My Cornish Hedge -- Part 2

3 years ago

For reference - Part 1

Well it is now 18 months since I had my Cornish Hedge built (Oct 21).

Over the winter, basically all that happened was, as expected, lots of the soil on the top got washed away, till there was just a low rounded cap.

In the spring I put in quite a few plants on the top and in some of the nooks. The latter I shouldn't have bothered doing, as none of them survived. C'est la vie.

At the same time grasses started to appear, along with numerous volunteers - dandelions, docks, various Brassicaceae, buttercups, Tripleurospermum maritimum (Sea Mayweed), wall flowers, Papaver somniferum (Opium poppy) and others.

Then summer arrived and drought. Watering the top was not easy, and SLOW. Giving it too fast immediately caused run-off, so it didn't as much water that was needed. The volunteers thrived, but several I planted didn't make it.

Now we are into the second spring, and things are stiring.

Here are a few picks taken today. You may notice in some pics that some plants, eg Ribwort plantain which look a bit sick. All are welcome, but if any species seems to be making a take over, I give some of them a drop of agricultural strenght, glyphosate, and walk away. I can't pull them out, as this will open it up for erosion next time it rains. I know as it happened. So it dies and its remain add organics and allows room for somebody else to move in.

As it looks today

One plant I wanted was Polypodium vulgare (Common polypody), so I put one. It's just starting to show new fronds.

I needn't have bothered, because a volunteer appeared

The Brassicaceae are well away. Not sure which this one is, but raw leaf starts off mild, but the more you chew the stronger it became.

I'll continue in a new comment.

See you

Cont............

Featured Answer

Fori

3 years ago

This is just lovely.

I also love the yellow on the house. Everything is perfect. 💚

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Comments (9)

thefof Zone 8/9 UK
Original Author
3 years ago

Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard) with Tripleurospermum maritimum (Sea Mayweed)

Aubretis with Lythrum salicaria (Purple loosestrife) and Valerianella locusta (Cornsalad)

Ranunculus repens (Creeping Buttercup)

Myosotis sp.

How about a nice wallflower (I think)

On to the next comment.

Cont....
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
3 years ago
That is stunning! Beautiful granite and wonderful building skills. Your ’wallflower’ is an Antirrhinum. Your ’Purple Loostrife‘ is Purple Toadflax. I think your yellow Brassica is Barbarea vulgaris. It can only be a matter of time before Centranthus ruber moves in. And wouldn’t Thrift look great on there too? Oops, I see you already have some.🤗
thefof Zone 8/9 UK thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
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thefof Zone 8/9 UK
Original Author
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
And back again.

Ulex gallii (Western Gorse) from seed collected on Zenner Moor.

Scilla verna (Spring squill) just budding up. In case you are worried, floral, these were found lying on the ground, next to a rabbit(?) scrape. I hoped they were S. verna, as they were growing in the area.

For whatever reason, Cymbalaria muralis (Ivy-leaved toadflax or Kenilworth ivy) has always been one of my favourite plants. Here it is with a Euphorbia I haven't got round to IDing yet.

And last but not least, Cymbalaria muralis again. with Parietaria judaica (Pellitory of the wall) and Digitalis.

Oh, I forgot. Now it is getting a nice govering of grass I can open up little areas to sow. Just done Cleretum vars (Livingstone daisy) and Campanula rotundifolia (Harebell)

I'm looking forward to warmer weather for obvious reasons, but just on the otherside of the wall I have planted a whole swath of Hedychium. Once they start growing and get established, they should be a tall, scented colourful back drop to the wall in a couple of years.

Keep smiling, guys and gals.

Fof

Edited to include final image
thefof Zone 8/9 UK
Original Author
3 years ago
Floral.

Yes, Snapdragon not wallflower.

As for the Purple Toadflax, yes again you are correct. I had it ID'd by somebody, years ago, and have never had cause to reevaluate, especially after nearly 30 yrs in Oz.

Going through my books, I had tagged B. vulgaris as a possible, but no further.

Thanks and Centranthus ruber is already present. :-))
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
3 years ago
It looks and sounds fabulous.
thefof Zone 8/9 UK thanked floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
3 years ago
What a gorgeous hedge! I have been fascinated from the beginning so thank you for the update. I imagine over the coming months any erosion issues will pass. Such interesting plants you are using, some being unfamiliar to me. Kudos to you.
thefof Zone 8/9 UK thanked peren.all Zone 5a Ontario Canada
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
3 years ago
i was just wondering about his old project ..... its like a miracle you posted about it.. rotflmbo ...

thx for linking the old post.. and the update ..

ken
thefof Zone 8/9 UK thanked ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
thefof Zone 8/9 UK
Original Author
3 years ago
Ken.

I did see your comment in the post about Macropiper excelsum.

I was just waiting for the weather to warm up enough so I could start on its spring clean and spring photoshoot..

Fof