Spring is just round the corner. I know this is true because blackthorn is in flower. Today, I have been continuing my spring cleaning. Last week I started digging out my bedroom and happily re-housed 6 bags of rubbish which had been sitting in boxes on shelves for over 2 years (ever since I removed ourselves from a disastrous relationship). Last year I had my hands full with Pops, dissertation, work and finishing my degree.
A couple of weeks ago I looked around the flat and did not like what I saw. Since then my discontent has grown. Gee and I headed off to a garden centre (or two) looking for houseplants for me to kill and a coffee and cake moment. I was very, very good. I only got the things on my list. I did not succumb to the temptation of orchids in bright fuschia conical pots. I was so proud of myself.
I love gardening. I love having green things and flowers around me. Unfortunately, I'm a fair weather gardner with a short attention span. I am rubbish at remembering to water things, which is why things that grow outside always get on a lot better than the things that grow inside. I have a list of plants that I can kill: spider plants, rubber plants, peace lillies etc. The plants that are still alive are pretty much safe from nuclear fall-out. I have a weeping fig, 3 orchids and two pelargonams which are doing fine and an alpine strawberry and a money plant which I need to pay more attention to.
So thanks to B&Q, I have now added an ivy, 2 chyrsanthemums and gerbera (yes, I kill these with ease but it was a 3 for £5 jobby and I didn't fancy the flaming katy) to my collection. I even invested in a packet of seeds and am experimenting to see if it's possible to grow nastirtiums (I can grow the damn things, buggered if I can spell them) for indoor use. Oh, I'm also giving a jasmine in the kitchen another go. I tried to grow one over netting on my kitchen window last year. It succumbed to my lax watering. I think it's an idea worth giving another go. If I kill the damn thing this time, I'll have to try something else.
Right, rest break is over. Now to finish attending to my bedroom.
Bank Holiday Sunday
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Hi Roses...I personally always found Tradescanthia very difficult to kill..thrives on lack of water (the ones with red-underside leaves go brighter in a drought!)...and dead easy to propogate (snap off a suitable bit, stick it in the soil and water it a couple of times...job done)...
ReplyDeleteThe other advantage is, since it trails, you can hang the container from a wall bracket or a ceiling or whatever, and it takes up no floor space, won't be knocked over etc...
Just my sort of plant...
'I have a list of plants I can kill....'
ReplyDeleteBut, my dear, we have so much in common!!! lol
i kill green things too easy accept for marigolds which keep slugs away from your cabbiges.....if you have any growing which i don't but thas just my random tip for the day, lol.
ReplyDeleteHanni
Ah yes, but then you went to Ikea...
ReplyDeleteViking
cogidubnus ~ I've had some Tradescanthia, but they just got leggier and I got fed up with them.
ReplyDeletedickiebo ~ what? you mean apart from the love of dirty jokes? ;-)
hanni ~ you are very welcome here. And marigolds sound good, Gee is growing some, so I'm hoping to cadge a few off of her later. My slugs will eat marigolds, they certainly ate the last lot. Bloody things!
viking ~ ah yes, Ikea. *hangs head in shame* The miracle of it was that I didn't spend twice the amount. Mind you, I can't regret it, the flat looks brilliant with the new stuff. I'm definitely up for another trip.
"I've had some Tradescanthia, but they just got leggier and I got fed up with them."
ReplyDeleteSo chop them into lengths and replant each bit...job done...
cogidubnus ~ I'm afraid they've already been re-homed. But thanks for the thought.
ReplyDeleteOh well never mind...by the way, I thought in Norwich the Blackthorn(e) was always in flower?
ReplyDeleteFor Christmas my sister gave me a tub of bulbs. She wouldn't tell me what they were, I just have to keep watering them and wait. So far I have 3 green shoots and it's very exciting. Nothing like a splash of colour to brighten up life.
ReplyDeletecogidubnus ~ there never was, nor will there ever be an 'e' in blackthorn! It's an amazing shrub, the blackthorn - it's the first British shrub to flower and will do so in the nastiest weather. It is also known for being vicious, if you get on the wrong side of it - it has very nasty thorns. For some reason, I'm very partial to it...
ReplyDeletehottie ~ if they are straight shoots they'll be narcissi or daffs, if they have triangular leaves trying to peel off each other - tulips to surprise you!