what flowers DONT you like?

[bramble]

Tulips, i just hate them. They have absolutely nothing going for them. Even planted in groups they look stiff and unnatural. And if you bring them in to the house as a cut flower the stems bend all out of shape and they wont even stand in the vase properly. Just can't stand them.

[Jaxom]

Tulips, i just hate them. They have absolutely nothing going for them. Even planted in groups they look stiff and unnatural. And if you bring them in to the house as a cut flower the stems bend all out of shape and they wont even stand in the vase properly. Just can't stand them.

Bramble, the tip with Tulips is not to handle the stems. If you avoid holding above the bottom inch of the stem then they will stand upright. If you touch the stem they will sag at this point. I don't know the science behind why this happens only that it is true. Tulips bought from the shops are often handled by staff who is not trained in floristry, and as a result when you get your flowers home they are less than satisfactory.
Roses are another example of knowing how to handle and treat cut flowers.
If you cut the bottom inch off the stem of a rose and lay them flat in a bath of cold water for an hour, the roses stay pristine and last for weeks rather than days. The rose petals stay fairly closed and pert and the leaves left on the stems also stands upright.
Jax

[bramble]

Thanks Jax for that. I might try it with tulips but will definitely try it with roses as I just love them.
Regards, Bramble.

[JennieAtkinson]

Okay Rat ... yes I do like the Himalayan Poppy. Only seen one once! Its the deep blue flowers I don't particularly like.

Thinking of starting a thread of flowers that "take over". I could do with some of them!

[Birdie Wife]

I think fushias are horrible. I've been looking for ages to find one that I like the look of, because they're so hardy and keep flowering for a long time, but I've given up!

Jennie, Welsh poppies seeded all over my last garden. They go on forever, are really hardy and the flowers last unlike many other poppies. Give them a go!

[Jaxom]

Thinking of starting a thread of flowers that "take over". I could do with some of them!

Jennie, that would be a good idea. People love gardens full of flowers but many people don't have the time to sow seed or have the money to buy lots of annuals each year. Then of course there are people who only have time for vegetable growing so flowers that take care of themselves would be very welcome.
Jax

[sewer rat]

Birdie Wife
How can you not like the bog-standard, basic, Fuschia magellanica "Riccartonii" - small beautifully coloured flowers in huge quantities, quick growing shrub and hardy as hell to boot, but not an "in yer face" flowering plant - I prefer more subtle subdued plants anyway - maybe that's why I don't like Oriental Poppies !
Seems we both agree that the Welsh Poppy is a definite winner up here in the North - have to agree with all your comments on it.

[pigletwillie]

evening primrose and those nasty broom shrubs

[Birdie Wife]

Sorry rat, just not my thing. It's all a matter of preference I suppose! I know many people can't stand flowering heathers but I like them. Anyway, I did see a fushia a few weeks ago on ebay with lovely classy white and soft pink blooms that was tempting. But then there were so many other things to choose from and I really have to sit on my hands when browsing plant catalogues (turn the pages with my nose ). So in the end I didn't go for it. I bought an evening primrose instead! Ha!

[nick the grief]

What you need is Fuchsia Magallencia Alba small single white flowers that fade to bush pink or if you're nice I have one called Whiteknights blush that is similar.

I have loads of the horrid gaudy ones well they aren't really just the normal vairieties sot the Huge American jobs as I think they are OTT



Haw can you not like this one, needs over wintering mind

[fruit&vegvirgin]

well I like fuchsia, but I like the little wildy type ones rather than the bred ones. the most common or garden one grows like a weed all over southern Ireland and Kerry in particular - everywhere you find the most beautiful fuchsia hedges. I tried to plant a similar hedge here, but we are not warm enough...

[Nicos]

After a week in the ring of Kerry a couple of years ago, I just had to buy a few of the original 'wild' fuscia as a bit of hedging to hang over our garden wall. They don't look a bit like the ballet dancers of my youth and have grown back each year so far after the frosts have got them. They were very hard to find around here but were well worth the effort. In general looking like a green shrub, but with lots of slender, deep red flowers. If you are colour blind, you'd probably not see the flowers!! Subtle or what??

[fruit&vegvirgin]

where did you go nicos? my parents used to live in Derrynane/Caherdaniel...most beautiful place in the world - when the sun is shining!!
I tried to plant a hedge along our wire fence, right next to the sea, but it is much colder here than in Kerry, and none of them took.

[Emma]

Lavateriea (if that's how you spell it) I cut the thing down every year and have evn tried to dig it out but somehow it still comes back and takes over my border. It looks lovely at first then becomes really leggy and shades out everything else.

[Birdie Wife]

What you need is Fuchsia Magallencia Alba small single white flowers that fade to bush pink or if you're nice I have one called Whiteknights blush that is similar.

I'll admit that's a cracker nick. Fushcias definitley seem to have sparked debate!

So on a different tack, mini conifers. Cringe. Although some are okay, I quite like yews and junipers for interesting texture.