GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 208, 29 May 1926, Page 26

GARDEN NOTES

(Bj'

“Kowhai.”)

FLOWERING SHRUBS. As if to atone for tho scarcity of ‘ flowers in the borders during winter, ( Nature has been fairly lavish with her shrubs that flower at that time. Every garden, therefore, should have at least two or three winter-flowering shrubs. Already abutilons, cassias, lasiandras, abclias, tecomas, winter-flowering ericas, and daphnes are in flower, while acacia baileyana, luculia, and jasminum nudifloruin are beginning to show a little colour in their buds. Cotoncasters, hollies, viburnum siedoldii, and salanum capsicastrum are at present ablaze with their load of scarlet bayries. Towards the end of winter the fragrant buddleia salvifolia opens its big bunches of misty blue flowers, and scarlet japonicas give glorious splashes of colour.

ABUTILONS. As abutilons flower all through the winter I generally class them with the winter flowering shrubs, although they are practically always in bloom. The old variety with orange-crimson flowers is well known, but one docs not, in private gardens, often see the more up-to-date varieties. The dainty bellshaped flowers make the trees very attractive, and the trees themselves grow happily either in tho sun or in , the shade. In fact, for shady gardens abutilons are invaluable, and their upright, compact habit of growth makes them eminently suitable for small gardens.

Among newer varieties are shrubs that bear flowers of the following shades: — Pure white, clear pale yellow, deep gold, en yellow, crimson, purple, and pink. Among novelties, abutilon vitifolium has dainty pale blue flowers that are produced in bunches. This variety is summer flowering, and grows very quickly. Any wcll : dug soil suits abutilons, but if possible add some sand and some welldecayed garden rubbish to it.

ERICAS, Ericas are lovely, and the dainty flowers are charming both in the garden and in the house. Autumnalis begins flowering towards the end of autumn, and goes on well into the winter. Tho pinky-mauve heather (vulgaris), with its masses of tiny bells, too, is verj r welcome in our gardens at this time of the year. Aifiong winter flowering varieties are: Arborea, small white flower; melanthera, purple; allisoniana, pale pink; pyramidalis gracilis, white; rogerminans, pale mauve. When preparing the soil for ericas, dig it very deeply, and add well-decayed rubbish oi' leaves, and some sand.Ericas are quite hardy, and will do well in any well-prepared soil that is free from lime. Although they do not like being in soil that holds too much moisture in winter, they at the same time quickly suffer from drought in summer. During summer. therefore, mulching and watering must be attended to. EPACHIS. Tho Australian heath, cpacris, flowers during winter, and therefore finds a welcome place in our gardens. Tho flowers are borne on long stiff stems that arc ; easily arranged in vases. After flower- , ing, the plants should bo cut back, and i encouraged to make fresh growth. I Epacris likes a sandy, well-drained ; soil, containing a little peat. The treatment of the plants is much the same as for ericas. Epacris purpuresceus, with pinky-white flowers, is well known. It i may be had also in white, pink, and ] red. i

TECOMA. Tecoma may be used in several ways. It makes a splendid hedge; as a climber it quickly covers a bare dividing fence or a trellis; it is effective when grown as a shrub. The foliage is attractive, but tho great charm of the plants lies in the gay flowers with which they bedeck themselves during winter. Before planting tecomas dig the soil very deeply, for they must have it well drained. 1 CASSIA. Cassia is a most cheering sight at this ' time of year, for it looks quite happy i in spite of bad wedther. -It is easily • raised from seed and grows rapidly, the 1 seedlings reaching a height of three or [ four feet during their second year. After flowering, the bushes should be cut fairly hard back or they are apt to become tall and scraggy. Any well dug soil suits cassias, and as they are most happy in a light sandy one they are splen- ' did for seaside gardens. The yellow ’ ‘buttereup-like flowers are borne in terminal bunches and give the tree a very gay appearance. GENISTA GRACILIS. (Winter-flowering Broom.) This broom is one of the gems of the winter garden, for the gay yellow flowers are produced most freely, and the small light green leaves give the plant i at all times a fresh appearance. i it is one of the hardiest of small I shrubs, and should have a place in every ; garden, for 1-t seems to be perfectly at I home under all conditions. It even ■ thrives in stiff clay in exposed hillside 1 gardens about Wellington, and at the ■ same time flourishes in the sand gar- I dens at the bays. ■ Many gardeners neglect to cut back I the plants, allowing them to run too I much to old wood. They should be cut ! hard back at the end of the winter. The ! shrubs generally flower again for a short time early in the summer, hut the winter is their chief flowering time.