New Garden

 Time for an update... (much overdue, sorry!)

It has been a very busy six months since the move, the garden is being tamed, but battle is still being done with the more tenacious perennial weeds, ground elder, bindweed, both field and hedge, byrony, and dandelions. The latter have been a particular problem, the garden was half rough grass which I did not spray off, but just rotivated and removed the tufts of grass. I did not realise that the area had so many dandelions and by rotivating I had just cut the roots into smaller parts, and these are now producing leaves and have to be individually dug out, some from considerable depth. I particularly dislike dandelions as if they appear in the middle of an iris they are impossible to remove except by digging up the whole plant.

Enough of the dandelion rant. Progress is being made.         

January to September.

Most Irises survived the move although some of the pacific coasts irises were frozen in their pots and did not survive, some varieties seem more susceptible than others. I still have the majority of the different varieties, though some are down to one example and need a few years to bulk up. 

Some seedlings flowered for the first time this year, here are a few examples;

Hardens Blush

Seedling of Hardens Plum, darker when first open but fades to this rather attractive rosy red. Bulking up, regret none available 2025/26

Apricot Contrast

Seedling of Harden's Apricot. More species shaped flower, stronger contrast between red centre and yellow outer. Available to purchase 2025/26

Apricot Royale

Another seedling of Hardens Apricot. Rich red centre extends almost to the edge of the standard petal.

Bulking up, not available 2025/26.

Iris douglasiana

This is the genuine species, raised from imported American seed from the SPCNI seed list. It is the easiest PCI to grow,  even on alkali soils. Robust, evergreen ground cover will smother weeds. Flowered later than most PCIs, late May into June this year, but as it was the first year they flowered I am not sure this is always true, time will tell. Available to purchase 2024/25. Will soon form a decent sized clump.

I have several other varieties available, but not as many as before the move. Many need another year to bulk up before I can split them.

List to follow.

One last item. My contact gadget seems to have stopped working. I will add a contact page shortly, next job on the list.

Rob.