re: July 10, more Medit mid-winter flowers

Well, I knew I'd overlook a few things that are good in a Medit mid-winter garden. The Hellebores, of course. What a dill I am not to think of Helleborus orientalis, H, argutifolius, H. foetidus, H, cyclophyllus, H. odorus, H. x Sternii, and the earliest Orientalis hybrids. I have a small group of H. orientalis from collected seed. The flowers are a cuiosity more than striking beauties - purple-ish pink with a prominent greenish central 'stripe' down each petal. H. argtifolius is such a good doer, even under surface rooting trees such as cherries. The ordinary form is good for establishing large ground covering coloniesbut I have hopes of establishing equally strong groups of the more compact Corsican form with short stemmed 'domes'of close packed lime green flowers. I once grew the heavily spotted variegated form "Pacific Snow' but it proved too fussy in its requirements to survive in my Med garden. Of H. foetidus there are many forms, the tall 'Italian' form, the scented 'Miss Jekyll's form', site specific forms such as 'Sopron' and 'Wester Flisk' - all seem to do pretty well and self sow willingly needing alertness to rogue the many intermediate forms that generate in closely gardened spots. Last week I was given a plant of H. foetidus 'Gold Leaf'; I wonder if it will prosperin the hurly- burly of my summer dry garden?

The vibrant green bells of H. cyclophyllus (acid green) and H. odorus (deep green) are welcome in shady corners under century old camellias. They do not seem to mind, indeed seem to prefer, the rooty, heavy soil and 'cold' sunless positions.

H. x Sternii also comes in a good many variations these days: 'Ashwood' strain, 'Broughton' strain and others un- named but closer to the H. lividus parent, which is not yet in flower here. I find these quite hardy in a semi- shaded position that receives direct sun for a few hours at mid-day. H. lividus I have yet to please adequately. I have seen it growing out of a cliff face of stark limestone screes right on the coast of Mallorca but thus far it hasn't responded to my efforts in this rocky hill-top garden.

On August 8 we will be holding the Feast of St Hellebore, our 5th annual meeting for helle-bores in Australia. Keen helle-bores from Adelaide, the Mt Lofty Ranges and further afield from Melbourne and near Ballarat will attend to the one day swap meet, chat fest and flower show. We will conclude the day with a Florists Feast in the old fashioned way; a shared bring-a-plate supper.

Time to stop. Winter seems the best time in the Medit garden.

trevor n

Trevor Nottle
Garden Historian, Garden Writer, Designer, Consultant
WALNUT HILL, 5 Walker Street, Crafers, SA 5152 AUSTRALIA
Tel./ Fax. 61 8 83394210















































   



Other Mailing lists |
Author Index |
Date Index |
Subject Index |
Thread Index