Winter makes a brief return
Sunday, February 26, 2012
As soon as February came in winter returned with a vengance for
10 days with continuous night frosts but fortunately no snow. It
was still quite a shock to the system after a mild January but by
Valentines Day it was warmer again. No serious damage was done in
the garden and I had the chance to cover the more tender plants
with horticultural fleece. I am desperate to see my euphorbia
characias in flower and they are not far off now so fingers
crossed! With the warmer weather mid month the frogs and a few
early toads were back on the road making a beeline for the Paddock
Pond. Like the frogs we too have been back on the road with the
re-commencement of our gardening talks
Frogs having made it by road, in the Paddock Pond,
their eyes lit up by the LCD lamp.
Us on the road at Brecon and District Horticultural
Society in The Castle Hotel, Brecon, before the start of the
talk on Hellebores with some nice hellebores for sale.
Weather
Ten continuous nights of frost from 1st to 10th February with a
min of -10C, more than we have had all winter so far. Dry in that
period but in the second part of the month it has been mild, moist
(the Welsh for wet!!) and cloudy on the few dry days with a of max
14C. Bird song has been such a delight on the warmer days.They feel
the sap rising as we do!!
Garden update
The dry but cold weather at the beginning of the month meant
that I could get on with outdoor jobs, including making safe all
the wooden steps in the garden by covering them with galvanised
mesh. I also repaired all damaged steps and the rotting lawn
edgings in various parts of the garden. In the last week I have cut
back all the herbaceous borders, a task for various reasons I
always leave until this time of year. Next there is the mammoth
task of gathering up all the cuttings for the bonfire. I have also
sunk secure posts to support the sweet pea wigwams which regularly
blow over in summer gales, spoiling the show.
Most of our ordered seed has now been received including that
from the various societies we belong to and so far 80+ pots have
already been sown - only another 250 to go!!. Yesterday I was so
pleased to receive a large box of seeds in a wide a variety
collected by the late Jim Archibald from all corners of the world,
a most generous gift from his wife Jennie. Jim was one of the most
respected plantsman of the last 100 years and I am so pleased to
have been a recipient of some choice seed from many rare or hard to
come by species of mostly perennial plants. I hope I can do them
justice.
The seed pots nestled down on the hot bench in the small
polutunnel and many are showing signs of life - the best part of
gardening and the most exciting!
What's looking good?
As always the beech hedge walk and the woodland area in the
Paddock Garden are the focus of all attention. No prizes for
guessing the star plants - hellebores;what a surprise! It is no
secret how much I love them from that first day I came to Cilgwyn
Lodge on 29 March 1976 when there was only one in bloom. I hadn't
seen them before. It started a love affair that has never
waned with well over 200 in the gardens. It is said that when you
really fall in love you never forget it! They don't seem quite so
floriferous this year in spite of a regular feeding regime with
manure and fish, blood and bone fertiliser.
Honestly the picture doesn't do it justice. OK I may be
a poor photographer but the dappled shade seems to confuse the
camera - the border is far better than this but I have yet
been able to catch it on camera
The daffodils (narcissus) are coming into bloom and my
favourites are those from Division 6 of the narcissus
classificaton, the cyclaminius hybrids. They are robust. reasonably
dwarf about 12 - 15 inches and therefore fairly weatherproof,
naturalise well and all have a long trumpet and swept back petals
(perianth). There is also a good range of them to choose from
This is the species form not much more than 4 inches in
height but giving its unique form to a good range of
hybrids
Two hybrid forms "Peeping Tom" in the foreground
and one of the best "Jet Fire" behind it. The flowers are at least
four times the size of the species form
They are planted with other spring flowering plants including
primulas, pulmonarias, anemone blanda, grape hyacinths and
snowdrops. Snowdrops have had a great year and stayed in flower for
a long time because of the colder weather earlier in the month.
It is good to see so many herbaceous plants elsewhere in the
garden coming into growth, a bit too early perhaps, but they are
all tough and should withstand any further cold snaps. Monardas in
particular have spread incredibly and will need thining providing
plenty of plants for the nursery. It's always a nervous time
waiting to see what has come through the winter and this year the
challenge will be very different from last year with wet being the
major problem.
In the polytunnels there are some pelargoniums in bloom
one of the best of which is P.echinatum the so called "sweetheart"
pelargonium on account of its white flowers spotted with red
hearts. A spiky species form from a tuberous root stock.
Here it is - what a beauty!
Wildlife and countryside
The frogs will always be a highlight of February and this year
there seem to be more than ever. But I said enough about them last
year and they just do what comes naturally.
On the warmer days there have been lots of bumble and honey bees
on the heathers and recently it was a surprise to see some red
admiral butterflies too. They have overwintered this year although
how long they will survive, and if they get to breed is anyone's
guess.
If you look for them there are a few early celandines in the
hedgerows below the hazel catkins which are always one of the first
signs of spring.
The surest sign of all of course are the lambs now filling the
fields all around us and so far it has been a good year for them.
They lead a short but seemingly happy and natural life.
A good Dorset ewe but not all the lambs are hers - they
are very sociable from an early age!
Visits
Some really enjoyable talks this month starting with
Monmouthshire Group Hardy Plant Society, then Brecon and District
Horticultural Society, Cothi Gardeners and finishing with the
Llandysul Winter Gardening Weekend. All talks well received and
some useful feedback. Over the years we have met some great people
from doing our talks and become friends with many clubs and
societies throughout South and West Wales. More talks to look
forward to next month.
I was very pleased earlier this month to be asked to speak at 2
shows at the Royal Welsh Showground later this year. one at the
Spring Gardening event in late May and the other at the main Show
in late July. More details on these events later.
In mid month we went to Caerleon near Newport for the Alpine
Garden Society's first show of the year with some great exhibits
and some special nurseries in attendance tempting us to part with
our cash (not difficult!!)
Some treasures from the show
I am no galanthophile (snowdrop nut!!) but
occasionally I see one that is substantially different to make me
want it. This is one called "Corrin" and very choice it is too but
probably unobtainable unless you have deep pockets!!
Showing the range of alpines on display and the interest
generated
A lovely bowl of white cyclamen coum in the white form.
This one was grown from seed in 2001
On Saturday 3 March there is the first of the new plant fairs at
Aberglasney Gardens near Llandeilo from 10.30 am to 4.00 pm. These
will be regular events on the first Saturday each month until
October and as they will be held in the car park there will be no
admission charges. They promise to be a welcome addition to the
local plant fairs calendar. For more information please visit www.aberglasney.org