1st February, 2012.
Recent weather has been mixed with rainfall near average. There were quite a few frosts, none severe, -5.3°C being the lowest grass temperature. Still windy at times, more trees and branches are down.
Chores for the month. There are fewer leaves to sweep now and drains need less attention. Paths need repairing and there are many fallen trees and branches to deal with. Actinidias and vines will get pruned soon or they will bleed sap.
Trees. There are many mature conifers here but none labelled; it is not easy identifying them though people more knowledgeable than me have helped in the past.
Shrubs. Daphne bholua Jacqueline Postill has pretty, scented flowers just now though the winds have stripped most of the upper leaves. Winter Box, Sarcococca digyna, is very tough and has small, fragrant flowers over a long season. Both of these produce a few suckers, useful for forming small clumps or for planting elsewhere.
Herbaceous. Iris histroides George is flowering well at the moment. Unfortunately, slugs love to chew the flower stalks, causing them to flop. Snowdrops are good as ever and started a month earlier this year than last due to mild weather.
Here are some of my recent photos:-
Left to right and top to bottom are:-
NEW....."The Ardtornish Garden" by Faith Raven includes a short history of the Garden, with photographs of the people who have owned it and of the people who have worked in it and of the plants they grew. It describes the changing colours of the seasons in the Garden and how the work of the gardener has to fit in with the difficulties of the climate. Take a tour of the Garden using the detailed maps and see some of the best view points and the most interesting plantings.
Priced £10 including p&p "The Ardtornish Garden"
This page is updated every month with new details and pictures.
See also