Survivors…

With a fortnight of mild weather behind me and after a night of heavy rain, I decided to plant out the exotic garden. Out from winter hibernation came the sole surviving small clump of Cyperus papyrus (all the rest died, despite being in a greenhouse, in a polystyrene fish box, wrapped in straw and fleece), Colocasia fontanesii (treated the same as the Cyperus and came through just fine), Salvia patens ‘Guanojuato’ and two of the remaing three Jacarandas I grew from the seeds I collected on Sydney harbour. Into the mix went some Dahlia ‘David Howard’ and ‘Arabian Night’, a few Geranium palmatum (pitifully small at present), some young Paulownia which I grew from root cuttings last year and a big variegated Yucca which seems bombproof. The dead tree ferns remain as supports for Ipomea ‘Grandpa Ott’, which should add a splash of joy.

My urge to plant up was partly inspired by my delight at the emergence of the spears of Arisaema consanguineum, so late, but bigger and better than ever. I really did think they had bitten the dust, but in fact even some of my seed-raised babies in the polytunnel have come through temperatures as low as -10C.

A few other survivors have finally sprung into growth – the Musa basjoo which stayed outdoors are sending up new shoots from ground level, as are the Tetrapanax and a couple of Eucomis. Around the garden, the strawberry tree, Arbutus unedo, is sprouting warily along its old branches and the ancient, gnarled Rosemary in the scree bed is in flower and looking surprisingly chipper. Even the young Callistemon citrinus I planted last autumn have come through. But not so the Australian mint bush, Prostanthera cuneata, which revealed its tender nature after surviving at least 10 Cheshire winters outside. My attempts at propagating it from cuttings and seed failed last year, so that’s it, I guess. Still, the biggest surprise is the death of several buddleias – their trunks ringed with dead bark lifted by the frost. Yet the supposedly tender Buddleia alternifolia looks as healthy as anything. Most odd.

Elsewhere the garden is looking lush, ready to burst with the first great flush of herbaceous colour, now that the tulips are over. The biggest swathe of colour is from Allium Purple Sensation, now in great drifts across the not-so-new square borders. It’s been a very busy Bank Holiday weekend – I’ll try to take some pictures in the week. TTFN.