Lindaw Posted July 5, 2011 Report Share Posted July 5, 2011 I am a keen gardener and have a peerie garden on the wast side that is reasonably sheltered, but gets a northerly gale . The garden in peerie, so I want every plant in my garden to be a corker in some way. (In every way, preferably) So I thought it would be a good idea to ask other shetlinkers what their favourite plants were and why. This might save me fae buying expensive mistakes that don't thrive very well in the Shetland climate. I quite fancy a climbing rose to go up over a garden ornament that stands about 5 feet off the ground. Anybody got any favourites? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilldellin Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 Lupins, adore them. Easy to grow from seed so inexpensive. Just remember to stake them. Been good this year. :- http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb479/beenister/Lupins.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Girzie Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 Paeonies - various colours, big and showy, grow very well here. Garden geraniums - blue, pink, white, hardy, good ground cover. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Esther.R Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 Echo the others with lupins and geraniums, also fuschia seem to grow really well up here too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindaw Posted July 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 Many thanks for the quick replies everyone, and yes, i do forget to stake lupins, and I actually found dwarf lupins in one of the big plant catalogues. I agree with the wild geranium lover, but would peonies not need quite a bit of shelter and staking? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Girzie Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 Paeonies -They grow great in our garden. Don't stake and are in no particular sheltered position. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilldellin Posted July 6, 2011 Report Share Posted July 6, 2011 I need to stake my Paeonies but dere again dey growe aboot a fit across ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lindaw Posted July 8, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2011 I suppose it just depends on the location and the species/ variety. On how high they grow and how strong the stems. By the way, my sister says that the same flower grows in some parts of Shetland and not others. Has anyone had experience of this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilldellin Posted July 8, 2011 Report Share Posted July 8, 2011 ^^Did not have much success in the peaty/acidic soil in Yell but seem to like the sandy soil at the Ness. There again the Rhododendron a beauty in Yell but a waste of time here at the Ness... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilldellin Posted July 9, 2011 Report Share Posted July 9, 2011 Might be worth checking your soil ph, lindaw to see what suits your garden. Plenty advice on the internet including here :- http://www.allotment.org.uk/articles2/Soil_PH_and_Its_Effect_on_Your_Garden.php Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogling Posted July 13, 2011 Report Share Posted July 13, 2011 My Hostas are doing amazingly well, massive now, with loads of flower stalks -got them as 'babies' from Barbara Fraser from Gulberwick - she is usually at the Cunningsburgh hall on sundays selling plants. A couple of folk I know have lovely 'Red Honeysuckle' bushes - they are in quite exposed windy spots. Crocosmia {red Monbresia} does very well here too, as do Dahlias, in pots or in the ground- beautiful big heads on my neighbours ones in the flower beds, and mine in pots last year. All the best with your garden! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
momo Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 I remember being told when I moved back here 8 years ago having got the gardening bug south that there was no point bringing any of the plants from my garden as they would never survive here. I nun the less dug up a piece of just about every plant from my garden & they are all doing fine. If you like it, try it. If you are after easy reliable plants you cant beat hardy geraniums. Hostas are also a lot tougher than people give them credit for. The thick large leaved ones in my garden don’t get nibbled by slugs at all and down south I grew them in bone dry conditions under a yew tree & they were fine. Personally I love Sea Hollies (Eryngium) mixed with Squirrels Tail grass & cornflowers and maybe some blue Aquilegias. They look amazing, prickly though so you dont want them next to paths. I have a new pergola that I am trying some climbing roses on. There isn’t much shelter around it so they haven’t put on a great deal of height yet but the rose ‘Golden Showers’ is doing well & was easy to get hold of mail order & not expensive. Until your rose gets going you could always have sweet peas. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilldellin Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Low growing plants like thyme and stonecrop are great for attracting butterflies, eight red admirals in our rockery this morning... http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb479/beenister/rockery.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DizzyKipper Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 That's looks nice Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stilldellin Posted July 14, 2011 Report Share Posted July 14, 2011 Cheers, here's one of the Red Admirals on the purple thyme.. :- http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/bb479/beenister/redadmiral.jpg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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