Hardy Perennials – Ready (& Almost Ready)

This week I am back at Sofacoma Market with a range of hardy perennials some ready to plant now and others whose roots haven’t quite filled their pots, but will be ready to plant in the next month. I am bringing them to market this week as there’s an unusually long gap before I am back (April 27th). If you would like me to put anything aside for you to pick up at the market, please email:

thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Hardy Perennials

Grown by me from seed or division in peat free compost, these have been out all winter and in all weathers and are completely hardened off; all survive very low temperatures. They have been chosen because they are beautiful, but also because they are all extremely attractive to pollinating insects. Another bonus is that most of these plants have proved to be slug resistant in my garden.

Some of the almost ready plants have been potted/repotted over the last month. They do not need much care at this stage apart from watering and can all be kept outside until their roots have developed more fully and you are ready to plant them. Those marked with an asterisk will be ready in a few week’s time.

Prices:

9 cm pots: £2.50

12cm/13cm or 1 litre pots: £5.00

1.5 litre – 2 litre pots £6.50

Linaria Springside White: a magnet for pollinators, this elegant plant has masses of tiny, white, snap-dragon like flowers on top of very upright stems that are clothed in small soft-green leaves. A lovely self-seeding plant that might produce flowers in other colours. Can grow up to 90cm and likes sun. 1 litre pot: £5

Linaria Canon Went: another wonderful garden plant for pollinators with spikes of lovely pink flowers in summer 3ft (medium pot sizes)

Knautia Macedonia: A wonderful plant with beautiful scabious type flowers in magenta. These are a magnet to butterflies and bees as well as being very lovely in the garden or in a pot. Flowers grow to between 12 and 18 inches on slender stems. It flowers long and hard and can be cut down at least once during the Summer to flower again (a range of pot sizes).

Achillea Summer Berries: a brilliant plant for pollinators, these lovely clusters of colourful flowers are a gorgeous mix of shades – both bright and pale pinks, together with coral, apricot, red and purple. Brilliant filler, both in the border and in a vase –  long lasting flowers which are a bonus for butterflies and bees.  Tolerates a range of conditions but enjoys sun 2ft (small to medium pots)

Verbascum Violetta: a graceful plant which adds height to the border with slender stems of deep-violet flowers which rise from a rosette of dark green leaves. It self seeds gently and can be planted in sun or partial shade. Height 3ft (a mix of pot sizes)

Hesperis matronalis White (Sweet Rocket): Another wildlife friendly cottage garden plant which has a beautiful scent. Pure white, star-shaped flowers grow above neat green leaves. It is highly attractive to bees and other beneficial insects and self seeds freely. Hesperis can be grown in sun or partial shade and likes moist well drained soil It is fully hardy and grows between 2 & 3 ft

Hardy Annual Seedlings:

A range of annual seedlings are also available. They all need more time to grow, but are hardy and can be left outside to get on with it. They will be ready to plant out in a few weeks. These include Cerinthe Major, Orlaya Grandiflora and highly scented Sweetpeas in a range of colours. If you are interested, please let me know and I will bring some along.

If you would like to keep up with what’s available, please enter details below:

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Early Spring Bulbs & First Hardy Plants

At last signs of Spring with crocus and iris reticulata flowering along with the first narcissus. This week I am back at Wolvercote Community Market with a small range of cheerful bulbs in pots and hardy perennials ready to plant. If you would like me to put anything aside for you to pick up at the market, please email:

thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Miniature Narcissi in pots

The bulbs are at various stages with Jetfire just starting to open and Tete a Tete following close behind; Minnow and Jack Snipe are later to bloom and will flower in a few weeks. All are lovely and delicate to look at, but extremely hardy. They are a great investment as they will multiply year after year. They have been grown in a mixture of terracotta and plastic pots. All are ready to be planted into the garden or larger containers or left where they are until they have finished flowering. All my bulbs are planted in peat free compost.

Jetfire, 13 cms pots with 5 to 6 bulbs and lots of flowers: £5.00

Tete a Tete, in plastic or terracotta pots from 9cm – 1 litre 3 – 6 bulbs: £2.50 – £5.00

Jack Snipe, 3 -4 bulbs in a vintage terracotta pot: £4.50

Minnow, 4 to 6 bulbs in a range of terracotta and plastic pots: £2.50 – £6.00

Hardy Perennials

All in 12/13cms/1 litre pots: £5 a pot

Grown by me from seed or division in peat free compost, these have been out all winter and in all weathers and are completely hardened off. They can survive very low temperatures. They have been chosen because they are beautiful, but also because they are all extremely attractive to pollinating insects. Another bonus is that all these plants have proved to be slug resistant in my garden.

Tellima Grandiflora: a very pretty and useful plant which can grow in either moist shade or sun and copes well with heavy clay soil. A clump-forming perennial, it has a neat and attractive low growing rosette of mid-green leaves which have hints of bronze. Spikes of scented cream flowers often tinged pink emerge from late spring to mid-summer. Particularly good in a dappled shade border. Height around 45 cms in my garden but can be taller and spread around 30cms. 1 litre pot: £5

Linaria Springside White: a magnet for pollinators, this elegant plant has masses of tiny, white, snap-dragon like flowers top very upright stems that are clothed in small soft-green leaves. A lovely self-seeding plant that might produce flowers in other colours. Can grow up to 90cm and likes sun. 1 litre pot: £5

Linaria Canon Went: another wonderful garden plant for pollinators with spikes of lovely pink flowers in summer. 3ft (90cm)

Geum Mai Tai: one of my favourite geums which looks delicate and beautiful with its semi double ruffled flowers, but is tough and reliable – a great combination. Can grow up to 45cms; tolerates some shade and enjoys moist soil. Flowers from May onwards and can flower again later in the summer if cut back.

Geum Pretticoats Peach: Soft semi-double peachy-pink and yellow petals surround a mass of bee magnet stamens. A pretty variety its blooms face outwards, rather than downwards, and appear over several months. A lovely plant for a container or front of the border. Grows to around 40 cms

If you would like to keep up with what’s available, please enter details below:

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Happy New Year!

Thanks to everyone who supported the stall so generously in 2024! I really appreciate it.

Quiet in the garden now apart from the first of the hellebores emerging next to the shivering primroses. A time to wait for splashes of colour.

January is going to be a quiet month for me too in terms of the markets, but I will be starting one of my favourite gardening activities of all: propagating plants. This month, the main task is to sow sweet pea seeds into pots of peat free compost.

This page goes into more detail on sowing sweet pea seeds. If you don’t get round to it, I should have lots of different varieties available in March and April markets.

Meanwhile, preparing for Spring is definitely going to help me stay positive through what can be a long, cold month.

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Wolvercote Community Market: Dec 15th

Last day for pre-orders: Saturday, 14th Dec

Pick up at Wolvercote market on Sunday between 10.00 and midday.

Free delivery within 5 miles of Oxford up to Wed 18th:

Despite the storms and sometimes awful weather, the December markets have been wonderful. It has been lovely to catch up with people despite the wind and sometimes lashing rain. This week I have been spending time foraging locally and using the two remaining bags of moss to make the last fresh wreaths of this festive season.

Wolvercote Community Market The White Hart Community Pub on Sunday, December 15th is my last market of the year. As well as fresh wreaths, there will be a small number of pots of emerging indoor narcissus, different varieties of hyacinth bulbs and iris reticulata in vintage terracotta – perfect for presents or for filling your own home with heady scent in a few weeks time.

Email: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Fresh Wreaths

All fresh wreaths are made on a moss and wire (or handmade willow) base and are covered in layers of fresh foliage, berries and beautiful seedheads. Almost all the ingredients are from my plot and garden or are lightly foraged locally. If the moss is kept damp, the wreaths will last for weeks and weeks.

Prices

Wreath on a 10 inch base: £17.50

Wreath on a 12 inch wire base: £20.00

Wreath on a 14 inch wire base: £25.00

If you would prefer a different size, please let me know.

Everlasting Wreaths

Each one of the wreaths is unique and made from flowers grown by me just outside Oxford using an organic approach and then dried naturally. The wreaths have a willow or vine base onto which generous handfuls of flowers are woven. These will last for years and years and keep their bright loveliness if kept in a dry place and out of direct sunlight.

Prices start at £22.50 for the smallest wreath which is just over 30 cms in diameter to £27.50 for a wreath approximately 48cms in diameter.

Using an organic approach and avoiding chemicals and dyes, my flowers have as light an environmental footprint as possible at the same time as being beautiful.

Bulb Prices

For more information on each bulb click here

Indoor Bulbs

Scented Narcissi

The last of the indoor narcissi are available in attractive metal containers or hurricane style glass vases.

Each metal pot contains peat free compost dressed with moss and 5 bulbs (with strong emerging shoots) of Narcissus Avalanche £15

There are 3 bulbs of Paperwhite Ziva, Narcissus Cragford, Avalanche or a mix in each glass vase: £12.50

Hyacinths

The shoots of these hyacinth bulbs are just emerging and will flower in the new year when they can brighten up January with their colour and scent. They are available in metal containers with 5 bulbs planted in peat free compost and dressed in moss. £15

Bulbs for Outside (or in if you prefer)

Iris Reticulata Kattharine Hodgkin 4 bulbs in lovely old terracotta pots: £5

Iris Reticulata is an exquisite miniature iris which blooms in late Winter or early Spring. or earlier if brought indoors. Can be planted in a sunny, well drained spot after flowering. This variety is one of the most reliably perennial.

If you would like to keep up to date on what’s available, please sign up below

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Fresh Wreaths and Bulbs at Sofacoma Market

A selection of fresh and everlasting wreaths will be at Sofacoma Market this Sunday, December 8th, together with beautiful bulbs: there will be the first pots of emerging indoor narcissus and hyacinths as well as crocus and iris reticulata – perfect presents or for filling your own home with heady scent in a few weeks time.

Pre-orders taken for free delivery within 5 miles of Oxford for pick up at Sofacoma market on December 8th December

Email: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Upcoming Markets

Sofacoma: December 8th

Wolvercote: December 15th

Fresh Wreaths

All the fresh wreaths are made on a moss and wire (or handmade willow) base and are covered in layers of fresh foliage, berries and beautiful seedheads. Almost all the ingredients are from my plot and garden or are lightly foraged locally. If the moss is kept damp, the wreaths will last for weeks and weeks.

Prices

Wreath on a 10 inch base: £17.50; Wreath on a 12 inch wire base: £20.00

Wreath on a 14 inch wire base: £25.00

If you would prefer a different size, please let me know.

Bulb Prices

For more information on each bulb click here

Indoor Bulbs

Each metal container contains peat free compost dressed with moss and 5 bulbs (with strong emerging shoots) of either Hyacinth Delft Blue, Paperwhite Narcissus, Ziva., or Narcissus Avalanche £15

Bulbs for Outside (or in if you prefer)

Iris Reticulata in lovely old terracotta pots: £5

Varieties include: George, Rejoice and Pixie.

Iris Reticulata is an exquisite miniature iris which blooms in late Winter or early Spring. or earlier if brought indoors. Four to five bulbs are planted in each lovely, old terracotta pot.

Crocus Ard Schenk also in old terracotta pots: £5

A pure white, delicate looking crocus with a yellow centre which is wonderful for early pollinators. A beautiful, early spring flower which also has a gentle scent.

Everlasting Wreaths & Bouquets

Each one of the wreaths and bouquets is unique and made from flowers grown by me just outside Oxford using an organic approach and then dried naturally. The wreaths have a willow or vine base onto which generous handfuls of flowers are woven. These and the bouquets will last for years and years and keep their bright loveliness if kept in a dry place and out of direct sunlight.

Bouquets: Lights & Brights with at least 40 stems £15

Everlasting Wreaths: prices start at £22.50 for the smallest wreath which is just over 30 cms in diameter to £27.50 for a wreath approximately 48cms in diameter.

Using an organic approach and avoiding chemicals and dyes, my flowers have as light an environmental footprint as possible at the same time as being beautiful.

If you would like to keep up to date on what’s available, please sign up below

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Wreaths,Bulbs & Everlasting Flowers at the Market

This Sunday morning, 30th Nov, the stall will be at Wolvercote Community Market with fresh festive wreaths, pots of bulbs just shooting and bouquets of bright dried flowers.

Pre-orders taken now for delivery from December 1st or for pick up at the market on Nov 30th or Sofacoma Market on Dec 7th.

Delivery is free within 5 miles of Oxford with a minimum order of £15.00

Email: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Fresh Wreaths

All the fresh wreaths are made by hand (by me) on a moss and wire (or handmade willow) base and are covered in layers of fresh foliage, berries and beautiful seedheads. Almost all of the ingredients are from my garden or are lightly foraged locally. The moss is bought from a sustainable source while the eucalyptus comes from a small plantation in Wales. Glossy, red crab apples, lichen covered larch and eucalyptus are just some of the ingredients this week.

Each wreath should last well past Christmas and into the New Year if the moss is kept damp.

Prices

Wreath on a 10 inch base: £17.50

Wreath on a 12 inch wire base: £20.00

Wreath on a 14 inch wire base: £25.00

If you would prefer a different size, please let me know.

Indoor Bulbs:Paperwhite Narcissus & Hyacinths

Paperwhite Narcissus: 5 bulbs in metal container £15; 3 bulbs in glass vase: £12.50

With their delicate , highly scented flowers on multi-headed stems these are one of the prettiest forced bulbs of all.

Forced Hyacinths: Delft Blue, Jan Bos & Woodstock: £15 for a metal container with 5 bulbs

These bulbs have been treated so that they can be forced into bloom for Christmas or for the sometimes gloomy, dark days of January and February. Planted afterwards in the garden, they should come back year after year with slightly more delicate blooms.

Delft Blue is a beautiful blue hyacinth with a wonderful sweet scent. Woodstock, for many, is the most beautiful hyacinth of all with its deep beetroot coloured blooms and lovely scent. Jan Bos is a gorgeous bright pink (not reflected in the image above) and also highly fragranced. All share the same care as Delft Blue.

Each metal container contains peat free compost dressed with moss and 5 bulbs with strong emerging shoots.

Everlasting Bouquets & Wreaths

Each one of the wreaths and bouquets is unique and made from flowers grown by me just outside Oxford using an organic approach and then dried naturally . The wreaths have a willow or vine base onto which generous handfuls of flowers are woven. These and the bouquets will last for years and years and keep their bright loveliness if kept in a dry place and out of bright sunlight.

Bouquets: Lights & Brights with at least 40 stems £12.50 to £6.50

Everlasting Wreaths: £25.00

Using an organic approach and avoiding chemicals and dyes, my flowers have as light an environmental footprint as possible at the same time as being beautiful.

Early Miniature Spring Bulbs

The first of the Spring bulbs are pushing their way up into the light. The beautifully delicate miniature iris reticulata is first which despite its fragile appearance is tough and will withstand deep frost without protection. There are two varieties available with 5 bulbs in each small very old and very lovely terracotta pot: Pixie and J S Dijt £5.50 a pot

There will be a range of other bulbs available in these upcoming markets:

Sofacoma Market: 7th December

Wolvercote Market: 14th December

Please sign up below if you would like to know what’s available

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Apologies: No Stall at Sofacoma on 24th Nov

Extremely sorry for the late notice, but the dire forecast of wind and heavy rain for tomorrow means that the stall won’t be making it to Sofacoma Market after all. Almost all the wreaths and bouquets this week are made from dried, everlasting flowers which cannot cope with getting wet and the paper and cardboard packaging I have won’t be enough protection in a potential downpour.

Feeling disappointed to miss the market, but will be back at Sofacoma with fresh wreaths and pots of bulbs on Dec 8th whatever the weather. Meanwhile if you would like to pre order for delivery or pick up at the market, please email me.

thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

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Wreaths & Flowers: Fresh and Everlasting

Despite the dismal forecast, looking forward to being back at Sofacoma Market in South Oxford this Sunday, November 24th with dried Summer flowers from the garden made into everlasting wreaths and bouquets.

Although it might seem a little early, there will also be examples of fresh wreaths to buy/pre-order. If you would like a festive, fresh wreath, please consider ordering early. You can choose one at a market, or email me to have one delivered to your door.

All deliveries are free within 5 miles of Oxford. Wreath deliveries start on December 2nd, until 16th December (or my supplies run out).

Email: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Payment can be made online by BACS or with cash & contactless at the market or on delivery.

The Markets: Both markets are on Sunday mornings and run from 10.00 am to midday. For more information on the markets and their locations, click on the links below.

Wolvercote Community Market &South Oxford Farmers and Community Market

  • December 1st Wolvercote Market
  • December 8th Sofacoma Market
  • December 15th Wolvercote Market

Everlasting Bouquets & Wreaths

Each one of the wreaths and bouquets is different and all are made from flowers grown and then dried naturally by me just outside Oxford. The wreaths have a willow or vine base onto which generous handfuls of flowers are layered. These and the bouquets will last for years and years and keep their bright loveliness if kept in a dry place and out of bright sunlight.

Bouquets: Lights & Brights with at least 40 stems £15

Everlasting Wreaths: prices start at £22.50 for the smallest wreath which is just over 30 cms in diameter to £27.50 for a wreath approximately 48cms in diameter.

Using an organic approach and avoiding chemicals and dyes, my flowers have as light an environmental footprint as possible at the same time as being beautiful.

Fresh Festive Wreaths (can be pre-ordered) available from November 24th

Fresh wreaths are made on a moss and wire base and are covered in layers of fresh foliage, berries and beautiful seedheads. All the ingredients are from my plot and garden or are lightly foraged locally. If the moss is kept damp, the wreaths will last weeks and weeks.

This year, a fully compostable fresh wreath made with moss on a willow base is available too. Just ask for this option if you would prefer it.

Wreath on a 10 inch base: £17.50

Wreath on a 12 inch wire base: £20.00

Wreath on a 14 inch wire base: £25.00

Bespoke wreaths on larger and smaller bases can also be ordered.

(The diameter of each wreath will be around 2 inches wider than its base)

If you would like to keep up to date on what is available, please sign up below:

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Mostly Lovely Autumn Flowers

We are looking forward to being back at the lovely Wolvercote Community Market this Sunday at the White Hart, Wolvercote between 10.00am and midday.

Tonight’s cold temperatures willing, there will be bunches of late Summer flowers; a very small number of reliable plants for splashes of colour in your garden now or next year and some healthy houseplants. Everything is grown using an organic, nature friendly approach with peat free compost. See below for more details.

Dahlias of all colours (from almost black to bright orange and delicate pink) will be the stars of the flower bunches this week joined by a mix of other lovelies including asters, zinnias and cosmos.

If you would like to pre-order any of the flowers & plants for pick up at a market, please email me before 6.00pm Saturday evening at: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Flowers

Jam Jars: £7.50

Pickle Pots: £10.00

Market Bunches: £12

Gift Wrapped Bouquets from £15 to £25 can be pre-ordered for pick up from the market.

Plants

Although you won’t get instant colour, now is a brilliant time to plant perennials and biennials to get bigger and more productive plants next Spring and Summer. The plants below are all able to cope with very low temperatures and will grow healthy, larger root balls throughout the Winter than if planted in Spring.

Biennials & Perennials

Foxglove Suttons Apricot:

A lovely soft apricot-pink foxglove which flowers in June. This is a reliable cottage garden favourite which is a magnet for bees. and butterflies. It likes part shade in moist soil and can grow up to 4′. All foxgloves are poisonous and shouldn’t be ingested. £1.25 a small pot

Eryngium Blue Glitter:

A great favourite, this herbaceous perennial is another butterfly and bee magnet. Grown from seed collected from my garden last Autumn, these plants are unlikely to flower this year (though I am still keeping my fingers crossed), but if planted now when the soil is still warm they will quietly grow into much bigger plants by next Summer when they will definitely bloom generously. The flower stems grow up tall, to about 4′ once established, from a neat, low rosette of leaves. From £6 a large pot to £3.50 for medium

There will be other individual perennial plants for sale at the market including salvias.

Please complete the box below if you would like to be kept up to date on what’s available.

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Late Summer Flowers (and healthy plants)

After a short break, we are really happy to be back at our favourite local markets for the next two Sundays.

Sunday, September 8th Sofacoma Market Just off Lake St, Oxford.

Sunday 15th September Wolvercote Community Market, White Hart, Wolvercote.

There will be lots of late Summer flowers and a small number of healthy plants for splashes of colour now or next year. Everything is grown close to the markets using an organic, nature friendly approach with peat free compost. See below for more details.

Dahlias of all colours (from a rich, almost black to bright orange and delicate pink) will be the stars of the flower bunches over the next two weeks joined by a mix of other lovelies including asters, zinnias and cosmos.

If you would like to pre-order any of the flowers & plants for pick up at a market, please email me before 6.00pm Saturday evening at: thedevelopingplot@gmail.com

Flowers

Jam Jars: £7.50 with at least 15 stems and usually more

Pickle Pots: £10.00 minimum of 20 stems, but again usually more

Market Bunches: £12 with at least 25 stems

Gift Wrapped Bouquets from £15 (at least 30 stems) to £25 (at least 50) can be pre-ordered for pick up from the market.

Plants

Although you won’t get instant colour, now is a brilliant time to plant perennials and biennials to get bigger and more productive plants next Spring and Summer. The plants below are all able to cope with very low temperatures and will grow healthy, larger root balls throughout the Winter than if planted in Spring.

Biennials:

Sweet Williams Nigricans:

A glamorous and hardy plant which is a deep, deep crimson colour – almost black. It has sweetly scented flowers with dark leaves. It can tolerate poor soil and grows in sun and part shade. Plant around 25cms apart. Depending on conditions, it can grow up to 45cms. £1.25 a small pot

Foxglove Suttons Apricot:

A lovely soft apricot-pink foxglove which flowers in June. This is a reliable cottage garden favourite which is a magnet for bees. and butterflies. It likes part shade in moist soil and can grow up to 4′. All foxgloves are poisonous and shouldn’t be ingested. £1.25 a small pot

Herbaceous Hardy Perennial

Eryngium Blue Glitter:

A great favourite, this is another butterfly and bee magnet. Grown from seed collected from my garden last Autumn, these plants are unlikely to flower this year (though I am still keeping my fingers crossed), but if planted now when the soil is still warm they will quietly grow into much bigger plants by next Summer when they will definitely bloom generously. The flower stems grow up tall, to about 4′ once established, from a neat low rosette of leaves. From £6 a large pot to £3.50 for medium

There will be other individual perennial plants for sale at the market including salvias.

Please complete the box below if you would like to be kept up to date on what’s available.

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