I am beginning to think that we should re-name our Club as there seem to be so many opportunities to socialise and get to know your neighbours! Sometimes these are enforced by circumstances but we take it all in our stride! In fact it adds to the fun! This time the speaker had up-graded to Windows 10 with dire results but Barry, our hero, was on hand to put things right. So – early refreshments meant more time to socialise \u2026\u2026\u2026\u2026. we even had a lovely visitor from Devon to talk to. So, although we are a Gardening Club, do come along and meet your fellow garden-lovers! You might be surprised by the impromptu entertainment.<\/p>\n
Eventually Roger Harvey \u2018took to the stage\u2019. An experienced nurseryman with a clutch of Chelsea Golds he runs a very successful nursery in Great Thurston near Bury St Edmunds – well worth a visit. Check out his website for information on the services offered – from garden design to mail order of some very unusual plants. Today he was talking about \u2018Plants for Woodland and shade\u2019 I will mention a few in this article but look at our newly-vamped website (thank you Nick Wittering) for more details of plants mentioned by Roger.<\/p>\n
For dry shady areas try \u2018Brunnera\u2019 Jack Frost or \u2018Brunnera\u2019 Looking Glass – lovely blue flowers with silver leaves. Another garden favourite is the \u2018Bergenia\u2019 – try B. Overture with its good round glossy red winter foliage and deep magenta flowers from February to May.<\/p>\n
You will be familiar with the \u2018Anemone Nemorosa\u201d – the wood anemone or wind flower. Roger showed us beautiful varieties – A. Parlez Vous with its lilac flowers – good under trees and Vestal with double white flowers in April. The near relation \u2018Anemonella Thalictroides\u2019 is a n attractive semi-double pink form available on-line as I type.<\/p>\n
Another garden favourite is the \u2018epimedium\u2019 – a woodland perennial, tolerant of dry shade – cut the foliage down to ground level in early February to let the flowers through.<\/p>\n
Finally, the ever-popular Solomon\u2019s Seal – Polygonatum – according to Wikipedia”Polygonatum” comes from the ancient Greek for “many knees”, referring to the multiple jointed rhizome. One explanation for the derivation of the common name “Solomon’s seal” is that the roots bear depressions which resemble royal seals. Another is that the cut roots resemble Hebrew characters. Who am I to argue with Wikipedia? Try \u2018Polygonatum Betburg\u201d – a medium growing variety with purple stems as they appear in spring these will gradually fade. White flowers in May – grows to about 30\/40 cm.<\/p>\n
Other plants recommend by Roger are as follows:-<\/p>\n
\u2018Beesia calthifolia\u201d A rare evergreen from mountainous forests in China forming dense clumps of evergreen leaves. Starry white flowers for several months from April. Likes well drained shade. \u2018Disporum longistylum\u2019 – dark foliage with attractive lemon flowers. Hacquetia epipactis – The leaves are edged with a creamy-white margin as are the flower bracts. The flowers are pale golden-yellow – small but numerous in each head. Don\u2019t forget \u2018Iris japonica\u2019, – an evergreen variety is Ledgers variety. Dan Pearson loves the orchid-like blooms! Then there is \u2018Heuchera\u2019 Obsidian, \u2018Lamium Orvala\u2019 – honestly this is a non-invasive nettle with pinkish-purple flowers, \u2018Lathyrus\u2019 Spring Melody, and the lovely scented \u2018Viola odorata\u2019.<\/p>\n
Better still, visit the family run Harveys Garden Plants nursery, Great Green, Thurston, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, IP31 3SJ Say \u201cHello\u2019 to the labradors – Bertie and Dora!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I am beginning to think that we should re-name our Club as there seem to be so many opportunities to socialise and get to know your neighbours! Sometimes these are enforced by circumstances but we take it all in our … Continue reading