PUSHING THE BORDERS

Just curious, I suspect most people are going to see it differently, but how is it for you, "Care in the community" ie something that keeps you sane, or maybe a chance to express some otherwise hidden artistic talent?

Mine has two main purposes, first it keeps me and my neighbours at a safe distance so I never have to fall out with them! but secondly its my plant zoo, a place where I can keep all the plants that I find and must try and grow, one of the reasons we open the garden is that it makes me think a bit about what it actually looks like, otherwise it could get totally random.

So what are you? a designer, a collector, a builder, a potterer or something else?

That's a good question!

For me it's an extension of the "bucket list" - I see a plant, find it, grow and bloom it and then move it on. There are "keepers", and a fair few low maintenance hardy perennials (used as fillers), but I like to think that there are a lot of "not seen that before" plants too - it's very gratifying when a knowledgeable gardener walks around saying that.
It does mean that it probably lacks cohesion, but I prefer the parts rather than the whole if that makes sense.

Ah! do I detect a fellow zookeeper? :lol:

charlie wrote:Ah! do I detect a fellow zookeeper? :lol:

Lordy - I hope not! I'll get done for cruelty! Last autumn it was a choice between Passiflora alata or Pandorea jasminoides coming in to the warm, so P.jasminoides was left to its fate in the cold greenhouse. It made it through to the last cold snap. Christ knows what I'll do if the Allamanda seeds germinate :?

But you're probably correct, as I can be greedy at times. Sixteen different Tricyrtis species/varieties, a similar number of Salvia (largely tender), started growing a wee collection of (mostly tender) members of the Fabaceae family, and my latest thing is succulents (although I'm aiming for hardier ones). Not to mention all the tender or winter blooming bulbs that I'm getting together.

Funnily enough I was going to start a similar thread on "how do you use your garden". but i'll come back to that.

I am currently more of a collector than gardener. This is because historically most of my plants are in pots.Even my choice of plants, succulents, is due to my lack of ability to garden and keep anything alive that needs proper care.

The new garden is slowly changing that in that I am looking forward to having a full garden and planning and planting it up.

I regard myself as a plant hoarder, rather than a collector of plants. The reason for this is I don't like just one of a certain plant, so I propagate them.....you know....just in case.
However, once I've found the best method I do tend to 'go off' them a bit and on to the next challenge.
Cytisus battendierii is giving me sleepless nights since I acquired one a few years ago. Sure I can do 'em from seed, but can't get a cutting to take, from any part at any time of year. I'll get there. I digress
So, in answer to the thread title.
My garden is a constant nursery. I could say it's not as mature as it should be. Because of mind changing, I tended to grow most things in pots. Now they're all going in permanently, it'll be a couple of years before the machete look is achieved

:) Cytisus battendierii wont do from cuttings! so its seed which produces weak rooted short lived plants or grafting onto Laburnum rootstocks which is the way to produce a better plant (but its more expensive)

charlie wrote::) Cytisus battendierii wont do from cuttings! so its seed which produces weak rooted short lived plants or grafting onto Laburnum rootstocks which is the way to produce a better plant (but its more expensive)

Thanks for the tip - I've been eyeing one up in a garden that backs onto my brothers. I have some Laburnum seed, but would a Laburnum cutting be better as rootstock?

Not sure about seedlings vs cuttings as root stocks, fruit trees are normally grafted onto cuttings as are roses but clematis and wisteria it's seed. Probably find it's more to do with convenience and timing rather than one works better than the other.

I’d probably call myself a mix of a collector and a potterer. I can’t resist bringing home new plants, even when I’m not entirely sure where they’ll go or how they’ll fit in. But there’s something so satisfying about seeing everything come together over time, even if it’s a bit chaotic. My garden is also where I find peace it’s like my personal therapy session.