Wednesday September 27th

Posted by Alistair on Wednesday, September 27th, 2006

We often refer to people as having green fingers, some will say nothing grows for them because they are not green fingered. Rubbish really isn’t it, gardening is like everything else, you have to work at it.
Gardening is full of contradictions, you will get the professional telling the amateur, don’t do this, that or the other if you want good results, only to find that the pupil obtains perfection by chucking in the plant any old way.
What about those plants that are just a bit too tender to grow in our cooler climate here in Aberdeen.
Well how often do we see that myth thrown out the window, find a spot sheltered enough or fully south facing and you may well find that it is surprising what you can get away with.
I remember quite a number of years ago on a local television gardening show, the presenter said that trying to grow Camellias in Aberdeen was a waste of time! not at all, planted in the right spot, we get fantastic results.
Also a famous and much respected Yorkshire gardener Geoffrey Smith will tell you that the winter flowering Hamamelis Mollis will not grow in his garden, yet here in Aberdeen where it is colder they flower their hearts out.
Mind you I have never had results with Magnolia, however, I have seen them in other gardens in this city.
So if you are interested in gardening, just get out there and do it, it wont matter if you make Mistakes, this is how we all learn, and you will just love your results.
Try Nerine, sometimes described as a little tender, once again plant in the right spot and they will flower year after year. Plant Nerine Bowdenii with umbels of lily like pink flowers from September through till early November. This one is also known as the Jersey Lily. Plant the bulbs in Spring with their heads just above the soil in a sunny dry spot, preferably with the protection of a wall. The RHS gave this one the prestigious award of garden merit. Nerine are dormant in summer.

Nerine Bowdenii