Welsh Country - Issue93 - Mar-Apr 20

The Early Spring
GARDENING
Blackbird and thrush are now perfecting their songs and
the robin’s watery undertones of winter have changed to a
bold, strident assertion of his territorial rights. In the garden
things swiftly start to accelerate towards an outburst of floral
activity. The waning delights of the snowdrop, hellebore and
aconite are overtaken by a multitude of narcissus, anemone,
crocus, camellia and magnolia.
One of the challenges facing small gardens, is to ensure
that all space is fully utilised. Walls and fences provide
invaluable growing areas and with a little thought their
ornamental value can be doubled. I have a west facing wall
to my conservatory which might be considered difficult,
since it receives the sun for barely an hour daily, even in
summer. Nevertheless, its light shade has proved the perfect
situation for Actinidia kolomikta. This relative of the kiwi
fruit produces thin textured leaves whose tips are white
fading to pink, providing a highly ornamental display for
several weeks. It has proved hardy but can be scorched by
ill timed spring gales. Next to it I have close planted twining
Dregea sinensis, a close relative of the highly scented
greenhouse climber Hoya carnosa. It is hard pruned each
spring as the actinidia leaves appear and by the time those
leaves fade to a dull green, the gloriously scented flowers of
the dregea appear and last throughout the summer. Both
plants merely require a good fertile soil and occasional feeds
of fertiliser.
A further method which has proved useful in extending
the flowering period, is to underplant early robust perennials
with later flowering climbers. I have used annuals such
as Ipomoea lobata and Tropaeolum peregrinum (canary
creeper) but prefer the perennial tubers of Tropaeolum
tuberosum, which although virtually hardy are best
lifted each autumn. The best form is ‘Ken Aslet’ which
commences flowering early in the summer, whereas the
type plant only starts to flower as the days grow shorter.
The tubers are also edible (but expensive) and even if you
are tempted, there is no truth in the rumour that they are an
aphrodisiac.
Dregea sinensis
“
When the cold, harsh winter has given its last breath,
When the sky above shows life instead of death,
When the claws reaching to the frozen sky become
decorated with leaves,
When the animals-long in hiding- scurry from trees,
”
We know winter has ended.
Camille Gotera
Garden
Actinidia kolomikta
Tropaeolum tuberosum
Mar - Apr 2020 53