A TREASURE CHEST OF FLORAL BEAUTIES!!

I do not think I have ever seen such a wonderful spring for BLOSSOM as this year.
The Nursery is a feast of FLORAL BEAUTY - just driving down from the road - everywhere you look is another colourful tree. With so many it is difficult to know where to start, but the photo on the right shows the gorgeous SNOWY MESPILUS - AMELANCHIER CANADENSIS - surely one of the most neglected trees around. A real plant for all seasons - superbly contrasting BRONZE YOUNG FOLIAGE and WHITE STARRY FLOWERS now - but following that RED BERRIES -adored by the birds - and finally STUNNING AUTUMN COLOUR -what more could a tree give??

Many of the Prunus are starting to go over now, but there are several star-performers that will keep the show going into May. If your garden is only small - then there is one of these lovelies for you - PRUNUS 'AMANOGOWA' a lovely small tree FOR A RESTRICTED SPACE. As the photo on the left shows it is another SHOWSTOPPER! As well as sumptuous blossom, this one also has FRAGRANT FLOWERS - not many of the Cherries have that - and a very UPRIGHT HABIT - so perfect for NARROW GARDENS!!

A tree that is ALWAYS OVERLOOKED is the BIRD CHERRY - PRUNUS PADUS - everybody sees the usual types in the streets - but this one has a far longer season - and also a different shaped flower too - as the picture on the right below shows - a long spike

of blossom - followed by BLACK BERRIES - loved by the birds.

As well as the normal green-leaved form, there is also a PURPLE-LEAVED VARIETY as well.

This is known as PURPLE QUEEN - and is a cracker in flower and also foliage as well - taking a bronze-tint all through the summer.

And now starting to join them are the CRAB APPLES - THE MALUS. There will be more pictures of those over the next few weeks - but the buds are just poised to start.

However, it is NOT JUST THE TREES that are at their best - a number of cracking SHRUBS - are entering their time. Everyone at the nursery is busy preparing for our SPRING OPEN DAY - only a week or so away now on SATURDAY APRIL 25TH.

Everywhere is being spruced and tidied, new stock is coming out of the tunnels daily - including one of my favourite climbers -

A fab new HONEYSUCKLE - LONICERA 'MINT CRISP' - as the photo on the right shows, it has the most delicate foliage in spring, with a SUBTLE VARIEGATION - but do not be fooled this is one of the toughest of all - and the foliage is also SEMI-EVERGREEN - and will last the season through. But surely the biggest bonus must be the SWEETLY-SCENTED FLOWERS - particularly in the evening. Got a fence or wall to cover? - plant this - you will not be disappointed!


Looking for something a little more shrubby? - why not go for the good old MEXICAN ORANGE BLOSSOM - CHOISYA TERNATA. A long-cultivated shrub - but a good-doer - reliable EVERGREEN SAGE-SCENTED FOLIAGE on a dense bush - easily pruned, but the highlight is the FRAGRANT CLUSTERS OF WHITE BLOSSOM - produced in spring and often again in the autumn.


In all honesty, there are so many floral beauties here at the nursery at the moment, that I do not have the space - or the time to list them all - so better still - WHY NOT COME AND SEE THEM FOR YOURSELF!! We would love to see you!!

Until next time,
RICHARD