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New Garden
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Posted by barlews Rhodes, Greece (My Page) on Tue, Jul 12, 05 at 11:18
Hi there
I am a new member and will be moving from Scotland to Rhodes, Greece so Mediterranean gardening will be completely diferent for me. I have two questions.
a. I am going to miss my hostas, astilbes and campanula around my pond.and I wonder if it will be possible to make a "bog" garden and pond in a failrly shady spot at the back of the house. i.e, Lay perforated heavy polythene a foot or so down, and top with compost. Any comments?
b. We are not moving out permanently until next January, and I was wondering how long dormant plants can survive as I was thinking of dividing some of my own plants, but they would have to go in the container. Any advice?
Thanks
barlews |
Follow-Up Postings:
RE: New Garden
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Hi barlews,
We have quite a few problems keeping ponds around here (I live in Athens). First due to our heat, they dry up VERY quickly in summer, so you will have to fill them up continuously!
Then, they attrack lots of mosquitoes, so if it is close to the house, you will soon decide to get rid of it. (apart from mosquitoes, they attrack lots of frogs as well, which in their turn attrack snakes, depending where your house is going to be.. I have a friend who has a pond and enjoys seeing an 'ohia' (one of our poisonous species) once in a while but I guess most people wouldn't... Then again I don't know what snakes they have in Rhodes but they propably have them there as well... I don't want to dissapoint you, but hostas and astilbes, are propably not good choices for there.... too much heat shrivels the plants sooner or later... except if you're committed to water them once or twice a day. I'm sure you'll love the island, and find out that you will be able to grow so many beautiful plants over there, even tropicals as Plumerias that don't do well in mainland Greece. hope I helped,
Dariot Jr |
RE: New Garden
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| Hi Barlews, I am afraid I have to agree with Dariot. I live in the S of Spain and from Google believe its a similar climate. Sometimes I'm nostalgic and try plants only to have heartbreak later. I brought some of my Mums snowdrop bulbs here one year - they grew leaves to about 12" tall and flowered at 18" - not my idea of a snowdrop! I have tried hostas and astilbe with no luck. Usually in the UK although there may be hot days they are interspersed with cloud and rain. There hasn't been a drop of rain here since Easter and cloud is scattered and rare at this time of the year. I suggest you start reading up about all the beautiful tropical you can grow here in a garden not a greenhouse. My personal passion are passiflora (you can see some of the over 60 varieties I have on http://photobucket.com/albums/v409/cincinnata) I also love all the other tropical climbers and have amongst others - Thunbergia Grandiflora, Thunbergia Mysorensis, Quisqualis Indica, Stephanotis, Solanum Wendlandii, Aristolochia, Antigonon Leptopus, Vigna Caracalla, Hardenbergia, Ipomea Alba (Moonflower) etc.etc. Plumeria - I have two, the white and a rose one. Hibiscus - all sorts. Gardening here is such a pleasure as you can grow all sorts of things only possible under glass in the UK. Every year when I visit Kew I see things in the glass houses that I think - well mine is doing better in the garden! Re: divided plants I would think at least the astilbes and hostas would stand being stored in a container - the roots of both are available here in the garden centres in packets with sawdust round them (like one can buy dahlia tubers, day lilies etc.) and they are available like that for months at a time. If I can be of any help, even at this distance, please don't hesitate to contact me, and think TROPICAL! |
RE: New Garden
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- Posted by barlews Rhodes, Greece (My Page) on
Sat, Jul 30, 05 at 11:40
Thank you
Thanks Dariot and Cincinatta. I suppose I knew the answer really but getting a little emotional at this stage in the proceedings and having spent years getting the garden like it is, it is hard to leave it all behind. I might take some day lilies and iris which I understand do quite well.
The garden is a builders yard at the moment but we have been given a fairly generous budget for landscaping so instead of an instant garden perhaps I will spend most of that on the hard landscaping, a pop up sprinkler system and lots of good top soil. Then I will have to be patient and see what grows best in the area.
I have bought a couple of books but I am rather bewildered at the moment as the British way of garden design is pretty predictable but I gather heights can vary considerably, according to the weather and of course the flowering times are different so I suppose it is going to be a question of trial and error.
If any one has any tips on the pop up sprinkler systems, they would be much appreciated.
Barbara |
RE: New Garden
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| Hi, barlews Iunderstand your regrets very well as I actually have my eighth garden while the others exist as photos only.-and experiences.
Nevertheless some plants are travelling with me since long time. So plant your favourites in containers,fix a plasticbottle full of water in each before moving and try it out.Mine stayed 3 month, although they didn`t look like but resprouted.
good luck
conny 11020 |
RE: New Garden
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Hi barlews
I also have a new garden here in Kefalonia and have realised that it is best to look at what grows in local gardens and the country side. Have you seen Jennifer Gays book Garden of the Gods. We have a large plot and have decided to go in more for a wild flowers.I will let you know how I get on and share any discoveries with you.
Good luck
Marilyn_grow |
RE: New Garden
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| I think that you should take some photos of your previous garden to remember it by - and then start again in Rhodos. I would forget the bog garden for all the reasons mentioned and to some extent I go along with all the others giving advice. As for watering systems, you need to register with the agricultural water department of Greece and then to use that system as a drip irrigation system, not a spray system. Ray |
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