NG2 JUNE/JULY 2021
Local business directory and community magazine
Local business directory and community magazine
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Hardy sages for<br />
the flower garden<br />
Most people’s introduction to<br />
the wonderful world of salvias<br />
is either courtesy of sage, the<br />
well-loved herb grown from<br />
time immemorial for its culinary<br />
and medicinal value or perhaps<br />
the bright red bedding plant<br />
Salvia splendens traditionally<br />
planted with blue lobelia and<br />
white alyssum for a truly patriotic<br />
display. However, hardy,<br />
perennial salvias are becoming<br />
increasingly popular as great<br />
garden plants for people and<br />
bees. These are not all edible<br />
but make a wonderful, longlasting<br />
display in the garden.<br />
There is a vast array of perennial<br />
salvias to choose from including<br />
many tender types, but this<br />
time I’m focusing on the hardy,<br />
perennial European types that<br />
are great for most gardens.<br />
Of the European species, the<br />
best for general garden use are<br />
the wood sages and these are<br />
varieties of Salvia nemorosa,<br />
sylvestris and superba. They<br />
grow in dry or moist soils and<br />
can be grown in light shade or<br />
a sunny spot. They grow well in<br />
alkaline (chalky), neutral or mildly<br />
acid soils. Add lime annually if<br />
planting in extremely acid soils.<br />
They have rough leaves and<br />
short spikes of fl owers from<br />
June through July. If you cut<br />
them back hard after fl owering,<br />
they will normally oblige with<br />
more fl owers in late August into<br />
September. The planting distance<br />
for these is about 12-18in / 30-<br />
45cm apart.<br />
They come in many shades of<br />
blue, pink, violet and white and<br />
vary in height from 1ft / 30cm<br />
through to 3ft 6in / 105cm.<br />
Snow Hill and Blue Hill (properly<br />
called by their German names<br />
Schneehügel and Blauhügel)<br />
are the shortest ones I grow<br />
and are snow-white and skyblue<br />
respectively. Among my<br />
favourites are the slightly taller<br />
May Night (indigo blue) and<br />
East Friesland (blue) and the<br />
lovely Rose Queen (pink).<br />
The newer variety Caradonna<br />
grows to about 2ft / 60cm tall<br />
and has lovely blue fl owers and<br />
black stems in summer adding to<br />
their drama.<br />
One of the tallest is the aptly<br />
named Amethyst which grows to<br />
3ft / 90cm or slightly more. This<br />
one has a long fl owering period<br />
from June to September or even<br />
October without the need to be<br />
cut back at all.<br />
Of course, there are also many<br />
ornamental varieties of the<br />
herb sage for growing in a<br />
free-draining, sunny spot and<br />
you can fi nd types with purple,<br />
golden and variegated leaves.<br />
Martin Blow<br />
Martin & Janet Blow run<br />
Special Perennials.<br />
OUR WEBSITE:<br />
specialperennials.com<br />
We also organise Plant Hunters’<br />
Fairs, specialist plant fairs at<br />
wonderful locations throughout<br />
the season. Please see www.<br />
planthuntersfairs.co.uk for a full list<br />
of all our <strong>2021</strong> plant fairs.<br />
PLANT FAIR DATES FOR<br />
YOUR DIARY <strong>2021</strong><br />
Please note all dates are subject to<br />
change. Please check website for<br />
all the latest updates and always<br />
before travelling.<br />
Middleton Hall, Nr Tamworth<br />
B78 2AE on Saturday 8th May &<br />
Sunday 27th June, (ticketed event)<br />
Entry to Gardens & Plant Fair £3<br />
1620’s House and Garden, Nr.<br />
Coalville LE67 2FW on Sunday<br />
23rd May, (ticketed event) Entry to<br />
Garden & Plant Fair £1<br />
Carsington Water, DE6 1ST on<br />
Bank Holiday Monday 31st May,<br />
FREE ENTRY to the plant fair &<br />
country park (parking charge).<br />
Thoresby Park Nr Ollerton,<br />
Newark, Nottinghamshire <strong>NG2</strong>2<br />
9EP on Saturday 26th June, FREE<br />
ENTRY to the plant fair & country<br />
park (there is a small charge to<br />
park).<br />
Please note all dates are subject to<br />
change. Please check website for all<br />
the latest updates, ticketing info and<br />
always before travelling.<br />
Thoresby Park Nr Ollerton, Newark,<br />
Nottinghamshire <strong>NG2</strong>2 9EP on<br />
Saturday 26th June, FREE ENTRY to<br />
the plant fair & country park (there is<br />
a small charge to park).<br />
Middleton Hall, Nr Tamworth B78<br />
2AE on Sunday 27th June, (ticketed<br />
event) Entry to Gardens & Plant Fair<br />
£3<br />
1620’s House and Garden, Nr.<br />
Coalville LE67 2FW on Sunday 1st<br />
August, (ticketed event) Entry to<br />
Garden & Plant Fair £1<br />
Southwell Minster Education Garden,<br />
Nottinghamshire <strong>NG2</strong>5 0HD on<br />
Sunday 8th August, Entry to plant fair<br />
suggested donation £2