Primroses and Polyantha

I have just planted some primroses in the front garden. I love the native primrose, Primula vulgaris, a compact plant which grows to about 6 inches in height and produces lots of small pale yellow flowers with darker yellow centres. This native primrose grows more robustly in my garden than the hybrid Polyanthus and each year spreads a little bit more.

The Polyanthus is a garden hybrid which is very popular for bedding and containers due to its beautiful and varied colour palette. The flowers are larger than the Primula vulgaris and are carried in large trusses on stout stems well above the leaves. If you want dramatic early spring colour then these plants are hard to beat. Some of the colours are so delicate the flowers look as if they have been hand painted. I can never resist buying a few each year. They are perennial plants and will flower again next year.  

My Lilac Tree is Saved

In December last year I wrote about my lovely old lilac tree which was brought down by the heavy snowfall. I have been cutting back and clearing the trunk which had split and fallen. Part of the trunk is still in the ground and there is new growth so it looks as if the tree will grow again from the base after cutting back. I am really pleased that the tree is not a complete write-off. It will be a while before I have all those beautiful scented lilac flowers covering the front garden every springtime, but I am sure they will be worth waiting for.
Meanwhile I need to tidy up, repair the damage to other shrubs and plants and replant to fill any gaps. There are quite a few bulbs coming through - dwarf daffodils and tiny blue irises. I would love to grow crocus bulbs but the squirrels love them and soon dig up any that I have planted. I don't mind too much though as I love to watch the squirrels in my garden.    

Winter Flowering Jasmine

The winter flowering jasmine (Jasmine Nudiflorum) flowers on the bare wood between November and April. It is a climbing plant which needs the support of a trellis or pergola. I grow mine on the front wall of the house in a recess under the bay. This is a perfect spot as it is sheltered from cold winds.
I planted it in a large wooden barrel and trained it up a trellis. As it is in the shelter of the bay it does not benefit from rainfall and needs regular watering. Unfortunately I can be a bit forgetful when it comes to watering but it seems to thrive on neglect and, even though we had an extremely bad winter this year, has produced a lovely show of yellow flowers (the above photo was taken yesterday).
This is a good climber for a north facing or shady spot as it is hardy and flowers well even in shade. It can be a bit susceptible to cold winds though, so don't plant it in a very cold exposed position. Trained against a wall is ideal.
This climber needs pruning immediately after flowering by cutting all the flowered shoots back to 2-3 buds from the main stem. This is also a good time to cut out any old dead wood to keep the plant neat and tidy.

Snowdrops - A Winter Favourite

These beautiful flowering bulbs were introduced into this country in the 16th Century from the eastern Mediterranean. The first species were called Galanthus nivalis. The word Galanthus is derived from the Greek - 'gala' meaning milk and 'anthos' meaning flower. So the original name was actually the milkflower. The Latin 'nivalis' means growing near snow. There is also a Christian legend which tells of an angel who was helping Eve after her fall from Paradise, when it snowed. The angel caught a snowflake and breathed life into it, and the snowflake fell to earth as the first snowdrop.
These frail looking, but extremely tough little plants fascinate me. There are now many different varieties of single and double flowered snowdrops and they are relatively easy to grow. It is best to buy your snowdrops 'in the green' which means they have been damp packed and are available to buy as the flowering season finishes. The survival rate of these bulbs is much greater than dry bulbs bought in summer. Dried out bulbs transplant badly so if you do buy snowdrops make sure you plant them straight away.
They prefer a moist soil and light shade so are perfect for naturalising in grass under trees or in open woodland. You can increase your stock of snowdrops by lifting and dividing the larger clumps while the leaves are still green after flowering.
There are some wonderful displays of snowdrops in gardens open to the public. My favourite place to visit is Hodsock Priory in Nottinghamshire which has a wonderful display of snowdrops and other early flowering plants. Take a look by clicking on this link  http://www.hodsockpriory.com/snowdrops

Looking Forward to Spring

All the snow and ice has melted at last so I decided to walk down the garden and survey the damage. Most of the plants look flattened and very soggy, but there are some signs of new growth which makes me look forward to the first flowers of spring.  Snowdrops are usually the first flowers of the new year but growth has been delayed this year by the unusually low temperatures. The hellebores are in a sheltered spot and have a lot of new growth on them. I grow two types of hellebore, the white Helleborus Niger (Christmas Rose) and the varied shades of Helleborus Orientalis (Lenten Rose).
Helleborus Niger, or Christmas Rose, originated in central and eastern Europe and is believed to have first arrived in Britain with the Romans. It has black roots (hence the second name, Niger) which were believed to have been a cure for mania, insanity and melancholy. The plant was also believed to have the power to ward off evil spirits so was often planted near to the entrance of the house. It produces beautiful white flowers between December and March and grows between 12 and 18 inches high.
Helleborus Orientalis, or Lenten Rose, originated in southern Europe and Asia. There are a number of varieties of this plant producing flowers in shades of crimson, purple, pink and white (see picture above). It grows to a height of 18 - 24 inches.
Hellebores like partial shade and deep, well drained but moist soil. They do not like being moved once established. The roots can be divided in March after flowering to produce new plants.

Winter Flowering Heathers

If you want to add a good splash of winter colour to your garden, try growing winter flowering heathers. Most heathers prefer acidic soil with a pH of 4.5 to 5.0 but the many varieties of Erica carnea, Erica x darleyensis, Erica x williamsii and Erica vagans can be grown in alkaline soil.
Many bloom from November to March and some have very attractive foliage which provides a good contrast to the flower colour. They come in a range of colours in shades of white, pink, red and purple, and form good ground cover plants ranging in height from 6 inches to 24 inches.
Grow them together in beds for a dramatic swathe of winter colour or use them to fill gaps in the rock garden. Heathers can be grown in containers but they hate having dry roots so make sure they are well watered during dry periods.
They are low maintenance plants which only require a small amount of pruning. Just trim them lightly after flowering is finished. Don't cut back hard but follow the contours of the plant to keep it looking neat and tidy, pruning just underneath the spent flowers.

R.I.P. My Lilac Tree

Another 12 inches of snow has fallen and the weight of it has brought down the lilac tree in my front garden. This was a beautiful tree in spring, covered in pale blue highly scented flowers. I underplanted it with a golden leaved variety of Mexican Orange Blossom (Choisya Ternata 'Sundance') which also flowers in spring and has a lovely scent.
My late mother gave me this lilac as a cutting and I have watched it grow over the years and each year it seemed to flower better than the last. It is so sad to see it in such a sorry state. I will have to wait until the snow has gone to see what I can salvage. Lilac is easy to propagate as it produces suckers from the base so I will hopefully be able to grow another lovely tree from what remains of this one.