Peony

Magnolias

Overwintered pelagonium

Cometh the hour

Planting new shrubs and bulbs may be a bit precarious given the rain situation but the time is now if they are going to survive at all. Transition from cold dry winter to a hot humid spring is rather demanding on the new plants meagre resources, and the change is sudden and dramatic.

Seeking out plants that seem to do well in the neighbourhood is good general advice for the gardener. One of the plants that stands the hot dry summers and always produces a mass of tiny pink blooms is the Tamerisk. Though I have read that in some parts of the USA it is considered an invasive species that damages the local wild habitat.

In our hurry to establish a new garden it is often tempting to strive for an instant effect, and therefore plant larger specimens; though often stronger plants with good form are the result of planting smaller examples and growing them on. There is a particular satisfaction to be gained from watching a garden develop.

Flower of the year

Simple flowers are shown to striking effect on this Echinacea 'Pink Parasol'. I had already decided it was my flower of the year for 2007 before Thompson and Morgan elected it as their choice for next year's flower of the year promotion. So it would seem that at least I shall be ahead of the game when planning next year’s garden campaign. The plant a hardy perennial flowered in it’s first year but has put on a better show with a little more maturity. Flowers of 3” + have appeared in the second year. It does make a good cut flower but for now I prefer to see it in the garden.

Of course what I would really love to see, is this particular flower growing prairie style with other suitable varieties across our finca, the problem is the soil is so poor even tough plants struggle. Therefore we are going to have to generate as much compostable material as possible, from the planting areas we have already developed if we going to be able to improve our soils fertility. Green manures and catch crops will have to play a part in the process too. Animal manures are gobbled up by the crop farmers who really seem to relish a little muck spreading. We always seem to be down wind of the spreader too