Author Archives: davidsgardendiary

Wonderful Welsh Weather

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It was a great opening day at the RHS Cardiff Flower Show last Friday and astonishingly good weather for early April. These two young ladies were highly entertaining and certainly tickled the lady from Petrichor Bulbs.IMG_20170407_135004

The narcissus display by Cornwall’s Ron Scamp was utterly breathtaking and demonstrated the sheer breadth of colour and form available from the humble daffodil.IMG_20170407_121410

Alliums in flower on 7th April?? Sadly not grown here but impressive nevertheless. I had an engaging five minutes with the supplier who confirmed that bulbs don’t sell unless the public can see the results for real, pictures just won’t do.IMG_20170407_131111

Can’t remember the name of this hydrangea but it was a stunner!IMG_20170407_123400

Unlike Michael Heseltine who, it has to be said, is now in his twilight years and should perhaps have left his book promotion to his publishers. I am sure Thenford is a wonderful estate but his slide show and presentation left a lot to be desired.IMG_20170407_141356

On a lighter note, I just loved this woven willow caterpillar which obviously took someone a lot of time and effort. It was greatly admired by all!IMG_20170407_142940

This ‘frameless’ greenhouse caught my eye but I am not sure it is going to catch on. One flying stone from a lawnmower, a poorly kicked football, an overloaded wheelbarrow or simply a fallen pot and the result could be interesting and expensive!IMG_20170407_124439

It was a great little show and good value compared to some of the bigger RHS events at just £9 entry for members. It was small though, probably due to the early date in the calendar, but I would go again just to get my first horticultural fix of the year.

 

Mid Week Review

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Sometimes it’s the happy accidents that make the all the difference like this Euphorbia characias and Clematis macropetala, what a lovely colour combination.IMG_20170404_173008

Always exciting to see Euphorbia griffithii ‘Fireglow’ piercing through the ground. It loves my heavy clay soil.

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The Fritillaria imperialis just before I spotted a Lily beetle!

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Who says Hyacinths don’t grow well after being forced in pots. This one is five years old and getting better every year.

Ground Elder Eradication Trial!

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TTagetes minuta

This rather unprepossing plant is Tagetes minuta, a half hardy annual and presumably a weed in its native Mexico, which is reputed to kill the roots of my nemesis, Aegopodium podagraria or ground elder.  I heard about it by chance in comments on a Facebook page and decided to check it out on the interweb. Sure enough, even the sage Sarah Raven sings its praises and claims to have cleared a bed of ground elder with it. I have ordered a large packet of seeds for a few pence which will be incredible value if it really works.

According to those who should know, the plant has herbicidal root secretions which destroy the roots of perennial weeds such as ground elder, lesser celandine and couch grass. It is apparently 2.5m tall with finely cut foliage and small creamy yellow flowerheads which are unlikely to turn heads but who cares! If it gets rid of the ground elder and celandines in my prize herbaceous border I don’t care how ugly it is just as long as it doesn’t kill all my other plants as well.

I will make this one of my summer projects with regular updates. I would be very interested in your comments about this subject, particularly from people who may have tried it.

Props

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A good friend kindly brought me some coppiced hazel peasticks today to support my tall perennials before disaster strikes in May. Normally I am way too late putting any supports in. I wait until it’s too late and then prop things up. What a mess! I am gradually learning that a stitch in time saves nine and putting the supports in early._DSC0020 (1)

I was pleased with how the birch circle responded to having six inches of garden compost heaped on it in November. I cleared almost everything above ground apart from the three immature Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter Fire’ which I hope will eventually provide winter contrast to the Jacquemontii silver birches. I then emptied three barrow loads of compost over the whole area because it had become impossible to weed amongst the surface roots of the birches. The anemone blanda and narcissus have come through without any trouble as well as the inevitable lesser celandines. It looks great at the moment and I just hope the hairy bittercress and chickweed are reduced this year. _DSC0025

I have given up the battle with lesser celandines in the photinia hedge border; it is a battle I was losing anyway because the root tubers are soil coloured and therefore impossible to identify. The recommended treatment is Glyphosate but that would kill everything else including the anemone blanda which, actually, looks good with the yellow celandine flowers! And anyway, by June all the foliage is gone and I forget them for another year._DSC0014 (2)

These wild primroses are everywhere at the moment and multiply like mad in my sticky clay soil. Once the flowers are over I split the clumps and transplant them under the hedges to spread them round a bit. It’s one of the joys of Spring.

Black Widow

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I am told this is Iris tuberosa. It just popped up behind my back today. I didn’t plant it and I’m not sure I like it. The common name of Widow Iris suggests something nasty is about to happen to me! My wife is giving me funny looks! Is it a sign?