JEARRARD'S HERBAL
Thats enough introduction - on with the plants!
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... out in the garden.
15th February 2009
Galanthus plicatus 'Wendys Gold' .
Hellebores and snowdrops, snowdrops and hellebores, if there had been nothing else this week, it would have been full. The slender yellow buds
of G.'Wendys Gold' have been dangling on the stems for a couple of weeks. For a moment this week has managed to forget all the huffing and puffing
of the cold weather and concentrate on some serious springish-ness . As a consequence a lot of buds have become flowers and a lot of bare ground
has filled.
This is rather vigrous for a yellow snowdrop. It was first noticed in 1973 and 34 years later I got one (which is the equivalent of the speed of
light for a snowdrop). Currently in a pot, but it is time to find the courage to plant it out. With spring straining in the blocks, there isn't
going to be a more optimistic time to take the chance.
15th February 2009
Helleborus x hybridus 'Crimson Ruffles' .
Hellebores have also been high on the list this week. I have a collection of my favourite stock plants in pots and I have finally convinced myself that
it is safe to plant them out in the Hellebore beds. Unfortunately, as fast as I plant them out, I find new plants to adore.
This weekend also saw the first of the exciting expeditions of the year. I had to go to Cardiff this weekend, and took the opportunity
to visit the Alpine Garden Society Show in South Wales. This red hybrid with a ruff of red nectaries comes from Robin White at Blackthorn Nurseries
and really attracted my attention, so it came home with me. It went straight into the ground, so it has avoided incarceration in a pot, which
is probably best for both of us.
15th February 2009
Helleborus niger 'Harvington Double' .
The other Hellebore surprise of the weekend didn't come home with me. I don't manage to keep H.niger going for very long,
so it seemed pointless. This is the latest innovation among the Harvington hellebores and although I knew it existed, this is the first time I have seen it.
15th February 2009
Crocus sieberi sublimis 'Tricolor' .
Back in the garden (and it was nice to get back in the garden) the Crocus have responded to a few sunny days. This one is common and vigorous
and quite delightful. The thin buds of
Crocus tomasinianus are pushing up between the ivy leaves under the trees, but they haven't opened yet. This one has rich
purple flowers supported on impossibly thin maroon stems.
This may last for a week or two, or it may be over in days. In warm or windy weather the flowers will open wide and then fall over
and that will be it for the year. If we get some overcast weather the buds will close and remain in pointless perfection for weeks.
To find particular groups of plants I grow, click on the genus name in the table above. Click on the "Index" box at the top of the page for the full list.
I have a lot of good intentions when it comes to updating this site, and I try to keep a note
about what is going on, if you are interested.
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