tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post5184175280631994456..comments2024-03-22T07:28:43.820+00:00Comments on The wind and the wellies: The attack of the pampas grassFay McKenziehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-67204791505120586812013-04-19T23:58:11.028+01:002013-04-19T23:58:11.028+01:00Haha, I love your blog and I'm just about to p...Haha, I love your blog and I'm just about to plant a hedge of it too so that's why I was reading this page. Here at my parents' house it went into the middle of the lawn, as was fashionable then, but I am going to start attacking it and trying to propagate it to make a wind break line on a bit of a slope that's no use for anything else (willow was a fail). Just have to be practical in Orkney. Mine isn't sharp on the edges but I've read some types are.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13862715310592328441noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-4582403230872187852011-10-18T08:57:16.716+01:002011-10-18T08:57:16.716+01:00Dave, I've heard that too. Do you think planti...Dave, I've heard that too. Do you think planting it at the side as a hedge means 'makes a good scone'? :-)Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-85613824093089348862011-10-18T08:56:00.522+01:002011-10-18T08:56:00.522+01:00Yup kininvie, if it works why not? I've no bad...Yup kininvie, if it works why not? I've no bad feelings against pampas per se, I am just not an ornamental grass fan. But, given it's usefulness and the birds love it, I'm really glad I got a load of it. Love blue lobelia too. can't be picky here, I think the garden will be full of those that grow, rather than are fashionable and as you say why not, some corking plants out there. XFay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-20331681944558427482011-10-18T06:45:31.584+01:002011-10-18T06:45:31.584+01:00My friend Tracy is adamant that pampas grass grown...My friend Tracy is adamant that pampas grass grown in the front garden is an advert proclaiming that the owners are swingers! Now whenever I drive past a neat bungalow with one growing in the front garden - I raise an eyebrow and think, "Well, who'd have thought." Be prepared for an increase in visitors - you're about to become very, very popular!<br /><br />DaveDavid Marsdenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10194429506546837258noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-90055213153406101722011-10-18T00:02:32.706+01:002011-10-18T00:02:32.706+01:00If it works...why not? I love pampas grass - it...If it works...why not? I love pampas grass - it's a shame when a fine plant gets its reputation trashed through garden snobbery. Same goes for blue lobelia...it's a lovely thing, but just because every hanging basket in the world has some, is no good reason to despise it.Kininviehttp://gardeningattheedge.wordpress.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-44246196602381365572011-10-17T22:50:21.059+01:002011-10-17T22:50:21.059+01:00Maybe the blog should be called, 1000 days left i...Maybe the blog should be called, 1000 days left in an impossible garden and counting, but still gardening?Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-42406560507638215512011-10-17T22:32:27.469+01:002011-10-17T22:32:27.469+01:00Sorry predictive text changed my writing elephants...Sorry predictive text changed my writing elephants eye to gibberish!Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-76775255679319005702011-10-17T22:31:26.030+01:002011-10-17T22:31:26.030+01:00Le hangs eye, yup all that work for 3 years max. I...Le hangs eye, yup all that work for 3 years max. It's only effort, eh? Physical sweat and tears arewoeth the opportunity to garden here. My cover on the tunnel will have a 3-4 year life max anyway. I'm sure we will relocate in mainland Scotland, remote and rural, by the coast with the same/similar challenges. That will be our forever garden. The tunnel, orchard, plants etc will all move too. Hopefully to the forever garden. Until then we work, learn, work more and then undo it all and move it. It's only effort, I'm happy to put that in for my sanity<br /><br />To live here I need to garden, to garden I need shelter, so I'll keep trying. Or I'll go insane, I can't leave off gardening for three seasons.<br /><br />Pampas here, more vigorous here than invasive which makes it a potential winner, but a shredding nightmare. Gloves required.Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-27394734524245160382011-10-17T22:25:54.931+01:002011-10-17T22:25:54.931+01:00Janet it males a nifty hedge. I know that ong so w...Janet it males a nifty hedge. I know that ong so well. I'm learning in my outdoor garden, love the one you're with is the only option.<br /><br />:) no choiceFay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-65365446781796814542011-10-17T22:07:33.040+01:002011-10-17T22:07:33.040+01:00All that work with the polytunnel for 3 years? And...All that work with the polytunnel for 3 years? And then where do you go? I take it the pampas grass is not invasive in Orkney? Will make for a frightening hedge, it tore my arms to bloody shreds when I tried to cut it back. Yours must be a gentler friendlier version if you could share the car with it.Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-90098738906067226412011-10-17T20:15:51.308+01:002011-10-17T20:15:51.308+01:00Pampas grass as a hedge?! This I have to see... I ...Pampas grass as a hedge?! This I have to see... I applaud your flexibility. It reminds me of the Crosby Stills and Nash song, "Love the one you're with". Do you know it? The chorus goes "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with". It doesn't scan, but maybe the Orkney gardener's motto should be "If you can't grow the one you love, love the one you can grow". And at least you know that within three years you will be moving to somewhere a tad more forgiving when it comes to what you plant...Janet/Plantaliscioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15605580157193047780noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-18107231634452052302011-10-17T18:13:41.580+01:002011-10-17T18:13:41.580+01:00Janet, let's face it I'm desperate (!) and...Janet, let's face it I'm desperate (!) and it's for a hedge. I'm leaving here in 3 years after which I'm sure the new tenants I'll love the shelter it will give. The ajuga repans is just about gone for the year, their little leaves blasted into submission. If it's hardy here, and thrives, like pampas, I'm going to suck it and welcome it with open arms. I'm beginning to be more open minded then I care to admit to.<br /><br />I mean, I'm excited about pampas, lord shoot me now!<br />But if it works, hey I'm not proud. Bonus is the birds love it. Maybe I'm being altruistic ?Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-74632262100193881262011-10-17T18:01:03.947+01:002011-10-17T18:01:03.947+01:00Fay, I'm sure you'll plant your pampas in ...Fay, I'm sure you'll plant your pampas in an imaginative way and not in a desert of lawn like some folk.I'm being a bit smug but we never resorted to Pampas whilst living in Orkney....You know you need a mini digger to get it out if and when you had enough of it?!Janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06999513105724635810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-5703135779272870162011-10-17T17:05:26.157+01:002011-10-17T17:05:26.157+01:00I know, I know. Hangs head in shame, pampas, I mea...I know, I know. Hangs head in shame, pampas, I mean it's got to be bad if that's one of the preferred plants isn't it. As I said to my son today (having retrieved a libertia grandiflora blown OUT of the soil....it's like gardening on the face of the eiger. Not funny. I'm learning to accept things that might actually survive, like pampas.<br /><br />Life sucks trying to grow stuff in this particular garden.Fay McKenziehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14573998704716650377noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3810916424535818779.post-70537101373228529842011-10-17T16:32:00.649+01:002011-10-17T16:32:00.649+01:00Nay...I'm not convinced...yet.Nay...I'm not convinced...yet.Bridgethttp://www.arignagardener.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com