The weather was atrocious yesterday, making it the perfect day for the first sowing session of the year. To mark the occasion we had a Sowing Bee at The Farm. Although owner of a mysterious box of half empty seed packets Mrs G allegedly hasn’t grown anything from seed before. Perhaps nocturnal sowing somnambulism is the reason that the courgette packet was empty, perhaps Mr G has a secret allotment garden full of monster leeks that we haven’t found yet, perhaps Mr D has been growing celeraic to satisfy Babe “Psycho Chihuahua”‘s lust for nobbly vegetables. Whatever the reason it was a privilege to show Mrs G just how simple and rewarding growing plants from seed can be. We sowed sweet peas, Californian poppies, french marigolds, Welsh poppies, beetroot and parsnips in modules, sugar snaps, agastache, rudbeckia. Nothing rare, nothing complicated, just good garden-worthy plants. Plants that will fill the site with colour and plants that will taste good. Plants that will win the Village Show. Sorry did I say that out loud?
Alternatives
At The Farm this morning I quizzed George’s Mum and Dad on the extent of their gardening activities in the last week. Mrs G told me that unfortunately they hadn’t managed to find the pelleted chicken manure I had asked them to buy. She had however managed to purchase, for a very reasonable price, a sweetie dispenser. This folks, is what I have to work with.
Kerria japonica “Pleniflora”
Perhaps a little early for a full display, this Kerria japonica “Pleniflora” was sending out an advance scout in the warm sun this week. Sometimes called the Japanese Rose it is indeed in the family Rosaceae and is native to China, Japan and Korea. Thicket forming with tall lax stems up to 2m high, it can be a little untidy, and sometimes a little forward, in the garden. This lithe shrub is named after the late 18th century/early 19th century Scottish plant hunter and gardener William Kerr who collected specimens in China for Sir Joseph Banks. Unfortunately during his time in the east he developed an opium habit, this is thought to have led to his early death in 1814. Not a very pretty story, but I think it is worth remembering that addiction is not a disease exclusive to modern times. It is however a very beautiful shrub, perhaps we should dwell on that fact. As Johnny Mercer wrote:
You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between
You’ve got to spread joy up to the maximum
And bring gloom down to the minimum
And have faith or pandemonium is liable
To walk upon the scene
Most days anyway!
Pixies, Persians and Previews
The Persian Ironwood, Parrotia persica, is one of my favourite trees (although there are quite a few that fall into this category) and was in fine flower this week at Marwood Hill Gardens. We were lucky enough to be able to sneak a peak before the garden opens officially in March. There is something very special about wandering around such a beautiful place knowing that you are alone. Of course the little pixies who work so hard to keep it looking good were there as well, but they sensibly ducked into the shrubbery when we were in close vicinity. So shy and unassuming!
Charming
The pressure to feature snowdrops at this time of year is extreme. Everywhere you look there are delicate white blooms with varying amounts of green and reflex. I have succumbed. The lure of these milky blooms is irresistible. They have earned their place here not just because they are harbingers of longer days and warmer feet. They have earned their place because they are charming and would be such at any time of the year. These flowers, nestled in the mossy base of a tree, are not expensive, nor rare, they are just minding their own business basking in the winter sun. Happy days indeed.
Puzzle
Today I have been trying to work out why this buddleja hedge has so many bald patches at the back, stripped of foliage and snapped in places. Perhaps it is a type of fungal die-back or particularly aggressive snails. If only there was some sort of clue. Seriously it is very tricky trying to prune (my excuse for the poor effort in this photo) whilst a far-too-fearless sheep is trying to do the same on the other side of the fence. On several occasions she nearly had a pierced nose!
Monsters
There is good vegetable growing and there is showing off. The parsnip at the front is for the purposes of scale and is at this moment in time feeling very inadequate. Well done to the du Mauriers for producing these monsters. I did wonder if they were glowing green, just a little …..
Sophora microphylla – Kōwhai
The golden droplet flower of the New Zealand kōwhai shone like a misplaced piece of summer at Chambercombe Manor at the weekend. Not thriving there, but managing to muster enough strength to pop out a few flowers on its scantily clothed boughs. Sometimes less really is more.
Tree Watching – A little waffle to fill the space
There is not a lot of action at the moment in Larchland. There may be a slight swelling of buds, but this is probably wishful thinking by Ms Eager Beaver. So I will use this lull in visible activity (I am sure there is a lot going on behind the scenes) to get you up to speed on Larix decidua. We wouldn’t want any embarrassing silences would we? It is a deciduous conifer, native to central Europe and introduced to Britain in the 17th century. It is a fast growing tree and the resulting timber is strong and resistant to rot, however the Japanese larch, Larix kaempferi, is considered superior and is more often grown as a plantation crop. “So how” you may well ask “do you know the difference between the Japanese and the European?”. Well apparently the seed scales on the cones bend downwards in the Japanese tree while the European’s curl upwards. As I have only just discovered this fact, I am very pleased that it appears I have identified this tree correctly, admittedly it was more luck than judgement. Unless, of course, I am deluding myself again and there is a little downward motion ….. no I must be strong in my convictions. These cones with their, undoubtedly up-curling, seed scales may remain on the branch for many years, so it is not even worth loitering just in case the deadlock may be broken by one falling off. Never mind, another month and it could be all steam ahead, otherwise brace yourselves for some more scintillating/sleep inducing facts!
NW5 – George
As handsome as ever!
Off The Edge Gardening 