Oxford Botanic Garden Flowers – August
Economists agree this could be a good year for growth
Border at Botanic Gardens –
a reminder of the floral delights to come after the cold winter days.
Young kid inspects the border
Anemones
John Tradescant the Elder and Younger
Father 1570-1638 and son 1608-1662 both worked as gardener to the Royal family and are buried at St Marys Church Lambeth. At the Museum of Garden History in Lambeth there is a garden laid out using plants they introduced to the UK after trips to Russia, Africa and North America in the early 17th century.
As early traveling plant collectors both John Tradescants’ were responsible for many plant introductions and curios collected on their travels. Plants include Michaelmas daisy, Cistus, Acer, Maple and Tradescantia
‘Musaeum Tradescantianum’ was the first museum catalogue published. Tradescant willed that the collection was to go to his widow on his death, but Elias Ashmole obtained the collection by deed of gift and established the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford. Some of these original items can still be seen in that museum and Ashmole is also buried at the Museum of Garden History. The tomb of the Tradescants stands beside the knot garden near that of Captain Bligh of the Bounty, and is covered in carvings representing their interests in life which showed them both to be ‘curious men’.
Streamside Gardens to Delight
If you are lucky enough to have a stream running through your garden you can plant many colourful plants at the side.
Plants for a Streamside
- Primula Candelabra hybrids look special in spring and early summer. The flowers appear on the 18 inch stems in tiers of red, yellow and orange.
- Many Iris varieties are at home by the side of water. The Siberian Iris sibirica can be yellow, white, purple or blue and the sword shaped leaves grow well in moist soil. Iris laevigata flowers purple and can grow right at the margins with its feet in 3-4 inches of water.
- For soft greens, Alchemilla Mollis grows almost anywhere in my garden and Hostas also like a moist soil.
- Astilbe can be a fine herbaceous plant with fern like foliage and plumes of frothy flowers.
- For a bit of annual colour you could sow Mirabilis jalpa the Four o’clock flower growing to 3-4 feet tall with some Impatiens accent series for a lower grower.
- Bugle is good for ground cover Ajuga reptans Burgundy Glow for blue flowers and tricolured leaves. Persicaria superba has pink flowers later in the year and spreads well.
- For a tree in acid soil the Amelanchier is hard to beat with flowers, berries and coloured autumn leaves or the Spotted laurel and Black Pussy Willows both like a moist soil.
Other Tips for Gardening by a Stream
- Plants that prefer dryer conditions should be planted higher up the banking.
- Give plants enough space to develop, the moist and humid conditions will generally encourage lush growth.
- Beware fast flowing streams and those likely to over flow there banks lest they wash away your prize plants.
- Foliage and texture can be as important as colour but a bright splash (no pun intended) of yellow or bright white can be reflected by the water.
Harlow Carr Candelabra primula by the stream 2008.
Read more about Wild Iris on Gardeners Tips.
Autumn Blues
Every colour has its day and for blue that is often in Autumn. This is a selection of our blue to purple plants showing off during mid to late October.
There are not too many plants that form a blue leaf or needles in this case. Eventually this Firs young needles will turn green.
Some Hostas are said to have blue leaves or blue/green.
Michaelmas daisies are one of our favourites on Gardeners Tips as you may have noticed.
Blue is a tough colour to get right in the garden. Roses, Dahlia and Narcissus are renown for not having blue varieties. I have cheated with this hard Geranium that was in flower earlier in the year.
Ideas for a Shady Border
Plant selection
- Plant tall flowering shrubs to bring a splash of colour to a dull corner or to make a shady border come to life. Hydrangea macrophylla or Rosa Rugosa will suit. More shrub ideas
- Taller perennials and other to consider include Astible, Lilies, Ligularia or Foxglove.
- Hostas and Hebes both do well in shade and if it is dry Eupohorbia polychroma and Iris foetidissima would work.
- Try something a bit architectural such as Bears Breeches Acanthus mollis with tall flower spikes in summer and famous shaped leaves. Echinops globe thistles would be an alternative and Crocosmia has sword shaped leaves.
- A smoke bush tree Cotinus coggyria is a good purple leaved shrub with airy pink/white
Planting Tips
- Avoid planting too close to large trees as the roots take all the water. Anemone hybrids survive the dry but may not reach their full 3′ height.
- Remove weeds and incorporate compost or manure to retain what moisture it can.
- Plant shrubs in Autumn to give the roots chance to become established. …
Crocodile Garden Design
Any space bigger than a bottle can be used to create a garden. This London tennament had a basement flat twelve feet below the pavement and about 5 feet wide. Despite those limitations there was an exotic rock pool, obligatory ferns and phormiums and the London Lizard, the Camden Croc, or the Admiralty Arch Alligator.
Designing with Humour
- Are the bars on these windows to keep the residents in or the London wild life out
- A light touch when adding whimsy to a garden can add many a smile to the passer by
- New materials can be introduced like this fibre glass sculpture
- Painted pottery Gnomes are not to everyones taste but Gnomes need homes
- Bruce Lawton’s Zen garden design tool is a bit of a spoof
Conservation Mixes of Seeds
If you want a new idea in seeds that will help create an eco-friendly garden try these mixed from Wallis seeds or our seed suppliers.
Beetle and Insect Bank a mixture of grasses to encourage beetles and insects to feed and breed. Can be planted in a small area in the garden
Pollen and Nectar Mix. A good mixture of flowers and grasses for butterflies, insects and birds to feed. A sunny area may be best but a small space will suit.
Wild Bird Mixture of plants producing seed or providing cover for birds. Ideal for small birds like finches, buntings and sparrows.
Clover Mix – red and white clover ideal for butterflies and helpful for bees
Bumble Bee & Butterfly mix to attract what it the name implies plus other insects
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Growing and Recognising Arisaema sikokianum
Arisaema sikokianum is a herbaceous perennial plant with vertically patterned flowers.
Characteristics
- In an alpine house or garden it flowers in springtime upto 18″ tall.
- It can be planted with shade-loving hostas and Bleeding hearts.
- They need neutral to acid soil in a moist, well-draining, protected location in dappled shade to flourish.
- Seeds have a low rate of germination, and take a very long while to get going. Harvested in December & store at room temperature for one month, then planted in shady situations.
Other names for Arisaema sikokianum include Shikoku cobra lily, Gaudy Jack or Japanese Jack-in-the-Pulpit.
Arisaema sikokianum is one of 150 species and an unusual woodland plant noted for its unmistakable smoky-purple base, white cup and large hood with purple, green and white stripes.
There is a specialist international society for Aroids or Arum family plants with Arisaema links.
Hardy and Indoor Cyclamen Post Christmas
The low growing ivy leaved cyclamen has marbled foliage and Spring or Autumn flowering. It grows from corms that are planted in shade under trees or in rockeries with some cover.
The Autumn flowering C.Neapolitan (Hederifolium) varieties come in shades of pink to the album white
The pictured C.Coum variety is more hardy and flowers in spring.
In hard weather areas it may be necessary to grow in pots and lift them in severe conditions but if conditions suit they will form ground covering clumps.
The indoor varieties
- Florist varieties are not hardy but it is important to keep it cool and provide some air movement. If it is too warm the leaves will yellow.
- Don’t over or under wateror the leaves will go yellow wait until the soil feels dry
- Do not let the plant remain wilted
- Water with a good soaking from the bottom to stop the corm rotting
- Give the plant good light in winter
- A monthly feed in the growing season will help
- Dead flowers should be tugged free
- Leave for a rest period in summer and they will flower again the following Autumn
Hostas make a Vista Baby
It is the end of this years Hostas but I was lucky to keep most slugs off most Hostas until the autumn ravages start. It is no longer worth protecting the leaves which are due to die back into the Hostas roots to await next spring.
2010 has been a good year for Hosta flowers and I have been keen to see white and purple spikes on my plants.
This is a photo of the baby hosta or Dwarf alongside a normal plant. Mini hostas have the less impact when placed directly next to large hostas.
- Mini, baby or dwarf hostas have similar characteristics to larger Hostas. Their tiny size makes them versatile and interesting close up!
- Mini Hostas can be grown in pots, alpine beds or in groups
- Baby mini Hostas should  be placed in front of larger Hostas if you are growing them together in a garden.
- Use mini Hostas in rows or pots by a garden bench or patio so you can see them up close.
For more on Hostas read