The view of the garden from the kitchen window gives a grandstand view of the antics of the squirrels. This week they have been tracking down the last few tiny edible figs and often knock off some of the others in the process. As does the wind and the rain, which is all very helpful as there are still a great many figs to be taken off. In all the gloom of this week there have been a few spots of colour:
One
G
I still have berries on the cotoneaster leading to me to conclude that there is still plenty of food around for the birds. The combination of the red berries and leaves and the ivy strikes a perfect Christmas note.
Two
I tweeted this photo earlier in the week and unashamedly share it here. For one of my twelve days of Christmas I have six paraqueets-a-nibbling. This tree is a real bright spot in the winter gloom and looks all the crazier with the addition of some neon green.
Three
This sad looking skimmia is not providing the much hoped for winter colour. It was planted out last year underneath the magnolia and I had lovely visions of masses of red berries which have come to nought. The skimmia was dug up and potted again, pending allocation to a better spot. Some place with more light and not so dry I think.
Four
The aforementioned magnolia is beginning to do its stuff again – these new buds were cheering to see.
Five
I ventured into unknown territory awhile ago and planted up some hyacinth bulbs for forcing for Christmas. At the appointed time they were brought into the warmth of the house. But this week they were banished into a cold exile outside. Their crime? Well the bulbs are innocent but the cloud of tiny black flies that came with them were not greatly appreciated.
Six
I’ve got a few things going on in the potting shed. The scented leaf pelagoniums have been cut back, the last of foxgloves are going to overwinter there now along with a few cuttings of penstemon ‘Sour Grapes’ and pellies. I am also trying to keep alive a few seedlings from euphorbia oblongata but I feel these are already slipping from my grasp. I foresee causalities along the way.
Even though I may lose some seedlings over the winter the eternal optimism of the gardener continues. New seed orders have been placed and the wish list continues to grow. Enjoy your winter garden – plants and wildlife, and if you are seeking inspiration look no further than The Propagator’s blog which will start you off on a world wide tour of gardens.
I garden in London and so get a little complacent about frosts. But this week the lawn has had a light frosting and it was clearly a sign that cold weather gardening had to start. Last year’s fleece was in shredded tatters in the shed and I hate all those white flaky bits. I hot footed it to Homebase and found some delightful green bags of 35gsm fleece with very handy draw string pulls. I usually fleece up the agapanthus armed with a stapler but these jackets were easy to pull over the plants and the fetching shade of green is slightly less obvious than white. Job done.
I was certainly lulled into complacency by the balmy days I experienced in Suffolk last week but the cold evenings are changing the colours of the garden. The persimmon tree is looking beautiful even as the leaves are falling.
The previously sun scorched hydrangeas are also taking on their winter hue.
But elsewhere the summer container plants are still in good health and I will leave them out throughout the winter. In mild years I have been able to carry the geraniums over into the next summer.
The white antirrhinum sowed from seed is still in flower at this end of the garden but elsewhere I have collected seeds from another plant that has done its bit for summer.
I recently planted out some gaura and pennisetums in a west border and alongside them I put in some Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’, which still thinks there’s time to put on a display. Thank you!
Daphne Eternal Fragrance. I had resisted buying this all year on the grounds that I wasn’t sure I had the right spot for it. But there it was on the bench in front of me with a label that said suitable for containers. I’ll find a space for it soon.
I have moved the scented leaf pelagoniums into the potting shed and taken a few cuttings for insurance. That meant two summer containers were sitting empty. There in front of me was a tray of winter pansies.
Recently added to the wish list was Brunnera macrocephala ‘Jack Frost’. Described as good for shade and for ground cover, I thought it would be ideal for under the snowberry tree. These were lurking just around the corner from the pansies. Speaking of lurkers – do the slugs like brunnera?
I was almost at the exit point when I spotted the pots of Gaultheria Procumbens ‘Big Berry’. I’ve had these in winter window boxes before with some ivy. The red berries are usually plentiful.
I had to walk back to the beaming cashier past the bulb section and remembered just in time that I needed to top up the alliums and fritillaries.
I count myself as quite restrained – I can’t give you a full six from the garden centre purchases! My last for this week is something that is giving me cause for concern. These Liriope muscari ‘big blue’ went into the garden in autumn 2016 and have not flowered once. The RHS site promises ‘small violet-purple flowers carried in dense, erect spikes to 30cm in height in autumn, followed by black berries.’ To quote our esteemed leader ‘Nothing, nada, zilch.’ Any suggestions?
I’ve planted the same group of plants either side of a small path.. The Agastache ‘Alabaster’ were in the garden already and they have now been joined by Echinacea purpurea ‘White Swan’, Gaura lindheimeri ‘Whirling Butterflies’ and Pennisetum villosum. Fingers crossed for next summer.
On the diagonal opposite to this area is what was fondly known as ground elder corner. After three summers of digging it out I think I have the upper hand and so I am beginning to put in some permanent plants. First to go in is Trachelospermum jasminoides, a firm six on saturday favourite. I’m hoping it will very quickly cover the great expanse of unattractive brown fence.
Also adding some late colour are these Lillies. Yet more naming debates: are they now Schizostylis, or Hesperantha? I know which one I prefer. These came from the old garden and are bulking up nicely.
And since repetition is allowed and because the late colour is so fabulous, I give you again the Salvia ‘Amistad’ and the Rose, Darcy Bussell. The Salvias mooched along all summer but they have really established themselves in the last month. Darcy Bussell just keeps on putting out new buds.
n20gardener 