Nailsworth Gardener: Mock Trop Grasses etc

WELCOME TO MY POTTING SHED

You can't beat a dollop of mud a day to keep the Doctor at bay.

Why not follow me about as I garden for money and just for fun in beautiful Nailsworth and its' environs.

What's it all about?

My gardens, that's all and any gardening related stuff I guess you might be interested in.

Where do I garden?

My house is in the centre of Nailsworth. With the wind in the right direction, we get a strong whiff of curry as it floats out of the Passage to India and into our front garden. We never get this smell anywhere else on our premises, which is either a good thing, or a bad one, depending on your point of view. As you now know we have a garden, a small rectangle, at the front of the house, and a triangular courtyard garden at the back. Then there's the Garden Plot, right down in the heart of Nailsworth, which I rent from a local business. This is new as from Autumn 2009 and will take a lot of work to help it become productive. I try to garden for veges at my friend Debbis house and for fun with my next door neighbour.

It adds up to a lot of work. For a relaxing hobby, it's proving stressful at times, but, mostly it's heaven.

There are customers who like me to work for them right through the year, and others who I see during the summer months. This working more days a week in the summer than in the winter, of course. The way to keep the finances stable for me has been to teach on the days I don't garden. Works really well for me. The bills get paid, we haven't starved to death yet and we get to have fun ... sometimes!

Monday, 9 May 2011

Mock Trop Grasses etc

It's about time I let you have a close look at the plants that help fill the gaps in this patch of earth. If you look at a jungle/rain forest, there's always the big stuff to draw the eye, but close to the ground, covering the soil is a host of little gems. In our sometimes freezing country, it can be hard to replicate the TROPICAL LOOK, but fun to have a go.

Here are some of the ground covering plants I've found most useful and reliable so far.

Mad bright green grass - 50p from a private house in THORNBURY. Worth every penny. Last year it was 5ins across, now it's over a foot. I'll split it over this Autumn.

A russet tufted grass, given to me by a friend. Again a fast grower.

This was a tufted variegated grass. Very slow growing, it's now almost entirely green, but with a good habit, worth keeping.

This variegated sedge cost me a fair bit from a tropical specialist in CORNWALL (name long forgotten), It has spread like Topsey. Great value for money.