have been to work!
    I guessed that your computer was overflowing with requests for information and help about Lyme Disease after you being at your Dad's for 2 weeks so I did not expect updates on your glorious garden right away. Of course I forgot that the garden would be needing your attention too!!
    I think you have quite a following out here in Alberta. I keep telling friends about you!They all say how much they love your blog
    Keep up the good work.

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  3. Joanne.
    You can pick grapes and we can pick papaya.....
    Such a juicy looking grapes you have there.
    Cheers,
    ~bangchik

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  4. In two weeks the garden can change quite a bit. It was nice of your daughter to keep things watered so the changes were happy ones to come home to. It looks like you have a good number of successful clematis cuttings, in case Vit Blue Belles slows down again. Glad to hear you weren't hanging out on a tree limb to get that closeup shot. :) Your Rosemoor is a lovely shade of pink. It reminds me of my Sarah Bernhardt peony.

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  5. Missy M thank you actually the grapes look bigger in the photo. I always mean to prune back but as the vine is so big it is not possible. I did grow one from seed that went to my daughters and have another growing not sure if they will fruit but if they do will certainly prune my one.
    Bangchik I think there is a considerable size difference but my papaya seedlings are now at my daughters and doing very well.

    Alison truth be told I couldn't face gardening or blogging with all that's been going on and so much to do letters e mails. What really bugs me is the arrogance of our press I have spoken to two recently they think they know it all if only they had the gumption that this is such news of enormous consequences. It wouldn't even take much time to realise that they wouldn't have to say yeah or nay. If they just heard some of the tragic stories I have this last week with so many children involved with crippling ill health and yet getting better when on appropriate treatment but having lost years of their childhood all for the sake of awareness and a short course of antibiotics. Other children being denied treatment through ignorance and no common sense. At least with Stephen Phillips presentation copies can be given to doubting doctors of seronegativity and persistent infection and hopefully that may help dispell all the damaging info IDSA have been pushing for years. So sad the mum whose daughter committed suicide. DR Jemsek was quite right referring to the problems over HIV but actually I think this denial is worse.

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  6. What beautiful pictures! (I didn't have the energy to read it all, but greatly enjoyed the photos.)

    Thanks for sharing your story on my blog. I am so glad you have been able to find the root cause and helpful treatment for your health. Yes, I've previously read much of the research you have posted here. I am well aware that the testing for Lyme can be quite flawed. However, I have been repeatedly tested for Lyme over the years (this has been a 19 year journey for me) and ever single test has been negative. In fact, that was one of our starting places, thinking it was Lyme rather than CFS, but there is simply no indication or evidence that Lyme is a factor for me, even though it has been recehed by several different doctors and labs in different ways many times. We have tried long term antibiotics and the like, but still haven't seen improvement. You may argue that Lyme could still be my problem even with the negative testing and non-response to treatment and I'll agree that anything is possible, but I honestly think there's something else going on in my case.

    Obviously I will continue to follow unfolding news about Lyme and will continue my quest for health. The Whittemore Peterson Institute is doing amazing research into CFS right now and I truly believe we are on the verge of some significant medical breakthroughs. I will not give up hope!

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  7. Hi Jenni I am pleased to hear you have considered the lyme possibility. One of the Lyme doctors Dr Andy Wright is actually an ME/CFS specialist within NHS and he is currently involved with research with ME and I had heard there has been much advancement. He has found a significant number of his patients have lyme including himself. He used to find spyrochetes with darkfield microscopy something HPA won't accept. Steven Phillips presentation goes into seronegativity there is no test that is completly accurate to say one does not have lyme. yes clearly long term antibiotics not working is significant but then we do respond to different antibiotics differently. thank goodness my GP tried Amoxycillin which i responded to because I certainly didn't appear to respond to Doxycycline which is the standard treatment. Just commenting not disagreeing with your opinion. i firmly believe patients know themselves best and should be very much involved in the process although this doesn't always happen. As I said good luck and glad you enjoyed the garden.

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  8. Hi Northern Shade I thought I'd lost your post but see it came up before my comment. Yes the peony you mentioned is beautiful and I always wish I had more when they flower but sadly still just have the common red one and room is a bit scarce these days.

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  9. Hi Joanne, everything looks great - love the Clematis in the tree. I think I might do that with my next one rather than find a place to stake it. Bob loves Passion Flower and he got some from the neighbor and we haven't had any luck with finding the right place for it to live. We'll try again! The Hydrangea from your friend is beautiful - it looks very delicate!
    I've sure missed making the rounds to everyones gardens. Hope I'm bouncing back from whatever it was that kept me from posting and visiting!

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  10. Hi Raingardener Sorry to hear you haven't been well hope you are soon your old self. I haven't been blogging for a while either.

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  11. Your garden is looking great! Even with all the work you had, you must've have enjoyed finding all the new happenings in the garden. I missed your posts and am glad you're back :)

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  12. Thanks Catherine yes there were lots of happenings mainly ground elder and bindweed which had got ahead inspite of my hard work earlier in the year.It is nice of you to have missed my posts I missed your posts to.

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  13. Hi Joanne, it all looks great. The rebloom of the clemmies is wonderful. I am seeing some new promising growth on Betty Corning here with the rains we have had recently. Those boxes look perfect for all sorts of seed starting and cuttings, nice and tall. The grapes are so pretty, as lovely as flowers I think. :-)
    Frances

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  14. Welcome back!It is good to hear from you again. I am sure you would be busy in your lovely garden after being away for two weeks.
    I have never rooted clematis cuttings before. How long does it take for them to root?Isn't it hard to believe the season is winding down?

    Have a good weekend.

    Carolyn

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  15. Morning glory has so far escaped me. It is such a wonderful blue. They are not the usual climbing ones it seems. What is their middle name? It looks like you have the snails under control.

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  16. Hi Frances Betty Corning is a clem I have admired but not got.

    Carolyn Clems take longer to root than shoot but shoots can appear within about a month. But resist the temptation of moving them until the spring so roots can get well established. Some clematis are easier than others but it is fun trying.

    Joco Hi It is called Light Blue Star it is not as large a flower as I'd hoped but larger than others I have grown. I once saw one at Parham house climbing through the glass house roof and they had flowers the sixe of dinner plates.

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  17. Hi Joanne, I am slowly reading through things. Been so tired recently its been difficult to concentrate to read.

    I just love all your pics of your garden. So many beautiful flowers.
    Helen x

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  18. Hi Helen
    Nice of you to comment. I am glad you enjoyed the flowers somewhat frivolous compared with Lyme but it helps to keep some perspective.
    Do keep reading watch trailer of Under our skin and Pam Weintraube's excellent articles.

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  19. Thanks for visiting my blog :-) I really enjoyed your post and looking at your photos. The clematis are lovely and something I want to plant more of in our garden. I am pleased to hear that the Lyme Disease is under control and wish you a speedy full recovery - I am slightly paranoid about it and always check for ticks after any walk!

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  20. Hi Chris
    Thanks for commenting. I enjoyed your photographs on your blog. So pleased you are aware of checking for ticks what a pity more of us in UK are not aware including doctors.

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  21. What a lovely garden of pretties! I like the cardoon...it wouldn't like my garden..No real sun and terrible drainage, but I like what you said about growing plants that do well instead of ones that need to be covered all winter! I've a sweet clemmie that's blooming now and I can't remember it's name! It's growing better then all the rest and it's in a container in the middle of the Sunny Susans Bed. Plants always surprise me! gail

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  22. So many pretty flowers in your garden!I didn't know the oleander has an almond scent. Shall come closer next time tho I know they are poisonous.

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  23. Good to see you back Joanne - a fortnight is a long spell to be away from your garden at this time of year. It looks as if your garden is still full of colour and energy. I enjoyed your photos.

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  24. morning glories are looking great. Yes oleander is found wild in our hot climate and we dont grow it in garden as it is too abundant.

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  25. Such a lovely grapes! Amazing that the birds get to feast on them.. Im truly jealous...
    There is no grapes growing in my place...

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