JEARRARD'S HERBAL
8th September 2024
Colchicum x agrippinum
After a few weeks that might have been described as late summer, the rain arrived this week. I assume that all of the water tanks have filled, I will check later
and rectify any drainage issues that might have occurred.
The garden has been waiting out the last of the summer heat, uncertain how to progress. I can't really grow late season herbaceous plants or the prairie flora.
The garden is too wet and shaded. Persicaria amplexicaulis is making a bold show in a number of forms, and Anemone x hybrida 'Andrea Atkinson' is in full flower
but neither of them capture to idea of glowing autumn sunshine. The both lurk in the corners of borders adding brightness without radiance.
The first solid sign of autumn has just arrived in the form of Colchicum x agrippinum. It has spent years increasing steadily in a tub in the snowdrop border. A fortnight ago,
during a late evening foray into the garden, I had the urge to lift it, split it and plant it in the new herbaceous border. It should do well there in the stony soil,
or alternatively I will never see it again.
The arrival of the first flower is a good sign. It wasn't planted as deeply as I would have liked, but it is very stony soil.
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8th September 2024
Hedychium coccineum Form.1
The Hedychium border is looking full and lush. That is a good thing but it also presents a problem. When I first planted it, I was able to squeeze about half of the Hedychium collection into the space.
It was a very good move, the plants are looking happier and more vigorous than they ever did in pots. Unfortunately it left me with the other half of the collection to find space for.
It hasn't been going very well. A couple more have made it into the garden in the last few years but most of them are still struggling in pots. Whatever the consequences, space will have to be found.
Hedychium coccineum has been one of the big beneficiaries of the move outside. When I first grew it in the 1980's I was warned that it was unreliable outside so I have always been very cautious.
Time has shown that it is hardy here and vigorous, which is fortunate. I have quite a lot of forms of the species, and they have to go somewhere.
This one came from David Constantine at Koba Koba a long time ago. Under cover it occasionally flowered in the last months of the year. It has been much more effective outside. The stems are more compact
and it flowers more reliably. It is a good dark orange form, fairly typical of the species, compared with the pale orange H. c. aurantiacum forms that are more commonly seen in gardens.
8th September 2024
Puya mirabilis
The tides of fortune ebb and flow, the universe rotates in a haze of inspirational flashes like a dizzy disco ball. I have no idea how it happens, but this has been a Puya year.
Over time I have planted a number of Puya species in the garden and mostly in the Agave house. There was never much of a plan, it was just the slow accumulation
of interesting looking prickly rosettes. I have planted them, ignored them and assumed that they will look after themselves. For the most part, that has happened.
I suppose the change started when I began to clear out the Agave house a couple of years ago. The planting was too dense, too prickly and too challenging. A lot of plants were given
to a mild garden on the south coast where they can bask in the sun, stretch their leaves and stab any passer-by that they like. It won't be me!
I also lifted the overcrowded Puya and planted them out in the garden. So far they are thriving. We haven't had a harsh winter yet but I am feeling moderately optimistic.
With some extra space in the Agave house, Puya mirabilis has strengthened enough to flower. It's not one of the hardiest species so it will stay in the Agave house until
it takes one liberty too many with my passing legs. I don't mind the occasional aches and pains of gardening but I am less tolerant of malicious laceration.
8th September 2024
Nerine 'Catherine'
The Nerine collection is undergoing a subtle change. I'm sure that I am the driver of the change, but it wasn't really deliberate. The Nerine season is becoming earlier.
A decade ago, Nerine 'Catherine' was the beginning of the beginning of the season. The bare flower spike would snake up from the pot, alone in the whole greenhouse.
Now, Nerine 'Catherine' is just near to the beginning. 'Mrs Goldsmith' is also in flower, along with N. masoniorum and N. macmasteri. One of my N. angustifolia
seedlings flowered a month ago and is long over.
I think that I have been inadvertently selecting seedlings for early flowering. It isn't completely accidental, I have also been deliberately hybridising the early flowers,
but the drift in the season has not been intentional. In the garden, the first of my N. bowdenii selections will flower soon and several of them have flower spikes coming up.
Early flowering wasn't one of my selection criteria but that's what I seem to have done.
The Nerine collection is undergoing a subtle change. I watch it through the corner of my eye with curiosity.