h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I too enjoy plants , the plant that I enjoy most is night scented stocks i grow them every year . There is no greater pleasure than walking out on a pleasant summers evening and being met by their awakening fragrance.
I have had many rewarding jobs in horticulture, the most demanding was being part of a team at Chelsea Flower show.
I believe the efforts we put in are greatly appreciated by our green leaved friends

Hello Winternights and welcome to my little space.

It's always nice to meet someone with an interest in plants.
I could'nt agree more with the fragrance of night scented stocks, along with honeysuckle and lilies summer evenings are filled with moth attracting scents
Wow, you are so lucky to have been involved with the Chelsea flower show. Is it really as impressive as it looks?
Talking of green leaved friends, i had some visitors that very much enjoyed the green leaves of my Birch sapling. The leaves are now looking like pieces of lace work.
Do you still work in the horticultural world?

I now work in retail but I still have connections with horticulture ,working for the company I do, I often share my knowledge with my fellow managers who are fortunate to run that side of the operation.
It is with my present employer that I was chosen to represent the company at the Chelsea Flower Show, I was not involved admittedly in any design or construction of the garden , my duties were to simple to man it as part of a team.
This we did in shifts, twice a day for the duration of the show , we informed all those who attended the garden about its planting arrangements and concept.
We won the Wilkinson Sword Award that year and the garden was awarded a Golden medal, I have fond memories of walking back to the hotel at the end of each day with sword in hand, we got some strange looks, only to deposit it in the hotel safe ready for the next day.
I have also done Crystal Plaice , on that occasion I was involved in the construction , guided by the designer and working amongst a small team.
Hard , hard work, not for the faint hearted., I’ve never known it to be so tiring talking to so many people about that which I loved , plants!.
At the end of each day after the spectators had left the garden had to be redressed so as to represent a different concept, involving different planting arrangements.
I loved being involved on both occasions , Hard !- yes , Enjoyable?-Very.
Your opening selection of mentioned plants all in their own right bring back memories, Honeysuckle, making those late summer evenings so heady and in the half light of evening, watching Elephant Hawk moths dance amongst the its flowers.
Lilies, how many times have I stained the end of my nose from their pollen whilst having a sniff.
I am by nature a compulsive sniffer!, if it grows and flowers I’m there, nose in, every time, hence the love of Night Scented Stocks.
My favourite plant of which I have a few are Holly’s, mine are now putting a second show of flowers out , hopefully I will have another good show of berries this winter.
I am looking forward to the more rustic offerings of autumn , the best of all the seasons in my view, which is yours ? And do you have a special plant.
Nice for the chat , catch up with you soon.

You have been very fortunate to have been involved in such wonderful events I'd love to hear more of your stories. I can only dream of such things. Although i've always had a love and knowledge of plants, i was late getting into it for a job. My health prevents me from taking it any further.

Yay! I pleased to find someone else that has the same principle as me! Flowers are there to be sniffed, even though some of them are not so pleasant Many time i've ended up with lily pollen on my nose. I once saw a chap almost bury his face into a trumpet lily, the end result was comical; his nose, chin and mouth were bright orange

I havent seen any Elephant Hawkmoths for two years now. They used to regularly lay their eggs on my fuschias, which the HUGE caterpllars were only too happy to munch on I guess they havent enjoyed the wet summers of the past two years.

How many species of holly do you have? I'm guessing you must have a fairly large garden, what other things do you like to grow?

Spring has to be my favourite time of year. Everything is so fresh and new, theres nothing like the green that Spring produces. I also enjoy the golden hues of Autumn, though not the raking up of leaves

It's hard for me to name my favourite plants, it's an ongoing thing. Though if i had to choose, it would be the wild Orchids that grow down the end of my garden. Especially the Bee Orchids, so tiny, but each flower so perfect. It started off with just two, this years count was eleven! They are already starting to shoot again, so i know i will have at least six next year.

I have a small garden consisting of a small lawn to the front of the house, which is surrounded with a collection of Acers and other shrubs too numerous to mention, the tallest Eucalyptus around for miles ( I brought it as a small twig), Hydrangea, a very nice ornamental Elderflower.
The rear of the house is regrettably paved leading up to the garage with a narrow border running along side.
It is there where I have most of my Hollies,
I went to identify them the other day and unfortunately for me, most of the tag have become detached .
So as not to be beaten I tried to looked them up on the internet.
So as best as I can, starting from the kitchen door. 1. Unknown,large,yellow edged spiky leaf. 2.Gold King. 3.Common Holly(not a nice name as none of them look common!) . 4.Silver Queen. 5.Unknown, verdict is out may not be a holly. 6.Wilsonnii(I think). 7. another Common. 8.Unknown, Pale yellow outer ,small leaf. 9.Another Gold King.
There is a Silver Queen down the side of the house, a Ferox Argentea ( Hedgehog Holly )in the border at the font of the house and a Omanthus (not truly a Holly but looks like one).
All my other plants are either grown in containers or hanging baskets, these tend to be annuals as I like a change of colour and schemes each year.
Before I sign off (as the computer seems to have a mind of its own today) , I discovered a plant the other day whilst tidying up .
I was weeding by the garage when I noticed a plant growing in a very tight space , between the fence and pavement, it has lime coloured oval leaves with the most vivid Beetroot coloured veining and stems .
It seems happy in its new terracotta pot home but as yet has no name?.
Hopefully write more when computer is sorted.

Wow! Thats an impressive collection of hollies for a small garden
I have never been able to understand why some clever dick decided to give all the male hollies female names and vice-versa.
I bought a silver queen, which was clearly not a silver queen as it was covered in berries, probably a golden king. I like the thought that this male holly took umbridge at being given a female title and thought 'if i'm going to be called a 'queen' i might as well behave like one!'
It would take a long time for me to list all the plants i grow, it's probably around 200 varieties and species.

I love it when i find a new or different plant suddenly pop up form nowhere, i hope you can identify your mystery plant. It sounds like the leaves of a beetroot.

Hello , hope you are OK and that the weather fares more favourably where you live.
Do you mind if I start with a little rant!, it will not last long promise.
I wish , oh wish the BBC would get there graphic screen repaired on the weather, as any one else noticed it.
The rest of the country ( except west Scotland and Northern Ireland ) swelters in wall to wall sunshine and the weather presenter seems to skirt around the fact that over where I live there is always a cloud symbol.
My wife phones her friends and family around the country and as most conversations go, you often talk about the weather first ,‘Wife will say “How the weather where you are “, “ brilliant, blue sky’s and warm “ they reply , “cloudy and cold” is often the wives retort.
I braved out this morning and it was if a mini ice age had started , I watched the weather last night and there it was again , a chart that depicted what should be a beautiful autumn day but as the presenter moved , you guest it , the darkest cloud symbol and as if to add insult to injury , fog as well .
Being a bit of a night owl I looked out last night and thought they just might have got it wrong, for I saw some stars , clear sky, not this morning, is it just me !.
Sorry about that but they say its better out than in.
Yesterday I spent some time dead heading all my annuals , a labour of love if I am to keep them flowering.
I think I have been a bit over ambitious with the plant food this year for that should have grown as dainty plants have turned out to be triffids.
When I sowed the seeds and read the descriptions on the packets it reported maximum height of 2 to 3 feet , try in excess of 6 foot in some cases ,oops.
Not having a lot of room to the rear of the house has resulted in what only the neighbours could describe as musical chairs , for I have had to constantly move plants as they have out swamped there desired locations and the spot where I loved to read my paper, disappeared early summer .
I considered as to how the garden should look and feel last winter and had decided on a more muted palette of colour and fragrant thyme .
Largely successful and to make sure it was not to bland I throw in some sharp contrast plants with interesting architectural presence and vivid colour , even though they end up being moved in the end to the bottom of the garden as they had grown way far too big.
This year I have planted up some old favourites , they take me back to the 80s, when I used to live at home and mum always created an interesting bedding displays in the borders.
By far my favourite this year is the 2 tubs of Mesembrianthemums, never got round to planting them last year but this year they have been a treat. They make me smile to see them open when the sun does shine and the colours have been quite varied too.
The slugs have done there damnedest to eat the Marigolds but on saying that they have not been as prolific as they were last year. On thinking that might be due to the hedgehog I saw in the garden the other night , huge fellow it was.
I actual grew some white Alysum as well, smell nice and I hope it self seeds itself in the gaps in the patio .
Well would you believe it ,the sun has come out , so I will have to dash It would be a shame to miss it.

Hello
Nothing like a good rant to make you feel better eh!
I have to say, i've given up with the weather forecast. At least when you get a cloud symbol over your area, you get cloud. Here we get a sun symbol and get cloud, a cloud symbol and get rain, a thunder symbol and we get a heatwave etc etc. What i like best is when we get no symbol at all, then we get a non weather day
Did you actually have a frost lastnight? thankfully we havent had any in this area yet.

I've had the same experience as you with medium sized plants growing into giants The best example i can remember was a nice perennial called 'Phlomis'. Maximum height on the label said 3ft, amximum height it grew to 7ft! I had to dig the thing out in the end. Later i did a search on this variety and found it could easily reach 7ft. I've come to the conclusion that plants will do whatever they like, when they like and don't follow any particular code
I'm interested to hear how you too grow plants you remember your parents having in thier garden. As we are around the same age, i guess our parents must have grown similar plants. I have a fondness for Anttirhimums, my dad always had those in the garden and i remember being told off for picking the flowers and making dragons out of them Sweet Williams and Phlox were others that i remember. I grow Fuschias, my dad favourite plant, also Dahlias and Phlox. I have some Heartsease which appears now and again, that was the first plant my grandmother taught me about and i've always loved them.

I went to Kew gardens with a friend yesterday, you can read about it in the journal on my space, along with my terrifying experience on the new tree top walk.

Would you mind if i added you to my friends list?

That would be nice, catch up with you soon , take care

I think your cloud must have found it's way to my area, what a bleak day outisde
I've now added you to my friends list

Hello just though I would drop in for a quick chat

I hope all is

I have only just been able to read your journal re your recent outing.
I too am now afflicted by that annoying irrational fear of heights , it became unbelievably apparent to me whilst paragliding in Turkey two years ago, any thing higher than 6 steps on a ladder and I am a quivering wreck now.
I also like to witness mans mark on the landscape, there seems to be no natural born or led incentive to create or add to our landscaping heritage for our next generation to enjoy and most people seem to view gardening as a chore as against to a pleasant pastime
We go for walks often, my wife enjoys the exercise I like looking in gardens , I am lucky in that where I live there is a good mix of old and new housing and the village is just steeped in history
I went for walk today , it was surprisingly warm and I wished I had not worn my jacket , although one could start to tell that the kaleidoscope of colour called autumn has started ,the light has that soft edge to it , not as acidic as in spring. I believe given enough cold dry spells our eyes will be met by a truly rustic display.
I have had to take it easy the says my blood pressure needs to come down , so I will have the opportunity to do some gardening .
Mystery plant is still doing well
Any way have to I have evening to make.
Take care

Hello, nice of you to drop by again
It's a little strange how these irrational fears creep up on us as we get older, i wonder whats in store for us next.
When i was a child, i always looked forward to visiting my nan. It was her that i thank for giving me the interest in nature and particularly plants. I liked to help dad in the garden, though i don't think my help was always helpful It just seemed a natural thing to grow flowers and vegetables.
These days the young seem to be far more interested in the lastest computer game or hiding from the world behind MP3's and Ipods. They have no idea what they are missing
I have two grandchildren, which i hoped would develop an interest in gardening and growing stuff, sadly no amount of encouragemnt from me has worked.

Have you been able to identify the mystery plant yet?

Just so you can see what grows and lives in my garden, you can take a look at my photos here <./>http://www.venus-garden.fotki.com</.> (you may have to reverse the :// if it does'nt work) There are some great bug photos, along with some of my beautiful wild orchids.

Sorry I have not been in touch

Hope you are well

Just called in to say "Hope you have a Merry Christmas"

Talk to you in the New Year

Kindest Regards Winternights

Hello and festive greetings to you and yours.
I hope you are enjoying the season.
Come back soon!

Hi there ,
Hope you are well and navigated Christmas and New year with comfortable easy, mine was quiet ,not too demanding, food was plentiful and company good.
The weather remained very cold with uneventful leaded skies, although the odd frost early morning help cement that Christmas feel.
There is not much to report on the garden front ,other than it is all very dormant , looks uninspiring other than the wild birds that now feed with frenzy and dart from branch to branch.
In late autumn I was spent some time tidying up the patio area , emptied all the hanging baskets of there sad remains, removed the skeletons of those over grown triffids from the patio pots and made room for my potted Blue Spruce which was decorated simply and looked nice .
I planted Winter pansies but since the frost started they have not had chance to shine, mystery plant I left outside and as not weathered well but I have two plants that seem in different to the occasion.
A pot of Livingstone Daisies and a Nicotina plant seem to be of the illusion its still summer and are still in flower, bless them.
I recently purchased a new bird feeder and should the little blighters wish to visit it they would be well catered for ( there no pleasing some birds is there!).
Any way I will dash , take care , speak to you soon.

Hiya WN. (i hope you don't mind me abbreiviating you name)
It's nice to hear from you again. Funnily enough i thought of you the other day when i was checking the 2 hollies i bought recently. They were going so cheap i could'nt resist them.
Do you enjoy watching the birds?
It is one of the things i enjoy when i'm home, there are so many different birds that visit my garden. The little robin is almost tame now, he gets into the ground feeder before i've put the seed in. If i had to choose my favourite, it would have to be the long-tailed-tits. They are an absolute jot to watch, sometimes there are as many as 12 birds at once.
I have noticed that some of the spring bulbs have started to shoot, despite the freezing temperatures. Fortunately there is nothing to be doing in my garden just now, which is just as well because my health is at an all time low just now Hopefully i will be fit and raring to get into the garden by spring.
How lucky you are to have a couple of annuals still in flower, kind of strange for this time of year eh!
Take care and stay warm, hopefully speak to you again soon.

Hi, it been a long time, I’ve just been going through some old post as I’ve not long since re-established my posts on H2G2 after a long absence.
Things have change a lot since we last had a chat , so if your up to a bit of gardening natter any time send me a post .

Well how nice to hear from you again after such a long time.
I must admit i don't use this site much anymore, but i do still drop in every couple of weeks to see if there is anything happening.
How is your garden? Mine is just waking up after the winter, already there are flowers open and bees buzzing. I love spring.

Hi, , well there so much to say ,as such a lot as happened since we last had a natter, it would be easy to write one really long opening post so as to try and catch up but I think that would be too much in one go .
Firstly , you’ll have to ignore the spelling and grammar, as my dyslexia seems to get the better of me now and days and things end up back to front and spelt wrong, but that wont stop me from posting.
I have moved from where I used to post from, I now have a much bigger garden, I m posh , got a front and a back garden now .
I still love to garden and have had the most splendid of flower shows the last two years , yes , I too love Spring, its that nice feeling of walking out early morning with a nice hot and being surprised as to what has just emerged.
I will admit that I have not got off to the usual good start, the garden is still a tad untidy and it saddens me that I can not spend and invest some time into it yet.
I have had to started a big decorating project and this is occupying too much of my available time, I only have limited windows in which to achieve things in, as I badly damaged my back 3 years ago and I experience too much pain after a short period of doing things .It will be another 3 weeks before I’m done inside decorating and then be able to do what I like doing best , pottering in the garden with a good . It s nice to be back in touch , I hope your , I will look forward to chatting about the garden this year , as its nice to share these moments .

Ooooh, so you're not too posh to speak to us mere people that only have 80feet of garden then.
I know all about pain my friend, i have rhumatoid arthritis which is getting worse as i get older. It does'nt stop me from enjoying my garden though....well it does at the moment, but not for long.
My first daffodils have opened today which is very pleasing. I've already been out with my camera. Thats my new hobby photography and i'm getting quite good, blowing my own trumpet.
So what kinds of flowers will you be growing this year? Did you see that series a couple of weeks back Bees, Butterflies and blooms? If you did'nt then i won't ramble about it. This year my flowers will be even more dedicated to the bees and butterflies. I have a small patch that my son-in-law is going to dig over for me. In there i am going to plant a whole mass of annual flower seeds that attract bees and other pollinating insects. I don't usually bother with annuals, i much prefer perennial herbacious plants. So this will be a new project for me.
Is you new garden an established plot, or do you get the joy of starting from scratch?
It's nice to have someone to talk gardening with again over a nice and i look forward to chatting some more.