ONE special variety of winter-flowering clematis is Clematis cirrhosa “Wisley Cream”.

It is so special that it has been awarded the prestigious Award of Garden Merit by the UK’s Royal Horticultural Society, an award given to plants judged to have excellent garden qualities.

Its description reads: “Scented cream flowers from mid-winter to early spring. A dark-green glossy leaved vigorous climber ideal for growing over pergolas, arches or around pillars”.

An equally super clematis is Clematis nepaulensis, also known as Clematis forrestii after George Forrest the plant hunter.

Botanist Forrest was a giant amongst plant explorers, bringing no less than 10,000 new plant introductions to the Western world, mainly from China and Nepal, from where Clematis forrestii originated.

With lush, green foliage, bell-shaped, fragrant, cream flowers with red sepals, it flowers from late autumn to the following spring.

It brings honeyeaters to the garden, as they just love its nectar.

Different to most plants, as it has leaves and flowers in winter and is bare in summer, it is ideal for mixing with a climbing rose over an arch or pergola to enjoy clematis flowers in winter and roses in summer.

 

NOW is the time to plant summer flowering bulbs such as Hemerocallis or Day lilies, Iris (bearded or flag varieties), Liliums, Polygonatum or Solomon’s Seal, Polianthes or Tuberosa and Zephyranthes or autumn crocus.

The best place to check for other varieties is your local garden centre. You can assume if they are in stock, it is the right time to plant. The same goes for annuals and veggies.

Most annual flowering plants take about eight weeks from the time you plant until flowering time. For example, pansies planted now will be in full flower by September, providing you have prepared the soil and regularly water and feed these delicate young plants.

Spring is in the air

• Uncover rhizomes [roots] from bearded iris. The top of these should be exposed to be baked by the sun for effective flowering.
• Drain drip irrigation systems before spring.
• Stand newly purchased plants in their original pot in a bucket of Maxicrop Seaweed plant nutrient for 20 minutes before planting.
• When planting new shrubs, fill the hole with water and allow to drain completely before planting.
• Apply Maxicrop Seaweed Plant Nutrient to annuals and veggies on a weakly, weekly basis to get them off to a good start with strong roots, ie: a weak solution once a week.

Friends in seed!

IN 1954, seed company Yates used three child models to pose for an advertising placard to promote home-grown veggies.

The photogenic trio were Mareana Barca and brothers Laurie and Dennis O’Toole.

Last year, the images were used to promote the special edition of “Yates Garden Guide” celebrating the 125th birthday of this iconic brand and on a reproduction seed tin.

Having recognised themselves from this promotion, the three contacted Yates, who brought the 60-something trio together for a celebratory lunch this month. Laurie and Dennis had not had contact with Mareana since the original photos were taken 59 years ago.