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If you are reading this in June, you will have to excuse the Xmas theme. If you are reading it in late December, MERRY CHRISTMAS. |
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Just one tiny section of our Christmas decorations for which I can take no credit whatsoever, it all being undertaken by my wife Christine. |
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Keeping to the Christmas theme for the first plant, Ilex aquifolium complete with traditional red berries. The berries usually go to feed some hungry birds long before Christmas day. This variety is Golden King, obviously a female plant (only the females have berries), unlike Silver Queen that is female. Confused? they must be. Most varieties of Common Holly are good as either specimen plants or as a slow growing hedge, even standing a certain amount of shade although the number of berries will be reduced in that situation. |
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We all tend to get concerned about genetic engineering, and perhaps rightly so when it is taken to extremes, but in many cases all that is being done is speeding what may have occurred naturally. The plant to the left is man made, a cross between Fatsia japonica and Hedera helix. It was, however, produced naturally by cross pollination and carries characteristics from both parents. The leaves are much larger than the Ivy and closer to the shape of the Fatsia, however the habit of growth is sprawling and more like the Ivy. Hardiness is somewhere between the two plants, tougher than the Fatsia but will not stand the winters unprotected that the Ivy can. It provides good architectural form in areas just outside the zones in which Fatsia grows. The name is perfect for a cross between Fatsia and Hedera, being Fatshedera. |
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Acuba japonica has perhaps been somewhat overused in the past, but it does have markings on the leaves not found in any other evergreen shrubs hardy in our winter temperatures. Very easy to grow in a wide range of soils and fairly fast growing after a slow start. A good boundary plant happy in sun or shade and providing a dense windbreak. |
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For silver on green Lamium galeobdolon takes some beating, but it is a very fast coloniser and will soon take over vast areas if not restrained, including climbing up into shrubs and tall perennials. Another drawback is that it is a prodigious seed producer with seedlings appearing for a few years after the parent plant has been eradicated. It does however justify it's inclusion if you have a large semi wild area to fill in a difficult shady situation. Other than in such a site it is best confined to a manageable isolated piece of ground. Yellow flowers are produced in early summer. |
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This pot houses a deciduous fern, but still looks good in winter minus the fern leaves. We gardeners are lucky in that the last few years have seen a tremendous upsurge in the varieties of ornamental pots available to purchase at reasonable prices. Just be aware that the larger ones are heavy when full and are often of a difficult shape for easy handling. I have the bad back to prove it, so please be careful. |
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