I think the old Camellia is dead....
Still no new shoots emerging.... yet I am reluctant to throw it away..... just in case.
I think this was the culprit....snowy pom poms in November.
Like a lot of plants in the garden, especially those in pots .....no longer here....
The giant agapanthus that we brought all the way back from the Eden Project in Cornwall....gone.
The hebes may have been hammered, yet the rhododendrons and tree peonies are fine.
There are certainly more flowers to come out this year.....
The hostas are doing their usual bright green loveliness and filling the borders.....
And the bluebells are taking over the messy patch where not a lot survives in the clay soil....
This is very much a woodland garden with mature beech, oak and larch trees , yet the under planting we did eight years ago tends to take care of itself now with minimal maintenance.
Anyway, I digress... where was I?.... a new use for the camellia skeleton....
Strip all the leaves off....
Plant some sweet peas around the base so they can climb through the branches....water and feed.
This variety is called "Royal family" which I thought was quite appropriate last week when I bought them, but I have absolutely no idea of the colours I can expect in a few months time.
The "nice man" at the little market garden didn't know either!
So what do you think they will be?
Red, white and blue?
Has to be a mix don't you think...
Julie x
What a wonderful idea to turn it into a rustic climbing frame - genius! I lost my Agapanthus too and I'm sure we have lost our Bay trees, although we've been told to wait until the end of May to see if there are any signs of growth before giving up. :( x
ReplyDeleteOh poo I just cut my camelia skeleton down ... what a terrific idea! All my cordylines and yuccas have gone and my hostas were looking fab until 5 norty chooks scoffed them. You have a beautiful natural garden there x
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Julie, I love sweet peas. We have lost loads of plants also, our two Bays by the front door have had to be replaced and I'm particularly sad at the loss of my tree fern as I've had it for so long :( Your Hostas look beautiful and they are huge!! Have a lovely weekend.
ReplyDeleteJo xx
What a great idea. I think I'm going to see if I get get some sweet peas started. My mum always used to grow them next to the kitchen door. Lx
ReplyDeleteWhat a brilliant idea! They will amazing when they are all grown. I too lost lots of potties with the harsh winter.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is very lush - gorgeous!
Hello Julie:
ReplyDeleteIn our view one can never have too many Sweet Peas as they are so perfect for bringing into the house and putting into vases. And who knows, maybe the camellia will spring back into life. We'll keep our fingers crossed for you!
Oh, Oh - poor Camelia! Just talk to it and you'll see it will recover, eventually, hopefully!
ReplyDeleteIt's always a problem with plants in pots, leaving them outside during the winter. The roots get frozen.
But your garden looks very lovely and fresh!
Bonne chance and Greetings from the Périgord,
karin
Sorry about your sweet Camelia!! I always have something that doesn't make it through the winter.
ReplyDeleteYour garden is coming along great...I'm still waiting for green grass, LOL!
Chris :o)
my camelias didn't make it either
ReplyDeleteThat's a good idea! It might even spring back to life, surrounded by young things! Sounds awful, but we lost two large hebes (they were here when we moved here) and I was able to get rid of them! I find hebes a bit dull and static. I love sweet peas - I've planted masses. Abby x
ReplyDeleteBrilliant idea for sweet pea supports. After the winter we had it is no surprise that so many plants have not survived. Your hostas always look wonderful, mine have yet to surface, unfortunately the ground elder is doing very well! Abby x
ReplyDeleteMy fig tree grown in a pot is looking a bit sorry for itself. It is now over 10 feet tall. Tended by me from a foot high baby, for the last 10 years. I did think recently if it dies, I will keep it in situ and grown things around it like Morning Glory, which can always be relied on to give a showy show. THEN at Christmas decorate it as a funky twiggy outside door tree. LLX
ReplyDeleteYou are an inspiration to me darling!!
ReplyDeleteH xx
What a shame about all the snow victims, but what a splendid idea of recycling. And who knows, the camelia might just feel inspired to come back...?
ReplyDeleteI am also very fond of hostas and their light green loveliness.
All the best to you and thank you for your kind words on my blog.
Helena
I love that idea of planting sweet peas to grow through the skeleton of a dead shrub... clever you! Our hebes took a battering as well, and a fatsia I thought was fine, has suddenly started blackening up and looking decidedly sorry for itself. I did think it might be drought, so watered it long and hard yesterday, not having any faith in the weather forecasters who said we would have heavy rain this morning. And I was right to doubt them too!
ReplyDeleteFound you via Robynne's Nest by the way, where your comment about the trees being too big for your garden resonated with me... Snap! But can't bear to part with them.
How clever of you to think of that Julie, it's a great idea. It is so sad though when you loose a plant you have nurtured. Enjoy your weekend, love Linda x
ReplyDeleteIts true, I've learned when leaves die on the tree, its a goner. But still it will have its use and almost look like its blooming again.
ReplyDeleteMy guess for the sweet peas are white and blue.
When they bloom I hope you will let us know!
julie
We have just given up o our passion flower which succumbed to the harsh winter and Alan came home today bearing another one. As expected I am redundant as of last Thursday, so I am filling in forms for redeployment now thought I would rather leave now and get away from it all.
ReplyDelete