9th February 2019 North Yorkshire.
Cold, grey, misty morning after three weeks of heavy frost and a little snow; so that’s January out of the way – things can only get
better - in the words of a long forgotten Prime Minister. Isn’t it fortunate that plants have no
political affiliations – they just keep giving, not taking or arguing.
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| Two patches of snowdrops, - double and single cheering up a dismal day |
Having avoided the seed catalogue until now
(following the ‘Double Ordering’ of plants last year), on their perusal, am
pleased to say that there is little new under the sun. Pleased to see that the blousy
courtesan of the flower beds - the Dahlia in its may forms - is continuing to
be recognised for all the glory it
brings to the summer garden. The Dahlia, once the leading protagonist in the
outlandish colour stakes, fell from grace with the trend setters during the ‘Noughties’ (2000 – 2009). With the
rise of the Natural Garden much colour seemed to disappear from
the garden to be replaced with meadow seed mixtures. Fortunately a few of the Talented Horticulturists started to reintroduce colour and form into show gardens and National Trust properties
– the response of the Gardening Public was very positive and the Seed Merchants have
responded with an abundance of ‘NEW’ colour in the catalogues. Thank goodness
for common sense and the ‘Traditional’ Gardener Lovers.
And another thought -With the forthcoming withdrawal
from the EU by UK, will we soon see a revival
of the many plant varieties banned by Brussels? The cultivation of the curved
Cucumber may even be seen again.
So what to grow in the newly de-restricted British
Garden in 2019?
Well again, in our patch, growing vegetables is being
left to the experts. However, all flowering plants are on the menu. The garden remainers, roses, clematis, fuchsias, delphiniums, lupins, euphorbias, lilies, helebores, geraniums etc etc (all planted last year), will stay put and, if properly fed and
maintained, should give a magnificent show in their second year. The annual bedding plants such as Loboelia, Alyssum, bedding Geraniums and non hardy Fuchsia will
be bought in. (Too much trouble to seed, prick out and grow on when the
Supermarkets get in so right and are so cheap) – so it must be to the more exotic
possibilities that concentration will be directed - not sure what will be sown
or planted but will keep you all informed.
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| A favourite hellebore orientalis |
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| Helleborus Niger is still giving plenty of bloom |
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| This little trough gives a cheerful welcome at the front door |
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| Today's latest surprise - two iris reticulata set amongst ivies and black ophiopogum |
The temperature now having risen above 8 degrees C.,
the donning of rain hats, waterproof jackets and trousers, Wellington boots and gloves is called for prior to inroads into the ‘To DO’ list being commenced. It’s pruning, splitting, replanting, feeding and mulching time again. It really is
FANTASTIC being a Gardener where ever you ‘Dip your Spade’.
Another log on the Garden Shed Stove as the HG has
arrived with coffee and another batch of Seed & Plant Catalogues, so maybe
another day of contemplation before the season really gets started.
Must dash-
coffee going cold-
GOOD GARDENING in
2019.
