Gardening: Hints and Help!

Very true Nellie. You do see them in allotments round here, but rarely in gardens. I had a wild version for years, used to come back every year, but this year, not a trace. I might have done some over zealous weeding and not spotted it😱

The village shows round our way keep up all the traditional plant and veg growing. Sadly no shows this year...a neighbour usually wins the Sweetpea section. 🌿

The village next to mum's is having a virtual show this year I read in the parish news. Sounds interesting.

Our town show is cancelled this year. It used to be absolutely fabulous, three huge marquees full of plants, local competitions, crafts etc..... Nowadays it’s a shadow of its former glory, and much different in character. We are usually away now.

Have to be patient with this tree. A couple of years ago we bought a half price Mulberry Tree in a local garden centre January sale. The tree was probably a few years old and is still taking it's time to grow. In fact we go "round and round the Mulberry Bush" frequently to see if any fruit have appeared, it can take eight years or more to fruit. Suddenly one single fruit has come into view, if it matures it will look like a big loganberry and should be very juicy! Maybe a few more next year? 

A long term project brue😁 I think I have only seen one fully grown Mulberry tree, it is just inside the gates to Tewkesbury Abbey. Huge, and it was dropping fruit onto visitors😂 Memorable though.

You can always catch a Mulberry thief, they will be covered in deep red stains...as I found out to my embarrassment at Charlecote Park many years ago. I "availed" myself of a few mulberries and had to go through the exit gate with visible reminders all over me!  (Some very old trees in the park....LINK.)

Anyone take cuttings from their plants. I've just altered the planting in my borders with many new plants ( cost a fortune ) so have been taking some cuttings of some Salvia's one really pretty one ' Hot Lips ' its worth a look . See what you think.

Yes, we frequently take cuttings of various plants and shrubs in our garden.  We are in the process of "re-vamping" our garden (blame the lockdown ) and will transfer some plants and take more cuttings from others, Salvia "hot lips" is not a plant we have but we are very drawn to it so I think it could be on the shopping list for next year unless of course I can scrounge a cutting or 2   We are extending our veggie plot and decided to buy a couple of fan trained apple trees to use as a divider between the lawn and veggie plot, we ended up buying 3 apple trees, 2 as a dividers (eaters) and 1 planted along the fence (cooker), now we are thinking buying a pear to go alongside it!  (ready trained trees - now they did cost a fortune  ) 

Would be interested to know how your cuttings of "hot lips" take 

Salvia cuttings take really easily, we've got a lot growing here, even the lovely tall purple Amistad which can't take the cold in the winter, have a go, saves buying more of them! Little heal cuttings work well.

This year I'm sprinkling seeds around from several plants (a good dry year for seeds) so hopefully more foxgloves etc over the next two years.