Gardeners Tips

This autumn tinted, small tree, Sumac or Sumach is also called the ‘Stags Horn’ or botanically Rhus typhina.

Rhus Facts and Tips

• Trees can grow up to 25 feet high, this specimen is only a third of that. Early pruning may have stunted the height and encouraged the large canopy.
• Branches fork freely and are covered with thick velvety hair when young.
• Leaves divide  into  narrow oval, toothed and softly hairy drooping leaflets. The leaves are bright orange and red   colours in autumn.
• Male flowers are greenish  and female are red blooming on different trees
• The cone-shaped, dull red, hairy heads  remain on the tree throughout winter.
• Take care when touching the leaves and stems as the sap can be an irritant.

See picture of Sumach in spring

‘When it’s Spring again I’ll bring again ………’
Tulip festivals spring up as often as the Tulip bulbs. Check out some festivals from the following or look out for your own local Tulip Festival.

UK Tulip Festivals 2010

• The Alnwick Garden, Northumberland – Saturday 30th April   to Saturday 7th May;
• Chatsworth, Derbyshire – Friday 6th May to Tuesday 10th May;
• Constable Burton 1st – 3rd May 2010, plant over 6000 bulbs annually with special displays of cut blooms in the Hall.
• Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire – Friday 1st to Saturday 15th May;
• Powerscourt, Ireland – Friday 22nd April to Monday 2nd May;
• Stourhead, Wiltshire – Monday 25th April – Sunday 8th May;
• The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall – Saturday 23rd April to Monday 2nd May;
• Waddesdon Manor, Buckinghamshire – Saturday 16th April to Monday 2nd May.

Dutch Tulip Shows

‘If you are planning to travel to Europe or happened to be there in Spring 18 March-16 May 2010, you are so lucky. Why? You’ll be able to see millions of colourful tulips in the biggest tulips garden in the world! You have this opportunity of the year to witness the tulips blooming. Netherlands are always associated with Tulips and is the biggest flowers exporters in the world. Public can visit the Keukenhof Tulips Garden for tulips display during the tulips festival held between 18/3 until 16/5 every year. Soaking in the large tulips field would be an unique and refreshing experience to visitors.’

Other Festivals …

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Corms of Acidanthera or Gladiolus callianthus are sold as summer bulbs but they flower best in autumn. Less colourful than other members of the Gladioli family these white flowers have a dark purple eye and look stunning in late autumn sunshine.

Acideranthera Facts and Growing Tips

• Acidanthera are scented with flowers arching from a long pollen tube with tall green pleated leaves.
• Can flower up to 36-48″ high.
• Not hardy enough to be left out in winter they dislike waterlogged soils.
• Great in well drained sunny situations, these were planted in my garden wall.
• Acideranhtera are also called the Peacock Flower
• Water and fertilise when flowers begin to develop.
• Plant 4 deep in clay soils or upto  6 deep in other soil.

Read more about Gladioli in 100 days from planting.

Begonias provide lots of colour per plant.

• Begonia Semperflorens is probably the most widely grown begonia and is also called “wax type” because of the waxy look to the leaves. They are grown from seed mostly as bedding plants and annuals and last until frosted.
• The larger flowering Begonia tubers are currently bringing summer to a colourful finish. The tubers can be dried and stored for next year
• The indoor Begonia rex are demonstrating some strange and colourful leaf shapes. These are Rhizomatus types.
• Cane or Angels wing Begonias are a bit out of favour but make a robust house plant.

Growing Begonia as Annuals from Seed

• Begonia seeds are very small, so it is best to mix the seeds with fine sand and sow onto the top of the moist compost.
• Do not cover the seeds with more compost but cover the container with cling film.
• Place the container in a shaded or dark position at 68 – 72F.
• Check the seeds daily for emerging  seedlings, this normally takes about two weeks.
• As soon as the seedlings appear remove the polythene and place the tray in a light position. Seedlings require a great deal of even bright light.
• If the window sill is cold cover the container with a cardboard box at night.
• When the seedlings are large enough to handle  prick them out from the seed tray and pot them on into 3 inch pots.

A useful none commercial resource is Brads Begonia guide.

Thompson & Morgan supply a wide range of seeds. The normal colours of red white and pink have now been extended by orange and yellow additions and at the last count there were 50 products to consider growing. Thompson & Morgan