Winter blues

Cold weather at last

At last we have had cold weather. It was unnatural to have such high temperatures in November although I appreciated the warmth. Flowers like dahlias which should have been long-dormant were still providing gorgeous colour. That is until winter swept in with a vengeance.

Icy blue skies and snow in December

Winter arrived suddenly

Ice, snow and temperatures of -10 arrived in a chilly blast. They killed off the whitefly and other pests. The cold weather put a stop to the last of my summer blooms. And it encouraged the final leaves to fall off the trees.

But then they outstayed their welcome. It continued to be cold and icy. With the cost of living crisis many felt unable to put their heating on and it was a shivery run up to Christmas.

It is British to moan about the weather

But, we’re British. We like to moan about the weather. As long as you are in the right clothes cold weather is fine. I love walking in the snow under cloudless skies. I prefer cold and crisp to damp and wet any day.

Hope 2023 will be good

Here we are in 2023. I hope it is going to be a good year. Hopefully we won’t lose another monarch or have three different prime ministers but I am not making any predictions.

New Year Resolutions

I have however made some resolutions.

I will try to make time to enjoy my garden. Sometimes it seems we are so busy we don’t have the luxury of just sitting and admiring all our hard work. This year I want you to join in me in taking time out. Sit back and appreciate your garden.

Grow my own

One of my resolutions last year was to grow more of my garden flowers from seeds I had harvested. I carefully collected seeds from astrantias and placed them in envelopes. In the spring I planted Roma which has large, silvery pink flowers. They germinated well and gave me a fabulous display. The butterflies loved them.

In the spring I took cuttings of Campsis radicans ‘Flamenco’. I grew them on and now have vigorous new plants which gave me brilliant red flowers from July to September.

Campsis Flamenco

Plan for the future

In these winter evenings I like poring over catalogues, planning future planting. This year I want to plant some new clematis. I fancy Empress. It is an early large flowered pink clematis. I will also go for Michiko which is one of the earliest varieties and has almost pure white flowers.

Clematis Michiko
Clematis Empress

I will plant more lupins too. Pale pink Blossom, purple Blacksmith and white Polar Princess will all look lovely together.

Lupinus ‘Polar Princess’

Signs of spring

As I write this it is dark and cold but there are signs of spring. Bulb tips are poking through. A cherry has started flowering, the earliest it has ever done so. I bet it was shocked by the freezing weather.

Bulbs just poking out beneath the trees

Stay warm and keep the bugs at bay. There is a nasty cold going round which has knocked out me and my neighbours. Still at least it is the first cold we have had for three years.

Rosemoor Glow December 2022

Gardening tips

Keep an eye out for the tips of spring bulbs which will soon be emerging. Water overwintering pots in the greenhouse sparingly once a week. Plan next summer’s purchases with our 2023 catalogue. Rake up any fallen leaves.

#cold #warmth #dahlia #colour #chilly #blooms #trees #christmas #damp #garden #flowers #seeds #astrantia #Roma #campsis #clematis #lupins #bulbs

Platinum Jubilee flowers

Celebrate the Jubilee with flowers

At the beginning of June the nation will be celebrating Her Majesty the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. I can think of no better way of celebrating than with flowers.

Archway of Laburnum

We’re celebrating the Jubilee here with an Open Day at the nursery on Friday, June 10th. Come and see us between 10am and 3.30pm. The lupins will be in full bloom and there will be lots of plants for you to buy.

Flower festivals

Up and down the country there will be flower festivals to mark the Jubilee. There’s one near here and I have the porch to decorate.

Good colour scheme

I’m quite lucky with the colour scheme. We have been told we can use any colours associated with the Queen for inspiration, I could go with silver and purple to complement the Platinum Jubilee bunting I have bought. Or, red, white and blue would reflect the national flag. If I don’t fancy those I could choose any of Her Majesty’s gorgeous colourful outfits for inspiration.

I think I will aim for a little bit of everything.

Lupinus Beefeater

Lupins are the best

The best flowers for the festival are definitely lupins.  For purple I can choose between Blacksmith, King Canute and Shirley Anne. Silver is more difficult but I could always pop a Cashmere Cream in the mix.

Lupinus Blossom
Lupinus Polar Princess

Red, white and blue is easy. Red Rum and Tequila Flame for the reds. Snow Queen and Polar Princess for the whites. And Persian Slipper for the blues.

I liked the bright yellow outfit the Queen was wearing for her trip on the Elizabeth Line. Desert Sun is the perfect match.

Deschampsia Golden Dew

Need other flowers too

However tempting I can’t just use lupins. I will be turning to Geranium Orion for purple. Deschampsia caespitosa Golden Dew for silver.

Phlox divaricata Chattahoochee has bright blue flowers with a red centre. Imperata cylindrica Rubra will provide more red and give some structure to my display. There will be blue from the salvias, especially Cacaliifolia and Black and Blue.

Dierama Blackbird

Hopefully with all these at my disposal I will be able to make a suitable arrangement.

Thank you for the rain

The recent rain has been welcome. Everything was getting very thirsty. The rain has encouraged many plants to bloom including geums.

Geum Poco is a riot of golden yellow flowers.

Geum Totally Tangerine

Gardening tips – Cut back the foliage of flowering bulbs if it has completely died down.  Plant summer bedding, including astrantia for colourful displays through to autumn.  Keep tender seedlings and young plants watered. Keep an eye out for #colour#lupins#flowers#plants##dierama#phlox#geum#salvias#geraniums

Maytime

Don’t be fooled

Don’t be fooled by Easter’s warm weather. My neighbour was. She planted out all sorts of tender flowers. Sadly, they have been hit by the colder temperatures and most of them have died. Here we have had late frosts. I try to stick with the old rule ‘ne’er cast a clout til May is out’. I’m usually itching to plant out at the beginning of April but I bide my time.

Salvia Caradonna – one of the few hardy Salvias

Garden centre are full of colourful annuals

Garden centres and nurseries might be full of colourful annuals. But they will still need protecting for a couple of weeks yet.

If you have a greenhouse or a cold frame you can put your more tender plants in there. My greenhouse is full of young seedlings. I have lupins, geraniums and dieramas. They are all growing nicely and I will plant them out soon. I have grown some lupins from seed

Dierama igneum

Glorious year for blossom

The garden is springing back into life. It has been a glorious year for blossom. The apples, cherries and plums have put on a magnificent display. It was a different tale for the magnolias though. They were hit by the frosts and their gorgeous blooms all turned brown.

Showy clematis

Clematis are putting on a good show. Amethyst Beauty lives up to its name. It has light purple flowers which often change to a deeper purple as they mature. It looks as if it is a multi-coloured flowering clematis which adds interest to the garden.

Clematis Armandi is one of my favourites. It is covered in highly scented creamy-white flowers. The bees love it too.

Another fragrant white flower is Phlox May Breeze. If you want a more colourful phlox try Chattahoochee. It has bright blue flowers with a red eye.

Preparation, preparation, preparation

I spent Easter getting my garden ready for planting. My vegetable patch had been invaded by moss. A sure sign that it is waterlogged and the soil is compacted. I’ve taken all the moss out by hand but this autumn I need to dig lots more compost into the patch. I might invest in some sand and grit to aid the drainage too. If you want good results you need to prepare properly.

Gunnera manicata – a great moisture lover

We could do with some rain

It has been lovely out in the garden. Warm weather although the wind has been cold. But, we could do with some rain. We have had a very dry winter and spring.

First wild ducklings

For the first time in the 30 years I have been here a wild mallard successfully hatched eight ducklings on my pond. They were so cute. Unfortunately I wasn’t the only one to think so. Magpies decided they made a tasty snack. By day two we were down to five. By day three there was just one following Mum around. Now they have all gone. There is a chance she might lay a second clutch. I hope she does.

Not a Mallard but a baby pheasant chick

Gardening tips  Dead head spring bulbs once they have stopped flowering but do not cut back their leaves. Harden off tender plants. Water seedlings daily. Once the danger of frost is over transplant vegetables and flowers from the cold frame or greenhouse into their final spots in the garden.

#warm #flowers #lupins #geranium #dierama #clematis #phlox #planting #dry #seed

Ukraine

This month I have been thinking of Ukraine

As the tragedy in Ukraine continues to unfold I have decided to show my support by making my garden a riot of yellow and blue.

Lupinus Desert Sun

Yellow and blue are definitely this year’s colours

Yellow flowers I can already see from my window include narcissus, crocuses, forsythia and primroses. In the lane we have aconites and wild daffodils.

Bluebell leaves are slowly emerging and soon my garden will be even more of an azure carpet.

Make your own Ukrainian flag

An easy way to replicate the Ukrainian flag is to use an iris. Their simple two-tone yellow and blue is nature’s perfect statement of support.  

Keep the yellow and blue summer scheme through to autumn

I am planning to keep my colourful homage right through to autumn.

Lupinus ‘Persian Slipper’

One of the easiest ways to do so is to use lupins. I have planted King Canute, Melody and Persian Slipper for the blues. They are next to the yellow Arboreus and Desert Sun. Once they are flowering they will make a very bold statement.

Plant yellows next to blues

Elsewhere I have teamed geums  Lissane and Poco with Geranium Rosanne will complement epimedium Grandiflorum.

Tritelia Rudy
Geranium Rosanne

Other yellows I will plant include Sisyrinchium arenarium, Campsis Radicans Flava and amongst the blues will be Brunnera macrophylla ‘Jack Frost, Orthrosanthus laxus and Eryngium.

Sisyrinchium arenarium

Offering support

Locally everyone is rallying round to support the Ukrainian people. We have filled lorries with clothes, medicines and food. Neighbours have been knitting comfort bears for children. We have attended concerts and been reduced to tears by the melodic folk singing of Ukrainian refugees. We are opening our homes and doing whatever we can.

Spring is here

Away from Ukraine nature is carrying on as normal. Spring is definitely here. There are bright green shoots on the clematis. Big fat bumble bees are gorging themselves on fresh pollen on the cherry trees. And everywhere I look birds are collecting nesting materials. The days are warmer and longer.

At night and sometimes in the day I can hear a solitary tawny owl calling for a mate. Clear twoo sounds but so far no answering kee-wick from a female. He’s not giving up and I am sure he will find one soon.

Greenhouse is full

My greenhouse is full of seed trays. The first vegetables are popping up and the ground will soon be warm enough to sow carrots, parsnips and spinach.  It seems very strange that my life is following its normal pattern while just a short distance away life is anything but normal.

Lupin plugs available in April

I pray for a peaceful and swift end to the war in Ukraine.

Gardening tips

Water plants which have been dormant in the greenhouse over winter to stimulate new growth. Give the grass a first cut if you haven’t already done so, but keep the blades high. Sow vegetable and annual seeds in your greenhouse. Plant new perennials for spring and summer colour.

#clematis #geum #lupins #daffodils #colour #spring #garden #flowers #narcissus #geranium #epimedium #sisyrinchium #campsis #brunnera #eryngium

Storms

Storm Eunice was a force to be reckoned with

Well, Storm Eunice definitely made her presence felt.

The day had hardly begun before she ripped one of our polytunnels. It was absolutely heartbreaking to see the damage she caused.

All our hard work destroyed in seconds by Mother Nature. However, no-one was hurt. Plants might have been decimated but they can be regrown.

Falling trees

My neighbour lost seven trees. Luckily, they all fell into her garden and field and didn’t block the road. As her husband observed it is much easier to chop them up when they have already been felled by the wind.

Garden is perking up

Thankfully Storm Eunice has blown herself out and the garden is beginning to perk up. The grass is growing. Birds are active and spring is on its way.

Spring bulbs are in full bloom

Spring bulbs are in full bloom. I have a completely new patch of crocuses under an ash tree. I didn’t plant them and I have no idea how they got there. The snowdrops were late to the party but they’re here now. I love their delicate white and green heads. Nature’s milkmaids.

Narcissus are out. I adore the early varieties which have such a sweet scent.

Cyclamen is also blooming. Cheery deep pinks and reds. Such a welcome sight.

Plan for summer

It is time to plan your summer planning. With the right research you can have colour right though until late autumn. Our catalogue is a good place to start.

Geum Scarlet Tempest

I’m going to plant geums for some early summer colour. Top of my list is Scarlet Tempest. They are both delicious reds and guaranteed to cheer up my garden.

If you are keen on more red flowers consider planning Clematis Avante Guarde. It has double red flowers with unusual pale pink centres.

I will also plant Hemerocallis Frans Hals. It has deep apricot yellow flowers which should bloom from July to September.

Clematis Avante Guarde
Scilla peruviana

Scillas will give me some lovely blue blooms in June. As will Thalictrum Black Stockings which has wonderful, fluffy lavender blue flowers.

Another blue flower to consider is Agapanthus Big Blue. It has striking large white and blue blooms.

For purples take a look at Dierama Blackberry Bells. The flowers are a deep, purple maroon.

If that’s too much colour

If all this colour is too much I recommend Dierama Guinevere. It has rare lovely white flowers with a delicate pink tinge.

Dierama Guinevere

Of course, no garden would be complete without lupins. Manhattan Lights, Masterpiece and Red Rum will all give some lovely summer colour.

Lupinus Manhattan Lights

No shows in 2022

We are giving the shows a miss this year. It was a hard decision to take because I do like meeting customers face to face. But they take a lot of organisation and planning and after the last two years we felt we needed a rest.

Gardening tips  

If you didn’t clean your greenhouse last autumn do it now ready for this year’s planting. Start watering plants which have been dormant in the greenhouse over winter, to stimulate new growth.  Watch out for tips of new plants emerging when you are weeding. Try to avoid walking on saturated lawns.

#gardens #bulbs #spring #cyclamen #lupins #narcissus #summer #flowers #plants #trees #catalogue #geum #clematis #hemerocallis #scilla #thalictrum #agapanthus #dierama

Chilly days

First time greenhouse owner

My neighbour has bought her first greenhouse. She’s 64 and has waited a long time for her mock Victorian glass room with its finials and luscious creamy finish. It has been worth the wait. It is a really lovely greenhouse. I’m helping her fill it.

Greenhouse with Echium Blue Steeple

Time to sow seeds

She’s never had the luxury of sowing seeds in January before so we are having lots of fun trying things out.

Salvias and Guara can all be sown from seed

So far, we have sown gaura, and salvias.

Gauras are bee magnets

We have also sown two varieties of gaura. The Bride is a gorgeous white whilst Belleza is a rich cerise pink. Both are bee magnets.

Gaura Belleza

We’ve stuck with blue with the Black and Blue salvia too.

Collect your own seeds

I’ve also given my neighbour some sweet pea plants which I planted from seed collected last summer. They had a real growth spurt during the warm sunny weather a few weeks ago and I thought they might burn themselves out. Luckily the recent frosts have slowed them down. One of the joys of growing flowers from seeds you have collected is you are never quite sure what you are going to get when they bloom. It is very exciting, and I can’t wait to see what comes up.

Nearly time for lupins

In a couple of weeks we will be sowing lupins from seed. Lupins don’t come true from seed so we have a mixed packet which should give us a nice variety of colours. If you want a particular colour or variety such as Red Rum or Manhattan Lights you need to buy plants.

Lupinus ‘Manhattan Lights’

Signs of spring

Narcissus cyclamineus

There are signs of spring all over the garden. Daffodil tips are poking through the grass and borders. One optimistic camellia already has a solitary gorgeous deep pink flower and the rest of the buds are fattening up.

Out on the vegetable patch I am still harvesting sprouts and parsnips. But I am already looking forward to summer pickings. My garlic and onions are in. So far the birds have only pulled out a couple of the onions. I check them every morning to see what damage has been done. It is still too early to put most other vegetables in the ground. But, my potatoes are chitting. It won’t be long before spring is well and truly here.

Gardening tips  

Sow garlic and onions for late summer harvesting; start sowing summer annual seeds under glass; clean greenhouse windows; use our catalogue to plan purchases for next summer; don’t walk on frosty grass or you will damage it.

#spring #sunny #warm #daffodils #winter #colour #gaura #salvias #lupins

2021 over and out

Glad to be rid of 2021

Service at Woolsery church

A year ago I thought 2021 couldn’t be any worse than 2020. How wrong I was. Covid, the bug that never gives up continued to disappoint.

Christmas Markets

One by one my friends and family have been pinged, isolated and cancelled. Events which were postponed for a year have been put off for another 12 months.

Still I will not be pessimistic. I am determined 2022 will be better.

Memories of better times in Vienna

New Year’s Resolutions

I have made some New Year’s Resolutions. Usually I don’t bother but I feel I should start January as I mean to go on.

Resolution number 1

Don’t put off things which need to be done. If there was a prize for procrastination I would win it every time. I have a ‘to do’ list and it is disappointing to see some tasks appear on it for the third year in succession. My motto will be ‘just do it now’. Like paddleboarding!

The first thing I will do is sit down with my Westcountry Nurseries catalogue and plan what to plant in my garden. I definitely want some new plants.

Resolution number 2

Grow my own. I don’t just mean runner beans and courgettes. I want to collect more of my own seeds and grown my own plants from cuttings. I have made a start on the seed collection. Last autumn I carefully shook seed heads of my astrantias and placed them in envelopes. They are now in my seed tin ready for sowing. Florence is unusual as it has lavender pink flowers. The butterflies love it.

Astrantia ‘Florence;
Campsis ‘Flamingo’

In the spring I will take cuttings of Campsis radicans ‘Flamenco’. It is a good climber which has brilliant red flowers from July to September.

Resolution number 3

Geranium Anne Thomson

Be bolder with colour. Throughout lockdowns and covid isolation I have found joy in my garden. The plants have kept me grounded. I will now experiment more with colours to bring even more joy. I am looking at geraniums. Plenum has gorgeous double purple flowers.

Lupinus ‘Masterpiece’

The best providers of colour are lupins. Masterpiece is a rich purple. Red Rum a superb rose red. And, Manhattan Lights is purple and yellow. Whatever colour you are after there is a lupin for you.

Resolution number 4

Keep on top of weeds and pests. I always try to do this but rarely succeed. 2022 will be different.

Resolution number 5

No more peat based compost. I have nearly given up peat based compost but sometimes, especially with supply chain shortages it has been hard to get an eco-alternative. This year I shall be more organised and ensure I always have plenty in stock.

Lupinus ‘Manhattan Lights’

Gardening tips  

Leucojum autumnalis var Oporantha

Water overwintering pots in the greenhouse once a week. Plan next summer’s purchases with our 2021 catalogue. Rake up any fallen leaves. Keep an eye out for the tips of bulbs which will soon be emerging.

#catalogue #newplants #seeds #astrantia #colour #geranium #bulbs #cuttings

Release…..

One year on

It’s a year since we were locked down for the first time. No-one could have guessed that 12 months later we would still be subject to draconian restrictions. At least they are beginning to lift – although why is it forecast to rain the first day, I am allowed to visit my neighbour’s garden?

Tulip mania

Looking forward to going to the pub

In a couple of weeks we will be able to sit outside in the pub and in just over a month we will be able to have a meal inside. I have already booked my table. That’s something to look forward to.

As I sow my seeds and swap seedlings with friends, we are all grateful for the relief gardening has given us over the last year.

Watching things grow

Even those who had never aspired to green fingers took pleasure from seeing things grow. A window box full of herbs or a splendid display of lupins and delphiniums in the herbaceous border. It didn’t matter. It gave us something to do.

Lots to be done

There’s plenty to be done now. Easter weekend is when I start sowing this year’s flowers and vegetables in the greenhouse. It is unheated so I can’t start any earlier. However, this year I have experimented with starting a few off indoors near the aga. I want them to have a head start. They have germinated but I am worried they are growing too fast and will become leggy. Watch this space.

Take time to relax

Leucojum

Although this is a busy time for gardening. It is also important to take time to relax. Sit in the spring sunshine with a cup of tea. Enjoy the fruits of your labours. Listen to the birds. Enjoy the warmth of the early spring sunshine.

My garden is coming alive. Leucojum have the most wonderful scent. They are complemented by crocuses, daffodils and tulips.

Old favourites are back

I am always pleasantly surprised when old favourites start to emerge.

Among the first after the flowering bulbs are the anemones. If you want something different plant Virescens which has a carpet of green flowers.

Plants are budding

The geums are also budding. I look forward to seeing Mai Tai which has gorgeous apricot blooms on red stems.

Happy bees

Spring flowers have been replaced by clematis. My clematis armandii Apple Blossom is full of blush pink flowers. It is buzzing with happy bees.

Still open for business

We are still sending out plants and can provide cheer over the coming months by brightening up your gardens.

Plants I would recommend include Lupinus Gladiator is a stunning orange and yellow. It contrasts beautifully with the white Polar Princess.

Lupinus ‘Polar Princess’

Gardening tips

Sow vegetable and annual seeds in your greenhouse. Plant new perennials for spring and summer colour. Water plants which have been dormant in the greenhouse over winter, to stimulate new growth. Give the grass a first cut if you haven’t already done so, but keep the blades high.

#clematis #geum#lupins#daffodils #colour#bulbs#spring#seeds #garden#Easter#flowers