Awful weather - typical Brits talk

Farway

AR, top one, the name is on tip of my tongue, we have same in volunteer border, very pretty and seems to behave itself

Bottom one, could it be a bee orchid? Now is the flowering time, you'd have to double-check but how lucky if it is

YoungBlueEyes

I’m just back from taking Mum + Dad some flowers so I don’t how it resolved itself but it has done. No feathers or blood or mess so maybe it came good

That is a beautiful orchid!  Hopefully it’s a spreader. 

I don’t know about your first pic Arb, but my guess for the second one is an unhappy wee iris. Or the Common Vetch that’s growing in my grass. 

Have you got a pic taff? 

Sun’s out here, the chill breeze is keeping the temps pegged back though. 

twopenny

The first looks like a self seeded Lobelia. Good one to have because it blooms all summer but you're unlikely to lift it from there. Maybe it will make seed pods if it's seeded once.
The second looks like an orchid! No idea from there.
 It's classy stuff for a find 

Ybe, the rose is one bred in the 1860s I believe. The old roses have no black spot, diseases and usually evergreen. Can't be beat. This came from the garden center pre covid. Now I'm thinking only online as all garden centers now only have the same roses sold for the name from the same suppliers.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_'Blush_Noisette'
I seem to remember there are 3 types of Noisettes so a choice.
I choose historic roses when I can because they are tough and disease free. I have a musk and shrub too.

I'm just hoping from the vigor that it's roots don't go in the main drain which is directly below it! 


Farway, wonderful to get an orchid! Those do seem to spread quicker than most so you should be lucky.

Dusty, it's been no mow May....could you extend the season and get brownie points?   

Sort of sunny here with a cool wind. Better for doing things.
But the raspberries are looking small and unappitising through lack of water. Dry spell set to continue for a 4th week. Mixed feelings.

Dustyevsky

ArbitraryRandom said:

Farway, you've reminded me, I've got two mystery plants growing in the strip down the side of the front path. Any help with an ID?

The first I thought was a lavender, but it's now nearly 3ft tall and no scent to the leaves when crushed so no idea. Only the one stem.

Your first one is Linaria purpurea or Purple Toadflax. The pink, more desired version has a varietal name of 'Canon Went.' It seeds pretty true if the purple one isn't around. I have it and whip out any purple ones I see.

The second plant does look like a Bee Orchid. Bee nice if it is!

Farway

Be quick if interested, just had e-mail from T &M some seeds reduced to 89p with free postage, until midnight 3rd June

Guess who is forgetting all the good intentions and buying more tomatoes & runners "just in case"

PS, thanks Dusty, the purple toad flax was what I had in mind

ArbitraryRandom

Farway said:

Be quick if interested, just had e-mail from T &M some seeds reduced to 89p with free postage, until midnight 3rd June

Thanks, just had a poke around. One thing I've been thinking is that my most preferred veg is squash (which I'm experimenting with this year) and tomatoes. Any recommendations (for next year) for a good/reliable outside tomato for someone in the North that would be growing outside - I've been thinking some of the cherry tomato plants look like they're more bushy than tall so might be easier? For example: https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/tomato-balconi-red-seeds/399TM

Thanks all, it does seem to look very like the picture of the bee orchid - which sounds lovely from what I've read. I'll try and get some better pictures. If it is, anything I can do to encourage/help it (other than carefully clearing the weeds that have been hiding it from view? I've read it likes poor soil, so not feeding. 

Farway

Not grown the Balcony Red, I use the Yellow ones, but I find them excellent, and save the seeds from year to year.

Trouble free in my wall baskets

Not sure outdoor North, if sheltered a bit then something like

https://www.thompson-morgan.com/p/tomato-moneymaker-seeds/282TM

Older variety, but has proved reliable over the years

Hopefully a more Northern person will be along soon

PS, in case free shipping does not come up, code is TM_TN4144W

ArbitraryRandom

Thanks, they are offering 5% off, but if I decide to order now then free shipping is definitely the better code

I also noticed there was an option to add a referral. I know people can't offer their codes, but I would accept a PM if anyone wanted to send me one... 

YoungBlueEyes

How far north are you Arb?

I’m in East Yorks and my toms are from my Lidl/Aldi - the six packs of little plugs you get  - Moneymaker and Golden Sunrise. Plus ones I’ve grown from the seeds of a really tasty one from Marks. Started inside in a SE facing window, then into the NW facing connie when they got bigger, and they been outside for a while now. 

If that’s a help? 

ArbitraryRandom

Thanks YBE, I'm a little south and west of you so what works for you would probably be good for me  

Do moneymaker need to climb? I'm just not really keen (at the moment, I might get braver come next year) of doing what I always saw my grandad did - making a tent frame of sticks and string over a bed, then constantly chasing off cats from climbing all up it