9 minute read
GARDENING
Alliums do best in a sunny spot. Dot this onion relative through the border and wait for its round, starry globes to appear on strong stems
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A bulb for every location
It’s time to hunker down with the mail-order bulb catalogues and plan for a colourful and exuberant 2022, says Elly West
It’s a quiet time right now, when the majority of the garden is going to sleep for the winter, dying back and needing little attention apart from some clearing and sweeping up of dead leaves. Days are shorter, not to mention colder and wetter, so it’s a great time to hunker down with the mail-order bulb catalogues and plan for next year. Autumn is prime time for bulb planting and it’s one of the easiest and most reliable ways to guarantee a spring that’s full of exuberant colour.
One of the best things about bulbs is their versatility. Whatever the size, aspect, style or soil type of your garden, there are bulbs to suit. And there’s very little effort involved. I love the fact that you just pop them in the ground in autumn, forget about them, and then there they are in in a few short months, pushing up through the soil, full of promise. Choose carefully and these harbingers of spring will brighten every corner of your plot, whether it’s a shady area under a tree, or a container by a sunny front door. There are bulbs that suit shade, sun, meadow, woodland, sandy or damp and heavy soils. They can provide scent, colour, attract wildlife and make a statement. And if you plant them now, a pack of dry bulbs is a fraction of the cost of the same plants potted up and growing in spring. Plus there is a lot more choice when you buy them in autumn.
Dry shade is one of the trickiest spots in a garden – areas at the base of a wall, or under trees. However, there are many bulbs that originally hail from woodland zones and can cope well with these conditions. Aconites, snowdrops, anemones, cyclamen and erythroniums are all well-adapted to gloomier spots where they are protected from summer sun. Grow them in groups and let them naturalise under trees and shrubs. Don’t be stingy with your planting – the more the better – then sit back and wait for them to go forth and multiply, creating a carpet of colour.
At the other end of the spectrum are hot, sunny borders where the options are wide. By its very nature, a bulb is well-adapted to deal with summer drought, storing all the starches, proteins and energy safely inside in a dormant state until conditions are right for growing. Most daffodil, tulip, crocus and hyacinth species are native to areas with a Mediterranean climate where they have wet winters and hot, dry summers. Alliums are among my favourite for late-spring blooms, and these onion relatives do best in a sunny spot. Dot them through the border and wait for their round, starry globes to appear on strong stems, pushing up through the new, fresh growth of perennials such as geraniums and Alchemilla mollis.
Some bulbs will rot over winter in damp soils. I never have high expectations for my tulips, and plant new ones each year as they don’t seem to come back reliably on my clay soil. Any extras surviving from previous years are then a bonus. However, there are others to choose from that grow naturally on the edges of rivers and streams, or in damp meadowland, so look to these if you have poor drainage. Bluebells, camassias, martagon lilies and snake’s-head fritillaries will thrive on moist soil. Narcissus ‘Tete-a-tete’ is a cheery yellow miniature daffodil that will grow just about anywhere and doesn’t mind some damp, or shade for that matter.
If you’re planting up containers of spring bulbs, then it’s much easier to create the conditions that they like. These moveable feasts can be
tucked away until they start to flower, then placed in a prominent spot where you can see and enjoy them, such as next to a front door or a flight of steps. Miniature irises (Iris reticulata), en masse in shallow bowls, are always a winner for me with their jewel-bright purple-blue flowers, but again I treat them like annuals as they don’t seem to come back reliably year on year. I also like growing tulips in containers, particularly if I’m trying new, interesting varieties, and there are certainly plenty to choose from, with frilled, parrot, goblet and double peony-flowered cultivars in nearly every colour imaginable. (Except for blue – not sure why!) I want them where I can see them and where they’ll have the most impact.
Bulbs are also a great way to experiment with colour. While we might favour a calmer and more refined palette later in the year, somehow the first splash of cheery yellow with a swathe of daffodils is more than welcome after a dull winter. Red is another colour that’s not for everyone, but a pot full of red tulips makes an elegant statement and provides warmth and brightness that is guaranteed to lift the spirits.
So, if you haven’t bought any bulbs yet, there’s still time to treat yourself and get some in the ground before winter. There’s always room for these parcels of promise in any garden and when they start to flower next spring, and hopefully for many springs to come, you’ll be pleased you made the time and (minimal!) effort. n
• ellyswellies.co.uk
Plant of the month: Colchicums
Also known as autumn crocus, or naked ladies, these beautiful autumn-flowering corms offer sturdy goblet-shaped blooms in shades of white, pink and purple, from September onwards and into November. The flowers appear on bare stems with no leaves, hence the common name, giving them an unusual yet elegant appearance that’s a foretaste of spring (which is when the leaves appear). Colchicums naturally occur in damp meadows, and suit fertile, moisture-retaining soil and a sheltered spot that gets sun for at least half the day. As with other bulbs and corms, avoid cutting the leaves off – as the foliage dies back it will feed up the corm for the following year. ‘Waterlily’ is a stunning variety with double purple-pink flowers that look similar to water lilies. Colchicum autumnale is native to the UK and has pale lavender-pink flowers. All look good under deciduous trees or naturalised through a lawn.
Note, they are highly toxic if ingested.
Manor House at Redland Court is almost ready for release
The two-year restoration of a landmark Manor House described as ‘a fine example of the architecture of its time’, is nearing completion.
The West Wing - this 2-bedroom triplex apartment has the main accommodation at ground and first-floor level, with a separate utility and storage room at lower ground level. This apartment has the privilege of featuring the only crescent staircase in the building, now stunningly restored, linking the ground and first floors.
The East Wing – also a 2-bedroom apartment, the East Wing is a duplex layout with ground and first floor accommodation. Both offer private outdoor space.
The Main House - has two large spacious apartments; the 3-bed ground-floor apartment, which is reserved, and the largest of all the apartments, a 4-bedroom duplex apartment occupying both the first and second floors, enjoying arguably the best views in the Manor House, looking out across the private park and City.
Each apartment is uniquely individual with its own historic features that showcase the meticulous restoration that has taken place. From fireplaces, cornicing and windows to the square-shaped panelling preserved from the original Elizabethan House that has been restored and used in some rooms, this panelling still lines the walls of the West Wing master bedroom.
Attention to detail within each apartment is evident. Individual specifications carefully reflect the period of the property and enhance its style and beauty. Living spaces are designed with flair and imagination, whilst often neglected storage has been woven into the fabric of the homes.
A specification like no other
Throughout these four prime homes, the specification exceeds expectation. The kitchens are exceptional both in design and quality blending the grandeur of a bygone era with the practicality of top of the range appliances. The hand-crafted kitchen and hand painted kitchens are enhanced with Armac Martin BEL burnished brass knobs, handles and hinges. Stylish touches include Quartz work tops and matching upstands Belfast sink, Quooker Flex boiling tap with cold water filter in patinated brass. A full range of Siemens branded appliances will satisfy even the most accomplished cook. The main house kitchens also have a Lacanche 1000mm Classic Cluny Range Cooker inset to kitchen island with a Siemens Downdraft extractor.
Bathrooms exude the elegance of a luxury spa, with top quality sanitaryware including features like large Jet shower enclosures, bespoke hand painted 1600mm boat baths, bespoke vanity units to Master en-suite and main bathroom and porcelain tiles throughout.
Private viewings of the Manor House, Redland Court are by appointment only. Please call Savills on 0117 910 0360 or Ocean on 0117 946 9838
Price: 2, 3 and 4-bed apartments in the Manor House from £1,000,000 - £1.5m.
Elly’s Wellies
Garden Designs
Turning your ideas into beautiful spaces
Elly’s Wellies Garden Designs will help you maximise the potential of your outdoor space and tailor it to your individual needs. Whether you are looking for a complete garden redesign, or just need advice on what to plant in a border, Elly’s Wellies will be happy to help.
For a free initial consultation, contact Elly West
CLIFTON BS8 SSTC
GUIDE PRICE £1,375,000
An exquisite Victorian family home with self-contained lower ground floor flat. A versatile and wellpresented five bedroomed interior. Exceptional kitchen/breakfast room. Beautifully presented lawned garden offers a great deal of privacy. An open outlook enjoyed over the surrounding area. Superb Clifton location situated between Whiteladies Road and the Village.
REDLAND BS6 SSTC
GUIDE PRICE £475,000
An outstanding property with scope to extend, with a spacious and well-presented interior. Garage and garden, an excellent Redland location and offered with no onward chain.
