Saturday, December 01, 2012

MULCH.


I hate to see dank ,dead foliage and loathe the decay of last summer's growth rotting in situ.
Instead, I almost feel maternal, tucking up the borders for the winter with a good mulch of rotted compost.

Monday, November 12, 2012

CLETHRA PRINGLEI


This large evergreen shrub took a battering in the cold winter of 2010/2011- but survived.
It probably did not get enough sun this summer but has decided to flower now in the middle of November. It comes from Mexico, needs an acid soil, and has sweetly scented flowers.

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

SOLANUM LINEARIFOLIUM.


Solanum linearifolium is evergreen and not completely hardy. It died in both the January cold in 2010 and the cold weather at the end of that year.
I re-planted it in March 2011. It has now reached 9’ and has been covered with these bright blue flowers for the last week or so. It should continue to flower for some time. I planted it on a sunny south facing wall and, even if it succumbs this winter, it will have made a big impact for two summers running.

Sunday, May 20, 2012

PODOPHYLLUM PLEIANTHUM SHORT FORM


This neat woodlander emerges from the soil like a shiny unfurling umbrella.
It only grows about 18” high, flowers in May and likes a moist shady spot.
Another gem from Crug Farm plants

Saturday, May 05, 2012

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH APRIL 14TH

Thanks to Val Bourne for the nice mention in the Gardening Telegraph last Saturday.
You can read it here online.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

ILLICIUM YUNNANENSE

A superb evergreen shrub from Mark Fillan which has just come into flower. It seems to be growing robustly, despite last summer's drought.

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

FLOWERING IN MARCH

Stachyurus yunnanensis is evergreen and so does not suffer from the curse of S. praecox - the late frost.
It seems perfectly hardy but is happier against a wall.
Ribes sanguineum 'Tydeman's White' is a robust currant that  will perform anywhere and only needs to be fiercely pruned to keep it in check.
Bergenias get a bad name - but I love them.
B. emeiensis is perfectly hardy and is flowering now. It has neat foliage and delightful white flowers with a hint of pink.

Sunday, January 01, 2012

IN FLOWER ON JANUARY 1ST 2012


Some of the plants in flower this morning.
Galanthus 'Richard Ayres', Iris unguicularis 'Walter Butt', Coronilla glauca 'Citrina', Correa x harisii, Coronilla valentina, Polygala x dalmaisiana, Lonicera x purpusii,Chimonanthus praecox,  Helleborus orientalis 'Early Purple', Narcissus 'Cedric Morris', Helleborus odorus x multifidus istriacus,  Viburnum bodnantense 'Dawn', Parrotia persica, Camellia sasanqua 'Narumi-gata', Daphne bholua 'Gurkha', Viburnum farreri candidissimum.