HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 96, 17 September 1948, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), lege.) SPRING BLOSSOMS ' During the next two months an exceptionally wide range of trees and shrubs will flower. Many of them are among the finest and most free-flowering of garden plants. Firstly the magnolias, that showy genus, which may always be depended on to give a good display even during inclement weather. The individual flowers are unusually large and borne in great profusion. For convenience they may be divided into three sections. The first and largest group open their flowers before the leaves unfold. The second group carry their flowers above the leaves and, though less floriferous at any one time, they flower over a long period. The third group is evergreen and they ' flower throughout the summer months. The majority will do quite well in average soils, once they have become established. The roots are rather thick and fleshy and some species resent transplanting. It is a good plan to mix some well-rotted organic material ’with the soil before planting. Peat is excellent, and if. it is available, the plants establish more readily and suffer less from dry conditions during the first few months. Where the ground is heavy, .or likely to become wet in winter, it is wise to defer planting until the soil is warmer in the spring. Growth commences almost immediately, and the damaged roots recover much more quickly. It is quite safe to move thbm when in flower, providing this is done before the leaves appear. For the first few years they will benefit from watering during prolonged dry periods. Give them a good soaking and encourage the roots to grow deep. They prefer some shelter from strong or drying winds, and as a general rule resent lime in the soil.

The first to flower is M. Carripbellii, with huge flowers 8 to 12 inches across and. a rich pink in col-' our. This is the giant of them all, and will eventually grow into a large tree. It must be given room to develop, and may require a space 30 to 35 feet across. Other temporary plants should be planted to fill this space and give shelter to the young plant. These must be .sacrificed later to give room to one of the finest of all flowering trees. This species may not flower till it is 10 or 12 years of'age, but this disadvantage is offset by its great beauty and long flowering life. Next to flower is the Yulan, generally known as M. conspicua, with pure-white fragrant flowers and a shapely, founded habit. This, and one or two others, have been known under several botanical names. I give the name at present in use, though the new name M. heptapeta, may be seen in some English catalogues. This plant has been cultivated by the Chinese for more than thirteen/hundred years, especially near temples and in the Imperial gardens. Plants propagated by layering may flower when four or five years old, and will' eventually grow 20 to 25 feet high, and as much through.

Two white-flowered shrubs which bloom when the fresh green young leaves are half-grown are Exochorda, the peagl bush, and Amelanchier canadensis, June Berry or Service Berry. The former grows to 8 or 10 feet in height and prefers a good medium loam and a sunny position. The flowers completely “wreath” the bush, and after flowering any spindly growths should be pruned away, and crowded growths thinned. This will ensure the thorough ripening of the flowering wood. E. grandiflora and E. Giraldi are good species. Amelanchier is equally generous in flower and the fruits, which colour in mid-summer, give rise to the name of June Berry in its North American home. There are few plants which are so dependable and attractive for flowers, fruit and brilliant autumri tints. Amelanchier canadensis is the name; and A.C. batryapium is considered to bear large flowers, though they are almost indistinguishable from each other. They grow about 12 feet high and occasionally up to 20 feet.

The Chinese quince, with its rich pink flowers, followed by large long yellow fruits, is quite an attractive and useful subject. The fruits make excellent jelly and the almost-ever-green leaves colour before they fall. It grows from 12 feet up to 20 feet in height and is not at all fussy about soil. Viburnum carlesii is one of the most sweetly-scented <of all flowering shrubs. Two earlier-flow-ering species have been mentioned previously. This one is deciduous, grows 4 to 5 feet high and bears clusters of soft pink flowers. ’