Paeonia a few flambyount flowers!

Paeonia lactiflora and hybrids
Paeoniaceae

Peonies are elegant perennials, with flowers available in a wide range of types and colours, from a basic single bloom, to fully double varieties with over 100 petals per flower.                                   
There are up to 45 herbaceous and shrubby species, mainly native to Europe and Asia, although two unique species only grow in northwestern America.

Most herbaceous cultivars grow best in full sun, with well-drained soil, although some prefer a degree of shade and requirements of the species may vary..

Paeonia lactiflora "Bowl of Beauty"

Paeonia "Coral Charm"

Paeonia "Clare de Lune"

Bowl of Beauty is one of the anemone centred types with larger outer ring of petals and the wonderful centre. This form is highly scented.

Paeonia lactiflora "Dinner Plate"

Paeonia lactiflora "Doreen"

Paeonia lactiflora "Elsa Sass"

If you want something with a slightly different colour than Coral Charm will do it. These are large blooms and it is advisable to stake them.










Of the single hybrids Clare de Lune has to be one of the best. It starts off with creamy/yellow buds opening to cream/white with a large yellow centre. This is always a show stopper.







If my food always looked as yummy as this Dinner Plate I don't think there would be any complaints. A good slightly later flowering form.








This is quite a tall single flowered form which is free flowering. It is definitely bright and flamboyant.











There are a few varieties like Elsa Sass which have splodges of contrasting colour on the petals. they look a little bit like raspberry split ice cream?








Mother's choice is a very highly scented variety and makes a good present for Mother's day.

Paeonia lactiflora "Mother's Choice"

 Paeonia lactiflora "Duchesse de Nemours"

Some expensive beauties.....

Paeonia Itoh Hybrids

These are a cross between the tree paeony and herbaceous paeony.
The plants carry the most exquisite large blooms on a much more compact shrub. The new growth will start either from ground level each spring or from low down on the old wood. So pruning occurs in the spring to the buds visible.

Paeonia Lemon Dream"

Paeonia "Shining Light"

Paeonia "Cora Louise"

Paeonia "Hillary"

Paeonia "Bartzella'

Paeonia "Copper Kettle"

Paeonia "Scarlet Heaven"

The RHS did an excellent article on these amazing Paeonia crosses explaining the breeding and when the first varieties were produced, I will not plagiarize it but ask you to search it out on their website.
Why are they so expensive you may ask. It is all to do with the time and effort that goes into both the breeding and subsequent growing of the plants.
Although once planted in the garden they are quite an easy plant to grow and look after, it is the nurturing of them in their first years that takes time. Most plants will be in their fifth year of growth by the time they get to being saleable.

This group of Paeonia are certainly worth every penny.


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A little shade is good

VERONICA gentianoides
Plantaginaceae

Veronica gentianoides Dark Form

Veronica gentianoides "Tissington White"

Veronica gentianoides x intermedia

These very floriferous spring flowers have basal leaf clumps that are semi- evergreen. They are naturally from edge of woodland species liking soils with a high humus content and semi shade. Split clumps regularly to avoid the centre of the plant dying out.
This dark blue form has much narrower  very dark green leaves in comparison to any of the other varieties.


 The variety "Tissington White" was launched and named by Hardy's in 1991. This form has large mid green leaves and the individual florets are nearly twice the size of any other variety. It is very pale blue with dark blue anthers and blue veining to the petals. It originated in Derbyshire.






This form is one of the few that can be seed raised however there can be quite a bit of difference in the seedlings. Once you have a good form I advise vegetative propagation to keep the true clone. This is often misnamed as "Tissington White" but its flowers are smaller and bluer. It also is the last of the varieties to flower being 2 weeks later than most.



You may not notice it, but there is a perfume from these plants if only slight but enough for the early pollinators to notice. The dark form is the strongest and this is also the earliest to bloom.
Good ground cover plants in part shade.

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Shade loving plants some to start with..

Polygonatum - Asparagaceae
Common name- Solomons Seal
Solomon’s Seal is a genus of woodland perennials, which can be either clump-forming or ground-covering. They produce clusters of green-white, hanging flowers beneath their arching stems, followed by blue, black or red berries.

Polygonatum commutatum

Polygonatum x hybridum "Striatum"

Polygonatum multiflorum

"Striatum" is often mislabelled as variegatum and conversely p.falcatum variegatum is misapplied to this variety. True stratum has this cream striated variegation to its leaves. The falcatum variegated form only has a cream line around the edge of the leaf.







There are many other Polygonatum varieties available but these are the most widely available due to being the easiest to establish in British gardens.







Maianthemum (Formerly Smilacina) - Aspargaceae

These are hardy plants that make excellent ground cover in a shady spot. They are also grown for their clusters of tiny, scented flowers and subsequent berries.

Maianthemum stellatum

This small woodland plant makes excellent ground cover. The small star-like flowers contrast well with the mid green glossy leaves. Unlike a lot of the other varieties the perfume is insignificant.

Mainathemum racemosum

This is the most highly perfumed form of these plants and makes wonderful clumps in humus rich woodland. Once the clumps are well established division in autumn is the best way of propagating them.
Many other choice varieties are available but you will have to search these out.
There is a hybrid form being sold under the label racemosum and it does not have the reliability of flower or plant strength of the true form. As it starts to grow you can see the leaf and stem structure is not as robust.





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Glorious Geums

Geum- Rosaceae
Common name -Avens sometimes water-avens

Avens produce large quantities of flowers in late spring and early summer. The colour range is usually limited to shades of yellow, orange or red.
About 50 species are to be found around the world, in the cooler regions of Europe, Asia, North and South America, Africa and New Zealand. Most species are found on moist, fertile soil in meadows or woodland, but some originate in open areas with poorer soil.
Most varieties prefer a humus-rich soil, although some are happier with better drainage. Sun is ideal for many, and increases flowering, although most will tolerate some shade.

Geum "Bellbank" has some of the largest flowers.

Geums have become popular in the last few years with many being offered as garden worthy plants.
There are many hybrids available the smaller growing forms tend to be hybrids of rivale or the water-avens.

Geum "Hannays" -Formerly Hannays double

These wonderfully dynamic plants are easy to grow in most garden conditions being incredibly tolerant.
This beautiful variety was bred by the wonderful nursery nursery in Bath called Hannay's. They do not exist any-more but were a must visit nursery in the 1980's as they had such an unusual collection of plants.

Geum trifolium an interesting specie

Geum "Lisanne" our newest one to the collection

Of the specie forms some are really not at all interesting for the gardener.
However this little gem is.
Triflorum has lovely nodding flower buds and the most amazing seedheads. The foliage is very divided and almost fernlike in appearance. this plant does not get very large and enjoys a sunny site.

Geum "Mango Lassi" so neat

Geum "Pink Frills"

Geum "Redwings"
 

Geum "Totally Tangerine" the Best!

I was very fortunate to be able to do a swap for this lovely Geum with the propagator Coen Jansen. A lady in his village in Holland gave him plant material, which he propagated and it was named after her daughter. I do like the plant world as people will swap material to other interested people.

Geum "Lemon Drops"

"Mango Lassi" is a compact growing form with a slightly differing habit. It produces neat clumps and the flowers are on wiry stems with the flower-heads gazing up to the sky.










"Pink Frills" has as near pink as is possible large blooms with the petal edges being indented giving that frilly appearance.









"Redwings" is one of the larger growing hybrids that is more of a mid summer flowering variety. The flower stems are at least 60cm but do have an arching habit. Most gardeners will find they have to prop the flowers up on this variety.













Geum "Totally Tangerine" this is the start of some really good breeding.
This is a cracking plant that starts to flower in late spring at about 40cm and continues to re-bloom throughout the year until probably November and beyond by which time it will be 180cm high.
This is in my top 5 plants.






Lemon drops is another spring flower and has delicate lemon flowers with bronze buds and sepals giving a good contrast.







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Granny's Bonnets?

Good old garden favourite with everyone, except after a few years of self seeding!!
Aquilegia are an easy plant for anyone to grow but dead-heading is essential to prevent a takeover situation and promiscuity on a large scale!!

Aquilegia 'Hensoll Harebell'

Aquilegia 'McKanna Hybrids'

Aquilegia buergeriana 'Calimero'

So who would not enjoy all the variations in size both of the flowers and plants. The jolly colour variations, along with the double varieties as well.

Some come with long spurs, or spurless.

Aquilegia 'Greenapples'

Aquilegia chrysantha 'Yellow Queen'

Aquilegia 'Nora Barlow'

Aquilegia 'Ruby Port'

Aquilegia 'William Guiness'

If you do not want to be overrun by young plants do deadhead by cutting off old flower stems before they get dry and brown. this way you will remove all the seed which tends to have a 100% germination rate!!




Old plants are possible to lift and split if you are wanting to keep true varieties. This is best done in autumn if you are on light soils or early spring on heavier soils..
There are alpine varieties which grow only 15-20cm both high and wide which prefer free draining soil and a sunny site. Aquilegia alpina, Aquilegia buergeriana 'Calimero' are just two such plants.
Most of the other varieties are 45-60cm flowering height with a spread about 45cm. These will tolerate part shade and the seedlings will grow anywhere they have not read the book??

Annual Charity Open Day

April 21st 2013
Hardy's annual charity open day in aid of Naomi House Childrens Hospice.
Come and join us and have an enjoyable day.

Here is what it is all about pictures from the 2012 open day.

We don't do the collecting of free change by halves no small collecting tins here a bucket is so much better and our customers are very generous.
In 2012 we raised £1500.00

It is not just the nursery to come and look around, also invite locals who are involved in traditional trades. This young man has used his skills a fencer to do hurdle making and also hedge laying. If you drive up the B3400 from Overton to Basingstoke you will see his work.

Even the sales shed gets bunting to brighten up the day.

Inside our large potting shed everything is not as usual. It has been cleared out to give more space for other interests. This is our village apiarist (Bee Keeper) Mike and he was happily explaining bee keeping and hives to many of our visitors.

Again this shows the space available for the tea and coffee area. also in the background the Naomi house table.
2012 our wettest year but we had a fine day for the open day if a bit cool.

Plenty of visitors buying on the day at our annual discounted rate 10% off all plant purchases.

What is grown in and behind the polytunnels? well open day gives our customers the opportunity to have guided tours.
The chance to see behind the scenes and get a sneaky preview of plants that will be exhibited at the Chelsea flower show.

The tours go on throughout the day and are very popular some people coming around more than once this is all free.

All tours are guided by myself with plenty of inside knowledge divulged.

Then at the end of the day we draw the prize winning ticket. The tickets are free, one per person coming through the entrance. The chance to win 2 tickets to the Tuesday of Chelsea flower show (First day).
Of course the tickets have to be drawn from a large flowerpot!!










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