Ribes Sanguinium White Icicle

Posted on March 24, 2012 by Alistair

Ribes white icicle a welcome sight in the early Spring garden

Ribes, the common flowering currant is welcome to the positions which they enjoy in our woodland area. White icicle opens its pendulous pure white blooms in mid  March and some years a little earlier, continuing to bloom until late April.

Plant in a sunny or partially shaded position, this is a shrub that is not too fussy regarding soil type other than the requirement for it to be free draining.  White icicle received the RHS award of garden merit and is quite a vigorous form and will grow to about six feet.  We prune ours in mid Summer every year keeping it to a height of four feet.

This is a great hardy shrub for the Aberdeen area which I would highly recommend.  After flowering, white icicle often forms black fruits.  Although deciduous it would make a really good hedge.

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Ribes King Edward V11 also in the woodland area is positioned at the very top of a steep embankment.  This position with the glaring light makes it difficult to view the shrub well.

The red flowers on this one bloom at much the same time as white icicle and of course is just as hardy.  King Edward V11 has a more upright habit. I should point out that the recommended time for pruning is said to be just after the flowers have gone over.

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The common pale pink form of  Sanguineum was in the woodland area when we came to this house twenty six years ago. A few of them got very woody and brittle, dying off a few years back.  One of them I cut back to ground level which gave it a new lease of life and looks set to flourish for a few years yet.

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Every now and then something different in the garden appears unexpectedly.  Last week on looking out the kitchen window at about 7am, I saw an unusual form in the garden pond, I use the term garden pond loosely as its not much bigger than a puddle.  In spite of this there are many frogs and birds which appreciate it being there.  Well anyway the sight in front of me became clear when I put on my glasses.  Two Mallard Ducks bobbing about and almost filling the pond with their size.  They stayed around for about an hour before finding their escape route.

  

  

  

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Sarcococca Hookeriana Var. Humilis

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Alistair

Sarcococca Humilis (Sweet Box) flowering in our Aberdeen garden in February.

 (Sarcococca Hookeriana Var. Humilis) is well worthy of consideration for your garden. Well it doesn’t exactly jump out at you but hey any plant which flowers in the month of February has to be a gardeners friend.

To be quite honest, this shrub has been in the main border of the back garden for a number of years and I had never paid much attention to it.  Well not until the delightful Edith Hope, a lady with the charm of a bygone age did sing its praises when I at one time mentioned said plant.

Whatever you do don’t place it in the middle of the border where it is difficult to gain access. Plant it near the path edge where you can admire the tiny blooms and if your senses are more attuned than mine you can take in the unexpected fragrance on a Winters day.

Although this evergreen shrub will grow well enough in a sunny position it will also thrive in the most dense of shade. The only other evergreen shrub to my knowledge which grows as well in such shade is the Aucuba,(Spotted Laurel).

Sarcococca from Western China has dark green glossy leaves and small white beautifully fragrant flowers, which have pink tips whilst in bud. The flowers start to open in some areas of the UK from December and continue through till March, followed by small black fruits.  Well here in Aberdeen expect to first see the blooms in February, to be quite honest I would be surprised to see them in bloom in the month of December anywhere in the UK.

Hardiness – Fully Hardy

Height – 60cm/2ft

Spread – 90cm/3ft

Position – Full Sun/Partial/Full Shade, in Moist Well Drained Soil

Common Name – Sweet Box

Flowering – December till March.

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Just a little stroll through the back garden as it was in Summer of last year.

Coming through the garden gate from the front of the house.

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The patio will hopefully get more use this Summer after last years miserable weather.

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Just beyond the patio the Rhododendrons gave a good show.

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The wee garden pond which is in the main area of the back garden.

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The main area of the back garden planted in a manner which is easy to keep and looks good with little effort, well reasonably easy.

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A little further up the path we have the round garden. A few years ago I could not get the grass to grow in this area.  Turned out that just too much shade was being cast with conifers which had become too overgrown.  All is now well after the major cut back of offending specimens.

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A short distance up the path and through a green wooden gate from the round garden lies the Secret and Woodland Garden. Its hard to have favourite areas of the garden, I may say one thing and then change my mind in an instance.  However I am very fond of this area.

Next week I will pick up on what Eliza from appalachianfeet talks of and perhaps show the ugly side of our garden.

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