The Display House at Holehird Gardens, Windermere

 An indulgence. One of my favourite places on a rainy day in the Lake District. Run entirely by volunteers from the Lakeland Horticultural Society, Holehird Gardens is a five acre plot of demonstration gardens. I've featured it before. On a wet October day, of which there are many in the Lake District - and it doesn't have to be autumn - their new Victorian-style greenhouse opened in 2017 is a joy. I understand they've had a struggle with whitefly but I couldn't find any. Griffin Greenhouses constructed the greenhouse. When I need one this size I know where to go.

Erythronium 'Pagoda'

 The dog tooth violet is a graceful addition to the spring border, so much so that I have a number of new varieties waiting in the potting shed ready to plant out the moment the contractor has completed cutting down a number of trees and shrubs that have simply got too big for their own good. The most successful of the trout lilies in the garden, by a margin, is Erythronium 'Pagoda'. The sulphur-yellow, pendent shaped flowers and glossy, mottled leaves, shown here on 11th April, make for a showy display. And it throws out many flowers. A member of the family Liliaceae, it grows here in shade and sun.

Miniature Narcissus 'Flomay'

 

One of the top breeders of daffodils was Alec Gray, 1895-1986. He brought us 'Tête-à-Tête' for example, the greatest success of any bulb. 'Flomay' was named after his wife. Now you only name something after your wife if it is special and it is. Photographed here on 1st April 'Flomay' is a fabulous miniature, looking great in a pot. It is very slow to increase. Here's Alec's own description in his 1960 catalogue. I'm waiting for that pinkish edge to develop.

Clematis: 'The Queen of Climbers'

 I have had decidedly mixed results with clematis. Wilt seems the main killer. I read that the fungus spores can be introduced by too tight ties, or something that wounds the plant. But although I may be guilty of treating the plants roughly I am guilty as charged on pruning and providing proper frames. Lockdown has given me time to attend to the latter, whilst the pruning regime will commence when I hard prune all but the spring flowering varieties very shortly. The dead leaves and stems need to be removed as they take the eye. But mixed results suggest some were successful. In no particular order then.

'Westerplatte'

'Josephine' 

'Girenas'

'Princess Diana'

'Rahavarrine'

'Florida Taiga'

Cyclamen Hederifolium

 I have several cyclamen varieties but none quite so invasive as the beautiful autumn flowering Cyclamen Hederifolium. I wouldn't be without them but know your enemy. They seed themselves like cress, whilst the mature corms grow enormous. I have one wedged into a 50cm pot that is impossible to extricate without destroying one or the other. 

I used to grow them in a dark part of the garden. Having cut down the shrubs the area is now much brighter and suitable for a wider range of plants. Finding space between the corms is no easy matter. Hederifolium don't like competition, and that includes the winter flowering coum varieties that are not quite so vigorous.

Narcissus 'Kiwi Magic'

 There are thousands of narcissus varieties. However 'Kiwi Magic' is rather special, an enchanting mix of yellow and cream, a ruffle rather than trumpet. Were a confectioner or dress designer to conjure up a little something ... Introduced in 1989 the bulb was one of the finest raised by the small business, Koanga Daffodils, based in Hamilton, New Zealand. Indeed, I have the description from their final ever catalogue for 2007-2008. 

'A stunning double that just keeps on winning! Twenty National premier blooms to its credit, including 2003, and Best Bloom at the Canberra Australasian Championship in 1994. A huge flower pure white with lemon inner segments that fade to milk white as it matures. Very evenly formed — a stand out amongst its peers.'

Interestingly, the most expensive bulb they sold was 'Fencourt Jewel' at $150, New Zealand currency. It is available in the UK, very much cheaper, and I'll put it on the list for next year. So these lovely varieties don't just happen. Thanks to Peter and Lesley Ramsay and Max and Kath Hamilton - Koanga.

Tree Lilies: 'Morosini' & Giants of the Border

 A few years ago we returned from a long trip to the continent to see tree lilies towering over the front hedge. The powerful scent hit us immediately we climbed out of the taxi. I'd not appreciated how quickly the bulbs, planted a year previously, would develop to giants. In July my new bulb order arrived and I've had a quandary as to whether or not to let them develop as winter approaches. I need the bulbs to swell out for next year. So I snipped all the buds off except, by omission, 'Morosini', a new variety. 

Not a giant yet and, unlike the mature plants, it required staking but it has a sweet scent, a depth to its colour and a sheen to its petals that lightened up the last day of October. How it will perform next year without time to build up its reserves I have no idea.

Meanwhile, one I prepared earlier, the second image shows a yellow bloom from one of those giants. And the fragrance envelops the garden. And another from July showing the sheer number of buds.

Tulipa clusiana 'Tubergen's Gem'

 The pencil-like stems and tight buds of the diminutive botanical Tulipa clusiana 'Tubergen's Gem', photographed here on 1st April, are beautiful even before they open out. When they do the star shaped yellow inner and outer red make for an arresting display. It's a strong grower, braving wind and rain. These dwarf, species tulips naturalise well. Certainly in our sink garden anyway. (Note to self: plant them in the garden.) It is so good it has the Award of Garden Merit from the RHS. Introduced in 1969 by van Turgen. His gem and the joint winner of my prestigious Tulip of the Year Award. AGM and TYA. 

A Plethora of Pinks

Using my Instagram account (#galanthus69) I made a record of the various fragrant pinks I'd grown from cuttings. I was attempting to find the most fragrant. Of course that is subjective. However, 'Coconut Sundae' is still flowering, still exuding a delicious, spicy perfume, and has formed a clump of pretty blooms. The video takes time to load I'm afraid.

Best Tulip of the Year: 'Blue Diamond'

 Tough challenge to choose the favourite tulip. Actually 'Blue Diamond' is the joint winner with one of the species varieties. Photographed on 13th April, it flowered forever, had huge blooms that stood up well to the weather, a pleasant if faint fragrance, that rich blue-purple colour and, most importantly for me, a silk sheen to the petals. And no new bolter from the breeder: the tulip is tried and tested since its introduction in 1962.

Narcissus 'Sabine Hay' - The Future's Orange

 One of the brightest and most unusual narcissus I grew for the first time last year was 'Sabine Hay'. Its orange petals and darker cup are just startling. I planted it in a large terracotta pot in the shadiest section of the patio to preserve its colour. The bulb is no kid on the block having been bred in the 60s. To the best of my knowledge no other narcissus has this colouring. I planted some annuals in the same pot and, clearing them out before top dressing, the new shoots are already sprouting. The photograph was taken on the 28th March this year.