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Canberra Today 17°/20° | Friday, March 29, 2024 | Digital Edition | Crossword & Sudoku

Perennials keep keeping on

Pinks are another Old World favourite.
PERENNIALS are some of the hardiest plants in the garden, equally tolerating heat and cold.

They are easy to divide and provide an endless supply of plants to fill the gaps in the garden. And they provide a source of plants for the school or church fete. Many originate in the Mediterranean region, demonstrating their suitability for our climate here. Perennials include herbs that have been grown for medicinal as well as ornamental uses from time immemorial. An indication is the numerous perennials listed in Shakespeare’s plays.

Three perennials illustrated here are in flower in our garden. Firstly, Columbines (Aquilegia), of which this delightful perennial self-seeds so readily. Aquilegia is from the Latin aquila, for eagle, due to the petals resembling an eagle’s claws. However, the common name of Columbine is from the Latin columba, meaning dove.

Granny’s Bonnets have been grown in gardens since Shakespeare’s time.
Columbines are great for attracting butterflies into the garden. In Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” Ophelia hands out columbines after her father’s death along with other perennials.

Dianthus include Sweet Williams (Dianthus barbatus), carnations and pinks. These were listed in the Englishman John Gerard’s plant catalogue of 1596. D. barbatus were included in Kate Middleton’s bridal bouquet in tribute to her groom, Prince William. This variety of Dianthus is a biennial that is planted one year and flowers the next.

Both carnations and pinks are perennial and will multiply and spread, lasting many years. One of the best known is the large range of Allwoodii Dianthus, bred by Allwood’s Nursery in the UK.

Started by three brothers in 1910, they crossed the original garden pink referred to as Old Fringed with the perpetual flowering carnation.
The Royal Horticultural Society’s Scientific Committee named these new pinks officially as “Allwoodii” pinks, blooming from spring right through summer. All are highly fragrant.

By 1912 Allwood was winning gold medals at the Chelsea Flower Show. PGA Nursery, of Victoria, has introduced a range of stunning new varieties this year. I noticed they have recently arrived at the Heritage Nursery in Yarralumla, including Dianthus “Passion”, D.

“Candyfloss”, D. “Slap ‘N Tickle”, D. “Sugar Plum”, D. “Rosebud” and D. “Cherry Sundae”. Planting each variety in groups of three, five or seven will be a real conversation stopper.

How can you have a garden without Chives?
TO continue the theme of soft, pastel colours, I have planted Chives (Allium schoenoprasum) in bold groups.

Chives are native to the cool regions of Europe and once again have been cultivated for hundreds of years.

Primarily a culinary herb, although not quite as strong as its cousin the onion. Chives also make a great border or edging plant. I have seen them planted as a border around rose gardens in the UK or bordering a path.

The purple flower globes are just coming into full flower in our garden. They can look most effective as a backdrop to dianthus with the fleshy leaves making a distinctive contrast to the rather severe silver-grey dianthus leaves.

For a more comprehensive list of perennials to plant by season, click on Cedfacts “Perennials for Year Round Colour” at www.cedricbryant.com

THE Horticultural Society’s Rhododendron and Azalea Show will be held at the Wesley Church Centre, National Circuit, Forrest, from noon (after judging) to 5pm, on Saturday, October 29, and 11.30am-4pm on Sunday, October 30. In the afternoon Heather Pryor, of Iris Haven, will conduct a workshop on growing and showing. Plus there’s the usual huge plant stall. It’s a show not to be missed.

[box]Time to get out in the garden

THE weather is at last warming up, no excuse not to get into the garden.

The snails are on the move. Multiguard Snail Bait is the animal-friendly one that does not kill blue tongue lizards.

The aphids are in plague proportions this year. I recommend a 100 per cent organic spray such as MultiCrop BugGuard.

Sow spinach, dill, rocket, coriander and parsley seeds directly into the garden.

Get your lawn back into shape with Multicrop’s 3-Way Lawn Rejuvenator. This feeds and thickens lawns, promotes root growth and improves water penetration. It is enriched with seaweed, humus and gypsum.[/box]

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Cedric Bryant

Cedric Bryant

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