Category Archives: From the Nursery

These nodding beauties make me smile!

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Have you looked around your garden closely and noticed what’s growing, in flower or hasn’t even gone to ‘sleep’ yet for the winter? I sowed some Calendula, Pot Marigold seeds last spring and they are still in flower. It’s amazing isn’t it? After walking around what I call my woodland/wildlife garden I was feeling very happy when I noticed one of my Hellebore hybrids in flower too. It has pink, nodding single flowers and looks very pretty. Now I’m waiting for the others to flower as well; they’re white with reddish speckles and have an exotic look about them, wish I could spur them on a bit. I’m not a patient gardener!

Hellebore hybrids grow well in a partially shaded spot, and prefer moist but well-drained soil with plenty of organic matter. They do retain their dark green leaves over winter and these should be cut off when the flower buds appear so as to show off the new flowers. They are wonderful winter to early spring flowerers with single or double flowers in a variety of colours from white to dark purple. Another great feature is that they self seed well, but it will take a few years for them to flower and know what colours the new plants will turn out to be. Worth waiting for if you want to save money.

There’s an interesting collection of Hellebores that are a mix of varieties of Helleborus niger and hybrids, guaranteed for their variety identity and uniformity because they are propagated by division and not seed, they are are now being grown in the UK and have breeder’s rights, so watch out for them if you’re interested in these great winter performers.

There are lots different species of Hellebores, so the next time you’re thinking about some winter or spring flowering plants see if you’ve got a little spot in your garden for any of these beauties. If you’re not sure what to plant with them, some good planting companions are Epimediums, Cyclamen hederifolium, Polemonium reptans and some Euphorbias.

Happy New Year In The Garden!

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Like so many other gardeners I lost plants during the last winter and spent most of 2011 grieving for them. They’ve been replaced with various hardier specimens and have enjoyed a very long growing season building up their strength for this winter. My shrub Fuchsia ‘Ricartonii’ still has leaves and flowers which shows how mild it is.

I’m looking forward to 2012, knowing that it won’t be long before the spring bulbs will be poking through the ground. I shall enjoy looking for mine because I hardly ever mark the spot where they’re planted, adding to my enjoyment of identifying them. There will be another opportunity very soon to plant bulbs; these will be growing in pots ready to plant out. Why not watch out for them!

There are still lots of things that can be done especially during milder spells. It’s a good time to plan what you want to grow for next year and prepare the ground ready for planting. If you intend growing your own from seeds there are lots to choose from and the seed packets will describe when and where to sow, which will help you to plan your beds, borders or containers. Growing from seed can be much more rewarding than just saving money.

If you planted autumn/winter plants, hardy pinks or heathers check them over occasionally and firm them in if they’ve been lifted by frost. Heathers can still be planted during suitable weather, but don’t forget that Callunas need acid soil and Ericas will thrive in most soils.

Occasionally inspect any fruit that you’re storing, removing any that are turning bad. Apple and pear trees can still be pruned, dispose of your prunings, making sure that you don’t leave any shrivelled-up fruit on the tree or ground. This may lead to problems next year. Plums and other stoned fruit shouldn’t be pruned in winter.

Happy new year everyone!

No need to be ‘SAD’ in the garden, just look at those Winter Pansies!

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I’m often asked about plants to keep the garden looking alive and interesting during autumn and winter. There are trees with textured, exfoliating or coloured bark, like the Betula utilis var. jacquemontii with its beautiful chalk white bark, while others bear fruit like the Crab Apple and Rowan. Some shrubs have bright coloured stems, berries, evergreen leaves, or fragrant flowers. My favourites at ground level in bedding displays, containers and hanging baskets are autumn and winter flowering Pansies and Violas, they look wonderful with their vibrant colours, showy little faces, and fragrance.

Another interesting feature of some plants in winter is their attraction to birds like Pyracantha, also known as Firethorn. They’re thorny evergreen shrubs, excellent for a boundary fence, wall or border.  The creamy white flowers in summer are followed by red, orange or yellow berries, depending on variety from autumn to winter, giving the birds a valuable food store and myself enjoyment in watching them feed. Another favourite for birds are Hollies, they look great all year round, but in winter the female or self fertile varieties look even better with there winter berries. Watch out though because there’s often confusion about gender, for instance ‘Golden King’ is a female and will bear berries if a male is present such as ‘Golden Queen’. See what I mean?

Some Dogwoods are beautifully architectural during winter showing off their bare, bright coloured stems. For example Cornus alba ‘Siberica’ has bright red stems, Cornus alba ‘Kesselringii’, deep purple stems and Cornus stolonifera ‘Flaviramea’ shows off bright green-yellow stems.

The Viburnum tinus and cultivars are evergreen shrubs with fragrant white flowers from autumn, followed by black berries and Viburnum bodnantense ‘Dawn’ is deciduous, and produces pretty fragrant pink flowers during the milder spells of winter into spring.

There so many more plants that I could mention, but I’m sure if you look around you will see some that I’ve missed out. I work outside most of the winter and know it can feel long, cold and gloomy at times; I appreciate these plants keeping my senses going until the warmer weather arrives.