13 minute read
Gardening Mary Payne MBE
Buddlejas for butterflies
It is at this time of year that the Butterfly Bush really comes into its own and puts on a dazzling floral display enhanced by the rich variety of butterflies that are attracted by the perfume, to feast on the nectar in narrow tubular flowers. the main species blooming now is B. davidii, named in honour of Pere David, the missionary. It was introduced in 1890 from China and Japan but has now become naturalised on wasteland, railway embankments and even chimney pots! the generic name buddleja honours the Reverend Adam Buddle, an English botanist. In recent years this plant has undergone something of a revolution, thanks to the work done by Peter Moore of Longstock Nursery in Hampshire where a National Collection is housed.
In the United States buddlejas have been declared an invasive and noxious weed and hence modern breeding has been concentrated on selected sterile hybrids. the selection and breeding of many plants has, in recent years, focused on varieties with compact habit, more suitable for the smaller gardens of today. thompson and Morgan introduced the Buzz Series, growing to between four and five feet, with a range of colour forms, Buzz Magenta, Buzz Sky Blue, Buzz indigo and so on. these can be grown in a container for 2-3 years but are better planted out. Even smaller, is the Flutterby Series bred in the US and suitable for pot culture, or even a hanging basket! this makes an impressive sight on a sunny bank, as it is of a completely prostrate habit. the main flowering season is July and August, but Longstock Autumn Delight, bred by Peter Moore, extends the flowering season from August to early October. For larger gardens Dartmoor makes an impressive sight with its wide spreading arching branches laden with multi-headed flower clusters. this variety was found by chance near Yelverton, on Dartmoor. the near black flowers of Black Knight make it a favourite, but needs careful positioning with a light background to show off the colour.
You may have noticed that I have spelt buddleja with -ja at the end, when you were expecting it to be buddleia. this is because although the -ia version has been around for very many years, when Linnaeus first named the plant in honour of the Rev. Buddle in his Species Plantarum, he used – ja and therefore that is what it must be.
Propagation of these buddlejas could not be easier. take 46” non-flowering side shoots of this season’s growth. Pinch out the tip and insert them round the edge of a pot of well drained compost. Pop a plastic bag over the pot, secured with a rubber band and keep out of the sun. they will root in about 4–6 weeks, but wait until next spring before separating them into individual pots.
Even easier is to take hardwood cuttings. Wait until October/November. Cut 12” (30cm) lengths of the current season’s growth of pencil thickness or thicker. Remove the leaves. trim just above a bud at the top and just below a bud at the base. Insert these leafless “sticks” into deep pots or
With MARY PAYNE MBE
straight into the ground such that only the top third of the cutting is visible. Wait till next autumn (2022). Dig them up and plant where required.
Pruning B. davidii varieties is also very simple. In the autumn cut off the top one third of the bush. this helps avoid the winter winds rocking the plant. In early April cut all the last season’s growth back to a couple of inches from the base of each shoot. Few pests seem to attack these plants, which is also a bonus.
Capsid bugs can cause ragged foliage with holes in, but when you see the damage it is too late to do anything. Occasionally the attractive mullein moth caterpillar appears and can seriously defoliate a bush amazingly fast so keep an eye open for these. Fortunately, this same pest seems to prefer its main host of the verbascums (Mulleins). there are many other buddleja species that make ideal garden plants. the Chilean Orange Ball tree (B. globosa) originates from S. America. Its round orange balls of flowers make an impressive sight in early summer, but this is not suitable for smaller gardens, growing to 4 -5 metres.
Very little, if any, pruning is required of this shrub. It has been hybridised with B. davidii to give the orange flowered B x weyeriana Sungold. Similar in flowering time and habit to the traditional butterfly bush.
B. alternifolia Argentea makes a fine standard specimen for a lawn. Long slender arching stems grow one year, then bear lilac along the length the following year, between April and June. Fine hairs on the leaves give a silvery appearance.
Pruning involves cutting back the stems that have flowered to encourage new growth. B. x pikei Unique is a new compact sterile hybrid that flowers on current season’s wood and is suitable for a large pot.
For those looking for something a bit different B. lindleyana flowers in late summer but is best for sheltered sunny positions. the arching flower spikes are much looser than with most buddlejas, giving the whole plant a more relaxed appearance.
Buddlejas have much more to offer these days than their derelict bombsite cousins. Easy to grow, easy to prune and propagate, and above all, a feast for our beautiful native butterflies.
Red Admiral
• the first spring flowering bulbs will be in soon, with most available by the end of the month. • Plant snowdrop bulbs and anemone corms just as soon as you can. they can be difficult to get going but by planting really early they establish much more readily. • Autumn flowering crocus should be planted as soon as possible, as they will flower this October. they flower before the leaves appear earning them the common name ‘Naked Ladies’. • Dead flowers, and a little bit of the stem below, should be trimmed off lavenders now. If they have become straggly a harder pruning should be delayed until late spring. • Roses tend to succumb to attack from blackspot, mildew and rust at this end of the summer and you must not let down your guard against these diseases now! • Prune climbing and rambling roses now (if not done last month). • Plant Hydrangeas. Plant all in soils that stay moist or that you can mulch generously. • this is the best month for establishing new lawns. Sow new seed or turf, both after careful soil preparation. Don’t skimp on this as it is the one chance to get it right! • Fast growing hedges such as leylandii may need trimming again and will look better for it throughout winter. Don’t leave this too late as that might result in brown patches. Give evergreen hedges a final trim.
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Church working party
Pictured (l to r) Steve Rendell, Barend ter Haar, Kelston Gough, Mary Cashman, Ann Matchette with John and Harriette Dottridge at the front
FOUR times a year, villagers in Compton Dando are invited to give up a Saturday morning to help keep the beautiful churchyard of St Mary’s Church tidy. this time hedges were trimmed, graves were strimmed and gutters and gullies cleared of leaves, which left the volunteers feeling satisfied with what they had achieved, and ready for tea and cake. the working parties are a joint venture between the church and the Compton Dando Community Association (CDCA).
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Batcombe House
DESIGNERLibby Russell has spent years developing this plantswoman’s garden in a beautiful Somerset valley. One part is a riot of colour through kitchen terraces, potager, pool garden leading to an orchard with wildflower banks bursting with species roses.
On the other side, a grass amphitheatre echoes the striations of the hills opposite offering a calmer, more contemporary space with wide herbaceous borders edged by interesting trees and shrubs. this plantswoman's designed garden continues to change and evolve. Address: Gold Hill, Batcombe, Shepton Mallet BA4 6HF. Contact: Libby Russell, libby@mazzullorusselllandscapedesign.com, www.mazzullorusselllandscapedesign.com. Opening dates and time: Saturday, September 11th, 2-6pm Booking Tickets: Visits to this garden may be reserved through the NGS website: https://www.ngs.org.uk but for this garden, this is not essential, you can just turn up and pay on the day. Admission: £6.50, children free. Opening by arrangement: May to September for groups of ten to 30. to be pre-booked through Batcombe House. Admission: £15, children free.
To see more gardens open for the NGS, see The Yellow Book, or Local County Leaflet, available from local garden centres, or go to: https://www.ngs.org.uk
Planning your garden
WItHmore time to spend at home, you may have found that your garden has never been better tended or more appreciated. Perhaps now that you feel you have your garden going in the right direction, you have noticed small areas that could be improved or redeveloped?
Garden designer and tutor Christine Pritchard is running a number of short stand-alone courses where you can learn more about a specific style or area in the garden: front gardens, naturalistic planting and ponds are just three examples.
However if you need a more radical change you can choose a longer course to help you redesign your whole garden or learn more about putting plants together in your borders.
Courses take place at Stoke Lodge in Bristol and Somer Valley Campus (formerly Norton Radstock College).
You don’t need to be a knowledgeable gardener or fluent in Latin to enjoy these informal courses.
Details: Christine Pritchard 01761 221166 or visit www.christinepritchard.co.uk
Sale supports church
ELAINEAvery of West Harptree has raised £1,500 for the village’s St Mary’s Church by selling plants from a stall outside her home.
She started off in a small way back in 2005, raising just over £100 that first year, and this has steadily grown, raising around £11,000 over the years.
She said: “During lockdown we haven’t been able to do much fundraising so this has been a great help.”
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Clutton’s new garden
Pictured (l to r) Melanie Matthews, Chris Ward, Heather Byrne and Neil Skinner
Preparing the site CLUttONhas a beautiful community garden looking down towards the village church, after allotment holders transformed an overgrown plot putting in benches, flowers and fruit trees. the opening was celebrated with cakes and drinks made from produce from the allotments.
Gardening stops for tea
The club’s summer party in full swing in Henton Village Hall
HENtONand District Gardening Club have held their summer party at Henton Village Hall with a strawberry cream tea, wine and elderflower cordial.
Dozens of members attended the event which saw tables decorated with local flower arrangements. the club’s monthly meeting on Wednesday, September 15th at 7.30pm in the village hall will see Mendip Times columnist Mary Payne talking about how to “Make the Most of a Small Garden”.
New members are welcome. For details, visit: https://hentongardenclub.weebly.com
Club members back together
Bridging the gap – the club will resume meeting in September
INNER Wheel Club of Wells president Liz Hamblin hosted a “Welcome Back” tea party in her garden for all members of the group. the club will start meeting once again in September at its new home at Wells Golf Club at lunchtime on the second Monday of the month.
Flower festival in Wedmore
St MARY’SChurch in Wedmore is holding a flower festival on Saturday and Sunday, August 28th and 29th. the church will be filled with many beautiful flower arrangements and there will be coffee, tea, light lunches and cream teas available each day. All are welcome between 10am and 6 pm and tickets are £5 with free entry for children. the proceeds will go towards the upkeep of St Mary’s Church.
Clutton Flower Show
Straw Dogs on stage
Some of the Clutton in Bloom team (l to r) Jenny Cleeve, Nikki Shabbo and Beccy Angell The queue to get in
Uplands and District Townswomen’s Guild
