front garden – My Japanesque Garden

The beginning is the most important part of the work.”- Plato

After a post-New Year spell of wet then stormy weather some bitter temperatures followed, with frozen water pipes in the house and frost flowers in the greenhouse. And now more storm force winds have arrived and are due again later but regardless of these weather highs and lows, the snowdrops in my native woodland are just coming into bloom, which for me is the signal to at least begin with a tidy of the garden.

^{Galanthus nivalis- milkflower of the snow}

The other day, I went gathering up twigs and fallen branches, as well as leaves from the woodland to collect in the square, composting ‘pen’ (recently constructed with four posts and some netting). When rotted down, this leafmould will help acidify my overly alkaline/neutral soils. Given that I’ve a few plants that prefer more acid conditions (acers, azaleas etc) this is a free, organic solution – meanwhile I continue to use iron and flowers of sulphur where necessary.

And with the winter detritus now cleared from my two small, oddly shaped vegetable beds, I’m going to draw up a plan of the two sites. A rotation of crops is not really possible as for practical purposes I’ve only room to grow what I like to eat most of. Thus some herbs and edible flowers, a few midi potatoes, French and runner beans, leeks, beets and a variety of leafy greens are the choices. With the latter I like to experiment with Japanese varieties, picked from the oriental section of Chiltern seeds.

Early last February the scented leaved pelargoniums perished in the unheated greenhouse.(I would have brought them into the house if there was room). I’m still having to get used to not being in Central London’s warmer zone 9 whilst here in Derbyshire zone 7 all tender plants require actual heat. Thus from now on I’ve decided not to grow any that require such extras.

^{a few treasured tender plants with extra cosseting}

Even so I’ve desisted from treating the tender perennial Nemesia ‘Wisley Vanilla’ as an annual and brought the 2 plants into the greenhouse. Within a carboard box and under an extra protective pop-up cover, they have survived so far, alongside some cuttings from my daughter’s unnamed white Salvia. Also here, are seedlings of Antirrhinum majus, ‘Kimosy’ – started on my windowsill in November and growing alongside two small seed trays of ‘Angel wings’ rosa Chinesis and another batch of Cyclamen hederifolium. The former has just recently put up one or two tiny signs of life – and hope springs eternal as the saying goes.

Having over-optimistically overwintered the Cafe au lait dahlia tuber and a few ivy pelargoniums in a covered but airy basket in my porch, I’ve just discovered that all have rotted. Although under a dark shelf, the porch itself is too damp and hence a slug found its way in there too! Lesson learned, so that next year it will be a cool dry shelf in the garage. Thus I’ve back ordered 3 more dahlias including the pink Cafe au lait Royal, Canary Fubuki, and the fimbriata Japanese Tsuki Yori No Shisha. As well as growing these, I’m about to sow some Dahlia mixed pompom seeds – which my granddaughter has requested. These are supposed to flower in their first season if sown about now.

Shuffling through the storage tin of seed packets always stokes my enthusiasm, regardless of any previous year’s disappointments. And I’ve chosen a few more to order from my usual source (Chiltern seeds) including another variety of the Chinese aster (Callistephus chinensis, ‘Matsumoto‘ ). Last year I was initially unimpressed by this species (see Dwarf Milady Scarlet’) but eventually the plants literally grew on me and became a welcome addition of colour to the late summer garden. Normally Chinese Asters should not be grown in the same places as before due to the risk of Fusarium Wilt but the Matsumoto series is apparently resistant.

A few years ago, I grew from a mixed packet of shade seeds a lovely blue flower which I and others that were consulted, could not identify. But having just discovered it in the seed catalogue as Blue Woodruff (asperula orientalis) -it too is on order. Just right for the less than sunny front potted cottage garden or part of the woodland.

There are various bare pots around the garden with things in them; died back perennials as well as bulbs, most of which I cannot remember. I suppose I should label them except that does rather spoil the surprise! Already there are emerging signs of tulips, and in the front garden, potted blue and white grape hyacinths – only lots of foliage so far though.

But for now the main interest in the garden are a few architectural seedheads and a scrambling winter flowering jasmine with its buttery blooms brightening a corner by the greenhouse trellis. This is complemented by the lovely lax, pendulous shape of a potted golden Japanese cedar sekkan-sugi. Both front and back garden also have evergreen shrubs dotted about so there’s always some colour to be had

But now I’m waiting for the weather to warm up a little more as the Sarcococcas have come into flower. However, the aromas of these ‘sweet box’ cannot be fully appreciated until wafted about on toastier air currents. Even so I’ve noticed an occasional fly has found its way to their nectar.

July beckons us to complete what we began with fervour ~ Tracy Bond

I’ve been so busy elsewhere with life events as well as landscaping (Two Up and Down) and the Teahouse building project (Raising the roof) that there has been no time to jot down anything much about the garden plants since mid April (Turning Japanese).

Some of the new shrubs took time to establish perhaps because they had come from a nursery in Cornwall only to be met with wet but cool weather this far North, even up to May. Others, like the Japanese woodlanders, planted in mostly neutral to semi alkaline soil struggled a little until the PH values were remedied somewhat with Iron sulphate and Flowers of Sulphur.

^{Sarcococca ruscifolia – a patient on the mend}

I had however ignored the evident signs of ~~anaemia~~ chlorosis in a small border hedge of mixed Sarcococcas. Growing since last year alongside the ‘First Sight’ shrub bed, the problem became most evident in Spring, especially noticeable in S. ruscifolia. The sight of all Sarcococcas ‘greening up’ after treatment is evidence enough that even the toughest of plants can sicken sometimes. I think this was probably due to inadvertent contact with aggregate and cement after construction of the adjacent boundary path.

And this year has been one of much seed sowing, whether windowsill propagator, greenhouse or directly and hence the need for a seed diary page. A very hit and miss affair that’s tested my patience with the expected ones like Cos lettuce and Ricinus barely germinating. Thalictrum and Pennisetum perennials developed at a snails pace and most seedlings and young vegetables when planted out loitered in the soil for ages before June gave them all a warm weather kick and they all took off…

…All except the Chinese asters now suffering with what appears to be a viral infection – probably the aster yellows phytoplasma (Candidatus Phytoplasma) though I’ve since read that these plants are renowned for several diseases so I’ll not bother with them again.

There is a distinct absence of toadlets in my pond despite several strings of spawn. In April, I’d seen the male seemingly struggling to exit the pond so attempted a rescue until it was evident that there were two toads in a connubial clasp. Since the pond was bare (awaiting further work and due to begin later this month) I hurriedly sent off for aquatic plants. Thereafter, the sight of many small tadpoles was encouraging but alas, there has been no recent evidence. However, predatory water boatmen are there in plenty. Perhaps patience is all I need to be pleasantly surprised one day with a young toad or two – or maybe next year might be more auspicious for both pond and toads.

And now as they say, for the good news. Despite all of the above, I am heartened by how the gardens are looking. Having split my original plant collection between Japanese and Potted Cottage, the gaps have been filled enough not to notice any absences.. A couple of climbers have helped whilst a young Sambucus ‘golden tower‘ replaces Acer Sei-ryu and Photinia ‘Louise’ substitutes for the red Acer Trompenburg. Perennials and annuals do the rest including Gaura ‘summer breeze‘ – one of this year’s success from seed to bloom story!

The almost completed Teahouse gazebo sets the mood for my morning Qigong on the adjacent paved platform and the whole of the Japanese garden area is filling up nicely. When all building work is complete, it will be gravelled and interspaced with paved stepping stones.

The new vegetable beds are producing rather well, despite the lack of improvers on soil that was literally topped off with scrapings from the border hedge and what was left when I removed the weedy lawn. There’s a mix of both seed sown and purchased plants, and I’m already enjoying lettuce, rocket, perennial spinach, Chopsuey Greens ‘Shungiku and Mange Tout.

Footnote: Interestingly there is a herb called garden-patience which perhaps I should try cultivating. Properly named Rumex patientia, it’s been out of favour in the UK since the mid 19th century when Patrick Neil wrote:

“ ‘In old times , garden-patience was much cultivated as a spinage. It is now very much neglected…The leaves rise early in the spring; they are to be cut while tender, and about a fourth part of common sorrel is to be mixed with them. [from The Backyard Larder]