Plantain Lily – Hosta Blue Mouse Ears

Well, mice seem to be popping up all over the place this year. My next three Hosta bare roots are called Blue Mouse Ears. They are a miniature Hosta so I plan to put all three into one pot. I can always divide them over the years.

Blue Mouse Ears is a miniature, clump forming, slow growing Hosta that produces a foliage mound growing to 6″ high and spreading to about a foot wide. It has thick, blue green leaves. It is most suitable for a position in dappled shade. There are, apparently, quite a few different hybrids in the category of mouse and I assume Farmer Gracy are selling their own version. I can’t wait to see how it turns out. Strangely both Deb and I have purchased Hostas from Farmer Gracy this year but where I have gone for miniatures she has bought T Rex and Jurrasic Park, definitely not small.

Once again this bare root has many healthy roots and is already bursting with buds. They have been soaking overnight and I am now deciding on the most appropriate pot to put them in. They’re in a pot!! Not their permanent home but suitable for growing on. Fingers crossed.

Plantain Lily – Hosta First Blush

I am very excited to get this Hosta. It is Called First Blush because the first leaves to emerge in Spring have red stems and leaf veins. The spider like root looks amazingly healthy with a lovely green shoot already showing. Always quality from Farmer Gracy. I bought two varieties but only one root of this one. I think they could be the very first Hostas that I have purchased myself although I do have a few scattered about the garden in pots and in the ground. All of them have probably been given to me by different people over the years. It is always uplifting to see the spears emerging from the ground in early spring.

They are a good species to have in the garden as they are tough and return bigger and better every year. An added bonus this year is the fact that our slug hunting frog population is quite high as people do complain of their hostas being desecrated by slugs.

Hosta is a genus of plants commonly known as hostas, plantain lilies and occasionally by the Japanese name giboshi. Hostas are widely cultivated as shade tolerant foliage plants. The genus is currently placed in the family Asparagaceae and is native to northeast Asia. Wikipedia

Gypsophilia Paniculata Bristol Fairy

I am trying again with Gyp. A favourite of mine and a reminder of my moms garden when I was a child. I have grown from a root and raised from seed before but it seems that nothing lasts forever so my garden is at present bereft of Baby’s Breath.

Gracy says:
“Gypsophila ‘Bristol Fairy’ is a double flowered version of Baby’s Breath that will flourish in your garden provided you ensure she gets full sun, well-drained, alkaline soil and is watered well during the flowering season.”

I potted this bare root up last night and have moved to a sheltered spot in the garden this morning. (30th April 2024) I was running out of space in my small computer room. After reading the following quote I think I may start grinding the egg shells up and feeding them to Gyp. You need to bake them in the oven first then grind them finely in a pestle and mortar. I used to do this to mix with the chicken food when I had lots of chickens. Only two old girls left now in the eglu so I got out of the habit.

The genus name Gypsophila is derived from the Greek words gypsos meaning gypsum and philios meaning love, a nod to the plant’s preference for high calcium soil. quote from Gracy.

Phlox Paniculata Sweet Summer Snow

Phlox paniculata, Sweet Summer Snow is a hardy perennial, that will be happy in sun or semi-shade and almost any soil. This is a short stemmed variety which will do well in a pot. Bees and butterflies will find the flowers irresistible. So I am assured by Farmer Gracy. Phlox in this form is completely new to me. I do have a couple of old creeping phlox but have never had the shrubby paniculata type.

After a short soak in water I am planting this into quite a small pot to grow on a llittle before I decide what size of pot it needs.

Update 7th May 2024 – For ten years or more I have had a very large blue ceramic pot, bought by Adam and Kirstie, by my kitchen door. It has housed many different plants over the years This year I decided that it needed emptying and new compost put in. I did the job this morning and when it was finished decided to put this Phlox in as a centre piece. I am still going to leave the new plant in the small pot to grow more roots and put that pot into the large one. When it is more established I can remove the small pot and plant directly into the blue one.

Dierama Pulcherrimum – Angel’s fishing rod

Sitting on my desk is a lovely terracotta pot containing a bare root of Dierama. A few years ago Debbie gave me a root of this elusive plant which I put at the front of the pond. So far no sign of any angels, fishing or otherwise. Try, try, try again. Part of my Farmer Gracy parcel was this very dead looking root which I intend to nurture to life. At present it is in intensive care position where I can look out for any sign of life. I have soaked it in water and given it a dusting of root grow before I potted it up into multi purpose compost. I am hoping this will be the start of a wonderful friendship as I would love to see these flowers casting their graceful stems out over the pond.

Dierama is a grass like evergreen perennial which multiplies by forming corm but also drops seeds. It is supposed to be cold tolerant and hardy. It will take two to three years to establish so I wonder if my original ones are still out there or have they been pulled up by someone thinking they were weeds.

Geum Apricot Pearl

Geum Apricot Pearl from the Censation Series is a mound forming perennial. It is evergreen, with leaves that are toothed and softly hairy. In late spring and early summer slender stems carry pale apricot flowers. The blooms are sterile and do not need to be dead headed. I shall try for dividing after a couple of years if the plant and I are still going strong.

I do love Geum. My old faithful Mrs Bradshaw never lets me down but i do spend a lot of time dead heading to keep it going. Its a beautiful deep red flower and grows to about four feet tall. It is still in it’s original pot which is a big one but I always wonder whether I should get it out and refresh the compost. However, I am looking forward to seeing the flowers on this new one. If I remember correctly Mrs Bradshaw took a couple of years to get established.

Alstromeria Fabiana Colorita (Dwarf Peruvian Lily)

The next root to get a soak in a bowl of water is the Alstromeria Fabiana. It already has two healthy shoots. My plan originally was to get all this delivery sorted in one day but a flare up of a regular visitor of mine, Diverticulitis, stopped me in my tracks. I started feeling ill yesterday afternoon and as my morning had already been very busy taking Jobie to play football and then coming home to feed everyone I’m afraid I spent a lot of yesterday afternoon alternating between the toilet and bed rather than playing in the dirt.

I usually feel pretty worn out the day following a flare up but I was determined to get a couple of the plants potted up. The Lupins that had been soaking are now tucked up in their pots and indoors for now whilst the Aquilegia I potted up yesterday has been moved to a sheltered spot in the garden.

Alstromeria or Peruvian Lily, is a tough plant but the flowers are delicate I had some growing on the allotment back in the day. This particular variety is new to me though and is said to be more compact and low growing with multiple flower heads. I am looking forward to seeing the colour of the flowers. They look a striking creamy yellow with red markings on the website image so we shall see. I have chosen a smaller terracotta pot for this root but I am hopeful of dividing the plant at the end of the season. If it is like the ones I grew at the allotment it will self seed itself around the garden too.

D Day – Delivery from Farmer Gracy 28th April 2024

Aquilegia vulgaris Pink Petticoats (Columbine)

First of the perennials to be potted up are the three Aquilegia Pink Petticoats. I’ve put them in a large pot, all three together. First mistake I made was not reading the helpful leaflets before I started which advised me to soak all the roots in water for 3 – 6 hours before planting. My first uneducated attempt was to put crumpled up newspaper at the bottom of the pot then a deep layer of compost from my own compost bin, a sprinkle of root grow, mycorrhizal fungi, followed by the roots and finally topping up with shop bought multi purpose compost. I added water at the end. All three roots looked very healthy and are all showing new green growth, well yellow at the moment after their long journey from the Netherlands in a dark cardboard box. Update 29th April – I have moved the Aquilegia pot outside in a sheltered position so I hope they will thrive there.

Lupinus Mosaic Mix (Lupins)

Seven healthy looking roots resembling aliens are now sitting in a bowl of water. All have new growth showing. This is a bonus as I was expecting five roots and was planning to put them into one pot. “I may need a bigger pot” I shall probably put three in to one pot and four in another. This will be their home for their first year and then I can think again when I’ve seen how they grow. I love Lupins. I think if I was a flower I would probably be a Lupin. They are reliable, old fashioned and useful plants which deserve space in every garden. Update 29th April – The Lupin roots are now in two large pots.

Lupin Mosaic

Lupin Mosaic Mix comprises of a blend of high quality hardy perennial lupins, often referred to as lupines. They will thrive in a variety of climates and of course they will come back year after year. They will grow best in a light soil in full sun. The plants will flower longer if you deadhead them regularly. At the end of the growing season cut down all the old flowering stems.” Quote from Farmer Gracy

Amaranth Red Army – Amaranthus Cruentus

Herbs and Spices – 6 – Amaranth

April 27th 2024 – I have sown seeds of this interesting herb just for its decorative properties. It provides lovely colourful foliage and interesting pendulous flowers and seeds. Every part of the plant is edible apparently and I believe the young leaves are used commercially in bags of mixed salad leaves or as the very trendy microgreens. I have scattered a few of the fine delicate seeds on to a pot of seed compost, covered with polythene and placed in the porch which can get warmish when the suns out so I am hopeful of germination in a couple of weeks. Update 8th May – these seedlings are up after 12 days

The young leaves will look pretty but the plant itself can grow very tall so I shall pot on the young plants with a view to planting them in the garden. Who knows I may even get to taste them in a salad.

Also known as Pigweed, the Amaranth has very striking, long lasting red flowers. The intense cherry red foliage has a delicate pea-like flavour.  The plants are frost-tender but can grow vigorously in the summer, forming a sprig of leaves for salad or garnish which can be used as a substitute for spinach.

RHS

Sowing Seeds April 24th 2024

Larkspur Hyacinth (Delphinium)

Delphinium are a favourite in cottage gardens. Both perennial and annual varieties are available. The common name is larkspur. They are happiest in full sun and may need staking as they grow very tall. I have never done this however and have never had a spire snap off. They prefer a rich soil which doesn’t dry out or become waterlogged.

This morning I have sown seeds of Larkspur Hyacinth both indoors in modules and outside. This variety is an annual so I shall need to bear in mind to let one late spire go to seed to collect for next year. Hyacinth is a mixture of pink, white and red if I remember correctly. The seeds I have are old now and so I’m just going for it and crossing my fingers for some success. I used to have a beautiful deep blue variety in my red white and blue pot but I fear they are long gone. I purchased these seeds a few years ago from Country Garden www.countrygardenuk.com A brilliant seed company with a wealth of information about happy gardening and amazing flower photography.

Young plants are available out there and these can be planted out in Spring after the risk of frost has passed.

Once established and in full flower cut back faded flower spikes to small flowering side shoots to encourage a second flush of flowers. In autumn cut down all growth to ground level after it has died back.

Divide overcrowded plants every 3 to 4 years as new growth begins in spring, lifting the plants and dividing them into smaller clumps.

Balsam Dwarf Bush Mixed

These are seeds that I have had success with before. They were purchased from Seekay Horticultural Supplies in 2017. Yes. They are old. I have sown them in a plastic container with drainage holes and hey presto over a dozen seedlings have popped through. I am very pleased as I remember the plants being quite substantial although they are called dwarf. I shall grow them on now and by the summer hopefully have a good show of flowers.

Balsam Dwarf Mix

Borage – Star Flower

I’ve had less success with the old Borage seeds but if I can grow on the four seedlings that have popped through I shall get four enormous plants and be able to collect seeds at the end of the growing season. I love Borage. It has a wonderful blue colour and is a magnet to bees and other pollenating insects. Commonly called Star Flower it is useful to vegetable growers and our allotment is where I first grew this strong attractive plant. Update 29th April – Two healthy seedlings potted on today.