This was what Jurassic Park looked like this time last year (well, 26 December 2007 to be precise - I love Picasa!):
And this is what it looked like just over a week ago, from a similar angle (before the water feature arrived):
I'm delighted with the progress of the garden over the year. It has gone from being a collection of plants in pots to being a real garden, which now has a seating area, a water feature, hanging baskets, and will soon have some screening to enclose it a bit more, hopefully.
My big successes of the year have been finding the bargain Agave tequilana, getting the Brainea insignis to grow a single frond, being able to buy the fountain, germinating some Arisaema tortuosa seeds (they just came through a few days ago) and joining the Hardy Tropicals forum. And of course, starting this blog and having such a good reception for it.
Failures? Well, have a look:
That's Tsuga canadensis, Banksia spinulosa "Birthday Candles" and Leucospermum "Scarlet Ribbons" in the "morgue". The two proteas will stay until their more lively compatriots start to grow in the spring, and if they don't follow suit then I shall compost them. The Tsuga has one green branch left on it near the base. If that survives and starts to grow, then I may be able to prune it severely and carry on.
I also killed the gorgeous Abies nordmanniana that you can see in the very first picture in this post. And I managed to overwater a Gunnera, although when I told a friend about this, he said of the mutual acquaintance who divided his plant for me, "Well, he probably gave you a dud Gunnera"! I shall try again with another Gunnera this year.
I may also have lost my lovely witch hazel. There are no flower buds on it at all, and it really should be showing some signs of flowering by now! I would be most unhappy about that, as it was some very welcome winter colour last year.
Still, onward and upward into the new year - the days are getting longer, the plants are getting stronger. May you all have a happy and prosperous new year. May the vine weevils and slugs be suitably scared away, may the cats not crap on your gravel, and may the squirrels not eat your tree ferns.
PS: If any of you are heading to Kew Gardens tomorrow for their free entry day, I may see you there. Look out for the girl in the bright pink hat running round the Evolution House, with the bewildered husband following behind complaining about the cold and how he wants a coffee.
And this is what it looked like just over a week ago, from a similar angle (before the water feature arrived):
I'm delighted with the progress of the garden over the year. It has gone from being a collection of plants in pots to being a real garden, which now has a seating area, a water feature, hanging baskets, and will soon have some screening to enclose it a bit more, hopefully.
My big successes of the year have been finding the bargain Agave tequilana, getting the Brainea insignis to grow a single frond, being able to buy the fountain, germinating some Arisaema tortuosa seeds (they just came through a few days ago) and joining the Hardy Tropicals forum. And of course, starting this blog and having such a good reception for it.
Failures? Well, have a look:
That's Tsuga canadensis, Banksia spinulosa "Birthday Candles" and Leucospermum "Scarlet Ribbons" in the "morgue". The two proteas will stay until their more lively compatriots start to grow in the spring, and if they don't follow suit then I shall compost them. The Tsuga has one green branch left on it near the base. If that survives and starts to grow, then I may be able to prune it severely and carry on.
I also killed the gorgeous Abies nordmanniana that you can see in the very first picture in this post. And I managed to overwater a Gunnera, although when I told a friend about this, he said of the mutual acquaintance who divided his plant for me, "Well, he probably gave you a dud Gunnera"! I shall try again with another Gunnera this year.
I may also have lost my lovely witch hazel. There are no flower buds on it at all, and it really should be showing some signs of flowering by now! I would be most unhappy about that, as it was some very welcome winter colour last year.
Still, onward and upward into the new year - the days are getting longer, the plants are getting stronger. May you all have a happy and prosperous new year. May the vine weevils and slugs be suitably scared away, may the cats not crap on your gravel, and may the squirrels not eat your tree ferns.
PS: If any of you are heading to Kew Gardens tomorrow for their free entry day, I may see you there. Look out for the girl in the bright pink hat running round the Evolution House, with the bewildered husband following behind complaining about the cold and how he wants a coffee.
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