Over the garden fence

Re: Just to say Hello

Phot's-Moll — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 21:50:00 GMT

Hi Sue and Danuta!

Re: Just to say Hello

Digger — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 13:07:11 GMT

hello danuta my friend, if you want to start a new thread, go to the forum home page, look down the list on the left for the topic you wish to place your post on, perhaps under the plants heading you will see several topics starting with "identification" under that "plants" etc.. click on the heading and not on the last post, you will then get a list of all the threads for that heading ,at the top of the list you will see an icon heading "write a new post" click on that icon and you will be asked to title your new thread etc..

Re: Just to say Hello

Danuta — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 10:12:04 GMT

Just saying hello too - I'm a new gardener in Somerset having problems with my laurel hedge and was wondering how to start a new thread. I've scrolled up and down the pages and can't see anything. Can I just not see for looking? Thanks for any advice. D

Re: Just to say Hello

Sue — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 10:24:59 GMT

Hallo everyone, just to say I've just joined too, what a great site. Been a RHS member for years, although I hardly ever use the membership card except when I am on holiday. We tend to plan our holidays around RHS gardens and National Trust houses/ gardens, so apart from the hotel costs, the rest of the holiday is free. I used to go to the 'free' London shows but never go to the big flower shows like Chelsea, they are too expensive for older people on limited incomes and far too crowded and there is never anywhere to sit down, unless you buy an overpriced coffee, but I do appreciate the opportunity to walk around Hyde Hall when I get the chance, which is a 50 minute drive from here.

We garden on very heavy clay soil too, and I try to follow the Beth Chatto principles to conserve water. The first thing I did when I moved here seven years ago was order in tons of manure from a local stables. That did the trick, but it took ages to rot down sufficiently and even longer to break up the clods of clay. Honestly, you could set up a brick works here.

We have just removed a 12' x 6' area from our paved front drive and I spent the last three days, with a bit of paid help, digging out a flower bed and putting in a ton of shingle for drainage and on top of that, three tons of topsoil. That is the only way to work solid clay. Even so, the subsoil is still there lurking, 2' down, so if anyone has any suggestions for shallow rooted plants in semi-shade, please let me know.

I've already bought some lovely ferns for the really shady part and will underplant them with bulbs. I bought 6 pot-bound heucheras, all different colours from lime green to caramel and red and separated them into around 25 - 30 plants which will look like a tapestry - they are such undemanding plants! I saw one last year, plum pudding, I think in a huge grecian urn in a garden I was visiting and it looked fabulous in full flower.

It would be nice to have some height in the border. I am thinking of putting in a climbing plant on an obelisk, but a couple of shrubs to go along the fence would be lovely - any ideas, anyone?

I haven't tested the soil yet, so I've no idea what the new topsoil is like - but it looks a bit sandy, to me, but I will be adding in lots of compost - our bins are overflowing in expectation of their new home! . Anyway, it's nice to join you, Sue

Re: Just to say Hello

Digger — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 19:12:29 GMT

Hello Joy, and welcome to the forum. Your English is fine my friend, certainly better than my Italian! what region of Italy are from my friend?

Re: Just to say Hello

Joy — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 18:48:35 GMT

Me too I am new. I'm writing from Italy and I bag pardon for my english. I hope both my english and my garden will be better with your aid.

Re: Just to say Hello

Phot's-Moll — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 15:08:40 GMT

Hello edit! Nice to 'meet' you.

Re: Just to say Hello

Edit — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:44:01 GMT

Hi,

I am new to the site, too. I have recently signed up for a gardening course (KLC's Designing with Plants), will try to do the RHS General Cert. in Horticulture at the end of it, and am hoping to possibly change careers into gardening and garden design in the not too distant future.

I am really glad I found this site and I am looking forward to having lots of lively chat and learn a lot from you all in this forum

Have a lovely day all

Edit

Re: Just to say Hello

Phot's-Moll — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:45:22 GMT

Hello and welcome to the site!

Re: Just to say Hello

Susiq — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:38:20 GMT

Welcome to both of you, you've come to the right place!

Re: Just to say Hello

EnglishRose — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:34:23 GMT

Hi, I am new as well and am looking forward to chatting about gardening and house plants and other topics too. sarah x

Just to say Hello

Kizzypug — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 15:35:51 GMT

Just a short message to say Hello to you all and to introduce myself. I'm Nicky and I garden about one half an acre here in Cheshire. I'm helped by my three Pugs, Uncle Cecil, Pip and Ty. I'm looking forward to dicussing gardening in general and some specific problems with you all.