March 2023
Hello Everyone
I have just managed to get a newsletter to you in March. The month has gone so quickly. The first thing that some of you will notice is that there aren't any photos. That is because I am a slow learner with new technology, it's been a very busy month for many reasons, and I still have some learning to do so that I can share photos with you on my computer that are taken on my new phone.
But, there are plenty photos to see as I have had a new website designed. I am very happy with it, and if you go to www.frensham.co.nz you will see more than the usual four or five photos that you receive with my regular newsletter.
As we have had a lot of rainy days in Christchurch this month we have been planting out a lot. Many of the plantings are in the extended woodland area: hostas, both new varieties and some of our well-established clumps that have been divided and replanted, a group of the low-growing Hydrangea 'Pee Wee', several Muehlenbeckia astonii have been added to an existing group at the back of the woodland where the view of the fence line follows to the neighbouring farm, and a new group of Angelica gigas has gone into a dry area where they grew successfully many years ago. Native to Korea and China, this purply stemmed plant grows to about two metres. As it prefers a moist spot I must remember to water this area more often so that the plant will self-seed. This is not one of my planting habits to put moist-loving plants into a dryish area, but these architectural delights will look so good in the spot that I have chosen. One of the endearing features of Angelica gigas is the cluster of small purple flowers that attract the bees. I call it the “beeball” plant. Google this plant to see its strong architectural features.
Also, I am adding to one of my favourite perennial plantings, Amsonia tabernaemontana. Native to North America, this amsonia has developed well in my garden. In late spring and early summer it has icy light-blue starry flowers, and in autumn its foliage turns yellow. I just have to grow more of this. Additional dahlias ‘Café au Lait’ have been planted. We divided these last season and a lot have sold from our plant sales table. We have a few left if anyone is interested. The intriguing colours of this dahlia from the time it opens until it fades, always draws my attention. They don’t need staking despite their super-large flowers, and I thought a more concentrated planting of them would be ideal. Thalictrum delavayi ‘Album’ is being planted in the garden behind the summerhouse where these dahlias are, and where a stunning white antirrhinum flowers each summer alongside the old-fashioned mignonette which grew in many of our grandmothers’ gardens.
I am often reminded of the travelling plant hunters who have been responsible for introducing so much plant material to other parts of the world. Père Jean Marie Delavay was a French missionary, explorer and botanist who collected many plants in his travels. Many plants that we grow in our gardens, such as Thalictrum delavayi, have been named after him.
A book that I am looking forward to reading, and which was published by Batsford in the UK at the beginning of this month, is Why We Garden. Drawing on the wisdom of gardeners, writers, scientists and philosophers, this captivating book uncovers the mystery of why we love our gardens. Claire Masset focuses on vital themes – such as beauty, nature, happiness, love, sanctuary and therapy – and peppers the text with her own personal experiences of gardening. Both a hymn to gardening and a call to action, this inspiring guide is worth a hundred 'how-tos'. The author of over ten books, Claire is a garden writer and publisher based in the United Kingdom.
Best wishes,
Margaret
