“Into each life a little rain must fall”is a quote from the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. This is particularly appropriate for gardeners. It cannot always be balmy days and summer roses. The exultations of spring are brief and the freworks of autumn fleeting. There have to be struggles and there have to be downs, so that we can properly appreciate the ups. February, to be honest, is a bit of a rubbish month for the most part. It is cold, dank, dreary and disheartening, but there are always little sparkles of hope around the corner: here are a few of them…
WORDS JAMES ALEXANDER-SINCLAIR
STAR OF THE MONTHSalix gracilistyla ‘Mount Aso’
I bought one of these last spring as I had admired the little pink tipped catkins in someone else’s garden. “Ah ha”, thought I, “I’ll have some of that”. It arrived in a box looking a little sorry for itself (as most plants bought in winter tend to do), but with minimal intervention on my part it has shouldered its way through summer and is poised for action. As I write this I can see it from my desk, while the catkins turn from quite a stern grey to jelly bean red – unusual and defnitely one to liven up a dreary Wednesday.
Likes sunshine. Easy to strike from cuttings all through the summer. Careful when pruning lest you lose the catkins. Height x Spread 3m x 2.5m
SILVER LININGS
Such a good name, fuscotinctus. Possibly not for a child or a kitten, but perfect for a zippy little bulb. It means tawny coloured, which is a really good way to describe the brown stripes on the outside of each petal. The crocus are only with us for a very short time, although it is a plant that can transform a grey winter day into something from which hope springs.
Crocus chrysanthus fuscotinctus
Plant bulbs in autumn pretty much everywhere. Good in containers, borders or naturalised in lawns. Watch out for mice!
H x S10cm x 5cm
ONE FOR THE COLLECTION
I have mixed feelings about heucheras.
I know that some people adore them and collect all the various limes and caramels, but I remain mostly unmoved.
However, there are a couple of varieties which I like and which enhance a planting scheme – especially in a container. It is one of the best flowers in summer, but looks good for much of the year.
Heuchera villosa ‘Palace Purple’
To keep them healthy, make sure that the soil d
