When it comes to summer, I'll examine this plant in detail for it is, it really is, my favourite dandelion. So beautiful is it that, were I to be pressed into choosing a favourite plant - this might win the contest.
If practical, I'd use dandelions all the way along the edge of the border . .
January is a sort of enquiring time. One wonders what will happen when spring or summer comes - autumn even. I've not grown Canterbury Bells before. Here's one weathering its way through the winter, readying itself to flower later in the year. (I hope that's what it's doing!) I've put three together, uncertain whether they will thrive or over-power. And I have three spares in pots.
This little patch is one of the most exciting parts of the garden because nothing has agreed to come up here before. The tatty leaves on the left are of an aspidistra which, if ever I really planted it, can't have lasted long before going into hiding, for the earth has been bare for a long time. It appeared, all of a sudden, a few months ago. It was a 'whatever is that?' moment. The cyclamen is (are) relocated from the back garden and seem happy. The . . . daffodils (I think they are daffodils) . . . are the first bulbs to get anywhere. When I've planted any there before, they've either been eaten as they emerged or gone weird pretty soon - or simply never broken the surface.
So many things to be excited about.
5 comments:
Your post reminded me of the time I saw a massive patch of dandelions covering acres and acres of land in the French countryside. A spectacular sight with the ground covered in a sea of yellow flowers.
Aspidistra is alot tougher than thought! :)
One of the best post titles I've seen in ages too. Delicious green Esther and a sign of hope re your difficult spot
p.s. thought the word verif was catlitter but one t missing
Like the boys, I have seen dandelions growing en masse - this time on the Baltic coast in Germany. Fair took my breath away. I should like to know how your daffs go weird. How intriguing.
I've grown aspidistra outside too but the snails do love it.
Dave
Hello Mark and Gaz and David. Glad you too like dandelions! I think they are much under-rated. Aspidistras must be like our cordylines - snails love to scrape along the leaves but seem not to be able to eat them - so the plants survive (even if they sometimes get a bit bedraggled).
David - bulbs in this particular patch sort of bend and get holes in and stay stunted. I think it's probably part of their struggle against slugs. In other parts of the garden, where there's more light, they grow faster so can hold their own. Crocuses are very peculiar on that side of the house. If they come up at all, they stay small and emaciated; sad, thin, and un-interesting; almost transparent.
Hello Patio Patch. Sometimes WV can be apt. Cats are know to mistake this little patch for a place to . . .
Dandelion greens are very nutritious! ;)
I love Canterbury bells. I grew them many years ago. I should keep my eye out for some seeds and grow them again. I think they're the only biennials I've ever grown.
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