September Newsletter

24/10/2022

Welcome to Spring!

The weather has been absolutely typical for spring - four seasons in one day. As I sat here typing this up yesterday I could see that the sun was shining but there was yet another shower of rain, and then the trees across the valley would begin to roar in the blasting cold wind.

I spent quite a bit of the morning yesterday outside dodging showers, pricking out seedlings and potting up more plants, so it was nice to spend the afternoon inside out of the weather. There is always so much to do at this time of year, and I really have to make myself sit still long enough to update the website, type lists, email customers and write this newsy email. Not that I’m complaining – it is wonderful to have so many avid readers of my wordy musings, thank you . A note about subscribers, particularly those Bulb list fans…I am sending this newsletter out to all subscribers this time as it contains quite a bit about bulbs. However next time I will only send out the newsletter/perennials updates to general subscribers. So if you only subscribed to the Bulb List but also wish to receive the general newsletter and plant updates then please email me. Alternatively, I have added the two options to the subscriber form on the website so you can head there and choose one or both.

Anyway, I will pop the list of latest additions to the website here first…so those of you who are extra keen to purchase some goodies won’t have to scroll to the bottom of the page right away. I’ve had some lovely feedback from very happy customers in recent weeks, so a big thank you to those of you who take the time to send me emails or write reviews – I don’t always have the time to answer but I can assure you I read every single one and am always humbled by the positive comments I receive. One thing I just need to clarify is at this time of year especially, many plants are just coming out of their winter dormancy, so quite often you might receive a plant that looks a little small, or worse still (especially with Echinacea for instance) the pots look like they have nothing in them. Do not despair…they are alive and well and I personally check every single plant before I send them, particularly with smaller ones, to make sure their root structure is in order. When it comes to perennials, a plant can have all the bells and whistles – leaves, buds, flowers etc. – but it’s the root structure that is going to give you a good garden plant.

Without further ado…here is what I’ve added today:

Aquilegia caerulea ‘Kristall’; Centaurea nigra; Echinacea purpurea ‘Green Twister’; Eryngium amethystinum (few); Eupatorium maculatum ‘Atropurpurea’; Euphorbia griffithii ‘Great Dixter’; Isatis tinctoria (woad); Nepeta nepetella ssp. aragonensis; Polemonium reptans seedlings ex. ‘White Pearl’; Polygonatum variegatum (variegated Solomon’s Seal); Reineckia carnea; Rudbeckia laciniata (few); Salvia candidissima; Salvia sagittata

I’ve also updated stock numbers on a number of previously-added plants, so if you missed out on something earlier then have a look and see if what you wanted is available again.

PLUS…I’ve added a new category called ‘Plants for Collectors, plus Odds and Ends’. This is a place where I can add those plants that are really special, or the pesky ones that turn up in ones and twos from a tray that was forgotten about in another life (yes, all of those nursery people will know what I’m talking about here ). This week I’ve added some exciting potted bulbs to this category – but you will have to be in quick as there are only a few of these beauties available. Normally they would be offered as dry bulbs in summer, but these ones got potted up instead.

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What’s happening here…

At this time of year my Instagram and Facebook feeds are mostly filled with photos from the bulb collection, as they are looking so great at the moment. Aside from Hellebores, early Pulmonaria, Primula and a few random Salvia like the compact form of S. gesneriiflora with its large fire-engine red flowers, there is not a lot of colour showing from the perennials at this time of year. Much like finding greens to fill the ‘hungry gap’ we always lament in the vege garden, spring flowering bulbs are brilliant at filling the gap between our emergence from winter hibernation and our lust for summer colour. And whilst traditional bulbs like daffodils and hyacinths are wonderful, I am a huge fan of South African bulbs for spring colour, in particular those from the Iridaceae family, as I find them so easy in our climate. Babiana, Moraea, Lachenalia, Romulea and Sparaxis are all bursting into flower right now and there are so many different colours, shapes and sizes. I’m out there every day, inspecting and photographing, and sniffing too, as many of these beauties are scented.

These two have been my favourites so far this season…firstly Moraea ciliata ssp. lutescens (above), whose flowers only last for one day, but it has the sweetest lemon and cream flowers with a delicate fragrance. I grew it from seed and wasn’t expecting this particular version of the species, so it has been a fabulous surprise.

Gladiolus virescens has also stolen its way into my affections. What a treat it has been to grow this beauty to flowering size, again from seed…its elegant little flower spikes hold a succession of lightly scented, bronzed lemony-green flowers. Not a particular attractive description I guess, but in person its elegant charm is undeniable.

Plant of the Month…

In keeping with the bulb theme September’s Plant of the Month would have to be Allium roseum, commonly known as Rosy Garlic. Given to me as a gift from my Mum, I was expecting something fairly akin to a pink-flowered onion weed. But no, absolutely nothing oniony about this one! The flowers of this beauty have a scent that would rival the sweetest of orange blossom in my opinion. Even just walking past the bulb beds I can smell it wafting through the air and it is particularly delicious on a warm day. The clusters of small star-shaped, petticoat-like soft pink flowers are held on long stems above the strappy grey-green foliage. Of course this beauty is not just there for looks, as when eaten the leaves have a lovely mild garlic flavour, and apparently the bulbs do as well, although obviously I am yet to try them. I do love a plant that can multi-task…

Thank you for all of your support in my plant world endeavours, I am always grateful and appreciative of the lovely order form comments and emails I receive, even if life is a little too hectic for me to reply sometimes! We did manage to zoom off for a night away in the Buller region late last week. It was wonderful to have a change of scenery, even just for one night…we soaked up the calming influence of stunning rivers, both turbulent and silently smooth, admired the bush whilst eating yummy picnics, met up with many friends new and old, and added a fair amount to the swatted-dead sandfly tally. We really do have the most amazing natural scenery here in NZ and I am always so grateful to get out and enjoy it when I can. I always feel so much more refreshed when I’ve been out in nature…relaxed and yet re-energized at the same time. Long may it last

Happy gardening…

Kate