Good morning all.
Slightly over ‘a drop of rain’ this week, but today has not been as damp as forecast so hopefully the sales won’t be hit too hard over the last of the spring bank holidays. Might have a beer tonight as it’s a holiday.
Too many flowers to talk about to mention the toiling of this week. In summary very busy, bit tired, but looking forward to finding a present for Caroline’s birthday next week. Might need something good to make up for the lack of 30th anniversary frivolities. Luckily some friends have organised an evening out in a Winchester pub to see a local singer, so that’s the social side sorted, just need something more exotic than the bag of spinach I got one year (it was organic).
Availability
Strong, short, fresh stock of Digitalis Dalmation are just starting on flower production, ideal just now.
Echinacea varieties already producing a few buds, but not a lot left as the popularity of these plants has mushroomed.
New Leucanthemum varieties to us (Lacrosse and Banana Creme) are showing their first signs of flowering, as are the pale yellow Broadway Lights and white Snowcap. There are just a few of the taller classic white May Queen left in colour.
Achilleas are just showing their first buds, including the new delightful compact Desert Eve series of which the pale yellow is now showing good colour.
The more traditional style Dianthus, the garden pinks, are also producing bud, the new ‘Scent First’ (SF) series are compact and as the name suggests fantastically scented with some lovely colour combinations. By far the most popular variety last week was ‘Slap and Tickle’, way above ‘Romance’ and ‘Coconut Sundae’. Is there a message there?
Catananche are coming into bud now, their delightful papery blue flowers just a moment away. We have a few of the white form as well this year which is also in bud.
Liatris spicata are stonking plants with potential for numerous flower spikes, the first of which are appearing. Astilbe varieties are now in bud and looking fresh and vigorous.
A good show of fresh flowers on the Primula vialli, looking very exotic, for a primula! Only a few left, don’t miss out.
Early flower and loads of bud on all of the bushy Salvia varieties this week. The short ‘Deep Rose’ looks almost luminous. The dark stemmed Caradonna variety is very dramatic and becoming increasingly popular with garden designers. Coreopsis Sunfire has plenty of bud nestling in its fresh green foliage, with Sunray and Corey Yellow close behind.
The Dianthus deltoids varieties have their flowers opening, tiny little things but really eye catching, especially the red varieties of Flashing Light and Brilliancy.
The more unusual Oxalis triangularis are up and displaying their vibrant purple foliage with the first pink flower buds appearing.
Another unusual plant is Limonium (Sea Lavender) which, for the first time for us, is throwing up strong flower shoots above its rosettes of flat leaves.
Strong and dramatic are the flower spikes of the Thalictrum diptocarpum, an impressive show of early summer vigour. The classic Alchemilla mollis are showing their first flower shoots of subtle yellow.
Still plenty of buds and the odd open flower appearing on the Centaurea dealbata, stonking plants ready to roll.
Erigeron Azure Beauty and Pink Jewel have their first buds appearing. The Sea Breeze varieties are poised too, looking verdant.
New batches of fresh bushy Lupins are looking fabulous. If you would rather have the strong older stock which is in bud just let us know.
Geraniums are showing colour, Brookside with flowers open and bud and colour on the G. cant. Karmina (very dark pink).
The stunning clear pink flowers of Geranium sang. Striatum are just beginning to open together with the purple sanguinium and the striking white form.
Campanula glomerata varieties are showing plenty of bud and early colour but only a few left. Fresh bushy Delphs and Hollyhocks (Alcea) raring to go but won’t hang around long.
Fabulous, good looking, very strong and popular non-flowering plants at the moment include, Verbena bonariensis Lollipop, Sedum, Rudbeckia and Phlox varieties, don’t miss out.
Edibles
Meanwhile the strawberries are beginning to do their summer thing, first flowers now and fruit on the horizon. We are having a play with a couple of new strawberry lines to us, Toscana and Roman, both with strongly coloured red/pink flowers and long flowering and fruiting seasons. They are just starting to flower now and look great even without the tempting fruit.
Have a good one, from all at Kirton Farm Nurseries
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