Friday 10th January 2014

First group of the new year - lovely to see everyone and to get going again with our Friday gardening activities. The garden had survived the bad weather quite well and the sun even came out for us. We discussed winter flowering plants as these can often be very fragrant and looked at some plants that are flowering in the garden now:

Lonicera fragrantissima (winter flowering honeysuckle) - this is a deciduous bushy shrub that grows to 2m with ovate leaves and cream very fragrant flowers in winter and early spring followed by red berries. It grows in well drained soil in full sun or part shade.

Viburnum x bodnantense 'Dawn'. This strong-growing upright shrub can reach 3m  in height. The small clusters of heavily scented flowers fade from pink to white and are most abundantly produced during milder periods. It is is a deciduous shrub with burnished bronze foliage in autumn and flowers on bare stems. A sunny site is best although it will tolerate some shade.

Sarcococca confusa (Christmas or sweet box) One of the best shade tolerant shrubs for planting under trees and in similar situations. Sarcococca species originate in China and the Himalayas and are related to the common box, buxus. They are slow-growing plants that spread by suckering shoots gradually forming low-growing mounds of evergreen foliage. The dark green leaves are slightly rippled and the small flowers produce a rich scent. They are hardy and can be grown in containers.

Helleborus argutifolius This is a hardy evergreen perennial with stout stems and bushy growth- the green flowers appear in winter and remain on the plant for a long time. They can grow to 75cm. This hellebore can be grown in full sun as well as partial shade.

Activities in the garden this week:

• Sorting out seeds in preparation for Seedy Sunday on 2nd Feb
• planting up primroses in containers in side passage so they can grow alongside emerging crocuses
• checking dahlia tubers in the greenhouse - it is important to ensure that they are not going mouldy as they may infect other tubers
• checking other plants, seedlings in greenhouse
• pruning back roses - shrub roses can be pruned  to avoid damage by heavy winds 
• cutting back plants by the pond
• pruning gooseberries and currant bushes
• planting primulas, cyclamen and primroses in containers round the garden room