EARLY FEBRUARY 2006

Even after a frosty start there are a few plants already flowering outside now!

DECEMBER 20th - NARCISSUS MINOR 'CEDRIC MORRIS'

This wonderful daffodil, named in the 1950's by Cedric Morris, is always in flower before Christmas. It reaches only about 20cm and seems to go on performing for weeks.
A great foretaste of spring in December!

DECEMBER

I hate to see dank, dead foliage and loathe the decay of last years growth rotting in situ.
Instead I get huge satisfaction from a bed cleared of last years debris and well mulched in anticipation of next spring

OUT NOW! -OCTOBER-Senna corymbosa

Although I have grown this outside for a number of years it doesn't always seem to flower well.
This year it has reached about 3' and has been covered in bloom - but only during October.

OUT NOW! -OCTOBER- Cestrum x cultum 'Cretan Purple'

This new plant (to me! ) has been flowering for the last few weeks and will probably continue until the frosts. It will be interesting to see if it survives the (predicted) arctic winter we are, apparently, expecting!

OUT NOW! -OCTOBER- Mandevilla laxa

At last my Mandevilla laxa has flowered! Native to Argentina this climber has a reputation for being tender. However I have grown it outside here for a number years and it has survived many hard winters - but has never flowered! I think this was more to do with the fact that it became overcrowded during the year and so did not get quite enough direct sun. This year I forgot to prune it and after last years' mild winter growth begun at head height. It must have grown 2 metres during the season and has draped it's tall neighbours with these large exotic white flowers. Alas! The scent is elusive - a step ladder would be required to discover it!

OUT NOW! - OCTOBER- Clematis 'Caerulea Luxurians'

Clematis 'Caerulea Luxurians'
A pale blue relation of the well known Clematis 'Albo-Luxurians'- each pale blue sepal ends in a soft green tip! This plant seems to have been flowering for at least three months and shows no sign of stopping. I hope to have plants for sale next year.