The extreme cold and bitter east wind of the last few days has left us wondering what permanent damage has been done to some of our more tender plants like Buddleia Colvillii and the abutilons. The Suntense abutilons are one of the joys of our late April and May garden. The plants, in blue and white, will reach 10 and 12 feet in height before dying back after a life of 5-10 years. After a hard winter we lose most of our large ones but seedlings have always come through to reinstate this wonderful feature. Early signs are that the majority will survive and flower again like this one.
Small Iris Reticulata and Histroides are lighting up the rockery as if nothing had happened. To our amazement the crocuses have withstood the onslaught as have the earliest daffodils and remaining aconites. It is a joy to see them all back again.
Part of the development of the garden has been to plant a further 50 shrub roses. These are a mixture of Gallicas, Portland, Hybrid Musk and Species, all thickening some of the existing plantings. Added to the work from last year, we will have renewed all that we need to do to keep a continually healthy show of roses.
To help show them well, we have designed another style of support, which has been made for us by Grant at Gap Products in Kettering.
