I’ve no doubt many of us are feeling the loss of precious buds this week as temperatures dipped unseasonably below freezing. It’s that funny time of year that keeps us gardeners on our toes, but how dull would it be if our climate were ploddingly predictable?
The British climate can seem cruel at times but is, on balance, benign. It allows us to grow such a huge range of plants. I’d trade the odd lost bud for that versatility of climate any day.
Magnolia decimated
My magnolia soulangeana is still quite a small specimen and is lacking the venerable shapes that come with age. However, it was smothered in fat pinky white buds last week. I couldn’t wait to see it in full bloom but temperatures of -3 overnight on Tuesday turned them all to brown mush. There’s always next year…
Here’s a view of it from the house. You can see the orchard on the level below the yew hedge and over to the rolling hills beyond.
Weird wisteria goings on
Wisteria buds, which were fattening slowly, have also been frost affected but the pattern of damage is puzzling. The bud at the top in this picture is failing – it is limp and soft. However, the bud below is still firm and has a glossy sheen. Why is one seemingly alright whereas the other is soon to drop to the floor?
I thought it might be an orientation thing until I found the two buds in the picture above, side by side, one still fine and one a gonner. Is it maybe a size thing with the slightly fatter buds better able to withstand the frost? Or is this not frost damage at all and just a normal level of bud failure that I haven’t noticed before?
Pulsatilla vulgaris
Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Pinwheel Violet’
Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Rubra’
Whilst I regret the frost damage, many more plants have shrugged off the cold. Looking fabulous this week are the pulsatillas in the rock garden. These add splashes of colour worthy of an artist’s paintbox. Both those pictured are varieties which are very robust and garden worthy.
Dwarf bearded Iris
These came to my possession via my local Alpine Garden Society group who had a competition for their show two years ago. It didn’t do at all well for me in a pot for the competition but set free in the rockery it’s covered in fat buds. They are a lovely rich purple colour and surprisingly popular with bees. Sadly I can’t find a record of its name.
Pond clean
This week I repotted the marginals around the outside of my pond and then I donned some new waders to clean out dead leaves and crud. I also checked the potted waterlilies, which look fine and are starting to sprout.
I put the pond muck on a tarpaulin to one side so that little beasties could crawl back into the water. It was alive with dragonfly larvae. Despite the outfit, I still got wet. The pond is so deep that reaching to the bottom flooded the gloves and my lovely wooly jumper got soggy.
Frogs continue to snub the pond despite the wonderful froggy staircase I built for them to climb in and out. Maybe next year…
The pond last summer.
A groaning greenhouse
I’m sure any readers with a greenhouse are experiencing a glasshouse crush in which plants cannot practice social distancing. I’ve usually moved many more plants into the cold frames by now, and indeed many of the larger frost tender plants have been dragged out by now too.
Epiphyllum cuttings
It hasn’t stopped me receiving new plants though, as many plants ordered in the depths of winter have started to arrive. This week, some nice new Eucomis specimens and Hedychiums arrived from Avon bulbs. I’d forgotten I’d ordered them.
Also arriving this week were some lovely new Epiphyllum cuttings bought on Ebay. These are flowering cacti that I’m keen to grow more of and yet I couldn’t find many suppliers with stock.
I stumbled across a seller on Ebay with great reviews and bid successfully for three of them – one pink, one yellow and one orange. They came with very good cultivation notes, were safely packaged and are in great condition.
I was always wary of buying plants on Ebay but through my snowdrop sales research I have realised that many sellers are simply excellent amateur growers or micro nurseries. They’re cottage industries using the auction site to great effect.
These cuttings won’t flower this year of course but maybe next year. For those unfamiliar with Epiphyllums, here are some photographs of another in my collection from last year.
Epiphyllum crenatum
Epiphyllum crenatum
This seasonal diary is part of a weekly link-up of garden bloggers from around the world, called Six on Saturday. For more information and links to other blogs crammed with gardening activity, check the blog of host The Propagator.
Space is always such an issue at this time of year – also, moving things around to protect them from the frost etc.!
The Pulsatillas are lovely – I only have the one, but I might have to expand the collection!
Hi Andrew, we’re all struggling a bit with space aren’t we? I’m sure a few of the things I keep in the greenhouse may fair OK outside but when I plant is loved or expensive it seems daft to take the risk. Having said that, I watched a zoom talk about Tresco last night and they take the attitude that a plant should sink or swim. Oh for that climate though – the things we could grow!
Wonderful epiphyllum flower !! And I also really like the 2 colours of your pulsatillas.
Regarding wisteria, mine was also hit by frost. Buds that drop down are blasted, and those that are still up will bloom. I had the experience last year, there isn’t much to do. Cutting them is useless but there will be more to come. 80% of my wisteria has been burnt …and the hydrangeas too ( less, fortunately )
Oh Fred – I haven’t checked my hydrangeas! Dare I do it? I’m hopeful for some wisteria blooms at least…
I don’t think I’d appreciated how deep your pond was until seeing you stood in it! It looked very pretty last summer. Love the Pulsatilla vulgaris ‘Rubra’ – I may have to find room for one.
Thank you for sharing a wider view of your garden – it’s nice to catch a glimpse of the layout and wider landscape. The mystery of the wisteria buds is one I am afraid I lack the knowledge to solve, but I am heartened to hear that many of your buds survived the low temperatures. I love all sorts of hanging cactus. Have you explored the rhipsalises? Your pond is a lovely shape and size. Did you build it yourself?
It’s so sad about your magnolia. Ours were ruined overnight too.
Gosh your pond is deep. Your hard work is worth it though, as the photo of the pond last year shows.
The Pulsatilla you show are beautiful – such fabulous colours.
The Epiphyllum are so unusual looking. I can see why you wanted to try growing some more.
That little iris must be a really addition to your rockery. Its blooms are such a dark rich colour. Reckon you need a wet suit and mark and snorkle to clear out that pond without getting too wet?
Sorry to hear about your frost damaged buds, but you have the right attitude, the plants will live to flower another day (or year). Here we actually had snow that settled for a day, not frost, which I think was less damaging to buds, though I heard that in France the growers are seriously concerned. Pulsatillas are so lovely. Never seen Epiphyllum before, what a striking flower. Wonderful news re the dragonfly larvae you found in the pond, why do you think the frogs are not visiting?
Hi Sel, I hope the frogs just haven’t wondered in yet. Few of my neighbours have ponds and if I think about it I’ve only ever seen toads in the garden before. However, I did see newts last year so maybe they’ll be pond-bound soon. It’s not a great design for a wildlife pond as it has steep sides – hence the froggy staircase to help them a bit.
Have just discovered this lovely website….😊 thanks for sharing… I have my first magnolia in a pot this year, it has 3 big buds about to open so have been getting it in to kitchen every night to save them from frost😂….Also having had a large lovely rural pond at a previous address that never attracted frogs we were told that the dragonfly larva will eat all tadpoles, so even though we put frog spawn in we never saw a frog,sadly….on the other hand a plethora of beautiful dragon & damsel flies!
Hi Ginny – thanks so much – it’s lovely to have feedback like yours. I had wondered about the dragonfly larvae and what they eat. I love to see them flying around in the summer so I’ll maybe trade the frogspawn for the dragons!