JEARRARD'S HERBAL
Thats enough introduction - on with the plants!
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... out in the garden.
18th January 2026
Hydrangea (peruviana x serratifolia) .
The week has been dominated by the consequences of storm Goretti. Parts of the garden are blocked by fallen trees and the paths are littered with broken branches.
The start of the week was occupied with the need to replace some roofing panels on the greenhouse. There are a few more to do, but I hope I have done enough to keep it secure for now.
I hesitate to say that I am hoping we don't get another storm for a while.
The big casualties in the garden were the old Leyland cypress. I have lost a number that had done sterling service as wind-breaks over several decades. I had noted that a few of them were
looking exposed and vulnerable and it turns out I was right. This large one came down and brought the one next to it down as well.
It is doubly frustrating that the climbing Hydrangea (peruviana x serratifolia) growing up it had just started to get away. It had reached bout 4m tall
and I thought it was out of trouble. I hadn't allowed for the tree falling over. I have taken plenty of cuttings and left the Hydrangea
in the fallen rootball. If I am lucky it will turn around and cover the mound with foliage. I thought it was more likely to succeed than if I tried to move it.
18th January 2026
Galanthus 'Trym' .
Fortunately it has been a mild week, spring has advanced through the garden with stealthy steps. Flowers are appearing all around, and the snowdrops and daffodils, at least, seem to be prospering.
The hellebores are not so happy, a winter plague of rabbits is scratching and nibbling its way through the border. Many times in the last few days
I have watched a bud developing and returned the next day to see it in flower just to find it snapped off on the ground.
All those trees fell and not one of then managed to hit a rabbit. It might not be humane, but it would have been cheering.
The snowdrops have started. Every day there seems to be new things to see. Galanthus 'Trym' had done very well in a tub so I lifted a few bulbs two years ago and
planted them under the trees. I am pleased to say that they seem to be happy. As the snowdrops increase I am moving them around the garden.
Inevitably I will lose track of the names as I go. Those that are distinctive will remain distinctive. Those that are not are all jolly lovely
and does it really matter what they are? One of those cases where it is time to let go of obsession and enjoy the process.
If in future years some poor benighted soul asks a question about the minute details then I will invent something and smile charmingly.
18th January 2026
Narcissus 'Bowles Early Sulphur' .
First allow me to say this is a horrible picture of a lovely plant. The rain was threatening, the garden was heavy with moisture and I was cold and wobbly.
I took the picture and went to warm up. The picture is redolent of winter, the plant is the very spirit of spring. That's how the garden has been this week.
This seems to be very early for 'Bowles Early Sulphur', but when I checked the dates of past years it is about right.
The garden is simply holding on to the idea of winter for longer than usual.
My garden is dank, sometimes even gloomy. Winter fills it with brittle sunlight sliding in under the tree canopy. As spring comes and the sun rises, the
light dulls and eases as it cascades through the branches, tumbling to the ground with wool-soft affection.
The garden is still full of hard winter light. It shows just how many trees have gone. As summer develops I often lament the gentle dappled light.
A bit of scorching sun would be quite wonderful.
You have to be careful what you wish for.
18th January 2026
Camellia yunnanensis
Through the garden the camellias have been fairly staunch. I'm not sure that I will be seeing C. 'Italiana' again. A pine tree landed square on her head.
I should take cuttings while I can in case the stump has been smashed beyond recovery. Next to 'Italiana', 'Benten Kagura' has been a bit squashed.
I am hoping that it isn't terminal. If I can get the pine tree off without causing too much more damage then things look good. Beside that is 'Scented Sun'.
If there is one camellia in the garden that I would single out to be fallen on by a pine tree, it is 'Scented Sun'. Ugly thing,
makes 'Debbie' look like a contestant in a beauty pageant. To be fair, 'Debbie' always looks like a contestant in a beauty pageant, primped and pink and ready to be terminally bland
at a moment's notice. 'Debbie' shrugs off criticism with the slippery efficiency of 'Scented Sun' shrugging off a pine tree.
It's a survivor. Credit where credit is due.
Further down in the garden, C. yunnanensis has filled the garden with camellian delight, dancing and wiggling in the breeze.
There are some really lovely camellias, the secret lies in discrimination. Pine trees, evidently, have none.
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