Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2009 | Page 81

GARDENING

life

Mixed Herbs

New perennials are also potted
on ready for spring planting.
There is always plenty to do, and
as the weather warms the staff
are kept ever more on their toes.
At the moment the main crop
coming from the Greentiles
nursery is potted bulbs. They are
already showing green shoots,
indicating that they are ready for
planting now.
So there are plenty of
offerings for spring colour to
brighten in tubs or borders.
Also available are ready-planted
tubs and hanging baskets, and
a wonderful array of coloured
primroses which can’t fail to
cheer after a dismal winter.
“Other favourite and new
plants that are available from
mid March include Lithodora
“Heavenly Blue” a small
evergreen ground cover plant
with masses of clusters of deep
azure blue starry flowers,”
says Mrs Thompson. “This
flowers in the spring, and is
just stunning. English Bluebells
– a new addition which has
been cultivated for garden use
– is a wild flower that blooms
profusely and will produce a
carpet of colour.
Dianthus, and Devon Pinks
are another range of spring
plants. “Sunflor” Dianthus
come in 10 varieties, they are
compact and come in a lovely
range of colours and are highly

scented. Traditional Devon Pinks
are also a valuable addition to
the garden for brightness and
fragrance.”
At Thompsons other nursery
sites on the Island, staff are
working hard preparing shrubs
and conifer cuttings as shrubs.
Climbing plants and conifers
are produced from parent stock
plants on the Island.
“I can’t deny it is a very busy
time for us,” Mrs Thompson
says. “Our new shrubs for
the spring are looking good,
including Lavenders, Phormiums
& Choysias. Hebe “Baby Marie”
is a compact, bushy evergreen
shrub which produces masses
of soft lilac flowers for spring
colour, just to mention one of
our many new varieties. Among
lots of good old traditional
shrubs we also grow for all year
round interest are ferns, grasses,
and evergreen Pittosporums.”
So, if you are keen to cut
down on your carbon footprint,
why not visit Thompsons for
Island-grown quality plants?
The staff at the garden centre
are trained to help with all our
gardening needs.

Fremontodendron 'Californian Glory'

Thompsons Plant and
Garden Centre, Watery Lane,
Newchurch. Tel [phone]
Lithodora 'Heavenly Blue'

The Island's new funky radio station www.wightFM.com

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