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

Bad luck about the Daphne... It doesn't help, I suppose, that mine's flourishing.

The acanthus are going well too; flower-spikes are appearing, which I didn't expect this soon. I thought I'd have to wait another year.

I replaced all those pelargoniums with eriostemons. They seem to like it here, frosts and all.

I might give the seeds another few days, just in case.

At least one of us has had success with the Daphne. I don't think it was just me the plant did'nt like, i noticed the 3 at work have also died. Could be the climate they don't like.
My acanthus flowered after just one year too, in fact its still flowering. I cut off the old flower spikes when the were finished, i did'nt epxect to get another flush of flowers

I almost bought some camomile and feverfew seedlings today, but thought better of it. This time next week I'll be away, and I'd hate to come back to withered neglected seedlings. (I have someone organised to look after the place, but I don't think I should go leaving incredibly detailed instructions.)

There are Spanish bluebells coming up in the side garden; I've never noticed them before, and I've been here a few years now. Odd, but pleasant. It must be connected to the end of the drought.

It is probably best you don't plant seedlings then. Maybe you could buy some, if they are still available when you get back.

I have a theory about plants suddenly appearing after a few years.
I've noticed in my garden, that if i dig over a flower bed once in a while, loads of seedlings from plants i havent grown for year appear in the beds. I think that disturbing the soil can bring dormant plants and seeds to life. So maybe the bluebells were there all the time.

The bluebells must have been there all along, but it was probably too dry for them to do anything much. They're coming up through the daphne, which looks a little strange. They're taller than the daphne for a start.

The violets that are scattered about the place are doing really well this year. I think planting so many things in a neglected garden has helped them, loosening up the soil and so forth.

It sounds like you garden is performing very well. You've done a good job.

I'm not keen on bluebells in the garden, i've been plagued with them ever since i moved here. The bulbs can be as deep as 2 feet! That makes it impossible to dig them all out 'sigh' They come up between plants, in the lawn, anywhere they please. The leaves go all mushy after a while and choke any small plant caught underneath them

I have another half-baked plan kicking about in my mind. There's a scrappy patch of ground under and around a climbing rose, against a low wall. It's a reasonably sheltered spot, with morning sun in summer. I fancy putting something non-native there. What sort of conditions do hellebores prefer?

Helebores like partial or full shade. Having said that one of mine seems to do well with alot of sun in the morning. I do have to water it alot though as they like moist soil.
Give it a go, they seem quite adaptable from my experience of them.
There is a plant called osteospurnum (south african daisy), which has big daisy like flowers. The flowers close once the sun has moved away from them. Its as tough as anything and will tolerate dry conditions. If you have no luck with the helebores, you could try those instead?

Moist soil. H'mmm. I might have to monitor how moist that corner remains before I put anything in. If we have severe water restrictions again, hellebores might be a liability.

Is osteospurnum anything like gazanias?

Osteospurnums are not like the Gazanias we get here, which are bright yellows, oranges and bronze, with stripes and markings of green or brown.
Osteopurnums come in shades of bright pink, pale yellow, orange and the one i like is a clean white, the underside is lilac which is also on the very tip of the flowers. It has a dark yellow centre with tinges of purple.

Sounds like fun. I'll have a look around and see if they're available here.

I might have to look more closely at South African plants. The climate's similar at least. The risk is that whatever-it-is might adapt too well and become invasive, as far as the local bushland goes.

I've given up on the camomile and feverfew. There are seedlings where I wanted them, but they're alyssum and stock I think. Never mind; at least they'll cover the space. I assume they're the seeds from plants that were there when I moved in, that died in the drought.

Hiya Ivan
Did you enjoy your time away?

Its a shame about the chammomile and feverfew, though all is not lost with the other seedlings eh!
We are fast approaching winter now. The evening and mornings are dark and the weather turning cold. I hate winter!

It was a nice break, with lots of and good company, and lots of bookshops. Secondhand bookshops are my favourite way to spend a day or two. I brought a dozen books back with me, and another 15 or so are coming by post. Strangely, I'm now quite poor.

I think camomile might not be that good here after all. Feverfew, on the other hand, I've had success with in the past. I'll have to find another place for it and try again - with seedlings.

Sounds like you had a fine time.

I'm still getting over the worst cold i've had in a long time. I had to resort to seeing the doc for some antibiotics. 'sigh'

The weather has been awful, so i havent even ventured as far as my garden for nearly a week now.

I had grand plans for some drastic weeding and pruning, but it's been raining ever since I decided to do that. How awful, being forced to stay inside on the couch with all these books.

As for this cold of yours - how long has it been going?

Hhmmmmm i can feel your disappointment from here

I've had this cold for over 2 weeks now. The doc said because of all the medication i'm on to supress my immune system, every time i get a cold it will be like this. 'Oh joy!' If i had been more sensible i would have gone sick from work and rested, maybe it would have gone quciker.

Rest is good. I recommend it, in any given situation.

I've been not-completely-well for a couple of decades now; I manage things by having a rest as often as possible. (It's also a good excuse for dodging invitations to uninteresting or irritating events.)

The lawnmower bloke came today while I was at w*rk, which is good.

He's mown the lawn, which is more or less what I expected.

He's also mown the catmint.

Do you think I could use him as some sort of 100% organic mulch?

If you can think of any way in which catmint can be mistaken for couchgrass, ryegrass or even tall fescue, please let me know. It's beyond me. I expect I'll have to build some sort of visual barrier - a line of string supported with old chopsticks (which make good emergency stakes), possibly with a large sign mentioning eunuchs.

Is he stupid!! I don't know any way you could mistake catmint for grass. Maybe you should mention a visit to the opticians, though the eunuch idea sounds good Is it possible to mow grass with your legs crossed

My garden is just a mass of fallen leaves right now. Guess what i will be doing when i get some free time. Raking leaves has to be one of the worst jobs ever.