Friday 21 February 2014

an accidental spending spree …

 

I only went out to buy some potting compost, but you know how it is when you visit a garden centre -  I came back with a lovely little tree a Salix Pendula, Pussy Willow to you -   two new dahlia tubers, a Christmas Rose and an obelisk.

Isn’t that always the way – oh well, it’s only money.

salix pendula

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

christmas rose

SDC19835

SDC19832

I have one thing for free though  - a little bonus – my first crocus are blooming.

SDC19826

Have yourself a good weekend.

37 comments:

  1. Beautiful, especially willow. I love willows.
    And I know the feeling, I never buy only the thing I went to buy.
    There is at least one bag of seeds extra.

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    1. I don't think this one will grow too big - I hope not anyway.

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  2. Love all the cheerful color here Elaine :)

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  3. Some lovely purchases. The flowers are starting to look very tempting again in the garden centres. I visited one today and did some serious window shopping! The crocuses are looking beautiful.

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    1. I had no intention of buying anything - I am so weak-willed.

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  4. Ever since I was born (?) I have brought Pussy Willow into the house in early spring. For me the two are inseparable.

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    1. I must admit to loving pussy willow myself it definitely speaks of spring.

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  5. All good buys, and I won't ask if you've got room for them!
    Thanks, and you too. Flighty xx

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    1. I can always manage to squeeze something else in if I'm lucky.

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  6. You need blinkers when you go to garden centres.

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  7. Dear Elaine.
    I take little cash with me when going to the garden centre. Like you, I always seem to come home with extra.
    The pussy willow is so unique.. i have never heard or seen one.
    spring is slowly around the corner.
    wishing you a happy weekend.
    val

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    1. They grow in the hedgerows round here - although they are not the weeping type - I couldn't resist it.

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  8. Hello Elaine:
    Are you perhaps being lulled into a false sense of security in your purchase of these wonderful spring items? March winds could, so readily, snap the Pussy Willow, Salix Pendula to you, brown the virgin white petals of the Christmas Roses, doubtless Hellebores to you, and topple the obelisk. Alas, we trust not.
    We have discovered your engaging blog by chance and have signed ourselves as Followers. If you need to find out more about us then we are simply a click away.
    Have a fun weekend.

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    1. Hello Jane and Lance - nice of you to drop in and leave a comment - we gardeners are optimistic folk who always look on the bright side (sometimes).

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  9. Good job,good job! I love the pussy willow. I wonder if I can find one here? It is nearly a must have. Seems that winter is about over for you with spring making an appearance. Here we are just hoping for warm weather to melt snow, which is nearly gone and for no wind as we are entering the windy month. Lovely additions to your garden, Elaine

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    1. I always worry when someone says winter is over - I just pray the worst is not yet to come - March is our windy month too.

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  10. Lol....I'm just the same, worse actually, I go out for a loaf and meander into garden centers and forget the bread. I love your purchases, especially the Pussy Willow, I bought two many moons ago and they reverted to wild and grew to 40 foot until they blew down in a storm.xxx

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    1. Oh lordy - I hope mine doesn't revert to wild - you've got me worried now!

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  11. Oops! One of the few good things about living so far away from a decent nursery is that I don't get subjected to the same temptation to bring home one or two little extras. Good haul though, should give you much pleasure.

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    1. I try not to get bewitched by them too often - but sometimes a gal's gotta have what a gal's gotta have - if you get my drift.

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  12. I wonder if i can ask you a question to which you will probably know the answer (I have looked this up to no avail). I have bought 6 dahlia tubers and, as I am new to dahlias I was wondering if this is enough? Do you get plenty of flowers from one tuber? Do they work in the way of 'dead heading to get more flowers'?

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    1. Six dahlia tubers will give you plenty of flowers for the whole summer - and yes, you must deadhead to keep the flowers coming. Good luck.

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  13. Now that sounds like a most pain free accident Elaine and you have come out of it with a good haul. I had a weeping pussy willow many years ago and loved the catkins. I now have to be contented with the odd bunch from the florist or supermarket. There are two large garden centres nearby in easy reach by car but as I can't drive it curtails impulsive spending to some degree :)

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    1. Sometimes impulse buys for the garden cheer you up no end, not too often though.

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  14. Accidental spening sprees are always the best kind aren't they? We planted a pussy willow in 1997 after one of our cats died and we wanted to plant something in memory of her, It lasted until a couple of years ago when it began to look very poorly indeed - when we finally took it down the trunk had been eaten away and inside were fat grubs - I don't know what they were but I do miss that tree:)

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    1. Oh dear - that's a shame - it was a lovely thought though to plant one to remember your puss by.

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  15. The tree looks lovely. I also usually come out with more than I'd gone in for!

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    1. I think it's a universal gardeners complaint Kelli.

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  16. I too find plants hard to resist , your purchases look so good! Sarahx

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    1. The nice thing was that they didn't cost an arm and a leg either.

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  17. I've had this same dilemma before! Some things are just too good to pass up. :o)

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  18. My theory is if you don't pick things up that you are attracted to - next time you visit they will be gone - and you will regret not buying them at the time.

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  19. Garden centres are so addictive - once you arrive there are so many gorgeous plants and flowers to tempt you with. It's just having willpower - which I have not!!
    Patricia x

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    1. I think the whole purpose of garden centres is to tempt you into buying stuff you don't really want - like you, I have very little willpower.

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  20. Beautiful evidence that spring is on the way. My back yard is still covered in snow and I can't wait to find what lies underneath the ground, having moved in here in early January. There will have to be a pussy willow planted if one doesn't show itself!

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