Corking the Spikes and Covering the Arid Bed!

I couldn't hang on any longer, we have had torrential downpours and the temperature has been dropping.
I know my Arid bed is mainly gravel so the plants would not be sat in wet soil, which as you may or may not know, along with cold is a killer for them, and having seen just how much they have grown this year, I really want to look after them so they have another good year next year.
So this morning whilst we waited for the BT man to come and fix our internet, having been out and bought a small tray of corks, cut them in half

I went and put them on the spikey tips. Now these spikes are lethal, I reckon you could actually sew with them and it didn't take too much effort to put the corks on.

I have only put them on where there maybe a possibility of the spikes touching the over.

I have decided this is an Agaves version of having rollers in!!! Lol!

People have suggested using polystyrene but I was concerned that if the cover moved it may cause the polystyrene to break up and then the spikes would pierce the cover. Bearing in mind this cost well over £100 and I want it to last a good few years, so would rather be safe than sorry.

But before we cover up just take a look at this....

isn't it stunning Fascicularia Bicolor

the flowers in the centre are blue. I will have to keep an eye on this, even with the cover on.

There we are, all tucked away for the winter.

Now all I have to do is finish bubble wrapping the greenhouse before the big 'dig out' of Ensete, Musa, Maurelli, Canna, Hiniba, Elephants ears, well some of them. Then as I have a gardener for 2 weeks, I may get him to move the Humilis Chamaerops, we will see. x

My Arid Bed.

The Arid Bed has been unbelievable this year, I am astounded by just how much everything has grown. Baring in mind these sort of plants are expected to grow in hot dry conditions, it has been anything but hot and dry. But planted in pure gravel in a totally south facing garden they seem to be very happy.

This Agave (forgotten the name) I bought last year. It was planted in the main bed but was looking exceptionally sorry for its self earlier in the year. On closer inspection I found a massive ants nest undermining it, so I dug it out, cleaned off all the ants, then potted it up in a pot.

Its obviously happy as it is now going to flower!!!!  I have mixed emotions about this, as I am excited to see it flower, but sad that the plant will die after, especially as it wasn't cheap!!!! I will keep you posted!

But just look at the rest of them, they are huge!!! This Americana was repotted also this year and has gone totally mental. Every year this has to be lifted in to the heated greenhouse for winter. I may have to relook at my shelving as this has grown so much!!

Another new succulent, bought earlier this year, also decided to flower! I'm obviously doing something right!!

The flower spike has been cut off, hopefully I will get some seed....... but ..... when I first saw the flower stalk growing I took off some lower leaves and tried to root them. Fortunately two have grown roots and have been potted up, so fingers and toes crossed, neglect will help produce some new plants!

Back in June it looked like this, when I bought it the lady who sold it to me said I could only have it if I repotted it as two prickly stalks had quite serious damage to them. So it was duely repotted and ...

you can see just how much it has grown. If you look at the spikes, you can see where they change about 2inches from the top of each, well that is how much they have grown!!!

The Americana just looks healthier and healthier everyday!

This colour is stunning!

Another new Agave, Century, back in June

and now!!

If people tell you these plants need Hot, Dry conditions, then direct them here, they love Hot, well drained conditions!!

Chuffed to pieces!

Feeling Hot! Hot! Hot!

Yesterday to keep my mind occupied I decided to treat hubbies man shed! I am really pleased with how it has come up, but boy was it hot, it needs another couple of coats but they can wait till another day!

Meanwhile the garden is loving the warmth, you can practically see plants grow in front of you. According to the weather forecast, sadly, this isn't going to last!!!

So for a change starting at the bottom of the garden and yes the Gunnera has grown since I put it in, I am watering it religiously everyday.

Poor pond area has been badly neglected. I am waiting for the neighbours to put in their new fence, which in the spring they said they would do and we are still waiting. All of a sudden after 7 years, they are not talking to us, we have no idea what we have done, probably all my moaning about their flippin hedge, but hey ho!

Planted a few more 'exotics' in this part of the flower bed, should look really good when it gets going.

Looking up the garden from the archway. I really must get the trough filled with some soil and lots of gravel, it may have to wait till next year after 'The Wedding'. I am trying hard not to spend money in the garden, but its not easy!!!

My Hiniba, now looking a lot more healthier than earlier in the season, love the red stripe up the lime green leaves.

The top bed in the very bright sunshine this morning.

Kong Coleus, bottom right of this next photo, bought from Aldi!!! There should be another bottom left but the slugs have had a field day eating it!! I could use slug pellets but I worry about them, especially having the dog around.
The Maurelli leaves look amazing in the sun, again another slow grower this year, just wondering if the Trachy is taking all the goodness and nutrients out of this area?

Cardoon growing well, amazing thistle type flower heads

which as you can see all the insects love!

thetrachy in glorious sunshine, really loving the bromeliads.

the very top bed, some of the flowers are now beginning to bloom. The Maurelli in the sunshine looks amazing, but is struggling for some unknown reason, I will keep watering and feeding.

Stunning Canna, love this colour.

I love my garden, and get a lot of pleasure from it, I know its the same old, same old, every time you read my blog, but to me its everything. I know I should grow more from seed, but having the space to bring the seedlings on is what I lack. I just wish I could open it up for people to come and see as it is so unusual. Sadly that will not happen unless our neighbours start talking to us. We have no rear access, everything to do with gardening comes through my house, the only access we have is for 'coal' which as you know the Rayburn went 3 years ago. Hey ho! Off to do some sewing now!

On A Great British Summers Day......... not!

So here we are, nearly the middle of July and the weather is miserable. We have had rain but not the sort that actually waters the ground. I didn't realise how dry the ground was until I planted some plants so I spent the rest of yesterday watering!!!

Today of course, it really rained!!!! So as you can see the garden is growing well.

I am being very good on the feeding front, this year. the tree spinach on the right of the stripy leafed banana is doing well, and yes you can eat it lol!

Its all coming along well, but we could do with some more 'heat'!!!

My Bromeliards  seem to be doing well, I am loving the colours of them up the trunk.

My Brahea Armata, is doing so well, two new spears coming up. I think I have been scared to over water it, but it seems to be enjoying the humidity!

The new jungle bed is romping away,

The marks I made to see if it was growing and as you can see, it most definitely is. This was always a very 'dry' bed so I must remember to water, water, water!

The Arid bed is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G

the next two photos where last year just after it was planted...

you can see just how much everything has grown

The Dasylirion Serratifolium is growing amazingly.
 

I hadn't realised just how much they have grown. I am just loving this.

the centre of this Yucca Rostrata is solid with fronds or whatever they are called!!

A great success, smiling now.

My Zebra Grass has excelled this year, I had planned to dig this bed out and plant my new Gunnera here, but I have changed my mind (again) lol!!

I have decided to plant it here, next to the brand new trellis, my neighbour built and attached it to MY  side of the fence, then planted a Montana Clematis to grow up it and assured me it wouldn't encroach as she would keep it trimmed back!!!!! Not sure how she intends to do that my side!!!
It gets very damp here and every year I lose the grass due to the damp, so I will move some of the ferns, arum lily, box and other bits and plant and feed like crazy!!!

So all in all the garden is looking great..................................

apart from............................................

here, I am at the end of my tether with this bed, which runs down the right hand side of the garden. next to a 6ft fence, which has an enormous beech hedge the other side, which tops the fence by 2 feet, and whilst it does that it grows over into my garden taking at least 2+ft of light from a garden that is only 13ft wide!!!!

I have added so many plants this year and it looks a flippin mess.

Serious thoughts as to what to do. I may dig the whole lot out, well, I won't, I may get 'the gardener again and build another raised bed and fill it with more arids unless you can come up with a better idea?