I have to confess that I've lost a couple of the plants. The plant I bought last March was pulmonaria angustifolia Blaues Meer and that was one of the casualties, there's also no sign of the scabiosa columbaria which I bought in June.
Some things have surprised me though, the cyclamen which I bought right at the start of the year have survived, even though there was a bit of a debate whether they would or not. They've bloomed right the way through the early months of 2014 giving me colour in the garden when little else was flowering.
I bought Lewisia For July and wondered whether it would survive or not as apparently, they don't like water to sit in the crown so it's a good idea to plant them on a tilt so that any water can drain away. I didn't do this but it's managed to survive and it's blooming its socks off. This one is Special Mix.
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It was an Aquilegia For May and as you can see, it's blooming again at the same time this year. This variety is Clementine Purple, a double which I'm not usually keen on. I much prefer single flowered aquilegias but I'll make an exception in this case as I love the upward facing flowers on this short, bushy plant.
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I wouldn't expect my later in the year purchases to be flowering yet, but the Sedum For November which I bought has grown really well. This is Brilliant, a pink flowered variety which is attractive to butterflies and insects, so it should provide some nectar for them later in the year when other things are winding down.
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I should have really photographed each of the surviving plants I purchased last year and then done a progress post at the end of the year, perhaps I'll do that next year.
I have lost several pulmonaria....Lewisia is a plant that never stays, I gave up on her long ago, Well done keeping yours, they are very pretty.
ReplyDeleteI love the Aquilegia, like you I rarely plant doubles but I do make exceptions here and there.
I always promise myself I will make notes on new plants in the garden....I never do, there is always something more pressing.
I'm really pleased with the lewisia, it's increased in size since last year so it must be happy where it is. I like very simple flowers usually so I go for singles, plus the bees prefer singles so another reason I usually choose them. It's hard to keep up with all the plants we purchase, sometimes I lose something and it takes me ages to notice, as you say, there's always something more pressing than keeping notes on them all.
DeleteYour plants do look like they are doing well. Mine are growing very slowly. I think the season will be over when they decide to sprout! Blessings, Catherine
ReplyDeleteI'm really pleased with the majority of the plants I bought last year, they seem to be filling out and doing well. It's a shame that yours seem to be growing slowly, perhaps a bit of plant food will give them a boost.
DeleteIts a shame you lost some plants but we all do at times don't we. At least the majority still seem to be going,
ReplyDeleteI think there's only two which haven't made it, and as you say, we always lose some things so I don't mind too much, I've still got the rest to enjoy.
DeleteYou must be pleased that you've done as well with them as you have, especially the lewisia, a lovely flower, as they are notorious for being being hard to keep for the reason you say. The sedum is also looking good. Flighty xx
ReplyDeleteI am pleased with them. The lewisia is looking great and it's such a pretty flower, I'm particularly pleased that it's survived. I'm hoping that everything else comes on as well.
DeleteOh your lewisia has done well then Jo given all the rain that we had during the winter :) It's a most pretty shade. Sorry to read about the plant losses. I now regard such events as an opportunity for some retail therapy.
ReplyDeleteIt's been a very wet winter so I think it's done remarkably well. I think I expect some plant losses, but as you say, it's an opportunity to buy something new.
DeleteGood to know most of your purchases are thriving, plants are so expensive these days. I've lost one or two as well, the gentian was devoured by slugs and one of the hellebores appears to be going the same way. But a hydrangea and witch hazel are doing well so I suppose I can't complain!
ReplyDeleteIt's the same with everything when gardening, you win some, you lose some. Slugs have a lot to answer for, I picked loads up off the garden the other day, yet I'm not usually bothered by them too much, it must be all the wet weather we're having.
DeleteThats a great way to ensure flowers each month and would you believe its one I never thought of? Think I will be doing that for month or two.
ReplyDeleteX x
It's a good way to make sure there's something flowering in the garden, especially during the winter months. I'm just hoping that I don't lose any more now, time will tell.
DeleteIt is a shame that you had some losses, but it sounds as though most of your plants did really well, and sadly we do lose plants from time to time anyway. Overall it seems that you did pretty well! xx
ReplyDeleteI expected some losses so I haven't done too badly, I just hope the rest of them survive now.
DeleteI have never seen these plants here they look so beautiful, and the color... wow...
ReplyDeleteI suppose there's lots of plant over here that wouldn't survive in your climate, and just the same in reverse. It's always interesting to see plants we're not familiar with.
DeleteThat Lewisia is stunning! It's lovely to see the ones that made it pop back up again, I thought I had lost my balloon flower but that has suddenly started to grow. Some plants just don't like where they are planted....I think I'll have to move some of my dogwoods.xxx
ReplyDeleteI have to confess that I place plants where I want them and not where they'd be happiest, I expect I lose most of those I do because of this. I'm pleased that most of my purchases are happy and especially the lewisia, it's blooming away very happily.
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