Icelandic Poppies are native of North America rather than Iceland. I am not aware of any exclusively native Iceland plants.
I find this poppy variety self sows very easily and the seed remains viable in the garden for several seasons.
The plants have a long tap root which may make them harder to transplant.
If the root gets broken when trying to dig out the plant a new one will probably grow in its place. Due to this and its profligate seeding I treat them like weeds.
What you see is not always what you get!
This is an original photograph but the rain drops may have been added by a water spray just before the picture was taken. Many garden photographers carry glycerin water around to enhance a subject prior to snapping away.
Blue, Mauve, Purple, I am not sure what colour this is. All I know is it will never grow in my garden or anywhere else short of laboratory experiments
As I search for sensible articles and reports on various garden subjects I collect a range on odd bits of information. Not knowing what is helpful I hope at least one of the following gardeners tip is of use but let’s see how we go.
Trendy flowers are fads waiting to be superceeded. Three years ago I highlighted the grass Calamagrostis x acutifolia Karl Foerster, Euphorbia cyparissias Fens Ruby, Dogwoods and Gillenia trifoliata. (They grow 6′, 3′, 4′, and 18″ respectively). Who grows them now?.
Organic items that have been slow to compost on my bin this year have been egg shells, avocado skins and stones, spiky top leaves of pineapples plus those green biodegradable plastic bags sold for indoor compost collecting. 12 months should have been long enough but have patience.
Clumps of Primroses and Primulas that have finished flowering can be lifted and divided by pulling apart good sized pieces that should already have rooted. Keep them moist and planted in some shade. If plants are too small to divide mulch them with organic matter to bulk up for next year.
Aubrietia should be sheared hard after they finish their display. A new cushion of foliage will help keep the plants growing for years without feed as Aubretia have no liking for rich soil. …
They are not called Lemons and Oranges for nothing. As a project I have been considering creating a colour themed garden. The thought of being able to eat the yellow produce has led me to a series of plant discoveries and fresh ideas.
This sculptural plant has tall ‘frothy’ flower stalks pretty much like your Rhubarb when it runs to flower. Not surprising because Rhubarb is a variety of Rheum. Rheum palmatum ‘Atrosanguineum’ has very large leaves with a red underside and a rosey glow throughout the plant. They like plenty of humus in the soil.
Rheum Palmatum and Rheum Ace of Hearts are other herbaceous perennial varieties. Palmatum has large palm like dark green leaves that are purple-red beneath and creamy green to deep red flowers. It grows up to 7-8 feet and spreads 6 feet. Ace of Hearts has large heart shaped leaves.
This plant is grown on a steep slope so it can be viewed from underneath or above. The ground is moist most of the year so the rhizome is kept moist. As a herbaceous perennial it dies back in winter producing new spring leaves and early summer flowers.
Pack your plot with Pak Choy
Pak Choy was one of the vegetables most in view at Chelsea last year. The regular shape and decorative leaves help create a formal structure to vegetable planting. There are also new varieties coming on the market including one with long stems (not bolting stems) that can be eaten as pick and come again vegetables.
Is it a contradiction to have white bluebells, a gardeners oxymoron?
It is very unusual to have British bluebells flowering in white but their Spanish cousins Hyacinthoides hispanica are prolific white flowers.
White Bluebells running to seed.
Silver champagne buckets or plain galvanised steel, there is a container for every purpose. These Pansies contrast with the brick wall and almost cover the container.
Outdoor containers made from terracotta or pottery need to be frost proof to avoid cracking. It is also advisable to lift them off the ground so they do not freeze to the path. A hard frost can see the base left behind when the pot is moved. To prevent this you can buy small pot feet, put the container up on bricks or stand it on some gravel or bubble wrap.
Winter Container Care Tips
Keep winter containers out of cold drying wind for the best results. Any shelter will be appreciated by plants that have to do battle with winter conditions.
Winter can often have dry spells so keep an eye on pots that may need some watering. This is also true of pots under roofs and eaves.
I like to use a woooden tub or half barrel and start by lining the container with a few bits of broken flowerpot or polystyrene for drainage.
Plant pre-grown bulbs before adding the other plants with trailing plants at the edge of the container. You can bury small pots in a larger container and change them as necessary.
Plants grow more slowly in winter so pack them in fairly close together to get a quick effect.
If you have special plants that do not like their crowns to get wet put a glass cover over the pot.
Lawns, particularly when the grass is newly cut, can provide the most evocative of garden scents. Lawns act as a natural soak a-way for rain and in so many ways are preferable to hard landscaping. Keep the geese off!
Improve the look of your garden by cutting the grass and trimming the edges. A neatly mowed lawn sets off the rest of the garden.
Enjoy the grass on your lawn, walk barefooted or lay out to get a sun tan. Do not be a slave to your lawn or garden but enjoy.
Quantity and quality can be found from bulk, bulb suppliers. Plan out your needs early and get an order placed.
An update on my Daffodil purchases for flowering next spring. Our local nursery has good connections with Holland and I guess that is where they source a large range of different varieties of bulbs. This range is then laid out in wicker baskets and sold by weight – £2.45 per kilo (well we are part of Europe and it probably illegal to sell in pounds and ounces!)
For more information on the 14 divisions for Daffodils and details of the various parts of the flower from Perianth to Spathe read Gardeners Tips This page also contains the Top 12 Daffodil Tips from the Daffodil Society.