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Author: hortoris

Veronicastrum Height & Vertical Form in Gardens

Veronicastrum Height & Vertical Form in Gardens

Veronicastrum grows and flowers 3-6 feet tall and adds height to many gardens.

Tips for Growing Veronicastrum

  • Native to American woodlands and prairies, Veronicastrum likes rich moist soil.
  • With full sun or light shade they grow towards the light and may need staking in windy locations but grow well with other back of the border perennials.
  • Flowering is in late summer in whites, purples and pink, they are Bee friendly.
  • Leave the spikes to add winter interest and for seeding.
  • Use as cut flowers either fresh or dried.


Hardy Varieties to Grow

  1. Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Album’ has an airy white spire of tightly packed flowers.
  2. Veronicastrum virginicum ‘Facination’ grows on stiff stems but the mauve flowering spikes droop slightly whilst still adding height to the back of borders.
  3. Veronicastrum roseum ‘Pink Glow’ is the colour it claims to be and mixes well with other late blooming perennials.
  4. Veronicastrum sibiricum (above)  is lower growing at 3-4 feet
Apple Blossom in Pictures and Notes

Apple Blossom in Pictures and Notes

Apple blossom

2010 seems set to be a great year for Apple Blossom. All around there seems to be vast quantities of blossom on each tree – let us hope there are enough Bees to go around when it comes to pollination.

I was surprised when I looked more closely at the size and colour on the blossom of different trees and have reproduced some varieties here. As you may remember there was a lot of frost damage on a row of cordons but, touch wood, my main trees remain unaffected.

The late arrival of warm weather is playing into the hands of pollination as most varieties seem to have opened at the same time. This will bring the insects out and help cross pollination to produce a good crop of Apples.

Apple blossom

Glowering skies loom over this tree but showers of rain are an occupational hazard for Apple blossom. As long as the rain drains from the tree and is not trapped in pockets to cause wood rot there is no problem.

I have to admit to a spray regime after blossom fall to protect my fruit to deter insects

Apple blossom

This eating apple has dark red skin and I will have to look in my old note book to remind me of the variety. Still I am not surprised to see that it has pinker blossom than the James Grieve.

Each blossom was larger than the old half-crown and made a wonderful sight.

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Growing Small Daisies – Erigeron or Fleabane

Growing Small Daisies – Erigeron or Fleabane

Erigeron
There are many species of daisy like Erigeron in annual, perennial and biennial varieties. Flowers may be small but you get lots of them

Erigeron karvinskianus

  • Daisy-like flowers with buds opening a dark pink turning white.
  • The petals are finer and more delicate than the common daisy and the whole flower-head slightly smaller.
  • The leaves are small, plants form mats, and each plant can spread over quite a large area.
  • Good drainage and plenty of sunshine are essential for plants to survive cold damp winters.
  • Sun also keeps the plant small and compact.
  • Plants are easily raised from seed.
  • The Royal Horticultural Society has given it an Award of Garden Merit (AGM).

Erigeron

Erigeron aureus – The Alpine Yellow Fleabane is shown above
Erigeron ‘Dunkelste Aller’ has a dark purple flower
Erigeron Alpinus grows 6″-8″ high with mauve florets and a yellow disc.
Erigeron glaucus the Seaside Daisy
for other species see selected taxa

Suggested Locations for Erigeron

  • Coastal locations enjoying sandy soil.
  • Informal cottage gardens are where I remember seeing this plant as edging,
  • Erigeron is low maintenance and small enough to look good in a Rock garden.
Growing Centaurea

Growing Centaurea

Centaurea Achtarovii

Centaurea are a group of plants, the Knapweeds, related to cornflowers and similar in appearance to thistles they look far better than either in a cottage garden environment.

The National collection of Centaurea is held at Bide-a wee Cottage garden in Morpeth Northumberland.

Centaurea Growing

  • Centaurea grow best in a moisture retentive soil   and are equally at home in sun or partial shade. Otherwise it is not fussy about soil conditions.
  • The common feature of the Knapweed family is the flower’s scaly brown base with tightly gather multiple petals.
  • Robust in constitution they are a survivor in many a neglected garden.
  • Respond well to being cut back after flowering it is also suitable for naturalising in meadows.

Some Varieties to Grow

  • Two perennial species are British natives Centaurea nigra and Centaurea scabiosa. Centaurea nigra grows in  wet pasture, moor and along stream banks.
  • Centaurea range in size from the ground hugging Centaurea mollis, with prostrate foliage and lavender blue flowers to the giant Centaurea macrocephala, growing up to 4ft with large yellow flower heads.
  • Centaurea Achtarovii shown above is a smaller growing variety.
  • The first to flower is the Centaurea montana the perennial cornflower. In late May flowers are seen in a variety of pastel shades and deep blue.

For more information on growing larger Centaurea read ‘garden gem or invasive weed’.

Plants and seeds are available from Thompson Morgan

Allotment Gardening your First Steps

Allotment Gardening your First Steps

History of Allotments
Allotments were first introduced in 1845 as field gardens for the landless poor. Originally intended to grow food Victorians thought it would ‘keep them from the evils of drink’. (A cool beer or glass of wine at the end of a session on the allotment is just the job now-a-days.)
In 1908 the Small Holding and Allotment Act made it a duty of Local Authorities to provide allotments where there was a demand.
During both World Wars allotments were a vital source of food & the number of allotments peaked in 1943 at 1.4 million. There is less than a quarter of that number now.

First Steps

  • Time spent preparing a new plot is seldom wasted time. Remove weeds.
  • Put in permanent structures like good paths, a compost bin, water butt and a shed.
  • If the land slopes use raised beds or make a terrace.
  • Arrange the beds so you can rotate crops (see below).
  • Check the site and association rules.

Planting your Crops

  • Grow what your family like to consume or use.
  • Easy vegetables to start with include Potato, Leek and Runner Beans.
  • Courgettes, Tomatoes and salad crops are only slightly more difficult.
  • I would have an area for cutting flowers but that is my personal preference.
  • Sow seed sparsely, thin out to avoid over crowding and do not sow too soon in the season.
  • Give herbs there own area in the sun.

Crop Rotation
Different plant groups do different things to the soil. Using 4 beds, rotate the following crops around so that after 4 years each bed has been used by each group.

  1. Potatoes
  2. Legumes; Peas, Broadbeans, Other beans, mangetout etc
  3. Brassicas; Cauliflower, Cabbage, Sprouts, Broccoli etc
  4. Onions and roots

Lettuce, Courgettes are neutral and can go anywhere. Soft fruit and rhubarb may go around the edges or in there own space.

Daffodil and Narcissus Tips for May

Daffodil and Narcissus Tips for May

Deadheading

These Daffodils growing in grass have naturalised successfully and don’t get deadheaded but in your garden deadheading is a good idea.

May Activity for Daffodils.

  1. Pinch or cut off the seedhead before they swell to channel energy into bulbs.
  2. The leaves are busy converting sunlight and nutrients into sugars and stronger bulbs for next year.
  3. Do not cut off the leaves of Daffodills until they die back
  4. Apply a dilute liquid feed via the leaves with a good spray of fertilizer.
  5. As the leaves yellow at the end of the month you can split large clumps of bulbs. Replant 5-6″ apart in new soil or revitalise existing soil.
  6. When replanting do not bury the old foliage.
  7. Mark where your best Daffodils are so you do not dig them up by mistake.
  8. Plan  where  and what Narcissus you are growing next year.

daffodil in willow display

Growing Rhodiola rosea

Growing Rhodiola rosea

Rhodiola rosea

Rhodiola is a genus of succulents, perennial plants in the family Crassulaceae that resemble Sedum and similar members of the family.

Growing Tips

  • It was found in Siberia and other cold climates of Europe.
  • It is easy to grow from seed or cuttings.
  • As Rhodiola self-sows very easily you may be able to scrounge a plant or two from a friend.
  • The plants are slow growing and dislike extremes of heat and wet, otherwise they are very easy to grow and longlived.

Rhodiola’s nickname “Rose Root” comes from the fact that the dried root carries the scent of roses. Other nicknames include Roseroot and Rosenrot in Norwegian.

For centuries Rhodiola has been used to cure many ailments. ‘For those who suffer from anxiety, depression, stomach problems, fibromyalgia, and other nervous system conditions, this herb can help ease the symptoms and allow the body to heal itself.’ ref Yourbody

Outdoor Pots the Pros and Cons

Outdoor Pots the Pros and Cons

Terracotta Pots

  • Unglazed pots are porous allowing water and air to circulate.
  • Evaporation keeps terracotta pots cool in summer.
  • These type of pots  need more watering but are plant friendly.
  • Pots are liable to be frost damaged and may crack and break unless they are protected in winter.
  • Pots can get frozen to the ground and the bottom may then fall out if you move the pot.

Metal Pots

  • Metal can be very stylish and has become a feature in some contemporary ‘designer’ gardens.
  • In sunny positions they can get far too hot and damage plant roots.
  • Fake metal or internal insulation may be an alternative.

Natural Wood Planters

  • These containers blend well with plants and traditional locations.
  • They are light, reasonably inexpensive and are not affected by frost.
  • Some untreated wood pots are not very long lived

Plastic Pots

  • Good bad and ugly plastic pots are available.
  • Recycled plastic made to look like stone or textured are very good from a distance.
  • Resin is now used to fake the appearance and or age of pots.
  • Plastic goes brittle over time due to UV light.
  • I was nearly tempted to try a large fibreglass pot from our garden centre but the drainage didn’t look good enough
  • White plastic discolours  and will not bleach clean.

Stone and Concrete Pots

  • The best pots in stately home gardens are those hewn from stone but ‘boy are they pricey’.
  • You can make your own pots from a tufa mixture see Grow your own rocks
You are Having a Laugh in the Garden

You are Having a Laugh in the Garden

Tree sculpture

Garden scarecrow competitions inspired a neighbour to produce this conifer sculpture.

It makes a change from garden gnomes and brings a bit of light relief.

Old tree stumps can be converted into sculptures by the artistically minded and I wonder what tune would be played for gardeners on this guitar. Strawberry Fields?, Where have all the flowers gone?, in a Monastery Garden or Green Onions by Booker T.

chevin guitar

See also: Funny Garden Signs – “One Giant Leek for Mankind.”

No for me it must be Tip Toe Through The Tulips

wallpaper tulip

Uses of Willow in the Garden & Living Sculptures

Uses of Willow in the Garden & Living Sculptures

Willow boat

Interest in Willow has revived over the last few years and there are many garden uses.

Decorative Uses

  • Royal Horticultural Gardens at Harlow Carr have several living willow sculptures. The fine boat shown above is an example that entertains the kids who visit. A bit big for my garden.
  • Narrow Willow hedges can be used to separate ‘garden rooms’.
  • Tunnel type structure made of sticks of living willow can create a unique feature.
  • Children will enjoy making and playing in wigwams, domes and tunnels.
  • More advanced projects, suitable for adults, include fences, chairs and arbours.

Book Cover

DVD Making Living Willow Sculptures

Practical Uses of Willow

  • Willow weaving can make Trugs or baskets for use in the garden.
  • A natural hedge from woven willow suits some sites, if used as a wind break it is called a ‘fedge’.
  • Willow can now be grown for green bio-mass fuel.
  • Traditionally Willow is used for cricket bats, charcoal, furniture and medicine.
  • The bark contains growth hormones and can be used to make a simple extract that will promote rooting and cutting growth.

Varieties and Uses of Willow

  • Salix Viminalis Gigantea Very fast growing – long and straight.
  • Good for large structures, windbreaks, hurdle uprights etc.
  • Salix Triandra Viminalis Very fast growing – long and straight.
  • Good for Large structures, Windbreaks, hurdles
  • Salix Dasyclados Very vigorous slightly shorter but thicker than Viminalis.
  • Suitable for structures, windbreaks, fuel production.
  • Salix Tora or Jorr Very vigorous growth – Swedish, Suitable for structures, windbreaks and fuel production.
  • Salix alba Vitelina Ornamental golden willow, Suitable for hedging, windbreaks and basketry.
  • Salix Triandra Black Maul Warm chestnut brown colour Suitable for hurdles, basketry and weaving in to structures for colour.
  • Salix Triandra Q83 Super Willow- (hybrid of viminalis and triandra) has the vigorous growth of viminalis with the weaving qualities of triandra. Attractive medium brown stems, catkins.Suitable for hurdles, basketry and weaving into living structures.
  • Salix Purpurea Leentges, Nicholsonii Purpurescens or Helix Suitable for basketry and hedging.
  • Salix Purpurea Abbeys or Dicky Meadows, Suitable for basketry.

List of varieties from Willow Withies