This is the path/mess where the Lily of the Valley are growing. Down the side of the bungalow and as mentioned yesterday I was quoted £2,000 to take up the slabs, shingle and weed suppressant, lay a decent concrete path on new weed suppressant and lots of shingle down each side.
I decided that was too much for somewhere not used unless I'm going out to the front with the wheelbarrow because the back door is out of the living room into the garden and the front door is used all the time for going out and the gate at the front end is kept bolted anyway. I'm letting everything grow for the bees - that's my excuse.
On Monday morning I noticed some of the sweetcorn kernels had germinated and took the tray out of the plastic bag it had been in since sowing them in the peat pots last week. They grew an inch before taking this photo Monday evening and they've grown another inch since. They're on the living room window sill, better move them out to the greenhouse later today....... 33 out of 36. Looking hopeful for delicious sweetcorn cobs later in the year.
It seems most of the Iceland Poppy seeds have germinated from the one poppy seedcase I sprinkled over this patch of rock hard soil by the front path just outside the front door.
Perhaps not all will grow and survive but it looks as if several will if I do a bit of watering. We've not had a good rain here for weeks even though a wet morning was predicted for yesterday, nothing happened until after midday and even then it was only short showers.........not enough to fill up the new water butts.
I can't remember the last time I saw lily of the valley growing. It used to be much more common when I was a child. £2000 seems a ridiculous quote for a fairly small path. Looking after the bees is a much better idea.
ReplyDeleteI had Lily of The Valley in my posy when I was a bridesmaid in about 1962 but have never grown it
DeleteMum gave me a few lily of the valley over ten years ago. They stayed in a pot for a number of years and it was four of five years before I got much more more than leaves. I thinned them out about four years ago and planted a few clumps at the front - this year they are lovely and, I gather, once they do 'take', they spread quickly. I hope so; they are lovely. Good luck with yours.
ReplyDeleteThat quote seems terribly expensive. Would it be worth getting a couple more, just to check?
xx
I shall have a go at persuading these to grow further under the fence
DeleteI should let the march of the Lily of the Valley continue and forget expensive quotations.
ReplyDeleteYes thats a good plan
DeleteFree plants are not to be sniffed at! I have a lot of shingle here (previous owners laid it) and all sorts of things love to grow in it.
ReplyDeleteI love the California Poppies that popped up in the shingle at Clay Cottage - there are one or two here
DeleteI think Lily of the valley must be very hardy because we used to have some grow through the middle of a tarmac drive every year!
ReplyDeleteGoodness - I've never had any luck even in good soil
DeleteThat seems money well saved. Even if you had it all done the result would eventually be the same. Plants love to grow in gravel, best to take your approach and embrace them - with a little weeding of undesirables - and let nature enjoy it.
ReplyDeleteI'm not keen on letting the vicious thistles thrive but other bits can stay
DeleteI had lots of Lily of the Valley in my old house but have tried a few years here but still have none.
ReplyDeleteI went to see my young sister and family yesterday at Wimpole Estate, NT it was a lovely day lots of young animals. On the way home we had very,very heavy rain which the garden needed fortunately it's sunny now.
Hazel 🌈🌈
Glad you had a lovely day out. Not much rain here
DeleteWe had floods of rain here and then six miles away it was bone dry and then onward a bit further and I was in floods again. It was really weird.
ReplyDeleteShort showers in the afternoon that did nothing then some late evening which was a bit more but not enough
DeleteThat Lily-of-the-Valley is a survivor. I have come across a couple of other plants that were growing where it didn't seem possible. I can't remember which day it was that we had rain,but it was here for most of the day. If we have ever needed a quote for anything we always get three and opt for the middle one.
ReplyDeleteThe problem here is lack of people actually willing to do small jobs
DeleteGood to have an area for the bees. I am thinking about doing no-mow May for the back garden, but think I will have to mow the front, it is new turf so doesn't have any dandelions in it any way.
ReplyDeleteI don't think my battery mower would cope in June if I did no mow May but I shall go round the dandelions
DeleteAll we have had is a few sharp showers but the plants look better for them.
ReplyDeleteThe rain we had didn't go far into the ground here
DeleteLily of the Valley grows like a weed in a shady bed in my garden. It comes up in the grass and in any paving cracks. You may not need to cosset it!
ReplyDeleteI hope it will spread from under the fence, I've cut away the weed suppressant stuff from round it
DeleteYou are good at keeping an eye on all the bits of your garden. Your corn will be a treat for you to share as you will have a lot, right? I am glad you get so much joy out of your yardwork.
ReplyDeleteI hope I have lots of corn cobs. I'll probably freeze some and eat it every day!
DeleteWhat a ridiculous quote, it sounds like they are trying it on, maybe get someone else to give you a quote before you give up.
ReplyDeleteNow I've lived here long enough to know how little I use this side path I won't bother with a tidy up
DeleteThe lily of the valley wants to grow in your path. I'd encourage it and let it surround the stone path. It will require no care once filled in, it will push out other plants and the flower scent will be lovely. You could have a very nice lily of the valley hallway. Your corn is growing beautifully and the sweet corn will be delicious. Look at all those poppies germinated from seeds! They are going to be outstanding. I love poppies and recently planted 3 small plants. I hope they thrive as I've not succeeded before.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't believe how many poppy seeds have germinated on such a dry spot
DeleteI love lily of the valley and had a large bed of it in my last garden.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea for that path - let nature do its own thing! I'm always surprised at how tenacious nature can be when it comes to colonizing some inhospitable place. You might end up with a path through a wildflower meadow!
ReplyDeleteI have a small amount of Lily of the Valley growing, but have also had problems with it before. If I remember rightly Mum had drifts of it in one of her flower beds...maybe there's hope for me yet. x
ReplyDeleteI love that sneaky lily of the valley
ReplyDelete