This time last year I wrote that the weather was stormy with a gusty wind; what a difference a year can make.
On this the third weekend in November, the sun is still shining and the temperatures mild. There were a couple of frosts last month affecting the vegetable garden which is in a frost hollow, but most of the garden is untouched as we enjoy what is likely to be the warmest autumn on record. It is a pleasure to be outside clearing up after the summer and enjoying the last flowers. I normally hate November as it is usually wet and foggy with ever shortening days and little of cheer in the garden. My much loved tender Salvias are giving their best show ever and providing significant colour particularly in the front garden if you peer through our gates. A chrysanthemum with bright pink simple flowers looks magnificent; some of you may have bought divisions of it at the fete this summer. Rudbeckia ‘Prairie Sun’ is providing a fabulous block of colour near the gate and reminds me how late it can continue to flower.
Despite all this cheer it is important to protect tender plants and I have moved most of my pots into the greenhouse for the winter. I am waiting for the Dahlias to blacken with frost before I mulch them with chipped bark in the hope that they survive until next year. This week I emptied my summer pots, despite them still being colourful, and potted up the tender perennials to overwinter saving money next summer. I have refilled the pots with Tulips and Panolas. Panolas are a relatively new hybrid between, as the name suggests, a Pansy and a Viola resulting in plants that overwinter very well and have flowers intermediate in size between the two parents. They give a much more visible show than Violas with a neater flower than Pansies and are, in my opinion, an improvement on both; they are available at one garden centre locally that I know of and if you miss them this autumn you should be able to buy them in early spring. The tulips I buy mail order from a very reliable supplier; it is much cheaper than buying in garden centres and the quality is excellent.
The severe weather of the last two winters is continuing to take its toll on garden plants. I wrote earlier in the year about my Pittosporum having finally shown regrowth in midsummer; this has died back and the plant shows no sign of life. I intend to replace it with a black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra) as I have been impressed with the performance of the plant I already have. It is (so far) non-spreading and wind resistant, giving a rather exotic feel to the garden. Large specimens are very expensive, but it grows relatively quickly so it is more cost effective to purchase a young plant and be patient.
In the vegetable garden I am still picking beautiful raspberries and have only just finished the last of the beans. We recently picked a bowl of strawberries which was a lovely treat. My broad beans are doing well, so far; this is my third attempt at overwintering young plants and this year I will fleece them when the frosts arrive.
I know that harsh winter conditions are not far away and we do need the rain rather badly as the soil is very, very dry which makes bulb planting easy, but is not in anyone’s longer term interests. I think it possible that spring flowers may be less showy than usual as a number of spring flowering plants such as primroses and Irises are flowering now. I have never seen Geranium palmatum flower now; I suspect it will not perform in the spring.
Liz Moyses
CHRISTMAS PARTY Wednesday 14th December
Great Haseley Village Hall 7.30pm. Non-members £5
Robert Jacobs from Waterperry Gardens will be giving an inspirational talk about the design and maintenance of herbaceous borders with particular reference to the famous border at Waterperry.
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