That's what the lady said. In their first year, "give zem horse sheete, yes, plenty sheete of orse', which of course I knew to be horse manure. I'm refering to the kindly advice given by the vendor who sold me five roots of eremurus himalaicus at a plant fair last Autumn.
I didn't hit them with dung at the time of planting, but still, they've done well, almost shining like white candles on a grey day. So now I'm a confirmed member of the foxtail lilly appreciation society.
P.S. The French for horse manure is fumier de cheval.
Hi
ReplyDeleteWe've had a house in Riberac for the past five years, but are only here from time to time. I'm a very keen gardener, but I've had a job trying to find gardens and nurseries worht visiting. Saw your blog and recognised the signs of keen plantspeople so thought you'd be bound to have discovered a few. Any
Suggestions? Regards ian
Pepiniere Lac des Joncs and Lumen are good plant specialists. Gardens to visit, well both Cadiot and Sardy are worth seeing. Just google them for the addresses etc. All of them are this end of the department so a bit of a way from Riberac.
DeleteI grew these in my last garden. A favorite. I think I'll have to try them again next year--in my most well drained area, of course. I can't remember. How long is the bloom period?
ReplyDeleteThey've started to bloom a week or so ago. They start from lower down the stem and each day a little more opens up, so I guess in a week or so they'll be fully open. How long that lasts I don't know as I've never grown them before.
DeleteAnother word to add to my French vocabulary - thanks Rob - wonder when I will use it :) I tried the phrase out on himself who translated it as smoked horse. That combination looks fantastic - is that bronze fennel in there too?
ReplyDeleteHi Anna. There is bronze fennel dotted about here and there. I have to keep an eye on it as it's not easy to spot the self seeders straight away.
DeleteIt does work wonders in the garden. The white foxtails are lovely!
ReplyDeleteThanks Sweetbay, Im hoping the foxtails will be more impressive next year as the bulk out.
Deletenice garden by the way very english looking can you tell me where you can get large specimens of eremurus if you buy from shop they tend to be rather small to fit in a packet i presume ....im volunteering in saint-pee-sur-nivelle near the spanish border gardening or attempting to with old tools and machines supplied. i managed to get eremurus to flower 3 out of 5 anyway for the 1st time this year by covering them with a bag of commercial stable manure that you get at the garden centers here in u.k. and you know what it worked! after the seller told me at the wisley spring show to feed them with manure. i was growing cleopatra by the way and only planted them in april thought i would be too late!
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