Clematis

We can offer Clematis armandii and C. a. 'Snowdrift' for April delivery, but we need the orders for these as soon as possible. These are traded items and because they grow so fast in the spring and are prone to damage when handled it is vital that we hold them for as short a time as possible so we will only be able to supply those that are pre-ordered.

Clematis

Clematis armandii and C. a. ‘Snowdrift’ will be available again next April for those who book them now. This is an item that we trade, and because they grow into each other and get damaged we like to have them on the nursery for as short a time as possible, which is why they are only available to order. Note that ‘Apple Blossom is not being offered any more. Prices for 2010 will be the same as this year i.e. £2.40 for 20-59, £2.35 for 60-199, £2.29 for 200-499. Please let us know your requirements as soon as possible.

Clematis

Clematis armandii, C. a. ‘Apple Blossom’and C. a. ‘Snowdrift’ can still be booked for delivery in April 2009. £2.30 for 200+, £2.35 for 60-199 and £2.40 for 20-59.

Clematis

We are now booking orders for Clematis armandii, C. a. ‘Apple Blossom’ and C. a. ‘Snowdrift’ for 2009. Please do forward order these – they will not appear on the availability list so if you don’t order during the next couple of months you won’t get them. Do it now, otherwise you will forget. Prices, as this year, £2.30 for 200+, £2.35 for 60-199 and £2.40 for 20-59.

Notes for May part 2

You may have noticed that we rather like Cistus and just at the moment many are producing their first flush of flower and many flowers have the wrong number of petals in this first flush. Where there should be five there are seven, eight or even nine and this can be very striking in varieties with prominently blotched petals – like Snowfire. Some of the ladanifer varieties are semi double anyway, with ruffled petals and they too are spectacular. As I have said many times in the past Cistus never look as good again as when they first come up to flower and for many varieties this is best achieved by potting under cold cover anytime from July onwards. You won’t have to cut them back and they will be perfect at the right time next year.

In recent years I have become concerned that there was no difference between what we were offering as Phormium Cream Delight and Yellow Wave, and the Cream Delight was not as I remembered it. Therefore we have restocked and now Cream Delight is more cream than yellow.

You may think that we are only just getting used to 2007 but in propagation terms we are into 2008 already. In our catalogue about one in five items are listed as ‘to order only’ and this means that it is unlikely that they will appear on the availability list; we will only set out to produce the numbers that are pre-ordered. This does not mean that they are not worthwhile plants – in fact some are overlooked gems – but we cannot grow everything and this is a way of maintaining the range without cluttering the nursery with free stock which may or may not sell. If you pride yourself on the range you offer then have another look at the catalogue and give it some thought. The cut-off dates vary immensely and it would be a nightmare to set them all out, so assume it is the end of May and get that order to us. For those of you getting this list by e-mail a list of these items is attached; for fax, internet and post recipients please ask if you would like such a list.

We are still taking orders for Clematis armandii as detailed last month.

Notes and News for April 2007 Part 2

Iris japonica Variegata is relatively small variety but it makes a very showy plant as it matures with the white variegation becoming more distinct. This is another plant that would look good in a patio planter or at the front of a sunny border and it has the bonus of delicate Flowers that are just ice-blue with yellow and blue markings.

In contrast Jasminum humile Revolutum is a large growing semi-evergreen shrub (3m) with a spreading branching habit. As you would expect it has yellow flowers, borne in clusters in summer, with some fragrance. As it has green stems it would earn a place in a winter garden.

It is time to be thinking about Clematis armandii for 2008. We offer the species, plus Apple Blossom and Snowdrift and these will be ready for delivery in early March next year. Please note that we cannot hold them after we take delivery from our contract grower because they grow quickly at that time of year and become very damage-prone.
Prices will be:

20-59 £2.48
60-199 £2.42

for the price of greater quantities please give us a call. Apple Blossom will be available in restricted quantities and only those who order soon will get a share.

Buddleia lindleyana has long slender drooping tails of purple flowers that change shade with age giving the inflorescences a two-tone effect. Flowering continues form mid-summer until the frost and it as attractive to butterflies as the B.davidii types without growing so uncomfortably large.

Salix erythflexuosa is something we only grow occasionally, but it does have merits. Its wood is as golden as weeping willow but the growth can be as contorted as Corylus ‘Contorta’. Attractive in summer it really comes into its own in the winter, and it should be stooled as you would expect to keep the effect. I will tell you its demerit which is a susceptibility to anthracnose but this is easily controlled on the nursery and is seldom a problem in the ground.

I am writing this on Easter Monday – what a beautiful weekend it has been. Now we will know whether gardening has gone out of fashion or if everybody was just waiting for the weather.