How I wish the rain would go away! Tom Pattinson
Short hours of daylight and regular rainfall have conspired to hinder gardening activities of late and we’re not impressed! However, in between showers we’ve been out as usual because the medium to light sandy soil drains well. The tubers on many of the dahlias planted in our borders never see the light of day. They’ve proven frost-hardy over the years and are well below the surface so are left. However, we’ve lifted some for propagation purposes. They were cleaned, washed, dried off and are safely stored until when, boxed up in spent potting compost and given modest warmth, they offer stem cuttings. Outdoor chrysanthemum stools
are also ready for digging up once the
rain stops, and they go straight into boxes of compost that stand on the greenhouse bench. As shoots emerge cuttings are rooted in batches. The most severe frost so far has been -2C but no damage to report, and we’re prepared for much lower. There are plenty of berries for the birds and, thank goodness, the winter greens are tough. Shrubs currently giving the garden more than a sparkle of interest include two dogwoods, the yellow-green and
crimson stems of cornus ‘Flaviramea’ and ‘Sibirica’ respectively. The large, red panicles of skimmia ‘Rubella’ buds and leaves of pittosporum ‘Garnettii’ (grey-green with white margin) are also catching the eye. Judy has completed the winter planting of containers next to the house entrance and also potted on Helleborus niger and Laurus nobilis.
Dome-topped propagating trays filled with rooted leaf cuttings of streptocarpus were transferred from greenhouse to conservatory a few weeks ago. They stand alongside their parent plants and
are a collection whose survival depends on daily inspection!