February Gardening Blog

So it’s still winter ❄️ as we reach the end of February. 

Why do we still connect with the great outdoors in this month as gardeners you ask? Well because without experiencing the harder months you simply don’t appreciate the summer warmer months so it’s simply the yin and yang of design and appreciation of all seasons. 

Yes I still garden in these months, however I harvest more time to design & create clients kitchen garden schemes and summer colour boarder designs whilst the land is resting.

Gardener's aren't great at resting you see - if it’s not your physical body creating it’s always your mind, mapping and manifesting your ideas into reality!

What can you do now other than general maintenance and winter rose and tree sculpting? 

Well my client has been what I call ‘Spider scaping’ her Roses into an artful architectural design - (more on this topic in future blogs to follow) how exciting! 

We’ve also been splitting winter resting perennials like Hosta’s whose greedy roots have outgrown there pots.

Be bold and brave, they are hardy and have the will to live.

Indulge there split corms with a heathy load of fresh compost or even rotted leaf mould from your own garden - (the true hidden magic ✨ of everyone’s garden which often gets wasted into your brown bin pick ups)

All Hosta's are Shade tolerant and a great example for 'ground cover'

However! Hosta's are Heaven for Slugs and snails

Here is Hosta 'june' - isn't she vibrant!

Now I also love the bluey foliage types like 'hadspen blue' these silvery types seem to be more slug resistant also.

Now I’ve been lucky enough to blow my own mind this month with a trip to Barbados to escape the cold winter rains and I cannot tell you how my mind has been blown seeking Tropical Trees and what we call house plants spreading through boarders outside, just like we see IVY growing 😅, truly mad, my face confirms this is think Ha!

Codiaeum varigatum & right side is Copperleaf / Acalypha wikesiana

Epipremnum aureum / Golden pathos - climbing like we see Ivy into this Ficus Tree (another plant you only see in conservatories in England)

Ravenala madagascariensis / Travellers Tree (a specimen you don't see back home)

Coccoloba uvifera / Seagrape Tree above with Euphorbia milii / crown of thorns - flowering pink

It does also ring home, To my horticultural mind how important it is to flow with your surroundings and plant in tune within the country which you are in, for these plants flourish here in there tropical homeland, where as I find, back home, they can, and do survive, but somehow never thrive. Something to consider wouldn’t you agree? 👍 

So I leave you with a query within your outdoor space this coming year.

Will you work with your surroundings and choose plants 🪴 that compliment the environment even though very few plant's are truly native.

Or will you let the plants choose you next time you explore your favourite local garden centre looking for ideas?

What I’m planting this month:

CORNUS / Dogwood fire flame 

(Because while the rest of the garden is resting these boys are thriving)

cornus sanguine 'midwinter fire' / Dogwood

What I’m enjoying this month: Cornus mas - A Tree in the dogwood family now in full bloom of subtle tiny tiny mustard blooms. bumblebee mad!

Cronus mas

In honesty the main reason you should plant this tree however is because the later swollen fruits is what’s fermented into; are well loved beverage of Raki and Ouzo🥰 which for me Brings back very fond memories Of Greece and Turkey growing up. A huge thanks to Dig Delve garden article for sharing this insight with me to now share with more gardening enthusiasts 💛

"Now is that not the whole reason to plant a garden….a place to store memories 🤩 "

Always remember, when choosing your plants to see your garden

As a whole…Trees, shrubs, perennials, grass, wild flower, bulbs & more, together they work as a whole team, like Humans….nothing thrives alone. 

See you next month for more plan suggestions and plant suggestions

Thankyou for visiting my

Blog 🙏

Frangipani blossoms fall from huge Trees the size of our beech and oaks at home

in the background you'll find Alocasia / Giant taro with the creeping plant Philodendron. Id also love to plant this 'Fishtail palm' / Caryota mitis - so if you would like me to study station this in your garden and document its journey reach out my way & let's make it happen.