"Sacha" wrote in message
...
On 2010-01-03 15:56:11 +0000, "Spider" said:


"Sacha" wrote in message
...
in the garden and there was a *very* poor show, compared to most years.
This probably reflects the frosts we've had so far, much earlier than we
normally get them. The not-very-vast number of things in flower was:
Vinca oxyloba, Rosemarinus marenca, Mahonia bealei, Sarcococca confusa
and
S. hookeriana, Camella Takanini and C. sasanqua Narumigata, as well as
the
Camellia we think is 'Cherub'. The two latter are in full bloom. There
is also Correa backhousiana, Cestrum parquii, Viburnum tinus, Lonicera
purpusii, various Hellebores, Fuchsia excorticata in bud, Jasminum
nudiflorum, and with buds just about ready to break, the fishtail
Camellia
Kingyoba-shiro-wabisuke.
And as a bonus (?!) 3 large badger scrapes towards the bottom of the
garden!
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon


We had a chilly, bleak New Year's day and my fingers froze whilst
writing,
but here's my list:

Achillea 'King George' - several corymbs of primrose flowers
Calendula canariensis - 1 lemon flower
Chaenomeles cutting - several buds, three flowers
Diascia - 2 large salmon buds
Erigeron karvinskianus - scattered white flowers
Erodium reichardii rosea - 2 flowers
Erysimum 'Bowle's Mauve' - 14 apical flower clusters, many purple buds
Exochorda macr. 'The Bride' -very few green flower buds nearest house
*late*
(for us)
Feverfew (Tanacetum sp?) - few battered flowers
Geranium 'Ann Folkard' - 1 flower
Hebe 'Midsummer Beauty' - 3 flowers
Hebe 'Nicola's Blush' - few flower spikes, several in bud
Hebe 'Purple Picture - 2 poor flower spikes, several with coloured buds
Hebe (purple seedling) - 1 flower spike, several in bud
Helleborus Xs - 2 dark plum flowers; others barely in bud
Helleborus argutifolium - only elongated bud group *unusually late*
Jasminum nudiflorum - scattered flowers
Kerria flore pleno - few tight buds *notably late*
Kerria jap. 'Gold Guinee' - many buds, only 1 showing colour
Laurus nobilis - many tight buds
Mahonia japonica - many budded flower sprays, one with lemon buds
Pieris - very many buds!
Primula vulgaris - one plant only had 4 flowers *unusually late*
Rhodo. cilipinense - many buds
Rosa 'The Fairy' - 2 flowers, scattered buds
Rosa 'Ballerina' - 5 fading flowers, 1 opening bud
Rosa 'Nozomi' - 1 flower, 3 pink buds
Rosmarinus 'Servern Seas' many scattered flowers, oodles of buds
Sarcococca - many tight pinkish buds

Also, many bulbs were pushing through. However, the snowdrops were
showing
no sign of bud, which is very late here.
Other colour was provided by berries, haws, (Pyracantha, Cotoneaster,
Roses); bark (Betula, Cornus) and some vivid leaf colour (Heuchera,
Euonymus, Cyclamen, Hedera).

Sorry I'm late with this - forgot to come out of hibernation. Brrr!

That's a really impressive list, especially given the weather. BTW, for
these purposes and for making notes on the nursery, I have a little
Olympus note taker and find it invaluable. It's a tiny handheld
dictaphone thingy called a digital voice recorder.
--
Sacha
www.hillhousenursery.com
Shrubs & perennials. Tender & exotics.
South Devon




That's a really good idea, Sacha. I used to wish I had one when studying
spiders in the field, but was forced to change my mind. So many people
would approach me whilst walking their dog and ask what I was doing (with
magnifying loupes, notebook and pen and spider guide) that it seemed likely
I would end up with a tape (in those days!) full of enquiring chat, and not
much about the relative eye patterns and leg lengths of assorted spiders.
Sorry, Sacha, I know s-words aren't your thing!

However, (returns to gardening) it would be very useful for gardening. I
could note where there's a bare patch in need of Triffida robusta to add
interest and eat the burglars ... and, as you imply, rules out trying to
write with icicle-bedecked fingers. Mmm .. feels a visit to Staples coming
on.

Spider