Tag Archives: lily

Picked up from a plant sale

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Last year we picked up this Mullein from a community garden’s summer fair, which we have just read that it may also be known as cowboy’s toilet paper. We were told in its second year the plant will send up a stem of yellow flowers and it looks like it is on its way with them now. It was only a couple of quid as well. More pics as they flower.

We’ve just tapped up AI and it gave us another few names for Mullein: “velvetplant,” “blanketleaf,” “hare’s beard,” and “flannel plant.” Thank you AI.

And here’s the lily we got for a couple of quid at  Crystal Palace the other week. We were expecting something quite large but do you know what, it isn’t all about size is it? Great for a couple of quid.

Please send us details of any plant sales you know about and ones you are involved in and we’ll give them a plug and it doesn’t have to be in south London either.

Giving it all away

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A great thing about gardening is the passing on of stuff (whether it be it seeds, tools or plants) from one gardener to another. We don’t “give to receive” but there’s something nice about imparting something and then weeks later you get given something from someone totally unrelated. A Zen mate of ours told us this was “the universe rearranging itself”.

This week the universe has been on the rearrangement tip as the other day while going through the bag we take to work we found a folded piece of loo roll with a peg on it. “What the?” we thought as we began to unravel the mystery packet (above: packet with foxglove and lily seeds). Then we remembered a friend had given us some foxglove seeds.

On Thursday we had a workmate kindly pass on some lily seed heads (we’ve never grown lilies from seed before so any advice appreciated!) and last night a Tai Chi classmate brought in these well-healthy foxglove seedlings (below) which went in today. It now looks like we need to repay the universe for this week’s gifts. Anyone fancy some Egyptian onion sets?