JEARRARD'S HERBAL
11th June 2023
Disa Colette Cywes 'Peach Blush' .
The garden is tired. Tired of the heat, tired of the drought and tired of the desiccating wind. There was a moment in the middle of the week when rain seemed a possibility
but it didn't happen. Two drops hit the ground over the whole garden - I counted them - and did no good. We would have needed considerably larger drops. Astonishingly, there is still
some moisture lower in the ground. The garden hasn't reached wilting point, but it can't be far away. A Vitex by the house is always late into leaf, but at present it is just sticks.
I gave it a can of water. It should enjoy the heat now if it hasn't already passed beyond the reach of enjoyment.
The water tanks are looking empty. It wouldn't take much rain to fill them, a good thunder storm would do it, but the forecasters haven't spotted one in the distance. That may be a good sign.
The sky is heavy and overcast.
The first flush of flowers has started on the Disa. It's an exciting moment with new hybrids flowering for the first time. Some of the most interesting at the moment have
Disa Colette Cywes 'Peach Blush' in their ancestry. It has a very pale wash of pink over the flower and has been producing white and yellow seedlings from some crosses.
11th June 2023
Luzuriaga radicans .
I keep searching for a corner of the garden where Luzuriaga radicans could romp around cheerfully. I haven't found it yet, but there are two shady corners where the moisture lingers through
the summer that might be suitable. If the Luzuriaga has one, the Philesia will have to get the other.
Timidity on my part has allowed it to languish in a pot for many years, all previous attempts to plant it out have failed and I have rushed it back into the greenhouse to recover.
It is easy enough in the greenhouse, it likes to be kept moist and it enjoys the heat. Unfortunately it also seems to attract vine-weevil. Every now and then I have to collect up
the severed shoots and root them. Currently back in the greenhouse, it has summoned up the energy to flower. I took the picture because I think this might be it for the year.
An established plant can flower on and off through the summer, but this poor little thing is not going to have the energy.
At some point the skies will open, the rain will drop down and the garden will flood. It will be an ideal time for planting out a Luzuriaga. I'm not sure when it will happen,
the cynical money is on the first day of the summer holidays, the pessimistic money suggests Christmas Day.
11th June 2023
Roscoea cautleyoides 'Kew Beauty' .
I had far too many Roscoea in pots. I probably still do. I weeded the spring flowering ones on the bench but was intimidated by the rows of autumn flowering cultivars.
They are still waiting and now the plants have started to grow which makes it a more complex job. I wish I had done it earlier (I really wish the Roscoea-fairy had done it for me).
One quiet evening it will happen.
Most of the spring flowering species and cultivars were planted out. They have prospered, it was an excellent move. The last remaining "earlies" will go out in autumn. I may keep a couple of the mauve
and purple R. cautleyoides forms under cover until I am sure they have established outside. R. cautleyoides 'Kew Beauty' will certainly be going out.
Plants in the herbaceous border are well established. Once they are out there I will lose track of the names and that will save a lot of grief. There are plenty of yellow flowering
R. cautleyoides selections, the differences are very slight. This one came named as 'Kew Beauty', but it isn't quite right. The lateral petals should spread sideways more widely.
It's going outside where it will be thoroughly delightful and I simply won't care.
11th June 2023
Paeonia lactiflora .
The new herbaceous border has been sweltering in the sun. It is surrounded by trees so it is shaded as the sun goes down, but it gets full exposure through the heat of the day.
The soil is mostly rock, which is a mixed blessing. It is impossible to dig, almost impossible to plant anything. On the other hand, it doesn't dry out very rapidly.
I have tried to plant it with things that tolerate dry sunny conditions. My first thought was peonies. I have planted a couple of dozen in there. Some of them are very special things
that I find totally enchanting. Some of them are P. lactiflora cultivars that I bought very cheaply in Morrisons. It was a good move. They have taken a few years to establish
but many of them have flowered this year.
They arrive as a sachet of peat with a lump in it. The lump becomes a peony root on investigation. It's not surprising that they take a while to recover. However this has been one of the results, and it is astonishing.
Without question it has been the most wonderful thing in the garden this week. I'm not even bothered that I don't know what it is. It certainly isn't any of the names I was promised when I bought them.
If I could be sure of getting it again then I would buy a hundred more, it would be amazing.
Fortunately it is growing outside, it is wonderful and that is enough. Perhaps some kind soul will enlighten me one day, but I'm not going to rush, it's far too hot. Summertime, the living is easy,
and I have find somewhere to plant a Dahlia !