GARDENING WITH BEA

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 5, Issue 17, 22 September 1987, Page 16

GARDENING WITH BEA

How enioyable are the fruits of our labours?

Despite the sudden return to winter, daffodils and narcissus are bursting with bloom and hyacinths gay with bright colour and heady fragrance. One very nice hyacinth we planted this year is Hyacinth Cynthella, a really vibrant blue, it bears several blooms from the one bulb. Before planting we thoroughly dug the beds and

worked the soil to a fine tilth. Enriched with animal manure and the small amount of compost we had available we planted out bulbs about six inches deep and, after covering and lightly firming the earth above them, added a few handfuls of pelletised manure to wash into the soil over the winter. The hyacinths have responded well with some good spikes. Not all the Narcissus have flowered,

largely I think because we had to lift them from our former garden before all the foliage had completely . died down. It is in this period after flowering that the leaves supply nourishment to the bulb beneath so important for the bulb to flower the next season. However, those that did flower have shown good large blooms. This is perhaps the one disadvantage with spring bulbs. After the flowers are over, the dying down process takes valuable time when you want to prepare the ground for summer planting. This can be overcome by digging a small holding bed in an out of the way part of the garden, then carefully lifting the bulbs with a spade ensuring as much earth as possible is retained around the roots to prevent root damage and transplanting them into the prepared bed to finish off the dying down process. The bulbs should not be lifted until all the foliage has withered, when they can be lifted, dried and dusted off with an insecticide ready for storing in a dry, airy place ou^of strong sunlight. The flowering almond Prunus Persica Wrightii which we planted only a month or so ago is showing its first few flowers. A small tree growing only to 15 feet or so it is worthy of a place in aCny garden

being smothered in rich pink blossom in early spring. It is ideally suited to the small garden where drainage pipes and cement pathways must be considered as unlike some of the Prunus varieties it has a more compact rooting system. Another delightful small tree or shrub which I am determined to find a place for is the dainty Acacia Rewa sometimes listed as Acacia Riceana, the rice Wattle. It is evergreen with attractive fernlike leaves and has large fluffy balls of flower. Growing under ten feet in height it does not take up too much space. Polyanthus are making a lovely show of colour just now. The modern varieties with their large flowers and such a wide colour range are really a 'must' for the spring garden. Left unattended Polyanthus are inclined to revert to their natural colours of cream and yellow. To help retain their colours for a longer period lift the clumps every second year in March, removing the plantlets from the woody base which forms beneath them. Planted out they will flower the following spring. Buy your new dahlias now while there is a good selection available but delay planting for a week or two until this cold wet weather has passed.