Epimediums by David Sisley. April's meeting

At our April meeting we had a wonderful talk about epimediums by David Sisley from Straight Mile Nursery. David is passionate about epimediums. Most of us were unfamiliar with these little plants which like to be grown in shade and are very good as ground cover.

It was a different type of talk. We weren’t shown pictures of the plants, instead David brought lots of different varieties with him which were passed around the audience as David told us about the various leaf shapes and colours, the flower types and the growing habits. At the end of the talk we had an opportunity to purchase the plants which many of us did.

David told us that he was a garden designer by profession and started his career in 1976. He is still designing gardens. He also started his nursery business growing Japanese Maples and sold them at plant fairs. However, Japanese Maples are deciduous and are therefore just twigs in the spring which is when most plant fairs take place. David sold his larger nursery and moved to a smaller nursery and decided to concentrate on growing epimediums. These are small plants with delicate flowers in various colours yellow, white, red, pink. His nursery is the only one specialising in epimediums. Unfortunately, it is not open to the public. They sell the plants on line.

David told us that these plants are said to have mystic properties. Herbalists in history claimed they could prevent pregnancy and knew them as ‘Baronwart’ while the Chinese thought they were an aphrodisiac and they were commonly called ‘Horney Goats Weed’.

When caring for them, if they are the older European varieties which spread more, then you cut off their leaves before they flower in spring so that you expose the flower stems, but if they are the newer varieties their flowers stand higher and you should not cut off the leaves. To propagate them you can divide the clump. The newer varieties also appreciate a better quality soil. When planting them make sure you include lots of garden compost.

Once you know what these plants look like I am sure you will spot them in various gardens as I have been doing since our talk. This is their website if you would like to look at the plants or are thinking of buying one https://www.straightmile.net/

 

New Tips For Old Gardeners, March's recorded talk meeting.

Unfortunately, in March, our first meeting back at the hall after the Christmas break, our booked speaker gave us only a few hours’ notice that he was unwell and unable to attend. It was too short notice for us to be able to find a replacement. However, because of our Membership with Tendershoots Garden Club Network we were able to use one of their recorded talks. We picked a talk, on the topic ‘ New Tips and advice for Old Gardeners’.

The talk was very humorous as well as giving lots of helpful tips that we can use as we get older and can’t manage as much as we used to.

Just as we have more time for our gardens, we are starting to fall to bits (something many of us can relate to). We are looking to make our gardens ‘Easy Maintenance’. The landscapers will happily put in lots of hard landscaping as they can charge us more than creating gardens. But we saw lots of pictures which we agreed were generally boring.

You could create a woodland. This will provide spring colour and lots of greenery requiring some yearly maintenance for any trees but otherwise generally looks after itself. Or consider plants which are easy to care for. Hardy Agapanthus flower for a long time and come back each year without spreading (this can depend on your soil). Phlomis are easy to control, produce flowers followed by interesting seed heads. Diascia Personata – cut it down after it flowers and it will reflower.  Then there are things to avoid, eg. Wisteria is beautiful but requires extensive pruning and the pruning can take longer than it flowers. It will require professional care.

We also heard about taking care of your health, particularly our backs. Standing up straight and hoeing or sweeping sideways rather than bending forward. Leaning forward leaving your back leg straight and bending your other knee so your back remains straight. Using long handled tools to avoid bending. Many of us were interested in a long handled narrow trowel that the speaker said was one of her favorites. Use the no-dig method. It is very fashionable; is good for your soil structure; and requires less work. Only dig where you need to put in a new plant etc. Mulch the soil instead.

Consider employing teenagers, although not your own as they will be surly. If you know someone else’s teenagers they may be able to be bribed to do the work. Although note, they will need supervising.