Who would have thought it – the sun is out and has been for three days, not a cloud in the sky nor a breath of wind. Glorious! Personally I would be happy if it stayed like this for the next five months with a twice weekly rain, overnight and gentle, clearing before morning. “In my dreams” is the expression that comes to mind. Nevertheless, the sun is well and truly warming the soil, and time to get planting all those seeds you scoured the catalogues for over those dreary winter evenings.
Everything that has survived the winter is growing at such a rate, but understandably this winter, there were casualties. I have noticed that things we had begun to think were perhaps hardy enough to ‘take a punt on’ over the last decade or so have been severely tested. Locally, passion flowers seemed historically to be sound, however all the ones I know have either given up or are making a very reluctant and sulky first appearance. Perhaps now is the time to replace it with a fragrant jasmine that seems just a little bit more willing to make an annual reappearance?
Also sadly, I have noticed that many of the toe-curlingly expensive olive trees that have been purchased over the last few years, are looking somewhat undecided as to whether they will or will not rustle up some energy from somewhere. Despite all the good husbandry of covering with fleece, removing the snow from the laden branches and moving against a house wall, I think it was one cold spell too hard over the winter for them. Maybe we should take time to look back to the less exotic species we have begun to accept as the norm and revisit those that we know are hardy and tolerant of our alkaline soil?
Viburnum calesiiViburnums do SO well round here, irrespective of hard winters, so I think every garden should have one. My v. carlesii is shouting at the top of it’s fragrant voice and there certainly is no escaping its heady aroma on my patio and beside the drive. My daphne odora Aureomarginata however is looking distinctly unwell.
Of the herbaceous plants that seem to be less than happy, I think the worst I have seen is the agapanthus. They have rotted away, leaving a brown sludgy pulp and I think most will disappear even if they are showing a tinge of a green leaf. Perhaps I will give them another go though as they add such a punch to pots or borders in mid Summer.
The alliums on the other hand with their earlier flowering but just as dramatic effect, are soaring away and look set to make a real show.
There is just about enough time (if you are speedy) to finish splitting herbaceous plants that have outgrown their space or need a bit of revitalising. Plants that have already made a lot of top growth (generally the ones that flower earlier) will not do well now so leave them alone and concentrate on the later flowering day lilies or michaelmas daisies. Whichever ones you move though, make sure they are watered copiously through this hot and dry spell until the inevitable damp returns!
Also, it’s not too late to buy summer flowering bulbs to extend the flowering season in your garden. Last year I bought some whopping lilium regale bulbs from Chelsea Flower Show and planted them the first week in June! They put on an amazing display albeit later than usual and are pushing their emerging pink heads through this year eagerly.
Keep an eye out for the infernal lily beetle though. Those little menaces love the lilies and their larvae will decimate the leaves leaving a revolting black sludge over them and introducing all manner of possible disease into the plant, eventually destroying it. Best way to get rid of them? Well, I’m not very kind to lily beetles and prefer to squash them between my fingers before they scuttle away. No nice way really, but at least that one is quick.