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We've decided to convert the area the greenhouse currently stands into a wildflower garden later on this year (the greenhouse is basically falling to pieces at the moment)! We were going to make it a veg patch but getting the ground good for that would be a bit of a nightmare so the easiest option is to plant things that should be able to grow there lol Already been looking at what seeds to plant, top of the list is flanders poppy as my OH likes poppies and the standard packets of mixed seeds. I'm also planning on having a border of dwarf sunflowers :-P Though whether it will work out or not who knows!
Oh, but a question there's a wall that the greenhouse is attached to that will be staying and I'm wondering if anyone knows what those little tiny plants that grow on walls are and if you can buy them to plant? They're really tiny and grow in cracks, I think they usually have tiny blue flowers...I'm probably not helping lol
Millie & Fly the Border Collies
No idea what the flowers are called but it sounds like a lovely idea.
Good Luck and will look forward to pictures.
Regards
Sarah
I've learned that I still have a lot to learn...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bramble67/
Hi KatTai,
Sounds like an interesting project. Have you considered digitalis, little violas (can't remember the botanical name) and verbascum? I have quite a few of these which have successfully self seeded, in odd places ,from the wild and as the bees love them I let them be.
As for dwarf sunflowers, I have found it easy to raise them to seedling stage, but if the spring and summer is cool and damp raising them to maturity can be difficult. Also snails and slugs love them - but they do come in attractive shades of yellow, from dark to light.
I know the plant you refer to which grows in cracks, but can't remember the name. Might be a tiny member of the viola family?
Look forward to reading how your project progresses.
Claire
"The road of excess leads to the palace of wisdom" - Wlliam Blake
Could the little blue flower you're asking about be Ivy-leaved Toadflax? Very common, grows in wall cracks... here's a photo: http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_diary/wfs_diary_images_large/cymbalaria_muralis_ivy_leaved_toadflax_blue_large.jpg
My blog: http://mazzaswildside.blogspot.co.uk/
My Flickr page: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124028194@N04/
I'm just thinking of getting several mixed packs to be honest, that way if something doesn't grow there will be something else there (in theory!) Maybe dwarf sunflowers won't be such a good option then as we seem to have a lot of slugs around, blackbirds aren't doing their job properly! But I suppose it won't hurt to try! My kale got eaten up by caterpillars last year - my own fault, I found loads of eggs on the leaves but couldn't bring myself to remove them lol
And Claire! I think we have a winner, wall viola that's what they seem to be! Unfortunately can't find anywere to get them!
aiki said: Could the little blue flower you're asking about be Ivy-leaved Toadflax? Very common, grows in wall cracks... here's a photo: http://www.thewildflowersociety.com/wfs_diary/wfs_diary_images_large/cymbalaria_muralis_ivy_leaved_toadflax_blue_large.jpg
Oh that looks like them too!
Ouch...just googled them and the first link it about removing them :-( I don't want to remove them, I want some on the horrible little wall around the greenhouse that is to become a meadow!
aiki's suggestion of toadflax also seems to ring a bell.
Not sure either Kat but there is the evergreen Campanula that does just that with it's star shaped flowers although small but not too tiny .So many and i can't remember the correct name of this one.:o)
Edit .... saw last post, and know now not mine he he.
An optimist sees the beauty of the complete rose.A pessimist sees only the thorn .
www.garden-marketplace.co.uk/plant-seeds/wildflower-seeds__8.html
Try the above website for wild toadflax. Sorry but I could not enter a live link.
Kat, Could you mean aubretia, http://www.google.co.uk/images?rls=com.microsoft:en-gb:IE-Address&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7ACAW_enGB330GB330&redir_esc=&q=aubretia&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=eyEmTcnYO8-EhQfAgKWBAg&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CDsQsAQwAQ&biw=1104&bih=602
Thanks all!
Brenda, don't think it is those as the ones I've seen don't bush out so much and cling to the wall. They are very pretty too though!
And thanks to Claire for the link!