Archive | November, 2007

The Bulbs are On

Gardening

cuttingspatch.jpgI finally got the chance to plant the bulbs in the new Cuttings Patch this afternoon. I’ve also moved the bulbs that have already produced leaves in there too; those would be the Gladiolus and the Lilies.

The bulbs are planted are:

  • 30x Oxalis Deppei – Four leaf clover
  • 60x Liatris Spicata
  • 30x Gladiolus Callianthus – Acidanthera Murielae
  • 1x Hemerocallis – Purple Waters
  • 1x Iris Germanica – Howard Weed

All of the above were a gift from my estranged friend Mohammed Al-Kabour who brought them back with him during a flying visit from Ireland. Where are you?! Wherever you are, I hope that you are happy and safe.

Now all I have to do is wait… and cross my fingers.

Japanese variegated hibiscus

Gallery, Gardening
Japanese variegated hibiscus

Japanese variegated hibiscus, originally uploaded by malyousif.

I wasn’t very sure that this hibiscus would survive in my garden as it was looking rather poorly for quite a while, but am I really happy that it has filled out all of a sudden and today I see it has this glorious flower on it. Very pretty isn’t it?

Have a wonderful Friday and weekend AND I wish you a very happy Thanksgiving too.

God bless.

What gives?

Gardening

Frances got me this Passiflora from her last trip to the UK which is labelled “Caerulea Constance Eliott” which is a completely white cultivar

Passiflora - label

… one that I was so looking forward to – but after months of it being in the ground, I am surprised today to see that a “regular” Passiflora had bloomed!

Passiflora - NOT Constance Eliott!

What gives?

Yes it is still beautiful, but but but…

Framed!

Gallery
Framed!

Framed!, originally uploaded by malyousif.

The four buds have fully bloomed. Now I can fully admire it for as long as it will allow me to do so. This is most certainly worth the wait.

I’ve got another one that I potted last year and it hasn’t flowered yet. I don’t expect it to (no cold spell has hit it) but the huge leaves certainly add character to the corner it is in.

The Cuttings Border is complete

Garden Design
Cuttings border [before]

Cuttings border

The Cuttings Border

The Cuttings Border, originally uploaded by malyousif.

I was determined to finish this border so I attacked it when I got home from work last night. It took me about 3 hours to finish this new border in which I laid down the irrigation pipe and just a few drip-heads for the banana tree, dig the front of the border and then carefully lay the red-bricks, level the earth in front and behind them then install the white metal fence in its place. I didn’t put a door there as it’s low enough to get in and out of the area if needed.

The main idea behind putting this little fence in the first place – apart from it looking nice – is to get the dogs to think that this is a private area and that they’re not allowed in, considering this border is right next door to their kennel! They’re good like that and get the idea very quickly of what’s private and what’s theirs. Most of the time.

It’s almost ready to receive some seeds and plenty of bulbs. The remaining job is to install the drip heads all along the pipes and that’s it done.

Just imagine what it would look like in 12 weeks’ time or so!

Cuttings border

Garden Design, Gardening, General
Cuttings border [before]

Cuttings border

The first phase of the new “cuttings border” is now complete. I’ve spent most of the day clearing the grass and preparing the area for planting. I mixed in 4x 50kgs bags of cow manure and 350 liters of peat moss for good measure. This are is part of the front garden and it receives the sun throughout the day regardless of the season. So I wanted to make sure that there is enough stuff in there to keep the moisture.

There are a couple more things I need to do to make it completely, other than planting of course, but on the structure side. I need to put in the drip lines throughout the area and put in the fence I bought this morning from Manazil.

I think as I intend to use it to grow flowers for cutting, one additional feature might be some paving tiles to create a simple walkway. I’ve got a few of those left over from other projects that I might use. I will also create a red-brick border to prevent the grass from creeping in again from the lawn.

What are the plants I want to put in there? Bulbs and various other flowers that could be cut and put in vases all around the house!

Optimistic? You bet! I’ve got nothing to lose and a lot to learn. So if you know any specific flowers which lend themselves to the task and can grow happily in Bahrain, please do let me know.

Hippaestrum (Candy Cane)

Gallery, Gardening
Hippaestrum (Candy Cane)

Hippaestrum (Candy Cane), originally uploaded by malyousif.

The first Hippaestrum (Amaryllis to some) of the season. I love these bulbs as they always reward you with huge showy flowers like no other.

I’ve planted them outside in the garden before with good success. This year, I wanted to have some extra colour in the house. They’re all in pots of course so I can cluster them however I wish, this is what makes container gardening such a nice thing to do, the flexibility.

Apart from the Hippaestrum, I’ve got some lilies, gladiolus and two types of Hyacinth so the arrangements when they all flower (if they all flower at the same time that is) should be quite a sight for sore eyes.

Have a wonderful Friday my friends, and stay in peace.