What has happened to Simon and Ryan? (Swoon?) Any hopes of a new series?
Sulking, as fed up of all others. (Sorry, except Real Gardens on Discovery!!)

:(

Thanks UKSTYLE!
The lads are back on!! Huzzah!

But repeats :(

But then again, thinks of a wet Simon but especially Ryan (sigh) :( LOL

Angie :(

Sorry I have been away for ages, Angie, but the garden beckons...also doing some work on the PC ...i.e. my new novel. Perhaps I will get one published one day....(yeah!)
Never got your email address. Shucks!
Still happy? Or not? Garden getting along okay?
Still only surviving member of Simon fan club. Maybe we will get a new series soon, but better than nowt! CHEERS! (Still have the vodka ready, just in case they call.....Safeways have a new alcohol section at our local...looks like a Spanish bodega with the most amazing drinks! Just like being on holiday! Me, I am saving up for a bottle of Havanna Club Rum!)

Hi Gilly, great to hear from you again
Well never mind about the e-mail address I did ask Uk Style will have to ask again.

Garden has been made over... I now have 4 areas, at the top by the house on one side is the patio on the other a hot area covered by plum slate... then the middle of the garden now has large borders around an area of lawn this is seperated from the remainder of the garden by diamond trellis and a rose arch which had now been turned into a vegetable plot with 3 soon to be 4 raised beds and shed with glory hole behind.

I have retained the border at the very bottom the garden as its the only one with any shade... here I have some heleborres, an astilbe - but also my treasures of himalayan blue poppies - which are my favourite... they are tempermental and very variable in colour - from wishy washy blue to deepest blue but they do brighten that part of the garden up and make you ask what is that... pity that they dont flower much past end of June :(

So it looks like most of the plants have survived the move to their new homes - now I have the exciting part of waiting for them to flower to find out what went where - as the final planting was an absolute madhouse - not helped by the fact that I had done my back in that day and could not help them..

It was the one part of the makeover which was rushed and nearly went disasterously wrong in that it was so hot and the plants suffered...

will try to get a digital camera to put pictures on this site

Angie

Angie....this sounds incredible. What a lot of work? Would love to see the pics if you can do this!
I also love the Himalayan Blue Poppies...but the two I bought for 7.99 EACH last year did not appear this year, after a gorgeous display last year! Maybe they were in too dry a position? I recall reading they dislike these conditions. Pah!
Sticking with my ENORMOUS Oriental poppies, those are truly, brazenly beautiful this year. Though what all this rain will do I don't know.
I too liked the Heuchera man...wasn't he a treat? Except I don't share your passion FOR THE PLANTS,(sorry!) as you can tell with the poppies I like BIG DRAMA in the garden. Daft, but true.
The Madame Alfred Carriere roses are out and the scent is STUPENDOUS.
Am worried about the slugs with my runner and french beans.Wil the rains never end!??
Must go or will run out of adjectives!
Keep digging!
Gill.

hi,
i recently rebuilt my front garden, with red painted retaining walls and a large area of plum slate. and yes it is fantastic! :D (waiting for pics to go on makeover slot) however i've never had a garden before and know nothing about plants. the first thing i put in were some heucheras (as recommended by my garden designer friend) and the plum pudding is beautiful :D :D :D it has already doubled in size and flowered, if only the rest of them were doing as well :( i've also planted a ceanothus, a leycesteria, honeysuckles up an arch, a hebe and a penstemon. slowly but surely the garden is being transformed from a sloping, grassy nightmare into a beautiful entrance to the house. so if anyone can recommened fast growing plants with year rouond interest, that are suitable for a total beginner, i'd be glad of the help!
claire

If you like Poppies then you must try to check out Water Garden Nurseries at Cheriton nr Winchester in Hampshire. Problem is its only open Wednesdays to Saturdays but does mail order and sends every thing out by first class on a Monday so that you get them in time to plant at the weekend.

They breed the new Super Poppies and import new varieties from America... I have a new super poppy so new it doesn't even have a name called Maroon 8... Its tall, has large maroon flowers held well above its foliage and whats more it repeat flowers thoroughout the spring, summer into the Autumn.

I have the catelogue to order some more... they also hold the national collection of poppies and their gardens are great... you will find them just off the A272 between Winchester and Petersfield, but they are not signposted off the main road - which I found stupid - but as I know the road it was no problem.

If you want further details - like a telephone number or a full address just let me know...

Angie