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Showing posts from April, 2014

ACER PALMATUM 'BENI MAIKO'

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After buying my little Zanthoxylum piperitum last week, I've developed a bad case of the bonsai bug.  Although I've only just received and not yet completely read The Complete Book of Bonsai by Harry Tomlinson (second hand from Amazon UK) I am raring to go which is a bit of a mistake with bonsai because, I think, patience really is the thing.  Yesterday, I visited a very large and fairly local garden centre and a stand of colourful Japanese maples caught my attention.  The bigger maples are far too expensive for a novice like me to risk bonsaiing to death but all was not lost; they had some little ones for only a few pounds: the dwarf Acer palmatum 'Beni Maiko'.  The colours of the leaves and stems are so vibrant.  They are said to turn green in summer but then bright red in autumn.  Beni Maiko grows to about the same height and spread, perhaps just a little smaller, as Acer palmatum dissectum 'Ornatum' which I bought the other day.  ...

ACER PALMATUM DISSECTUM 'ORNATUM'

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When I first moved into the home where I live now, I bought a Japanese maple, Acer palmatum dissectum atropurpureum 'Garnet' and kept it in partial shade, in what I thought was a sheltered position.  However, as much as I tried to protect it, its leaves got burned by the wind and it ultimately died.  I could not help but wonder about that because when I had a bigger garden, I grew Japanese maples so easily despite reading that they could be difficult.  I am going to try again.  This time I have bought Acer palmatum dissectum 'Ornatum'.  I have planted it in a terracotta pot and stuck it in a sunnier aspect of the garden in the 90 degree angle between two fencing panels.  Acer palmatum dissectum 'Ornatum' - 26 April 2014 As you can see the leaves of Acer palmatum dissectum' Ornatum' are finely dissected and a beautiful colour which change to golden orange in autumn.  It has a weeping habit, is fully hardy, and achieves a height of 1.4m a...

CHERRY BLOSSOMS ON PRUNUS AVIUM STELLA

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As I've mentioned already in other posts, I grow the sweet cherry Prunus avium Stella Gisela 5 which I bought last year just as the flowering period was ending.  I've recently transplanted it into a large plastic pot which I have partially sunk into my garden border.  The reason for my doing this is because I understand that this tree does not like competition with other shrubs and the pot keeps away invading roots from other plants, because the soil in my garden isn't very deep before there is rock and heavy clay, and also by sinking the pot into the soil, it steadies the pot and the tree from falling over when the wind blows. How to prune Prunus avium 'Stella' cherry trees Prunus avium Stella, Gisela 5 - 26 April 2014 If you have a small garden and want a pretty, flowering tree, why not grow a fruit tree and get the pleasure of both flowers and fruit?  Because my cherry tree is a dwarf tree, I don't need to worry about the size it will grow to althou...

HOSTA 'GOLD EDGER'

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When I had my much bigger garden many years ago, back in the mid 80s to mid 90s, I used to grow various types of hosta at the bottom of my garden.  The garden was on a long slope and at the bottom it was north-facing, shady, and moist.  Hostas loved it, but so did the slugs.  Now I have a smaller garden, I still want to grow hostas but have to be more selective about the size to which they will grow, and I'm not giving slugs a chance.   Last year I planted the small hosta, 'Brim cup' , in a terracotta pot and now I have bought 'Gold Edger'.  Like 'Brim Cup' it is to be grown as a specimen, in a terracotta pot, surrounded by gravel that the slugs just hate sliding across.    As the label says, and as you can see above, hosta 'Gold Edger' forms a dense mound of layered light green leaves that turn gold with age with many stems holding an abundance of lavender flowers from July to August.  It grows to a height of 50cm (20in).  ...

ARTIFICIAL FUNGI

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Some time ago I came across artificial fungi being sold in the Royal Horticultural Society shop at Harlow Carr.  I wish I could tell you the name of the manufacturer but what I can tell you is that the moulds for these realistic artificial mushrooms or toadstools are made from the real thing.  I think they are resin, and the detail of the fungi gills is incredible.  They are frost-proof and my collection has been stuck into the pot of a houseplant all winter and will be transferred among potted plants and shrubs outdoors in May.                   

PRIMULA 'WHARFEDALE VILLAGE'

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Wharfedale is an area in the Yorkshire Dales and I found this lovely Primula 'Wharfedale Village' in the Alpine House of the Royal Horticultural Society in Harlow Carr, North Yorkshire.  Although there are so many gloriously colourful primulas out there, I tend to favour those that are a little less loud and more like the original primula vulgaris, primrose.  Wharfedale Village with its off-white petals and pale yellow eye is just wonderful and one that I would happily add to my garden.  Primulas grow happily in sun or shade in moist but well-draining soil.  Mine grow in a relatively shady north-facing border that gets mid to late afternoon sunshine.  I assume that 'Wharfedale Village' is as hardy as other primulas. 

HARDY PERENNIALS, LAWN, FRUIT, AND SPRING BULBS

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What a miserable day.  Although we have had nothing by way of snow this year here on the Pennines in West Yorkshire, and I realise that we have been rather spoiled considering the terrible flooding they have had to endure in the south of England, I don't want to look out of my window and see this all day long without a break, without a glimmer of sunshine or blue sky.  However, the hardy perennial border that I have planted very recently seems very happy about it.  Everything is looking so healthy and promising and I've just had the most awful thought.  Slugs!  Alfie, the resident Ragdoll cat, heading out for border patrol The lawn is doing well after I put down some weeder/feeder/moss killer ( Evergreen Complete 4 in 1 ) a couple of weeks ago.  Yesterday I raked out as much of the dead moss that I could and I am thinking that in a couple of weeks or so I might try putting down some fresh lawn seed in the hope that the chemical weeder/feeder will hav...

SHAPING AND AGEING BONSAI TREES

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I posted the other day about my buying my first bonsai, Japanese Pepper tree (Zanthoxylum Piperitum) .  As I am so ignorant about growing them, I've been doing a little research.  I came across this guy's YouTube clips (there are 52 of them by GrahamWPotter at present!) showing us how to make bonsai trees from things found in skips, from garden nurseries, growing as hedges, ugly plants that seem beyond redemption.  Check it out.  I assure you, it's fascinating stuff as he wields power drills at the trees to make them look ancient.  How do they survive it?     https://www.youtube.com/user/GrahamWPotter His website: http://www.kaizenbonsai.com/shop/index.php

DIONYSIA ARETIOIDES 'BEVERE'

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Dionysia aretioides 'Bevere' is a ball of sunshine.  It looks like a saxifraga with its neat little cushion habit.  I saw it when I visited the Royal Horticultural Society gardens at Harlow Carr earlier this month.  It's an evergreen, full hardy, perennial. All the same, the RHS recommend growing it in an alpine house.  I expect it isn't keen on getting rained on as it's susceptible to botrytis and needs good ventilation.  It likes full sun and a very gritty, well-drained soil, with plenty of gravel around the base.   It has greyish green leaves and the flowers are scented.  Height 5-10cm (2-4in), spread 15-30cm (6-12in).

LAMPRANTHUS

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Lampranthus belongs to the aizoaceae family and I have seen it referred to elsewhere as the perennial mesembryanthemum.   This one, in the image, was growing in the Alpine House of the Royal Horticultural Society's (RHS) gardens at Harlow Carr.  It is a striking yellow and if you look carefully at the image, you will see that it is absolutely full of fat buds almost ready to burst open.  Lampranthus yellow My RHS Gardeners' Encyclopaedia of Plants and Flowers describes it as a perennial succulent that is suitable for beds in arid conditions.  It is frost tender, minimum 5C (41F) if dry.  It needs full sun and well-drained soil. 

PULSATILLA ZIMMERMANNII

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Can there possibly be a flower more vibrant than the spring-flowering, sun-loving, Pulsatilla 'Zimmermannii'?  I found this in the Royal Horticultural Society garden at Harlow Carr, in the Alpine House.  You can see that it's growing in a terracotta pot, and I assume the medium it is growing in is gritty and free-draining.  Pulsatillas, members of the same family as anemone, are commonly known as the Pasque flower.  Pulsatilla Zimmermannii I understand that they can grow to about 50cm high, are frost hardy, and also that the plants are poisonous and the sap an irritant.  You can say that about a lot of plants though.  For example, hyacinth bulbs are said to be an irritant to the skin but I've never had any reaction. Unfortunately, further information about Pulsatilla Zimmermannii seems very limited online.  I imagine they are grow in the same way as Pulsatilla alpina.  RHS - Pulsatilla alpina - external link

VINCA MINOR AZUREA FLORE PLENO

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I cannot think of anything better, at this moment, for ground cover on my 'new' hardy perennial border.  I planted a Vinca minor 'Atropurpurea' the other day and today planted a totally different one.  The habit is the about same although I read that Azurea Flore Pleno is more bushy in habit, but the flowers are so very different.  Unfortunately, these aren't the clearest photos in the world but I assure you that the colour is spot on and you can see the delicate formation of the petals.  When the flowers open, they have a number of small petals at the centre of the flower which die away before the flower ends completely.  Vinca minor Azurea Flore Vinca minor Azurea Flore Pleno Vinca minor Azurea Flore Pleno  Vinca minor Azureaa Flore Pleno is suitable for sun or partial-shade in well-draining soil.  It has double flowers from March to June, provides ground cover, and achieves a height of 15cm (6in).  It is hardy and evergreen....

BONSAI - JAPANESE PEPPER TREE (ZANTHOXYLUM PIPERITUM)

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Bonsai growing is a new experience for me.  After a friend mentioned the other day that she had bought a bonsai tree, it peaked my interest.  I'd been looking at them for years and felt sure that any bonsai that I bought, or tried to grown, would soon meet its doom.  I don't know why I am so nervous about it but I do hate killing things, albeit unintentionally.  When I visited Gordon Rigg's garden centre yesterday, they had a lovely display of bonsai trees and while some of the larger ones were too expensive for me to practise on, I did find one unfortunate tree that I could afford - a Japanese Pepper Tree - Zanthoxylum pipertum.  I think it's two years old.  Let's hope it survives to see three.   According to the label, Japanese Pepper Tree - Zanthoxylum pipertum, is semi-evergreen with red fruits and spicy aroma.  Cool indoors/outdoors in summer.  Water frequently and feed regularly in growing season.  40-70F It sounds lovely....

IPHEION UNIFLORUM 'ROLPH FIEDLER'

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Ipheion Uniflorum 'Rolph Fiedler' has won the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) 'AGM' - the Award of Garden Merit  (RHS link).  It's a little dazzler with its bold periwinkle-coloured face centred set against the rich green leaves.  I found it in the Alpine House of the RHS gardens, Harlow Carr, a week or so ago.  What interests me is the distinct line that divides each of the six petals on each flower.  It's quite wonderful. Ipheion uniflorum 'Rolph Fieldler' According to the RHS, it's a bulb and the plant achieves a height of 10cm or 4in.  Unfortunately, it's half-hardy, H3, and needs winter protection in a greenhouse.  It likes full sun and well-drained soil and seems happy in any soil type.  http://gardeners-word.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/light-and-shade-hardiness-ratings-and.html I think if you are able to give this winter protection, it's certainly worth growing it. 

LEWISIA COTYLEDON 'LECHNER'

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I am beginning to love Lewisias and would not mind having a collection.  They are such interesting plants with their glorious colours.  Lewisia Cotyledon 'Lechner' is yet another that I discovered at the Royal Horticultural Society gardens in Harlow Carr last week.  It's a strong rose colour that demands attention.    I bought Lewisia tweedyi 'Rosea'  a little while ago and last June bought Lewisia Cotyledon 'Special Mix '.  Both are different in colour and flower to 'Lechner' although 'Special Mix' seems to have the same flowering habit; multiple heads on spindly stems.   They are simply beautiful.

NARCISSUS BULBOCODIUM 'TENUIFOLIUS'

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Nearly a week ago, I found this little beauty, Narcissus bulbocium 'Tenuifolius' in the Alpine House at the Royal Horticultural Society gardens in Harlow Carr.  This image reflects the exact colour.  Such a rich yellow. Narcissus bulbocodium 'Tenuifolius' Narcissus bulbocodium 'Tenuifolius' is a vigorous, spring-flowering bulb which grows to a height of 8-15cm (3-6in) and thrives in moist turf in full sun.  The example which I photographed above was growing in a pot within the Alpine House.  According to the label, it is a native of West Europe and North Africa.

TULIPA HUMILIS 'EASTERN STAR' and 'PERSIAN PEARL'

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'Eastern Star' and 'Persian Pearl' are lovely names for two vibrant coloured types of Tulipa humilis that I saw at the Royal Horticultural Society gardens in Harlow Carr several days ago.  Eastern Star was growing in the Alpine House there but Persian Pearl seemed very happy in an outside border in the gardens (bottom image) and you can see that it is in a very gritty, gravelly, medium.   Tulipa humilis 'Eastern Star' Tulipa humilis 'Persian Pearl' These early spring flowering bulbs belong to the liliaceae family.  They require sunny positions, well-drained soil and, like the flag irises, like to bake in the sun!  In damp, cool areas they can be lifted when the leaves have died down, and stored in the same way that ordinary tulip bulbs can.  They have a height of about 10cm (4") and a spread of about 20cm (8in).  They are suitable for rock gardens. 

CLEMATIS ALPINA 'CONSTANCE' SPRING 2014

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Last year I planted a Clematis alpine 'Constance' in a large tub and placed it at the side of my kitchen door.  The idea is to grow it up tall canes and then, somehow, have it climb across the top of my kitchen window - probably on wires.  It is in an east-facing position so it gets early morning sunlight and south light for a period of time, depending on the time of year.  I didn't know how well it would do, not getting so much sun over winter but it has done remarkably well.  It looks healthy, and vibrant, and is full of buds and small cerise flowers.  It's twining around itself, just as I want it to do because I don't want a climber which looks spindly at the bottom with everything going on at the top.  Clematis alpine 'Constance', spring 2014 The flowers look ever so pretty even before they open and they're a welcome sight after winter, which is not my favourite time of year.  In fact, my favourite time of year is always early spring when...

CYCLAMEN COUM - A HARDY PERENNIAL

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When I was visiting the RHS garden at Harlow Carr in March I was delighted to see cyclamen coum growing quite happily at the base of a living hedge.  Although they are hardy, I am not sure just how hardy they are.  It's been a relatively mild winter in my area of England and the Harlow Carr gardens, in North Yorkshire are a lot more sheltered than my own garden in West Yorkshire, which is about 870ft or so above sea level.      Cyclamen coum (subsp. caucasicum), growing at base of living fence RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr, March 2014   Cyclamen coum is a winter/early spring flowering tuberous perennial which needs partial shade, is frost hardy down to -5C, and needs well-drained soil.  It achieves a height of 10 cm (4in) x spread 5-10cm (2-4in). Light and Shade, Hardiness Ratings in Zones

DIONYSIA ARETIOIDES 'BEVERE'

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Dionysia aretioides 'Bevere' was in full bloom in the Alpine House of the RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr, when I took the photograph of it back in March.  It reminded me of saxifraga but it is actually a member of the primula (primulaceae) family.  According to the RHS Gardeners' Encyclopaedia of Plants and Flowers (ed. 1989), p. 457, Dionysia belongs to a: 'Genus of evergreen, insectivorous, rosette-forming perennials.  Fully hardy.  Grow in an alpine house in sun and very gritty, well-drained soil.  Position deep collar of grit under cushion and ensure good ventilation at all times.  Dislikes winter wet.  Propagate by softwood cuttings in summer.  Is susceptible to botrytis.'  Further information is given on page 311: 'forms cushions of soft, hairy, greyish-green leaves that are covered in early spring by scented, stemless, round, bright yellow flowers.  H 5-10cm (2-4"), S 15-30cm (6-12") (p. 311).  Dionysia aretioides Bevere R...

CYPRIPEDIUM FORMOSANUM

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This Cypripedium formosanum plant is terrestrial.  It's also known as a slipper orchid and was growing in the warmth of the Alpine House of the RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr.  It's got a really delicate colouring and pleated leaves which I find fascinating.  Apparently, it's the easier Cypripedium to grow and although it needs moisture it has to be grown in a well-drained medium.  You can see from the photograph that it is in gritty soil.  One website says it grows the plants in a mixture of river sand and loam.  It's not frost hardy.  Cypripedium formosanum in Alpine House, RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr, April 2014

PLEIONE 'SHANTUNG RIDGEWAY' AT RHS GARDENS ALPINE HOUSE, HARLOW CARR

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This strange looking spring-flowering plant caught my attention yesterday in the Alpine House of the RHS Gardens in Harlow Carr.  To me, it looks like a cross between an orchid and a carnivorous plant.  It's called Pleione 'Shantung Ridgeway' and is actually a member of the orchidaceae family.  It's a terrestrial orchid (rather than epiphytic, and according to my Royal Horticultural Society Gardeners' Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers (1989), page 526, these plants 'grow in soil or leaf mould, sustaining themselves in the normal way through roots or tubers.  Some may be grown in borders, but many in temperate climates need to be cultivated in pots and protected under glass during winter'. Pleione 'Shantung Ridgeway'   Pleione 'Shantung Ridgeway'

DAFFODIL BORDER AT RHS GARDENS, HARLOW CARR

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I visited the RHS Gardens at Harlow Carr today and took the below photographs of a daffodil border.  They were a really cheery sight to behold.  I recalled that in summer last year that same border was filled with brightly coloured wildflowers and it occurred to me that, once the daffodils had finished and the leaves had died back, that the border might turn into the wild flower border once more, springing up from seeds naturally sown last year.  Or maybe not. Daffodil border at RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr - April 2014 Daffodil border at RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr - April 2014 Wildflower border at RHS Gardens, Harlow Carr - August 2013