Friday, April 13, 2012

Κίστος or rockrose (I'll say Cistus salviifolius with some reservations about the species name).  A few days ago I ant looking for a specific plant that has grown successfully in the experimental bed (a furry cabbage-like plant).

I didn't find it but was distracted  by the riot of blooming plants on the mountain sides and near the sea shore.  I dug out two dozen young plants and brought them home to plant directly in the garden or in pots.
This cistus was one of those and it's proceeded to bloom in its pot since I harvested it proving to be the local white variety as compared to Cistus creticus, the pink version, that I've already successfully located in several places in the garden.

This post, however, is about pots.  I acquire plants either by buying them or by growing them in pots since the soil in the garden is inhospitable in many ways to placing seeds directly in the ground (with the exception of poppies).

Into to pots go clippings from mature plants (either from the garden itself or elsewhere/everywhere), random plants and shoots that I uproot or dig out, seeds (commercial or from plants in season), or grown plants that I pot and place in the beds in the hopes that they'll seed the surrounding soil.

Mostly plants harvested on my latest gathering trip (including the rockrose) but also some fragile ones that benefit from being up off the ground (suck as the young knifofias in the upper right hand which were nearly consumed by snails in less than a day).

This is not the usual state of things.  However,  I'd pruned some plants severely and have prepared them to be planted in a client's garden.  Also shown are the plants that are ready to plant in my own garden.

Protected from the sun in summer by the row of λίγουστρο (possibly Ligustrum vulgare and common privet) and the north wind by the house itself are the potted plants which take root until I place them in the beds.

Nearby and by the entrance to the front porch are plants that I want to keep an eye on or seasonal plants for decoration.

My nod to the frequent suggestions that in a time of economic crisis I should be growing food rather than decorative plants.  Shown here, the absolute necessities: mint, coriander, two lettuces, chives and strawberry...

I've been trying to grow nasturtiums since I saw them at Hampton Court and in the private garden of a lady in Athens.  These from bought seeds which I planted a mere 6 days ago.

Finally, the first of this year's basil plants an absolute traditional requirement in Greece and the only plant that I have specifically for pots. The jade plant (Crassula ovata) is yet another solution to the economic crisis.  If I only remembered to water this Money Plant more often.

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