Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2013 | Page 80
Gardening
with Tina
Even if I did not own a
clock it’s easy to tell that the
shortest day has passed
and spring is almost here.
Everywhere in the garden
plants are showing signs of
renewed growth. My rhubarb
is beginning to uncurl its
chubby fists, daffodils
are taking over from the
T in a H ug he s trai ne
d as
a profession al ga rd
en er
afte r leav in g school
a nd
spent a su m m er w
orki
in Tu sca ny as a n E ng
ng lis h
Ga rd en er. Sh e ha s
a
N at io na l D ip lo m a
in
Horticu lt ure.
snowdrops, and buds are
A Rose by another name?
swelling on the trees and
shrubs. I have resolved to
stop making assumptions
Christmas may have come and gone but Christmas Roses
about what the weather will
are blooming now, the first of the Hellebores to come into
do this year, it’s bound to
flower. I am glad to see them and so are early foraging
be a surprise. Anyway all
bees. They bring a touch of class to damp, shady borders
the plants are raring to get
with their exotic, elegant blooms ranging from pure white
growing now, and so am I.
through to the plumiest of purples, pale yellows and funky
lime green. There are numerous varieties that will provide
flowers from January through to the end of April. Evergreen
varieties look battered now, so cut down the tired old
Do you have a qu estion?
foliage to reveal the flowers in all their glory.
If you have a question, need some advice or even
a suggestion for an article then please email:
[email protected]
Grow on
If it is too cold
and wet to star
t
sowing vegetabl
es in the open
ground, give yo
urself a head st
ar t
by sowing a fe
w in modules.
Tr y
beetroot, turn
ips and onions
.
80
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