Our Queen

Posted on 22nd September 202219th November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Memories of Her Majesty the Queen

Watching the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen brought back memories. I never had the privilege of meeting her but my flowers did.

I exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show many times when she visited over the years. But, to my knowledge, she never came to our lupin stand.

Lupins for a Queen

However, my lupins though went to her. Beefeater and Masterpiece were used by Rachel du Thame to decorate the Royal Barge for the Diamond Jubilee in 2002. It was an enormous honour and a source of great pride to all of us.

Although I didn’t meet her I did see her at Chelsea. She always wore brightly coloured outfits so that she would stand out. She was a constant at Chelsea and she will be greatly missed.

Beautiful garden flowers

It was lovely to see flowers from Royal gardens bedecking her coffin. I particularly liked the dahlias, pelargoniums and Sedum. Most of the nation I was transfixed by the little spider that had stowed away in the greenery.

Plenty of colour still

Gardens at this time of the year still have lots of colour. Another very reliable autumn flower is crocosmia. Rosea has delicate pink flowers. If you want a dash of red, plant Lucifer.

Preparing for Harvest Festival

Like many others our village is getting ready for harvest festival. We are no longer asked to provide fresh produce. It’s a shame as it has always been a good way to send some marrows to a new home. Instead, we are asked for tinned and dried goods for the local foodbank.

Room for flowers too

There will be flower displays too. I will contribute Echinacea. I have some very beautiful Hot Papaya which has orange pompom-like flowers on dark stems. Southern Belle’s dark magenta flowers are also striking. I will also throw in a few squashes, pumpkins and courgettes from the vegetable garden. After all it is a celebration of harvest. If the food bank doesn’t want them, I can always bring them home again.

Glorious year for apples

It has been a glorious year for apples. All varieties have thrived. I have never seen so many crab apples in every colour from pale yellow to deep purple. The cooking apple trees are groaning with fruit. And, I have more eating apples than I have ever had before. There are too many to eat, stew or press into juice or cider.

Fabulous penstemons

Penstemons are fabulous plants. They are easily cultivated and flower for months on end. They don’t mind drought, although this summer was a challenge. And they are not bothered by pests. As an added bonus they are robust enough to stand on their own without needing staking. What more could you want? The flowers resemble foxgloves and are from the same family. My favourites are the purple and white Charles Rudd and the scarlet King George V.

Gardening tips – Keep dead heading flowers to prolong displays. Plant bulbs including snowdrops, crocus and daffodils. Keep mowing the lawn. You never know when it will be too wet to mow until next spring. Water pots sparingly. Remove dead and dying foliage. Bring tender plants into the greenhouse or a cold frame to overwinter.

#chelsea #lupins #flowers #dahlia #pelargonium #colour #crocosmia #harvest #echinacea #penstemon #bulbs

Raindrops …..

Posted on 31st August 202221st November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Magical rain drops

Those first few drops of rain were magical. I wanted to dance outside for joy. You could hear the grass and flowers imbibing the much-needed moisture.

I was a teenager in the great summer of 76. It was much easier being a care-free child than a nursery-owner. I spent the entire time on the beach rather than in a sweltering greenhouse.

Echium Blue Steeple outside the greenhouses

Plants perked up quickly

Having looked very disconsolate in the heat, it was amazing to see how quickly plants perked up once they had had a drink. Dried out dahlias put on new growth. Verbena raised its head. Astilbes had another push. Cosmos which had been very reluctant to bloom all summer were suddenly a riot of colour.

The grass which had been brown and crisp underfoot turned green. It has even started growing which is a shame as I have enjoyed my break from mowing the lawn.

We still need rain

Although we have had some rain we could do with some more. The rivers are running low and more and more hosepipe bans are being introduced. Maybe we need a Minister for Drought. When one was appointed in 1976 the heavens opened immediately.

Gaura The Bride has been a superstar in the hot weather. It is drought tolerant and loves the sun. I will plant some more for next summer.

Autumn is upon us

Autumn is coming. The leaves on many trees have already turned orange and dropped. Cyclamen is flowering. Ruby Strain and Album are providing a gorgeous pink and white swathe of colour.

My schizostylis are already flowering a few weeks earlier thanormal.Viscountess Byng is a vibrant pink. For something a little softer try Pink Princess.

Thinking of bulbs for spring

I need to plant bulbs for next spring. Anemones are top of my list. Virescens produces a carpet of unusual greens blooms and does well in woodland areas.

Room for more lupins

I shall add some more lupins too. Beefeater, Manhattan Lights and Desert Sun will all be found a place.

I am down to do the flowers for the church at the end of September. I don’t think there will be much left in my garden. But, my two week stint covers harvest festival. So hurrah for vegetables which will have pride of place. Anyone for a marrow?

Gardening tips – Keep dead heading flowers to encourage more blooms. Divide perennials for more colour next year. Start next year’s planning for next year. Keep watering

#dahlias #verbena #astilbes #grass #autumn #cyclamen #schizostylis #bulbs #spring #anemones #lupins

Summer rolls on

Posted on 25th July 202221st November 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Hot weather was great for some

The hot weather in July was a mixed blessing. It was lovely to have day after day of endless sunshine. All that Vitamin D is good for us as long as we continue to smother ourselves in suncream. But it was too hot to sleep at night. My plants and I were both wilting.

Some flowers do well in a heatwave but most would prefer something a little cooler and damper.

Plan garden changes now

If global warming means we should expect more hot weather we should start planning changes to our gardens now.

Plants which thrive in hot weather include hemerocallis, phlox and verbascum. I have some wonderfully hemerocallis. I particularly like Chicago Royal Robe which is a delicious maroon. Frans Hals is also striking with its apricot yellow and mahogany red markings.

Phlox are much less showy. Try Clouds of Perfume with its powder blue flowers. Or go for the highly scented White Perfume.

Try verbascum for height

If you want some height in your garden try a verbascum. Helen Johnson with its beautiful rusty peach flowers is a firm favourite of mine.

Other sun lovers include eryngium and echinacea.

Grasses like sun

If we continue to have long hot summers I will plant more grasses. Imperata Cylindrica Rubra is a must. It is the only grass with truly red leaves. Stipas are also good. Gigantea is a giant feather grass with grey green leaves.

Planted on its own it is a stunning addition to any garden. If you want a grass which shimmers and gleams plant Stipa Tenuissima. It looks like dozens of ponytails swaying in the breeze.

Endless watering

The hot weather has meant a lot of watering. I am very careful not to waste water. I have water butts and use drip systems. But my thirsty plants still drink gallons.

Courgette glut

The hot weather has produced mixed results on my vegetable patch. The onions have started to bolt. I have pulled them out. They are still good to eat but won’t store very well. After a slow start I now have a glut of courgettes. I have made chutney, courgette cake and given loads away. I still have a mountain of them. A friend has suggested making courgette jam. I’m not convinced but will give it a go.

Wimbledon misses a trick

I was very lucky to win tickets for Wimbledon in the public ballot this year. The tennis was magnificent. The flowers were stunning. The organisers have missed a trick though. If the tournament was a month earlier, they could have used lupins. Blacksmith and Cashmere Cream would have fitted in perfectly with the colour scheme perfectly.

Gardening tips – Water, water and then water again but don’t waste any. Start planning next year’s garden displays. Dead head flowers to encourage new blooms. Encourage seed pods on annuals you want to grow from scratch next year. #rain #hemerocallis #phlox #verbascum #eryngium #echinacea #grasses #stipas #flowers #lupins

Autumn Chelsea

Posted on 27th September 202127th October 2022 by WestcountryNurseries

Plenty of colour in the garden

There’s still plenty of colour in the garden. My flowers have all benefited from the recent sun. Roses which I thought were over have sent out new buds. The dahlias are magnificent and will remain so until the first frost. After a miserable August, September has been a fabulous month.

Asters in full bloom

The asters are still in full bloom. My Monch have been seething with flowers all summer and they show no sign of stopping. Their beautiful lavender blue blooms are covered in bees and butterflies. I get a buzz from all the buzzing every time I walk past them.

Late summer show from the dierama

The dierama are also putting on a late summer show. The blooms wave in the wind like fairy wands. They have taken over from the pulcherrimum which are beginning to die down. However, there are still enough of their pink fishing rod flowers to add a dash of colour and movement in the garden.

Another plant which blooms into autumn is the salvia. Confertiflora has unusual velvety red flowers well into November. It contrasts well against the sky blue Uliginosa. Black and Blue is also providing some very welcome colour.

Start thinking about winter

Despite the warm weather and the colourful flowers I need to start thinking about winter. I have been digging up annuals which are past their best. My pruning shears have been sharpened ready for some serious cutting back.

The greenhouse is still full of tomatoes, peppers and chillies. I will soon need to take them out to provide space for pots which need over-wintering away from the dangers of frost.

Welcome spring visitor

I have a very unseasonal flower. A narcissus which has been dormant in an outdoor pot all summer has decided to bloom. It might be six months early but it is very welcome.

It has reminded me that now is the time to plant bulbs for next spring.

Mixed emotions for Chelsea

I enjoyed watching the Chelsea Flower Show on television. It was good to see it going ahead although I was sad not to be there. It has been a very difficult two years for everyone who grows plants for a living. But, fingers crossed, next year will be better. My lupins will be back where they belong.

Gardening tips – If it is dry enough mow the lawn. You never know when it will be too wet to mow until next spring. Plant bulbs including snowdrops, crocus and daffodils. Keep dead heading flowers to prolong displays. Water pots sparingly. Remove dead and dying foliage. Bring tender plants into the greenhouse or a cold frame to overwinter.

#autumn #bulbs #summer #lupins #dierama #salvia #winter #annuals