Copyright© of Top Growth Garden Services - 6 February 2006
Blog for February 2008
Here Come The Flowers
17 February 2008
In my opinion the next four months are the most exciting time of year in the garden. Perishing nights of the past week have done little to stem the development of early flowers. We have dwarf iris, jonquils, masses of snowdrops, helebores, cornus mas, early cherries, winter aconites and absolutely best of all daphne mezereums.
Daphne mezereum is one of those invaluable shrubs that bridges the gap between the winter-flowerers and the plentiful blooms of Spring. It has many other desirable qualities: it is colourful, very fragrant and compact, seldom growing much more than 1.2m tall with a similar spread.
The flowers are usually prolific, clustered along the bare stems, and sometimes there is a bonus of red berries in Summer. However, the berries are poisonous so beware.
The flowers vary from pale purple-pink to violet-red, and there is a white form (‘Alba’) with yellow berries. ‘Grandiflora’ has larger flowers, and blooms much earlier, often in the autumn.
Plant Daphne mezereum in sun or partial shade, in well drained soil with plenty of humus if possible. Grow it where you can appreciate its heavy scent as well as its bold colour. It is compact enough to be planted close to the front door, or near the garden gate, where visitors can appreciate this gem on a Winter’s day.
17 February 2008
In my opinion the next four months are the most exciting time of year in the garden. Perishing nights of the past week have done little to stem the development of early flowers. We have dwarf iris, jonquils, masses of snowdrops, helebores, cornus mas, early cherries, winter aconites and absolutely best of all daphne mezereums.
Daphne mezereum is one of those invaluable shrubs that bridges the gap between the winter-
The flowers are usually prolific, clustered along the bare stems, and sometimes there is a bonus of red berries in Summer. However, the berries are poisonous so beware.
The flowers vary from pale purple-
Plant Daphne mezereum in sun or partial shade, in well drained soil with plenty of humus if possible. Grow it where you can appreciate its heavy scent as well as its bold colour. It is compact enough to be planted close to the front door, or near the garden gate, where visitors can appreciate this gem on a Winter’s day.
Kermit and Friends
Late Winter 2008
Whether or not you like frogs, the way in which they seem to appear as if from nowhere at this appointed time in Spring, in even the tiniest pond, is something to marvel at. Even a modest pond in a small garden can attract dozens of frogs on an early Spring evening, and often many more. In shallow water, the surface can appear to be a seething mass of bodies.
You will know when they have arrived for mating by the incessant croaking, which can go on long into the night. If your pond attracts a large number of frogs, they may make enough noise to wake you at night.
Frogs can change their colour to suit their surroundings, rather like a chameleon, as the pigment cells of the skin expand or contract under the influence of varying intensities of light reflected from their surroundings.
The female is usually fatter than the male, which you can identify by black pads on the first fingers. These help him to hold his mate and are particularly pronounced at this time of year.
The common frog is the one that can be spotted almost everywhere, but in a few areas, the large edible frog can also sometimes be found.
Late Winter 2008
Whether or not you like frogs, the way in which they seem to appear as if from nowhere at this appointed time in Spring, in even the tiniest pond, is something to marvel at. Even a modest pond in a small garden can attract dozens of frogs on an early Spring evening, and often many more. In shallow water, the surface can appear to be a seething mass of bodies.
You will know when they have arrived for mating by the incessant croaking, which can go on long into the night. If your pond attracts a large number of frogs, they may make enough noise to wake you at night.
Frogs can change their colour to suit their surroundings, rather like a chameleon, as the pigment cells of the skin expand or contract under the influence of varying intensities of light reflected from their surroundings.
The female is usually fatter than the male, which you can identify by black pads on the first fingers. These help him to hold his mate and are particularly pronounced at this time of year.
The common frog is the one that can be spotted almost everywhere, but in a few areas, the large edible frog can also sometimes be found.
