Plant identification

Ooh Marigold, the wallflowers have tiny gold buds showing, so looks like they will be blossoming this year. They've grown quite big aswell. I know they're not the prettiest of flowers, but they remind me of my Nana. Many years ago I put some seeds in her garden, close to her front door and they grew very quickly. For some odd reason, they flowered all year long, for two years running. I kept saying to her how strange they were still in bloom in winter. My Nana died in the April. They were still in flower then. I planted some in my garden, near the front door, to remind me of her. She was my world..... ❤
 
If you love wallflowers, you might like to try erisimum Bowles Mauve, which is a short- lived perennial, see https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/91464/i-Erysimum-i-Bowles-s-Mauve/Details
It has attractive foliage all year, lots of flowers for a long period, and by its second year grows into an attractive small weed- suppressing bush if kept pruned after flowering. Not very expensive, less than £10 in most outlets, so can be replaced in year 3 or 4 when it gets a bit too big.
 
I was in B+Q today (OH looking for a new door lock) so popped into the garden centre area and to my surprise and glee, they had lithodora in 1ltr pots, 4 for £10. Last year I planted 2 small ones, not knowing what they were or how they would grow. They tripled in size and have flowered through winter! I also started putting some pink and white aubretia on the rockery stones above. My vision is to have a waterfall effect of different coloured flowers, cascading over the rocks.
 
Tweetypie said:
I was in B+Q today (OH looking for a new door lock) so popped into the garden centre area and to my surprise and glee, they had lithodora in 1ltr pots, 4 for £10. Last year I planted 2 small ones, not knowing what they were or how they would grow. They tripled in size and have flowered through winter! I also started putting some pink and white aubretia on the rockery stones above. My vision is to have a waterfall effect of different coloured flowers, cascading over the rocks.
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I love aubretia, and have lost count of the number of times I've planted that and campanula here! And it's died, every single time! Mum has loads of aubretia. But for some reason, it just doesn't like my place! :(
 
It prefers dry, well-drained alkaline soil. Grows in our garden where other moisture-loving plants would fail. Also, you need to cut it right back after flowering, to a neat small ball which will send out new shoots and flowers the next year. If left unpruned it gets leggy and thin.
 
Yes, Marigold is right about its preferred habitat. I always think of aubretia as a real 1960s/70s plant, I really like it as well, but its not very fashionable, not that that matters in the slightest, its just you don't hear people talking about it much. I am growing 'snow in summer' which is a kind of invasive white version of aubretia (not literally) and it likes the same conditions. I think I have seen lithodora growing wild here in Portugal but I'm not 100% sure about my diagnosis. I have however seen a couple of tiny wild crocus recently, up high on a deserted hillside, and something else, with a very dark purple miniscule flower on the end of what looks like a thin blade of grass. I am still searching for it in my wild flower book.
 
I love all the old fashioned flowers. I adore lupins, snap dragons, gladioli. I think that daffodils have to be up there as the best "smile-inducing flower. A joy to behold and the best anti depessant ? .
 
Daffodils are wonderful, so cheerful after the winter gloom.
We have just come back from Cornwall and everywhere was just golden with them, the most we have seen in bloom there for a few years. every verge, roundabout, garden and field was full of them. Fabulous.
Add onto lupins etc hollyhocks, foxgloves, honeysuckle, old fashioned roses
 
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