April 2005

May 20, 2006

April 2005


Echium candicans general view of flowers	Echium candicans detail of flowers	Fritillaria meleagris group	Drimys lanceolata detail of flowers	**Synthyris missurica var. stellata**

**Cardamine trifolia with leaves of Mukdenia rossii**	*Mukdenia rossii*	Pieris japonica 'Little Heath'	*Arisarum proboscideum*	*Stachyurus praecox*
The Narcissi are almost over, events are happening so quickly, almost everyday new flowers come out or leaves are unfurling from their winter slumbers. The Camellias are at their best, Camellia x williamsii ‘Mary Phoebe Taylor’ is spectacular as is Camellia ‘Leonard Messel’ (reticulata x williamsii). More subtle are Camellia ‘Cornish Snow’ (cuspidata x saluenensis) and Camellia ‘Cornish Pink’. Camellia japonica 'Temple Incense' has a delicate scent as the varietal name implies. Illicium simonsii BWJ8024 is an amazing plant and if it turns out to be easy to grow will become a very good garden plant indeed. It has foliage rather similar to Drimys lanceolata, you could easily mistake it for this and is supposed top grow to a similar size. The scent of the flowers have a mild lemony tang, wonderful. This is an excellent introduction from Crug. Another excellent introduction is Corydalis 'Kingfisher', a hybrid of Corydalis cashmiriana crossed with C. flexuosa, from the Levers of Aberconwy Nursery (see links). The colour of the flowers rival that of Corydalis cashmiriana, but with the ease of growth of Corydalis flexuosa. Metasequoia glyptostroboides is just throwing its leaves together with all of the Acers. This is a magical time of the year as there are new growths everywhere, it is as if you are meeting old friends as they come out of their winter slumbers. Some Hostas are unfurling their leaves, some are still almost dormant. Clematis alpina scrambles through the Corylopsis pauciflora and Pinus aristata. Ceanothus arboreus 'Trewithen Blue' is at it's best as is Drimys lanceolata. Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' is just starting its flowering period. All the Erythronium species and varieties are fully out. 7th April - a pity as we are suffering another cold snap (8°C), snow on the mountains down to 1000 feet. What is amazing, is that bumble bees are working the Echium and the Lamium galeobdolon with great vigour with temperatures down to 4°C. The blue tits have gone back to feeding on the peanuts, having almost stopped visiting the feeding stations.

Corydalis 'Kingfisher'	Corydalis solida subsp. solida 'George Baker'	Anemonella thalictroides pink form	Lamium galeobdolon subsp. montanum 'Florentinum'	Illicium simonsii BWJ8024

Camellia japonica 'Temple Incense'	Camellia japonica 'Lavinia Maggi'	Camellia x williamsii 'Mary Phoebe Taylor'	Camellia x williamsii 'Water Lily'	*Rhododendron racemosum*

**Clematis alpina scrambling through Corylopsis pauciflora**	**Clematis alpina scrambling through Pinus aristata**	Podophyllum peltatum unfurling	Solanum crispum 'Glasnevin' April 05	Erythronium 'Pagoda' April 05

Acer japonicum 'Aconitifolium' April 05	Tetrapanax papyrifera 'Empress' April 05	Fritillaria meleagris detail	Rhododendron 'Elizabeth' April 05	Rhododendron 'Chink' April 05

Echium candicans - bee working flowers	Pieris japonica 'Little Heath'	*Variegated Oxalis acetosella* still around**	Rhododendron pseudochrysanthum at its best	Rhododendron kongboense April 2005
19th April - yesterday poured rain with a large flood in the River Dwyfor, even though with this intense rain the springs on the side are still only a trickle. 22nd April - suddenly the garden seems to have really awoken from its winter slumbers. Everywhere one looks, plants are throwing their buds or putting new growth. The Acer palmatum seedlings have broken bud and from a distance it seems like a brown/green haze, a wonderful sight. The Pieris has produced those intense, glowing poinsettia red new leaves. The Myosotidium hortensia has shown its first intense blue flower, one of many hopefully! The variegated Oxalis acetosella is still around, pieces have been selected and are being grown on - we shall see if it is a permanent feature. Of the ferns in the garden, two are really noteworthy, Woodwardia unigemmata and Polystichum aff. neolobatum. The Woodwardia has wonderfully red coloured unfurling fronds and you can understand why the Queen's attention was taken by this on Rickards stand at the Chelsea Flower Show a few years back! The Polystichum aff. neolobatum has spectacular crosiers as the fronds unfurl. One major problem is slug damage. A collection of Aconitum species was bought to add colour later on, only stalks are left! The Iris confusa is always plagued by such damage as well. Even a plant of Hydrangea involucrata has had its leaves torn to shreds - so much for organic gardening. The only way to avoid this problem is very obvious - grow plants slugs do not attack! It would be handy to have a list of such plants instead of finding out the expensive way! One has had to relent and put slug pellets, thinly scattered. The results explain why so many plants have been shredded. The surface of the soil in places looks like the killing fields, dozens of small quarter inch slugs, everywhere, incredible! At long last the swallows have arrived - late this year (24th April). At least one can be positive about one thing, it is ideal planting conditions. With all the showers we have been having the soil has not dried out and has allowed the planting of various Digitalis species and varieties as well as ferns and Hellebore seedlings.

'Gardens are the most forgiving areas of life. Relationships cannot be transplanted, intertwined or cut down with the confidence they will sprout again' - Mirabel Osler