The shopping habits of the long distance gardener

Being in London and not out working where I ought; I thought it might be of interest to show the library of books that I am currently working through and lists of the seeds that I am hoping will become a garden this year.

The RHS Lindley library is heaven and way too tempting. Luckily it’s a brisk almost hour walk (I always get lost in the side streets of Chelsea and Victoria) so there is a purpose in mooching over there.  I can read all the monthly magazines and not therefore be tempted to invest in them at the newsagents. And best of are the copious shelves of library section 968. Garden design. It means you can study, devour and take notes of all the books you actually want to own.

I have borrowed the Michael King book Perennial Garden this week. But must confess that all the rest of the books here are part of the burgeoning home library. I was on the waiting list for months for the Complete Planting Design Course. And eventually just caved in when a local bookshop had a 30 per cent off sale.

I used to take books out to France thinking that I would study the books in the evening. But the reality is that I am just way too knackered at night to do much more than cook, drink beer and slouch. So they get studied here in London where there are less physical distractions.

And also here are the lists of seeds and plants I have bought over the winter. There has been some mighty ordering of plants from Plantagenet nursery; recommended by Andrew. The order is due on the second day of our Easter visit. So we have plenty of time to get the 150 grasses into the ground. I have no idea where the Vicar’s Mead will go. But I still have a memory of seeing them years ago in a Matthew Wilson planting scheme; maybe they were at RHS Hyde Hall. Anyway, it’s natural to have a blow out when one is confronted with such treats. And you should have seen the list of things I really wanted to buy. All the rest are part of the promised planting scheme.  And I think the Calamagrostis Karl Foersters are going to be a godsend in uniting some rather disparate areas of the gardens.

I had wanted to order the Aster frikartii Monchs. But was persuaded by Bella Gordon to try these Wunder von staffas instead. They are destined for the lilac bed. So too the rodgersia pinnatas. I have ordered two extra eupatoriums as I can really see them billowing about the steps down from the top of the road and near our rustic chestnut steps. I have some already planted in the terracing on the banks. But they may not thrive.

150 PENNISETUM alopecuroides Hameln
9 ASTER frikartii Wunder von staffa
5 FILIPENDULA rubra Venusta
7 CALAMAGROSTIS x acutiflora Karl foerster
2 EUPATORIUM maculatum Atropurpureum
3 RODGERSIA pinnata Superba
7 ANGELICA Vicar’s mead
9 MISCANTHUS sinensis Gracillimus

So where do all these seeds and bulbs come from? I get my 20 packets of free seeds from the RHS and from the Australasian Plant Society each year; discount bulbs from the great 99p store in Camden (a source of my peacock orchids, lily bulbs, liatris spicata bulbs and astilbe roots.)

The Camden Garden centre is a very honest little nursery where I continue to get discount vouchers (so tempting, so evil). And the Chelsea Gardener which I make a small detour returning from my weekly physio session. What a place. The plant nursery for people with ridiculous budgets. But sometimes it’s just lovely to gaze on things and wish and plan.

And then there is the mail order. Chiltern Seeds for some staples and many interesting flower seeds. Their catalogue is perfect bedtime reading. And I have even gone back to Sarah Raven’s website for her flower seeds. Buying plants from her was a complete bust, and not to be relied upon.  But surely they can’t mess up a seed order?

I have decided to put all that great soil up in the top vegetable bed to use – as a flower cutting garden. Danielle, our neighbour hankers for flowers, as do I. And hopefully I can get a good supply of nice tall plants for our outrageously large vases in the house. I can see a large planting of euphorbias as good foliage colour. But who knows how the germination will go this year. I lost so many little seedlings from first a mini drought and then weeks of heavy downpours as I had to leave all the little pots outside in the elements for two weeks at a stretch twice in the growing season.  Bernard and Nicolas both helped with some watering, but no one was able to keep a really careful eye on them all when I was away.   Oh for a neighbour who loves plants as much as me. I even found the labels for the Joe Pie Weed that I planted, but never saw a seedling come up.

We have plotted all of our trips out until September and I am aiming to be away for no more longer than 10 days at any one time. That way I may be able to curb this outrageous seed buying in London and just get on with seed planting out in the garden.

Cosmos sensation tall mix
Coral Pink perennial poppy
French marigold Red brocade
Cosmos purity
10 tall gladioli silverstreak
24 Liatris spicata
Astilbe pink
Lupin perennial blue
10 gladioli black star
Sunflower velvet queen
Climbing bean dolico del metro (yard long bean)
Sweet corn baby corn
Ragged robin wild flower (damp soil)
Poppy blackcurrant fizz
Foxglove Milk chocolate
Rudbeckia Green wizard
Rogersia Pinnata
Berkheya Purpurea Zulu Warrior
Scabiosa Lachnophylla Blue Horizon
Cleome hassleriana

Spinach Bordeaux red
Blauilde climbing bean (a gift for Nicolas – purple beans)
Parsnip gladiator
Apache deep purple spring onion
Melon Edonis F1 hybrid (optimist!)
Burpless tasty green cucumber (tremendous success with this variety)

This is the Sarah Raven cutting plant seed collection I have invested in. Hopefully it will arrive in time for me to get things sown before easter.
Antirrhinum Liberty Crimson
Calendula Indian Prince
Cleome Colour Mix (American spider flower)
Cobaea scandens
Cosmos Purity
Cosmos Dazzler
Erysimum Fire King
Helianthus Chianti
Helianthus Vanilla Ice
Lathyrus Matucana
Lathyrus Painted Lady
Papaver Meadow Pastels
Scabiosa Tall Double Mix
Zinnia Giant Dahlia Mix
Zinnia Envy
Cerinthe major Purpurascens
Amaranthus caudatus Viridis
Euphorbia oblongata
Salvia viridis Blue
Molucella