We’re all inside staying warm and waiting for spring to come!
Many of us gardeners are already thinking of things to grow this year, perhaps ordering bulbs, seeds or you may have already started growing.
I love this time of year and I have always been in love with bulbs. There is literally a bulb for every time of year.
You may have seen my posts regarding snowdrops, but they continue to surprise me!
I have been called a plant snob on more than one occasion, I fear this is due to my limited space and have to be more selective on plants I choose to grow.
I can’t remember a time in my life when I didn’t know what a snowdrop is.
There is a joy seeing snowdrops emerge, they give you a sense that spring and warmth is coming. But did you know there are snowdrops that start to grow even before December?! There are varieties that can flower as early as September and others as late as March or even April!
These are the ‘common’ snowdrops, Galanthus nivalis and I think they are simple yet classy.
I have these in most of the pots I have, mainly in pots with hostas and perennials that die down and then snowdrops give me some interest in what would simply be empty pots.
I’d say I have only just scratched the surface of snowdrop growing. I mentioned that I have a small space and so I have decided to grow them in pots and display them on an old pair of ladders.
You’ll be pleased to know I have more terracotta pots to replace the ones in plastic.
I may have had another delivery of some more select snowdrops.
Here I have G. ‘Three Ships’, G. Hobgoblin and another G. ‘Blonde Inge’.
These will be potted up today (in terracotta pots you’d be pleased to know).
I do find that when looking into Snowdrops, there is an air of elitism. The books are mega expensive; there is little information online.
I found that when buying bulbs (in the green) I had to ask so many questions. There are however some great websites with useful information:
Pumkin Beth‘s site is very informative gardening site and is where I found the nursery I have been buying my selective snowdrops from. I owe a lot to Beth!
Judy’s Snowdrops is an informative site for anyone wanting to see the many varieties, with pictures and growing tips.
Details regarding leaf shaping and actual size of the plants is rarely available.
I love the different flower shapes, single, double, thin leaves, thicker leaves, even the colour of the leaves.
I have a nice small collection, they are by no means part of the elite collection but they really give me joy! My collection so far includes:
G. ‘Ailwyn’ – pictured above – top right and bottom centre.
G. ‘Hobbgoblin’.
G. ‘Ivy Cottage Corporal’.
G. ‘Lapwing’ – pictured above – middle left.
G. ‘Primrose Warburg’.
G. ‘South Hayes’ pictured above – middle right.
G. ‘Trumps’ pictured above – bottom left and right.
G. ‘Wasp’ – pictured above – centre photo.
G. elwesii ‘Godfrey Owen’.
G. nivalis – pictured above – top left.
G. nivalis ‘Blonde Inge’.
G. nivalis ‘Greenish’.
G. plicatus ‘Diggory’ – pictured above – top centre.
G. plicatus ‘Three Ships’.
G. plicatus ‘Warham’.
If this has opened your eyes to the world of snowdrops, I hope you enjoy. I am on the way to becoming a galanthophile!
When you have such a small space the idea of a climber maybe the last idea on your mind.
I grew very few climbers in my narrow yarden until lockdown that is. Something that had never really crossed my mind.
I bought a jasmine for a pound from an allotment open day some years ago and planted this in my yarden. It has grown so well and the flowers smell divine.
With the jasmines success I decided to add a couple more climbers.
When people think of climbers they think of clematis, honeysuckles, roses, yet there are so many climbers out there and there will definitely be one (or six) for you.
If you’ve read any of my posts before you’ll know I love the jungle and exotic feel, but other things are really important to me too.
A garden with scent adds a totally different dimension and there are many climbers out there that can help with this, of course the jasmine I grow is one of those.
Having researched I decided I wanted to grow a holboellia, they have leaves that remind me of the umbrella plant. Waxy, nice sized and every green, and there are a multitude to chose from.
I decided to visit Crûg Plant Farm in North Wales as they grow many of these and they have the experience to offer also.
After a lengthy chat I chose Holboellia brachyandra, which I believe is not so readily available. It has the lush green waxy leaves as mentioned and highly scented creamy flowers, strangely it grows the male and female flowers in the same bunch.
Of course the way these plants were performing it just got me hooked and I got to finding more.
I stumbled across this next plant, in a local garden centre – Bud. Strangely unusual green perennial climber. It has five lobed leaves that look very similar to marijuana (or so people always remark).
This is Gynostemma pentaphyllum, or poor mans ginseng. It’s an extremely fast grower, dying back in the winter and returning just as fast in the spring.
What I particularly like is that it clings and climbs but when it drops it gives that jungle feel.
It is grown primarily for its leaves and its renown herbal properties. It must flower, yet I never notice them until I see the tiny black seed pods.
However I will say I add a WARNING note with growing this. I wouldn’t grow it if I had a garden with soil. A good friend of mine, originally from Japan, said ‘it’s a weed, takesover everywhere’ and if I had soil I have no doubt. It has found its way into other pots, other planters and I am regularly cutting it back and removing it.
I added yet another climber, again with lovely foliage as well as a nicely scented flower. It’s also a cousin of the Holboellia.
This is Akebia quinata ‘Cream Form’, a fast grower with tiny scented cream coloured flowers.
I now grow three forms of this, the plain Akebia quinata or Chocolate Vine, Akebia longeracemosa and the one mentioned above. They are fast growing and I would say they need to be kept in check.
I didn’t mention but both Holboellia and Akebia are able to produced large blue sausage like fruit if they have another local plant to cross pollinate. I doubt this will happen with my plants, yet it’s important to share. These fruits are a delicacy in some counties.
Another friend asked me if I wanted to add anything to an order, like any good friend would, so I carefully looked through the list.
The next plant was a real gamble, I didn’t know if it would grow well or even survive in my yarden. I’m happy to say it was a gamble well worth making.
This is Bomarea edulis syn. hirtella, you may see it’s resemblance to the much loved alstroemeria, quite rightly so, it is their climbing cousin.
This climber dies right back in winter, and out of no where climbs to great heights and sends out fireworks of these colourful flowers, which last a fair time and keep coming.
When they stop flowering even their seed pods look great! what do you think?
As you can see I have become slightly obsessed, I’m aiming to have interest from climbers throughout the year.
With that in mind I also purchased this beautiful little flowering climber. It is Tropaeolum tricolour. A very useful climber as it grows when most others are dormant and dies down when others are about to take over the show.
In fact the Tropaeolum family have impressed me so much that I’ve added more to the collection.
So far I have only mentioned evergreen or perennial climbers, but we mustn’t forget the numerous annual climbers out there.
This year I deceived to try and grow a few from seed, many grew however life got in the way and I lost many. However this unusual delicate climber was strong enough to pull through.
This is Cardispermum halicacabum, it’s name in itself gives me joy, it has tiny little white flowers with fern like foliage but the main reason I think you’d grow this is the almost balloon shaped seed pods.
I think I’ve gone on long enough, I have quite a few of the climbers however there are more so I’ve listed them:
Actinidia arguta ‘Issai’ (Mini kiwi)
Apios americana
Clematis alpina
Dioscorea batatas
Fuchsia ‘Lady Boothby’
Jasminium beesianum (Pink jasmine)
Lonicera halliana (Honeysuckle)
Muehlenbeckia complexa
Periploca praeca (Silk vine)
Tropaeolum ciliatum
Tropaeolum speciosum
Tropaeolum tuberosum ‘Ken Aslet’
Vitis labrusca ‘Isabella’
Vitis vinifera ‘Muscat of Alexandria’
Many of these are still new to me and I wouldn’t like to comment on them as yet.
As you can see, climbers give height, they give cover, added interest and more.
Will you be adding more climbers to your green space?
If you like jungle looking plants, luscious green foliage topped with contrasting colours like red and yellow, these plants should definitely be in your green space.
I bought a Cautleya from an NGS some years ago and it’s not until the last couple of years that’s I have realised how much I am in love with the ginger family (Zingiberaceae).
My very first, Cautleya spicata robusta is an easy to grow exotic looking plant that requires very little care.
They come up from no where and spear year on year. The black plastic pot was my first ever plant. I thought I’d lost it and then boom!
Like I say the last couple of years I have taken to time to find other ginger plants that I simply had to add to my collection and needless to say more Cautleya.
This is a delicate yellow flower with no where near as much red in the bracts or on the foliage.
This is also much smaller than C. spicata robusta. This is Cautleya cathcartii ‘Tenzing’s Gold’.
I really love this miniature plant, it’s form is more upright, it still has red bracts and lovely bright yellow flowers.
This is Cautleya spicata ‘Crûg’s Compact’. You can see it’s shape below.
Another recent addition to my yarden and collection this year is a decent sized plant, a very upright form. Much more of an orange flower. T
This is Cautleya spicata ‘Bleddyn’s Beacon’.
The following plant isn’t performing as well as the other species, sadly it has been knocked but I will persevere. It has a lovely purple tinge to the underside of the foliage.
I am happy to see that there are new shoots appearing next to the main stem. Watch this space. I don’t think I’ll have any flowers to share this year.
I also grew Cautleya lutea in my parents garden last year. It grew and flowered but didn’t make a reappearance. Needless to say it will be added back to this list.
I leave them in the pots all year and when frosts hit them the stalks just collapse. I chop them up and add them to my compost bin.
I give them a weed and too dress, then await their return the following year.
They are fairly easy to propagate too, I simply divide either in autumn or in spring and pot them up.
I believe you can also propagate from seed, I have never noticed any but will keep an eye out for these in the following month.
What are your thoughts on Cautleya? I find them really east to grow and give me that amazing jungle feel that I am trying to achieve.
I apologise for my distance from you all of late. I continually say I am going to try and do more yet life gets in the way.
So I am going to give you something simple.
White, elegant, big, and scented.
Ok so perhaps not so simple but when it’s directly in front of you it is, the smell is intoxicating, the uncomplicated flower is mediative and for a few seconds that’s al you think about. Simple.
This is Lilium regale ‘Album’, or simply the White Regale Lily.
I love white flowers, especially lilies and if I had a bigger green space I would grow so many more and in huge rifts.
It’s been a crazy old time lately and I have been busy with my plants, plant deliveries, seed sowing and tidying the yarden.
I’m trying to grow more edibles and herbs, also more climbers to make use of the height available to me.
Here is an order received from Poyntzfield Herbs. I like how they don’t send the pots, reusing them in their nursery and sending in plastic free packaging.
Let’s hope I can keep them growing well allow me to have some more tasty treats in the yarden.
I was excited to have this order from Edulis yesterday, so already more plants to add to my plant list.
The plants were well packaged, sadly a few were a little squashed, though I am pleased to report that they are already bouncing back and leaves unfolding.
I was happy to receive this order, many of the plants were on my wish list and I have been trying to get a hold of them for a little while. Some of the selection are also edibles.
This plant is a Chilean Guava (Ugni molinae), an unusual easy to grow fruit, also reputed the favourite fruit of Queen Victoria. They are small shrubs that have scented white flowers and are followed by dark red berries. Also they are bee friendly, every garden should have one!
I have become increasingly interested in the Zingiberacae family of plants and the main reason that I bought from this company was that they had Zingiber mioga ‘Dancing Crane’ and Zingiber mioga ‘White Feather’. Both of which are variegated versions of the mioga ginger (or Hardy Japanese Ginger). There are no pictures of these as they die down to their roots in the winter.
Another ginger I bought was a Alpinia japonica, also known to be a hardy variety, I was surprised that it was in leaf. I have found little information on this ginger so I am excited to see how it fares in comparison to the others in my collection.
I have been trying to add more edibles, so when I saw some of the following I thought they would be a great to add to the edible selection.
This small alpine strawberry (Fragaria vesca ‘Muricata’ aka Plymouth Strawberry) is a rather unusual one, it’t fruits are ‘hairy’ cone shaped. Intrigued how it is going to taste. (I know that this looks like this is a little worse for wear – it has already perked up since being outside).
Another interesting edible that I added to the order was Rubus arcticus aka Artic Raspberry, again no picture as this clearly dies down in winter. There are many buds protruding from the soil. This is a low clumping plant that has deep pink flowers followed by pineapple flavoured berries.
I already have a very well coloured clover so I couldn’t resist this pink leaved one. This is Trifolium repens ‘Isabella’. I was a little disappointed when it arrived, however I put it down to the cold weather and again it has already perked up and looking much happier.
Who else doesn’t like propagating plants to share with friends or increase your collection? Last year I had an idea to hang bottles in the yarden, added water and cuttings and watch them root! Silly me left them up during the winter and they literally exploded – reminder – take down for winter.
I also thought I would share a picture of this Cinnamon Vine (Dioscorea batatas) that I am growing from a small bulbil. I love how detailed it is. This is another edible I am going to grow this year.
I hope you’ve enjoyed the update on my delivery.
Do you also grow edibles or unusual plants? I’m always interested in hearing from any readers out there.
Here is a list of plants that I grow here in my Tiny Tropical Yarden and at my parents. The list is ever growing as I truly am a plant geek. My latest additions have been edible and tropical, even more recent some more unusual snowdrops.
I will endeavour to update the list with new additions and any sad but sometimes inevitable losses.
With the white stuff falling from the skies to the lovely bulbs that everyone adores, lots of both are being enjoyed up and down the country.
I love snow but I know not everyone does, however who doesn’t love a snowdrop?
Having a walk in a local park around this time of year, walking amongst the trees with swathes of little white nodding heads is a fond childhood memory.
Did you know that there are more than one type of snowdrop? Also that there are some that are extremely expensive?
Lately I have been looking at snowdrops, both the one we see growing wild in woods and parks – the beloved Galanthus nivalis, and some more unusual or less common varieties.
Why not take a look online and see some for yourself? There are many different names, Diggory, Trump, Wasp, Bumblebee to name a few.
I was introduced to these different types late in 2019 when I went to a plant show and bought a yellow variety called ‘Primrose Warburg’. I was recently reminded of these (of course when they showed themselves) but also with all the tweets.
Needless to say I am considering adding some to my plant collection.
Snowdrops look great under trees, shrubs, hedges and are also great companion plants for hostas and perennials that generally hibernate in the winter.
Here are some snowdrop facts:
Galanthophile is the name given to a collector of snowdrops (Latin name – Galanthus)
The most expensive snowdrop bulb was £725 in an auction here in the UK.
Snowdrops are not actually native to the UK but it’s not actually certain how they were introduced.
Queen Victoria actually had a posey of snowdrops at her wedding when she married Prince Edward.
They are an early form of nectar to insects.
I’d be interested to know, do you grow snowdrops? Are you a galanthophile?