- Tulbaghia violacia Silver Lace. Just sits around most of the year with attractively fine variegated leaf. Then from August onwards gives a nice show of clear purple flowers. I have kept her in an unheated greenhouse over winter, bone dry. Think it is time to split and put some in a sunny, dry sheltered spot.
2. Helianthus Lemon Queen. Some people get sniffy about yellow and Helianthus in general. There is a school of thought that thinks if it is vigorous and bright it is inferior to slow growing and pale. A bit snobby. Being a snob, I tried Lemon Queen next to her more vigorous neighbour, the common perennial Helianthus. I have gotta say, I am underwhelmed. Yes, attractive pale flowers. But floppy, low and not really as good as her cousin. I will give her another go next year when the conditions might be better, but if the same thing occurs then she is out.
3. This roadside verge was cleared and seeded with a low-growing annual mix in April. For most of the long hot Summer I considered it a failure. I gave up on it. The weeds moved back in. However, now, with two decent showers, there is a show of reasonable proportions. Seeds and plants just know, don’t they?
4. That St Mary’s bed again. I just don’t get bored of it. It was kind of planned, but I am still pleasantly surprised by the combination of Miscanthus Morning Light, Salvia Armistad, Symphyotrichum novo-belgii Farncombe Lilac (isn’t that a mouthful?). Early Autumn seems to be the best season yet for this patch: low light, bit of mist, relaxed fullness. Lovely. I am still going to tear it up and rearrange it better soon though.
5. My dog inspecting the first leaf mound of the season and knowing what is to come. And what is to come is lots of leaf mould making opportunity. Last year’s lot, kept in scruffy plastic bags is maturing nicely and will go on the beds in a thick mulch in late Autumn.
6. What do you see? I see victory. Or at least a big step in the right direction. This churchyard was a dense bramble, ivy and sapling patch two weeks ago. The Waltham Forest Community Payback team have worked really hard to clear it. The mound of meadow grass now has a massive additional layer on top and there is plenty of additional wood to season. Great wildlife habitat to make up for the great wildlife habitat that was cleared. I try to manage the site in a wildlife friendly way, balancing that with the needs of visiting relatives, the homeless and mentally ill*. I have planned a species enrichment plot, container pond, meadows and alpine trough next, but we will see how we go with all of those. This site also used to be home for up to 25 rough sleepers over the Summer. This morning, we were down to two and a dog. I do not count that as part of the victory. They are just down the road. However, the bottles, cans and needles are gone. At the very least, it is a more pleasant space for people to rest in peace.
*Great job application this week: “I am a former criminal drug addict with mental health problems, on medication. I can’t do much. I just want a bit of voluntary work. You’ll have to show me what to do.” You’re hired!
Tim Hewitt, Gardener 
Poor lemon queen, she does have such a lovely soft colour. You’ve done great work at both the cemetery & w/the verge. Just love that photo of St Mary’s bed.
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Thanks, Lora. I will give the queen one more go!
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I could have done without #6. Just a few days ago, I had to remove a fallen acacia tree from a fence that it had fallen onto. It was located adjacent to a homeless encampment where some of my friends live. The work is not in my department, but I wanted to be involved with it. Because the encampment is outside the fence, I can pretend that I am not aware of it. A much larger encampment is located inside the fence. I earlier had to inform those living there that they needed to leave, and that the encampment would be dismantled soon. Again, I wanted to do it myself rather than have one of my colleagues do it. The encampment is too much of a liability, and is an imposition on the neighbors who are concerned with wildfire. The inhabitants will likely stage the debris so that my colleagues and I will only need to load it into a truck. It is unpleasant business, especially since some of the homeless are friends who helped me so much with my issues over the years. If you are interested, we have our own page on Facebook. It is simply ‘Felton League’.
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Thanks, Tony, I will check it out. Homelessness is such a huge problem in the Western world. There just isn’t a plan to deal with it round here.
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We do not have a plan either, and consequently, the homeless are the new targets of haters who have similar attitudes as those who lynched Negroes and burned witches in the past.
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Tulbaghia will put up with almost any weather condition, I think. Mine died down a bit in our heavy frosts but are bouncing back again now.
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I am learning about them, but really like an uncomplaining plant which is also beautiful.
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Hmmm! You protect your Tulbaghia? Mine is ground planted outdoors all year. Maybe that’s why it has produced a mound of foliage but not a single flower. It says a lot about society that rough sleepers find their resting place in a cemetery. I hope your new hire works out. Maybe you need to re-title your blog “Gardener and Social Worker”.
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Ah leaf mould. I don’t have many trees so I pop off to the local park and rake up a dozen or so bags worth. I am looking forward to seeing how the 2016 batch is doing in a few weeks. I’m going to shred this year’s batch of leaves (or strim it) so it breaks down a bit faster.
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Give Lemon Queen another go. Mine’s over six foot, stands bolt upright with no staking and flowers for weeks and weeks
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I hope your new recruit comes under the gardening spell. I like this time of year in the garden, it feels like new beginnings to me. I hope it is for them too.
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He didn’t turn up, but, heigh Ho, if he does, he will be welcomed.
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I am a big fan of yellow – and orange. I was helping a friend plan her garden this week and she only wanted blues and pinks, and wouldn’t be convinced of the joys of brighter colours. Do give Lemon Queen another go.
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Ok will do!
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