Page 11 - HGS Suburb News 134 - Spring 2018
P. 11
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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