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and this is how they looked in the catalogue:
Not quite the same, and yes, I am fussy when it comes to colour.
This is my 'Ambition', not really the rich, dark red/burgundy as advertised:
My cutting garden last year was a complete disaster. I guess I could just blame it on me being a hopeless gardener, but I don't think I'm that bad. I bought a load of gladioli - 45 to be precise. Planted at different intervals to give a long flowering period. I had 5 flowers in total. 5! My disappointment was mind-numbing. I wanted vases full of them in the house, like this one:
I had very few vases of flowers in the house, come to think of it. This little posy was the first lot of flowers I collected from my cutting patch. I didn't really get any better.
This year I am going to think a bit more about what and how I grow flowers AND I'm determined to get my allotment sorted again. The good news is that I have a helper - YAY! We have got a mammoth task on our hands, but big plans!
I only have a small patch of garden for planting veg, but this year I have decided to give up one of my raised beds to grow 'Sweet Williams' they are my most favourite flower and last when cut for ages.
ReplyDeleteI hope my expectation don't fall flat on there feet.
Vanessa x
oh how frustrating....
ReplyDeleteI tried gladioli last year, the slugs enjoyed them........
this year I don't even have any flower beds dug yet. or planned even. better get busy.....
I think I know the catalogue to which you refer and I am shocked! I have not bought, but been tempted and always thought, pricey, but worth it for the gorgeous colour selections.
ReplyDeleteNow you make me glad that I missed the boat with ordering the venitian tulip collection I had my eye on.
I don't think you're alone in your experience, but I was lucky with the seeds and bulbs I bought from there last year. Though this year I am ordering from somewhere a little bit cheaper!
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear you'll be rejoining the ranks of allotment nutters!
It all sounds so familiar. I planted 3 punnets of bean seedings last season and they produced two beans, both only 2 inches long and both fell off the plant. On the otherhand the peas grew nicely. I harvested plenty of them!
ReplyDeleteI did the same when my catalogue arrived yesterday...so sad. But very happy news about your new allotment helper! K x
ReplyDeleteoh no. that is terrible...
ReplyDeleteYou be strong girl!!!
Well I look forward to seeing what you come up with. I bought some summer flowering bulbs this morning - fingers crossed that they come up. x
ReplyDeleteI have received a seed catalogue without pictures so if I order anything it will be interesting to see what comes up! I am going to concentrate on vegetables this year. Interestingly in this catalogue there are no hybrids so you can collect the seed for the following year. I still think your flowers looked lovely even though they wasn't what you expected! x
ReplyDeleteI also attempted a "cutting garden" last year buying quite a few bulbs and had nothing to show for it which was very disappointing, I think I'll stick to veg!
ReplyDeleteI know this is very random but I'm sharing some love and just wanted to say Hi and that I've given you a sunshine award, just head over to my blog to pick it up!
Jenny
The catalogue and packaging are so beautiful aren't they? How can a person resist? I'm such a messy gardener and this seems to be a benefit - I've found a fair few self seeded things that are good for cutting in the last few weeks (cerinthe, red valerian, marigold, verbenas). I think I'll focus on those this year and try not to buy now.
ReplyDeleteI know who you mean, and have suffered too with my dahlias. I might use again for certain seeds but that's all. That doesn't stop me enjoying the catalogue though!
ReplyDeleteYay to your allotment helper!