January 2025
Hello Gardening Friends,
As I write to many people from different parts of the world, I am going to mention the weather, a topic so much on every gardener's tongues these days. We have had an unprecedented amount of rain in our region over December and into January, which has changed the nature of our gardening during this time. Usually people are putting watering on, or not at all in places where dry gardens have been established; i.e. ones that need no watering. It has been good for our large trees and also good for the fire risk. As gardeners we handle whatever nature brings us; it is never boring.
In our garden we are still able to move plants successfully, something which I don't do so much when the dryness sets in, and according to which plant it is. This week I am moving a few dahlias to a place where they are kinder on my eye colour-wise. And we are dividing and moving hostas. Some hostas, mainly the larger leaved varieties, have outgrown their current places and are going to do well in their new places where they will help suppress the weeds. As our woodland garden has been expanded there is new room available.
Most of our work over the past month has involved cutting back perennials (so that there will be a second flowering in about March), weeding and pruning. Flowering shrubs and trees are being pruned now and for those who have been to our garden, you will know that we take our pruning to new levels, and have done this for many years. Shrubs and trees are pruned to lift their branches from well above the ground, a lot of thinning out is done, and then an all over aesthetic finish completes the work.
… It is now the third day of February and so I must move on with some photos for you and hope that everyone is getting some settled warm weather.
Photo 1: Angelica gigas looks spectacular just before the flower opens. I will try and remember to send a photo of the open flower next month. Sent by a recent garden visitor S. Amphlet.
Photo 2: Stephanandra tanakae has been growing on the driveway edge for a few years and is now forming a gentle arch of soft foliage. In early summer the shrub is covered in tiny creamy-white flowers. It supposedly will reach about two metres. I do love this plant and rarely see it growing in other gardens.
Photo 3: The miniature rose ‘White Magic’ is another of my favourites. I’ve grown these for many years.
Photo 4: A refreshing summery scene of Rose ‘Adam’, Hydrangea paniculata ‘Kyushu’ and Cornus alternifolia ‘Argentea’. The rose has been there for many years and slowly died so we have planted another one at the other end of the western wall where it will get more sun.
Photo 5: One of my favourite scenes is from my desk in the upstairs study. The main tree in the foreground is Emmenopterys henryi, behind that and over by the garage is the live willow hedge and closer to the garage are holly topiaries, Ilex altaclerensis‘Hendersoni’, which are seedlings from the hollies in the potager. Pin oak trees are to the right and then the rugged shape of the macrocarpa helps to frame something quite special. The changing light in different seasons and at different times of the day always intrigues me, and I find the same thing when I look at sections of my garden. Light is something that I’d like to write a lot more about but can I put it into words?
In the shade house we are building up a small stock of a variety of plants that grow in the garden and these are available for sale when people visit.
Very best wishes to you all,
Margaret
