Page 11 - HGS Suburb News 134 - Spring 2018
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Ringing the changes
























                                        Pulmonaria Diana Claire                              Erysimum Sweet Sorbet                            Pulmonaria Trevi Fountain
         The urge to get outside into the  have until the end of May to  If you must have lavender then  giant salvias are semi-tender  and worn. Now, you can chop out  or something entirely different,
         garden is very strong at this time  redeem themselves. For myself, I  plant it in a pot in a sunny aspect,  and too cumbersome to lift for  their elongated central crowns  such as a small evergreen dwarf
         of year. You can almost hear the  like to hedge my bets by digging  and opt for a more suitable  overwintering, so I am prepared  and hope that this encourages  hebe; Silver Dollar or Purple Pixie
         plants growing in the borders.  up and potting on any doubtfuls.  alternative for the border such  to put in the extra effort to keep  regeneration, or you can bin  are just two examples with grey
         Every day reveals something new  That way you still have the  as nepeta Walkers Low (catmint)  them going.   them and buy new varieties.   leaves and purple flowers.
         and exciting – instant gratification!  option of replanting if they  or Prostanthera cuneate (Alpine   I take cuttings in the autumn   At this time of year, garden   Go on, I urge you to have a go:
         This is the ideal time to make  recover whilst freeing up space  mint bush).   as insurance against loss, leaving  centres sell young plants in 4" pots  “A change is as good as a rest!”
         adjustments by enhancing your  to replace with new additions.   And  then there  are hostas.  the parent plant in the ground,  at around £4.99, which fill out   CAROLINE BROOME
         existing displays with new and   Take advantage of the  Hostas in borders are not for  top growth intact, with a thick  quickly and often establish better
         exciting alternatives.   numerous  local  and  regional  the faint hearted. Pulmonarias  protective ring of mulch. In  than more mature specimens at
           We are creatures of habit,  spring plant fairs to revitalise  and brunneras, whose marbled  milder winters it’s worked, this  upwards of £14.99.
         often more comfortable sticking  your planting schemes and  and veined silvery grey leaves  year not so well. That’s the thing   Fancy trying something new
         to the tried and tested and  don’t be afraid to ask the  and long-lasting spring flowers,  about gardening – no two years  but with similar habits? Then opt
         perhaps not confident enough  nursery folk about suitability  make far superior substitutes, with  are ever the same. And instead  for francoa and tellima grandiflora,
         to try out new ideas. I know  for local conditions, such as  new varieties being introduced  of mourning the loss of a beloved  whose mound forming foliage
         that I can worry over an ailing  semi-shade and clay soil.   all the time.   plant try and see it as an  is topped with sprays of tiny
         plant for a whole season before   We are all guilty of hope   If you know that semi-hardy  opportunity to try something else.  flowers on tall, upright stems.
         changing it, and once replaced,  over experience. Lavender never  agastache returns as a mere   Some plants can be more   The all-time  Good Doer
         I don’t even miss it. Subtle  seems to live up to expectations.  shadow of its former self or  trouble than they are worth. I  erysimum  Bowles  Mauve,
         changes can be very effective  Considering its natural habitat  penstemons put on new growth  love heucheras for their seemingly   perennial wallflower, is another
         without altering the overall  is the thin stony soil of the  only to wither at the first sign  limitless range of colours, their  favourite but again, short life
         theme of your borders.   Mediterranean it’s not surprising  of a late frost, why persevere?  evergreen foliage and surprisingly  span. After a couple of years it
           By now everything should be  it sulks in our heavy clay soil.  Be ruthless! If you simply Must  decorative flowers, but their neat  gets leggy and so we dig it up
         showing signs of new growth,  The bushy fragrant shrub of last  Have them then treat them as  habit  tends  to  be  short  lived.  and replace it – with exactly the
         even shrubby salvias and hardy  summer inevitably degenerates  annuals. Of course, there are  Heucheras remind me of cabbages  same thing. Why? Because there’s
         fuchsias. To those of you who  into a brittle leggy specimen  exceptions to every rule: whilst  run to seed; after a year or two  always been one there probably.
         have the patience to wait and  with wispy stems and sparse  small shrubby salvias are readily  their crowns protrude whilst   Why not replace it with a
         see, I say there is no hurry, they  flowers by the following spring.  available and generally hardy,  surrounding leaves become sparse  newer variety like Sweet Sorbet   Semi tender Salvia Confertiflora
         THE GARDEN GIRL • 79 CHURCH LANE, EAST FINCHLEY, LONDON N2 0TH • M: 07757 016287 T: 020 8444 2329 EMAIL: CAROLINE@THEGARDENGIRLS.BIZ • LONDON GARDENS SOCIETY: BEST SMALL BACK GARDEN 2017 & 2018


                                                          Horticultural Society News

      This spring, the Hampstead Garden                                               on Sunday June 17; 74 Willifield   always looking for people who   it our best one yet. If you’d be
      Suburb Horticultural Society has                                                Way on Sunday June 24 and both   would be interested in taking on   interested in taking on a role on
      a calendar packed full of events                                                18 Dorchester Gardens and 121   roles in the committee. Our society   the committee or helping out in
      for you and your family to enjoy.                                               Erskine Hill on Sunday July 1.  survives by the commitment of   any way, please contact the society
         On Saturday May 12 from                                                      All of the gardens are open from   its members and next year, being   at HGSHortsoc@mail.com.
      10.30-12, at Fellowship House,                                                  2-6pm and entry to each is £4,  our 110th, we are looking to make   JAMES ROBBINS
      we have the ever popular annual                                                 which will go to the charities
      plant sale. There will be discounted                                            supported by the National Garden
      annual plants for your summer                                                   Scheme. For more details go to
      displays, perennials for your                                                   www.ngs.org.uk.
      borders and vegetable and herb                                                     We are always keen to accept
      seedlings for your allotment or                                                 new members in to our growing
      garden plot.  Bring  your  own                                                  community. If you are interested
      bags if possible.                                                               in joining the society contact
         On Saturday June 16, from                                                    our membership secretary at
      3-5pm, at the Free Church Hall we                                               membership@hortsoc.co.uk.
      will be holding the 286th Flower   Summer Flower Show 2017                      Members get free entry to talks
      Show including our inaugural   done. Our June show is renowned   If you are looking for a bit of   and shows as well as a 10%
      ‘potato in a bag’ competition. We   for the impressive displays of roses,  inspiration for your own garden,  discount on plants at local garden
      were astonished by the number   soft fruit and spring flowers on   several of our members will be   centres including Moyses Stevens
      of contestants who collected their   show. There will be a raffle, and   opening their gardens for charity   in Temple Fortune Lane, Finchley
      potatoes and grow bags this spring,  some of the best tea and cake the   over the next few weeks. 48   Nurseries in Mill Hill and for
      so we can’t wait to see how our   Suburb has to offer. Members   Erskine Hill will be open on   gardening products at Shutlers   Open Garden Marjorie & David Harris 2017
      green-fingered contestants have   free, non-members £2.  Sunday June 3; 18 Park Crescent   in Bridge Lane, NW11. We are

                                           Suburb rainfall

      Spring seems to have lost its way   though there was still a shortage   October is normally the wettest   on average, are the next wettest
      this year. In January’s report it was   in February and the six winter   month of the year, followed by   months and so it is nice to think   GETTING YOU BETTER FASTER
      suggested that the real winter   months as a whole were much   January. This October, at 0.64   we may be coming up to the
      weather was still to come and it   drier than usual. There was snow   inches was the second driest since   drier, as well as the warmer, part    SPORTS INJURIES  BACK & NECK PAIN
      was certainly much colder than   at the end of February and again   these records began. However,  of the year. Hyacinths, daffodils,
      average in February and March.  in mid March. However, it did not   October has also, in the past, been   primroses, and other spring    PILATES  REHABILITATION
      The rainfall which was needed   really cause much disruption here   the month with the highest   flowers are brightening the    MUSCULOSKELETAL ACUPUNCTURE
      to refill  the soil’s  groundwater   and the threatened slippery pave-  rainfall, at 7.44 inches. November   gardens in the usual splendour.
      obliged  in  January  and  March,  ments never really materialised.  and December, at 3.1 and 2.72   DIANA IWI FROM MEADWAY   RECOGNISED BY INSURANCE COMPANIES
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      SUBURB NEWS IS PRODUCED AND DELIVERED TO YOU BY RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION VOLUNTEERS                                                                            11
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