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There is a peculiar sort of tidiness about gardeners. Sometimes it is difficult to see among the
ragged lawns and disorganised tool sheds that make up the visible reality but there is a truth beyond that.
In a realm that the gardeners occupies and no-one else ever visits, there is a tidiness of intention. That is to say the gardener has an intention and some time after that the garden will follow. The time lag can be considerable, we generally look the other way. In this case it is the tidiness of an idea. I grow 'Magic Marlot' and had become obessed with seeing the green leaved plant it sported from. Suddenly there it was, in a Garden Centre being sold for winter decoration, as though it wasn't the most important thing in the place. It came home with me and a piece of the puzzle has fitted into place. Originally sold as a compact flowering plant for mid-winter, it has been almost entirely replaced by its variegated offshoot which is brighter during the dismal season. It was planted in the garden during 2020 and since then it has proved to be delicious to deer, unlike others in the genus. I have a little fence around it that affords a little protection. Havlis in the Czech Republic say: "Marlot skimmia is the mother variety of the forthcoming mutations Magic Marlot and Mystic Marlot. It has evergreen, leathery, broadly elliptic, very dark green, and highly glossy leaves. They create a perfect background for another lovely feature: the inflorescence. Tiny flowers are composed in dense clusters above the foliage already from late summer. The buds are white first, turning rosy pink in autumn, and deep burgundy red in inter. They open to creamy white, very fragrant flowers in April. Marlot is a dwarf variety of slow growth, forming a low, compact, mounding shrub and requires no pruning. It is male (no fruit) but pollinates all female varieties. (syn. 'Godrie's Dwarf')." Under 'Godries Dwarf'. Hillier Nurseries say: "This male evergreen variety is one of the most compact Skimmia varieties. It has mid to dark green glossy leaves and creates an attractive dome shaped mound of foliage. In spring it produces delightfully dense panicles of pink blossoms. This is a great plant for mixed borders, woodland planting schemes or growing in a container." Havlis also says (under Skimmia 'Godries Little Ruby'): "Johan Godrie bred 2 siblings in his Dutch nursery in Achtmaal, the male variety Godries Dwarf Green (pollinator) and the female Godries Little Ruby, " |
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| 15th November 2013 | ||
