GARDENER'S WORD

We've had several days of sunshine lately and it has been glorious being able to sit out on my hammock swing admiring nature's work.  The plants have been lapping up the sun's rays but, following clear skies, the nights have been cold with ground frost.  I've had to protect the fuchsias which are in their hanging baskets already.  I had overwintered last year's Swingtime and Southgate fuchsias in the mini-greenhouse, a cheap plastic but also award-winning affair, and those plants which had survived were repotted a few weeks ago into the hanging baskets with fresh compost.  They are coming along nicely.  The runner beans, Wisley Magic, are a 12in (30cm) tall now but it is too early to subject them to night-time temperatures; the tuberous begonias are kept safely indoors, as are the tumbling tomato plants.  The numerous pelargoniums are waiting indoors to be transplanted into tubs and troughs when the risk of frost has passed.  Spring is a wonderful time...

Dicentra formosa might not be as showy as its big relative, Dicentra spectabilis, but as far as my garden is concerned it's a lot more reliable.  I have tried to grow both the white and the pink versions of spectabilis and both perished in the first year.  I planted formosa a few years ago in my north facing border where during the course of a day it gets shade/dappled light/and some full sun (if there is any sun!), it has flourished with absolutely no assistance from me.  It's a beautiful plant, clump forming, and non-invasive. Dicentra formosa Dicentra formosa flowers Dicentra formosa leaves

It's just over a year since I first planted a relatively small Saxifraga Touran Large White in my garden, and look at it now.  My little Saxifraga, which came in a small pot and cost just a pound or two to buy, has now quadrupled its size in my garden border and so, with that in mind, it was quite a bargain.  They are great for ground cover and the front of borders or in rockeries. Saxifraga Touran Large White - April 2015 Saxifragas, however, have a tendency to become bare in the middle of the plant as they spread out but you can take pieces of the plant that have put down roots and plant them in the same place or elsewhere.  When allowed to go bare in the middle, they look ugly.  Watch out for slugs.  When I was taking a macro photograph of the flowers a little earlier in the year, I noticed that many of the lovely white petals had been chewed off.  Obviously they are a slug's delight as well as mine.  I put down environmentally friendly ...

Although I don't grow much in the way of vegetables in my garden, I do have raspberries, strawberries, loganberries, and cherries .  At the moment I have four Wisley Magic runner beans growing individually in pots inside my house, ready for planting out in a week or two.  I've also got my two tumbling tomato plants which I mentioned in an earlier post.  These are all lovely when they come into fruition but I would hate to be without the herbs which provide the basis for refreshing icy cold or hot drinks throughout spring, summer, and autumn.  I am speaking of applemint, lemon balm, and lemon verbena .  The other day I made a cup of lemon balm tea with a slice of lemon to give it bite.  Try it.  Lemon balm tea with a slice of fresh lemon Just cut off stems of the above mentioned herbs to a leaf joint, wash in cold water, put the leaves in a jug, pour over boiling water, leave a few minutes, remove the leaves, and the liquid is ready to drink....

This pretty fern, Athyrium otophorum Okanum (Auriculate Lady Fern) is another addition to my very small collection of ferns.  Like the Japanese Painted Fern which I mentioned in an earlier post, I am going to grow it in a tub so that I can move it if it is not happy in its present place.  It will receive sun very early in the morning and then light shade thereafter.  Although it isn't quite as eye-catching as the unusual Painted Fern, it's still very pretty with its bright green leaves and dark red ribs. Athyrium otophorum Okanum (Auriculate Lady Fern) The label says: Athyrium otophorum Okanum (Auriculate Lady Fern) is a delightful fern with grey/green leaves and wine red midribs.  It is perfect for brightening up moist, shady corners, or well-watered patio tubs in shade.  It prefers dappled shade with shelter from strong winds and likes moist, fertile, preferably acid soil.  It is deciduous but the fronds last well into autumn.  It is hardy...

This dwarf, Gisela 5, cherry tree is now in flower.  They are just opening and the meteorological office in London has just forecast wintery showers and strong winds.  Last year, about this time, strong winds blew off most of the flowers with the resulting loss of the crop of sweet cherries.  I do hope the same isn't going to happen, yet again, this year.  Here's a photo before they are all gone! Prunus avium Stella flowers Last year's (2014) flowers, 26 April 2014  Prunus avium Stella, Gisela 5, April 2014 Prunus avium Stella, Gisela 5, April 2014 Prunus avium Stella, Gisela 5, April 2014   Dramatically reduced crop of cherries due to high winds damaging the flowers

While at the RHS garden centre in Harlow Carr last week, I bought two little tomato plants, both tumbling types.  I usually buy Tumbling Tom Red but this time I bought something I hadn't seen before: Losetto F1, a blight-resistant patio tomato.   Losetto F1 flowers It looks very healthy and although it is a tumbler like Tumbling Tom, it has a sturdier appearance, more rigid, and already it has flowers opened.  As it is too early to put the tomatoes outside except for short periods of sunshine, they are on my window bottoms at the morning, following the sun.  I shall have to try and pollinate the flowers myself, with a paint brush.  I don't think giving them a little shake will do the trick.  The label says: "Losetto F1 is the first blight-resistant patio tomato that bears loads of small, juicy and sweet, red fruits from July onwards.  It requires no sideshoot removal, just let it tumble.  It requires a warm, sunny patio in a 30cm wi...

This little Pulsatilla vulgaris grows in my garden.  It has braved the cold frost and snow of winter and appeared yet again even though many plants which I considered tougher have perished.  Well done little pasque flower.  I don't know its full name; it could be 'Red Bells' or 'Rubra' as its sepals (actually, not petals) are red unlike the purple or violet colour which is more commonly seen. Pulsatilla vulgaris Pulsatilla vulgaris

This is my latest Lewisia cotyledon.  As you can see it's a strong cerise pink.  I've planted it in a little pot and put it among the others which are creating dozens of buds which will soon be out.  I am so glad I discovered Lewisias.  Although labels seem to indicate that they are spring flowers, mine all flowered spring and summer, into autumn, last year.  Lewisia Cotyledon More Lewisias on this website

I love ferns, almost as much as I love trees; there's something so primitive and ancient about them.  I have two in pots in my garden and the other day I bought two more to add to my little collection.  This one is Athyrium niponicum (Japanese Painted Fern), 'Red Beauty'.   When I initially saw it at the garden centre I thought some of the leaves were dying as the plant has a mixture of silver fronds (leaves) and green and I had never seen such a thing before.   I assume the green fronds are new leaves.  It really is very beautiful, as you can see from the photographs below. Athyrium niponicum (Japanese Painted Fern), 'Red Beauty' I've planted mine into a large pot in a relatively sheltered place (my garden can be a very windy place at times) where it will get early morning sun and then light shade.  I'm so pleased to have discovered this lovely plant.  Just look at the detail on the silver leaves with the Burgundy red going through the...

My cherry tree is full of blossoms and I can only hope that the tree will flower as beautifully as last year, that (unlike last year) a raging wind will not come along and knock off all the flowers before the pollinating insects get a chance to do their job, and that I will get more than a very small handful of cherries at the end of it all.  One can only hope.  Prunus avium Stella Gisela 5 - cherry blossoms My cherry tree is grown in a very large pot which is sunk into the garden border.  This year I have put a layer of fresh compost on the top of the old compost and placed a plastic trellis on the pot so that my cat, Alfie, will be discouraged from using it as a bird-spotting hideout (see bottom image below).  He thinks I cannot see him but his blue eyes are a dead giveaway. Prunus avium Stella Gisela 5 - cherry blossoms Cherry blossoms on 26 April 2014 Alfie on the cherry tree pot.

I used to wonder if robins only had red breasts during winter because not so long ago it seemed that I only saw them in winter.  Now I realise that was a mistake as, with the garden I have now, I see them at other times of the year.  This robin kept coming and going from my garden today, enjoying the husked sunflower seeds.  It's very welcome.  Robin on a branch overlooking my garden Apparently the male and female adult robins have red breasts while the juveniles do not.  I read that the reason that the youngsters do not have red breasts is so that they don't get attacked during territorial disputes.  These little birds can be quite feisty! Robin, checking me out Robin in flight

Italian parsley (Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum) is a biennial and I cannot remember if the one I have just overwintered in the mini-greenhouse is in its third year or not.  Certainly it bolted and flowered last year (the flowers were beautiful).  A biennial is supposed to grow leaves, stems and roots from seeds one year, flower the next, and then done.  Anyway, the one that I overwintered in the mini-greenhouse is looking pretty good and green so far with a lot going on.  Even so, when I was wandering around the garden centre yesterday, trying to not buy absolutely everything that I set my eyes on, I decided to bring home another Italian parsley, just in case.  Can't have too much of the stuff really as it's really useful in the kitchen and is packed with vitamins.  I love it in green salads. Italian Parsley Petroselinum crispum neapolitanum The label says that the Italian parsley is an easy to grow variety with upright growth....

Lavendula stoechas is also known as the French or Spanish lavendar.  Blue Star is a colour that I'm not familiar with but when I checked it out on the net it looks to be a lovely, deep purple colour.  I've tried to grow lavenders other than English before but without success; they have succumbed to the harsh winters we can have here on the Pennine Mountains of West Yorkshire.  I wanted to give this one a go though and I shall grow it in a pot, rather than plant it in a border.  That way I can protect it in winter.  I hope. Lavendula stoechas 'Blue Star' Actually, the colour of the flowers on the label look rather more pink than the image I discovered on the net.  I cannot take much notice of that.  As any gardener knows, labels are often deceiving.  The label says that this is easy to grow, great for containers, has a dense bushy habit, has deep purple flowers, is attractive to wildlife, and the flowers (which are produced from summe...

I was just going to make lunch today when, out of the kitchen window, I saw that two goldfinches had arrived and were having lunch themselves of husked sunflower seeds.  They are such pretty birds and I haven't seen them around for a while.  Glad they are back. Goldfinches eating sunflower seeds

I have a rosemary growing in a pot and usually, at this time of year, it is lush and green and fabulous.  This year, half of it is dead while the other is doing its best not to end up discarded.  I've taken cuttings from it, which seem to be doing ok, but while mooching yesterday at the garden centre, I saw a different kind of rosemary to the one I have at present.  This one has darker leaves which are shiny.  The fragrance from a crushed leaf is strong, and I think this will do very nicely when I pinch a bit off it to go with lamb or chicken.  Rosemarinus officinalis 'Fota Blue' - (Rosemary) The label says it has "delightful deep blue flowers in April to May (often again in autumn) over a good prostrate habit."  It is a quite hardy evergreen perennial which grows to 50cm (20in).  It likes a sunny and sheltered position in containers or well-drained soil and is ideal for trailing over a low wall or bank.  Mine will be grown in a pot on a pat...

Although I already grow a kind of lemon thyme in a pot, over the years it has become more and more woody.  While mooching around the herb section of a garden centre yesterday, I found this little Creeping Lemon Thyme (Thymus citriodorus 'Prostate').  When I crushed a leaf, the scent of lemon was powerful, I just had to have the plant.  The label says it is good in hanging baskets and has small pink flowers.  It prefers a well-drained soil in a sunny or partially shaded position; ideal for tubs and pots.  It achieves a height of 5cm (2in) but does not say how far it spreads.  Mine will be grown in a pot, so its spread will be restricted.  Another webpage said it spreads to about 60cm (24in).  I assume it is hardy but mine will be overwintered, like my other pots of herbs, in my mini-greenhouse.  The label also says that it is can be used with meat and poultry, and also added to pastry.  I intend to try a little in the lem...

Although I really don't have any space for runner beans, I cannot resist planting some Wisley Magic to go along the south-facing fence amid the roses, jasmine and clematis.  For me, the bright red flowers are magic (the bees think so too) and the beans are simply a bonus.  The beans can be planted outdoors here in the UK late April or May but the weather here in West Yorkshire, high on the Pennines, is so mercurial (it tried to snow again yesterday) that I have sown some in pots for transplanting later.  I'll find a space for them somewhere.  'Wisley Magic' Runner Beans 'Wisley Magic' Runner Beans - flowers and young beans 'Wisley Magic' Runner Beans 'Wisley Magic' Runner Beans - bees love them

Gardening is one of those occasions when you can actually get something for nothing nowadays.  All is needed is a little effort, a little soil, and a little hope.  Pelargonium cuttings are easy.  I have never used hormone powder for these as it's not necessary.  The cuttings I took 5 days ago seem to be taking well, just as the cuttings that I took last year did, and the leaves of the cuttings remain healthy and green.  It's encouraging.  Today I took cuttings of the lovely white dianthus flowers that I buy as cut flowers from Marks and Spencers.  I have noticed that, with the white dianthus, there are often healthy, non-flowering sideshoots.  I don't know if the cuttings will take but, if they don't, the effort of removing the lower leaves and sticking them in damp compost has cost me nothing but the effort itself.  Cuttings of white dianthus (pinks) White dianthus, bought cut flowers Pelargonium cuttings taken a few days ago. ...

At least once a year I treat my lawn with Evergreen's Complete 4 in 1.  I've got quite a lot of moss growing this year and two or three dandelions.  Yesterday evening, when the grass was dry and the soil was moist, I scattered the lawn treatment on the grass and then watered it in.  It has to be watered in (by hose or Heaven) to work.  Although they had forecast rain, and they were right for once, I wanted to be sure.  This is the lawn this morning.  Already, as you can see, the moss is blackening and it won't be long before the dandelion give up the ghost.  I had an awful feeling that I put too much of the product on the grass (I'm lazy and don't bother marking out square yards or meters - I just sprinkle it on by hand) but I think that I might have got away with it.  Time will tell.  Moss treated with Evergreen Complete 4 in 1 After just one evening, the moss is blackening and dying already   A patch of black moss after treating...

Although, primarily, I planted Brunera macrophylla 'Jack Frost' for its interesting foliage, the small blue flowers are delightful at this time of year.  They are rather like the flowers of the Forget-Me-Knot (Myosotis) but close up they look like they are made of sugar.  Sweet!  Flowers of Brunera Macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - macro image Flowers of Brunera Macrophylla 'Jack Frost' - macro image Brunera Macrophylla 'Jack Frost'