Christmas is over, we’ve had the shortest day and spring is creeping nearer each day. After constant rain last month which seemed to last forever, it has been lovely to get some time in the garden after Christmas and to see the bulbs starting to pop up around the garden. Snowdrops, Iris reticulata, daffodils and crocus are on their way.
After visiting Savill Garden and RHS Wisley I’ve really noticed the amount of scent you can have in the garden over winter. There’s nothing like walking past a plant, smelling a wonderful scent, then poking your head in various shrubs to track down the plant. Popular choices are Hamamelis (Witch Hazel), Daphne’s, Chimonanthus praecox (Winter Sweet) Lonicera x purpusii ‘Winter Beauty’ (winter honeysuckle) or Sarcococca (Sweet Box).
I planted a Daphne in the garden about 4 years ago. At first it was out the front of the house, and was in the wrong place. They say Daphne’s don’t like being moved, but it wasn’t going to survive where it was, so it was moved out to the back garden. It did sulk for a year but has flowered beautifully the last two years so I’m looking forward to the flowers and scent again this year.
I have just purchased another Daphne Bholua which was chosen by my youngest daughter as she loved the scent on our visit to RHS Wisley last week so we will have some fun deciding where to put that.
Having the bees in the garden has made me give some extra thought to having as much nectar available as possible for them, so today I purchased a Hamamelis × intermedia ‘Pallida’ so that not only can I get the benefit of the scent to draw me down the garden but I’m hoping the bees will benefit as well.
Hellebores are great for winter flowers and again a good source of nectar for the bees. I was given a hellebore seedling about 5 years ago and have hoped it would have self seeded a bit more around the garden, but as of yet I’ve had no luck. I saw these Helleborus x Nigercors ‘Emma’ at Longacres and they were so full of bud I bought 3 for the garden. One has gone out the front of the house for some colour and the others will go out the back of the garden so hopefully the bees will find them.
The house is looking pretty empty since the Christmas decorations came down so I’ve been looking at house plants. I was impressed with the range of house plants in at Longacres over Christmas and after having bought one as a Christmas gift I went back to get some for me. I’ve never been one for big house plants and after moving to Camberley and killing every orchid I was given I lost confidence that I could keep them alive. After being given a Kalanchoe blossfeldiana and a Christmas Cactus that I’ve managed to keep alive for the last nine months I’ve decided to try my hand with another stunning orchid and Dracaena marginata ‘Bicolor’ (dragon tree). They were available in a range of sizes which was perfect for me.
The spring bedding plants are in now so I grabbed some beautiful pink primroses for by the front door to brighten the area, whilst I wait for the tete a tete’s to appear.
I love this time of year with every visit to Longacres more plants are coming in each week. The bulbs are arriving daily and even though bulbs were bought in autumn who can resist a couple of pots of spring bulbs that may be a few weeks ahead of those in the garden. Along with those comes the arrival of the 9cm perennial pots that at £1.99 each I’ve yet to see them anywhere cheaper. This is how I’ve built up the stock in my garden over the last 6 years, by buying small cheap plants and bringing them on. It is a very cost effective way to fill a garden.
Now I’m eagerly awaiting the arrival of the summer bulbs which will be in stores over the next few weeks. After seeing some stunning gladioli last summer I’d like to try some of those this year. Oh but didn’t I say something last year about trying to limit the number of different plants in the garden…
