LandScape
Kari-Astri Davies considers the year’s highs and lows; posies for the Christmas table; and a practical suggestion for Santa
ON THE SHORTEST day, as I close up the chicken house, rooks are calling; relaying the day’s news on their homeward journeys. The cold snap last December did not presage a good start to the new gardening year. Here, in Wiltshire, on the northern edge of Salisbury Plain, the temperature went down to –10°C for a couple of nights. There was a feeling of melancholy as spring advanced, and I began to look for signs of life in various parts of the garden.
In the main border, small semi-evergreen tree Hoheria sexstylosa ‘Stardust’ succumbed. Of the three acacias in the unheated greenhouse, only Acacia pravissima survived. A mature hebe, ‘Midsummer Beauty’, has left an empty space. Pittosporum tobira dropped its leaves and expired. It has been replaced with Pittosporum heterophyllum, which is said to be slightly hardier.
As might be expected, plants in pots were vulnerable. Five agapanthus died, while those in the ground survived.
On the positive side, plants I thought wouldn’t make it came up, including Acanthus sennii, Cestrum parqui, Amicia zygomeris, and climber Dregea sinensis.
In summer, a proliferation of moles was an issue. By late June, when it was getting very dry, worms, attracted by spot-watering, concentrated the moles. Their tunnelling encircled newly planted and some established plants, limiting the ability of the plants to access water. A couple of roses, and other plants, collapsed and died.
Sweet peas were a delight. I grew old grandiflora cultivars. Although they have smallish flowers and short stems, they were prolific, and the scent was gorgeous. For sheer flower power, Campanula lactiflora 'Marchants Nimbus' stood out. In part-shade, the slightly translucent, white petals give the flowers a soft grey appearance. Tall, billowing sprays of flowers went on for weeks, and lasted well in a vase too.
Festive flowers
My mother and I used to dress the table for Christmas dinner with winter posies picked from my parents’ garden. Candles in various glass and silver holders nestled among the posies, casting a gentle light. Time has moved on, and our Christmas routines have changed, but, this year, I am going to make sure there is something from the winter garden to admire on our own table.
