The
June Garden By Doreen
Moody
This
has been a wonderful year for bloom especially
some of the more unusual bulbs or corms such
as the various Fritillarias, Erythroniums, Trilliums
etc. Before they die away completely, this is
a good time to divide them, collect them then
seed if you want them to increase.
If
the wood anemones 聭Anemone Nemerosa聮
have made large patchs amongst the bulbs in
the plantation they also can be lifted and divided
whilst the weather is showery. Put a marker
in as they die down now or you may forget where
you have planted them. As they are hardy they
will appear in greater numbers next year. My
original ones were planted in the scree where
they did very well especially the double form.
If you haven't a woodland area you can still
enjoy them as they also can be had in shades
of blue and yellow.
The
Erythronium and Fritillaria seeds best gathered
before fully ripe. Put them in a paper bag on
the windowsill where they will soon dry out
and be ready for sowing. I rarely find self
sown seedlings as the birds take the seed, but
if sown in large pots or even polystyrene fish
boxes you will have blooms in a couple of seasons.
During
this showery weather, I have planted out the
Brussels Sprout plants. If planted early this
gives much better plants and a longer flowering
season. Last years plants of 'Swiss Chard' are
providing me with a welcome change of vegetable.
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