Top ten list of garden plants

  • Abutilons of all kinds
  • Buddlejas old and new
  • Epiphytic orchids and ferns
  • Gordonia species
  • Heliotrope, Lemon verbena, Fennel and herbs
  • Michelias of all sorts
  • Perennial Salvias large and small
  • Species Camellias
  • Tea and China Roses
  • Weigela of all types

Montville Rose

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Gardening up to Christmas

picture: Clerodendrum bungeii

Summer this year seems to be like 2010 with cooler cloudy days , showers or rain and ideal growing conditions for the garden. The damp soil is ideal for weed growth such as the tropical chick weed, but also ideal for pulling them out.
All of our juvenile heritage roses are doubling in size (with only one or two casualties). Newly acquired Salvias such as 'indigo Spires', 'Megans Magic' and several unnamed Salvia microphylla cultivars are growing well.
A bit of insect protection has meant that our various Hibiscus syriacus, Hibiscus mutabilis and Hibiscus insularis cultivars are flowering and look much better than last year.
Kyleigh has estabilshed healthy cuttings specimens of all manner of perennials to sell at our Open garden in Easter 2012 or to offer to Bus trip visitors in the new year. Some of the cuttings such as Ruscus, Hypericum and Iochroma warscewiczii we will keep for ourselves.
Even tough our days are sometmes quite dark and cloudy it is still quite relaxing to sit in the garden, listening to the birds. Oh! just remembered we saw a Richmond Bird Wing Butterfly head through the garden the other day.
New Cordyllines added today, along with replacements for our Salvia discolor . Cuttings of old roses 'La Marne' and 'Peace 1902' also planred out in south rose garden.
We hope Christmas is a fine day for all of us
Michael Simpson