Gardenig in Scotland. Tips & Guides

One thing is sure the climate in your garden will change. You already know one week will be different to the next and I can’t remember when two months or any years were the identical to others. In many areas you can get 3 or 4 seasons in one day (or in Scotland one hour!).

Snowdrops are officially called Galanthus. This snowdrop is Galanthus elwessii with larger than normal blooms and a honey scent the other main species are Nivalis and Plicatus. The snowdrop is very hardy, grows in most soils and prefers partial shade.

Arduaine Garden in Scotland is well-known in international Rhododendron circles for the number of wonderful species grown here, many of which are considered tender elsewhere and grow unusually under a canopy of mature Japanese larch. To some people, rhododendrons are those unpleasant purple-flowered objects which clog up our native woodlands. This is but one species, Rhododendron ponticum or a hybrid of it which spreads rapidly both by seed and sucker. Arduaine’s collection is extensive containing about 400 distinct species. The rhododendrons range from the large-leaved giants such as Rhododendron protistum, Rhododendron sinogrande and Rhododendron macabeanum to the small-leaved, high altitude plants which are often classed as rock plants, a sample of which would include Rhododendron fastigiatum, impeditum and orthocladum. In between these two extremes sit the majority of species of differing sizes with a variety of foliage shapes and an astonishing range of flower colour and form. One of the specialities is the only Rhododendron from Ceylon – Rhododendron arboreum subsp. zeylanicum.

Tulips protected by a windbreak.

Rhododendron Widgeon was been beaten to a great post by Jo Hanslip on insane journal

The Rowan or Mountain Ash, Sorbus aucuparia is a member of the same family as the rose and is part of the large Sorbus genus (50+ distinctive species).  They are highly variable with several regional sub species. The trees can be quite singular in appearance when shaped by wind on high moors and mountains.

A potager in a Devon garden by Dan Pearson

WHO VISITED: We met Twitter friends like @GardenGuyKenn (all the way from Michigan) and other blog-commenters like Bobster (all the way from Rhode Island) and Leslie (from Connecticut) and Ailsa and Patti, from Ottawa, Ontario.We met Joyce from Iowa and Michelle from Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania (31 miles from Wilkes-Barre, apparently) and Sandra from Clarks Summit (also Pennsylvania, 8 miles from Scranton) and Julie from Reston, Virginia, and Stephanie from Bainbridge Island, Washington, and Stephanie from Seattle (both Stephanies, both from prime garden country…a coincidence?). Someone signed in as being from Scotland, but can that be so? And all of you, thank you, whether from a mile down the road or a country or ocean away…or whether you just visited our virtual tour yesterday.Some of t

IT’S ALMOST TIME—for seeds, that is; to delve into catalogs, order, and then try to be patient till it’s time to sow. To that end—the timing part—I’m suddenly taken in bya $4 companion from the all-organic Seattle Seed Company (above) whose job it is to keep me on schedule, and not jumping the gun (or forgetting something till it’s too late). With a low-tech pullout format, you “set” your first and last frost dates and then the “when to sow what” falls into place. At this price, how can I resist the promise of feeling like I finally have it all together?smart birds: recycling butts into nestsYES, BIRDS USE the usual twigs, grasses, and feathers. But apparently they use cigarette butts, too—or so scientists at Scotland’s St. Andrews University have reported after studying house finch and house sparrow nests in Mexico

Now Joseph Tychonievich, the sought-after Michigan-based garden writer and author, has confidence-building advice for me in his just-out book, “Rock Gardening: Reimagining a Classic Style.” Joseph is also author of “Plant Breeding for the Home Gardener.”Read along as you listen to the Oct. 24, 2016 edition of my public-radio show and podcast using the player below. You can subscribe to all future editions on iTunes or Stitcher (and browse my archive of podcasts here).my rock-garden q&a with joseph tychonievichQ. How did you get the rock-garden bug? Did you catch it in your time working at Arrowhead Alpi

Ageratum is a member of the Asteraceae or Daisy family. The genus includes many perennial and annual species from the tropical regions of the Americas, particularly Mexico. The name Ageratum comes from the Greek ageratos meaning ‘not growing old’: a reference to the flowers which retain their colour for a long time.

Heathers are low maintenance, drought-tolerant and hardy-winter plants. They are easy to grow and features wonderful colorful flowers year-round. Keep reading this article to learn how to grow heathers in pots.

In this article, we will delve into Bleeding Heart Flower Meaning and Facts, uncovering intriguing details about the characteristics and cultural significance of these flowers.

As February wears on, winter can sometimes seem to drag. But throughout this time of the year, we begin to see here and there the first signs of spring and know that brighter days and warmer weather are on their way.

Monarda cambridge scarlet is one of those hardy perennials which give a brilliant show every Summer. The RHS has given this popular old variety Bergamot it’s prestigious Award of Garden Merit.

The Himalayan Birch (Betula) Jacquemontii has attractive bright white bark and dark green leaves

Its time I tried the Scottish Bluebell in the garden, Bluebell  (Campanula rotundifolia) (Harebell)

Adam Messerich a bourbon shrub Rose bred in Germany in 1920 by Peter Lambert.

Buphthalmum salicifolium (yellow oxeye daisy) a Summer flowering perennial which has eventually grown on me after constant reminders from Myra as to how so very like rays of sunshine the flowers are.

Euonymus fortunei emerald n gold, this popular and dare I say common evergreen shrubby plant is a good choice for the garden border giving interest the whole year.

Rosa Mundi an exquisite old Rose with a history going back many centuries.

What an unusual plant is the Nerine, coming in to full bloom in October when so many, in fact the majority of perennials have gone over and the foliage turning brown.

Wisteria Sinensis Prolific. This climber is fully hardy, however if you want it to flower in the North East of Scotland, Plant it in a sunny sheltered position.

Cimicifuga Racemosa Atropurpurea new name Actaea

The main content of my posts is to hopefully give information on plants and shrubs which are fully hardy in the North East of Scotland. I have been gardening for many years in Aberdeen. Often I have been made aware of other amateur gardeners in the area concerned that plants which thrive south of the border may in fact struggle in Aberdeen. In my experience most of them will in fact grow, however they may be at least a full fortnight later in coming in to flower. Of course there are some which grow in the far south of England which simply will not survive here. What you can depend on is, I will give information on how each plant which I list has performed in our garden.

Lavatera Barnsley, keep a look out for it reverting

My intention is to provide a profile of plants which are fully hardy in the north east of Scotland,which of course means they will be hardy in all parts of the country. However there are several which borderline the hardy agenda, which to a certain extent we have still had a degree of success.

The Tender Trap

Aquilegia Fragrans

Sorbus Cashmiriana an extremely ornamental Rowan

Whether you are planting up a new garden or redesigning borders please don’t turn up your nose at the ornamental grasses.

If there’s one thing that gets my goat, its, what’s in and what’s out in gardening. Now honestly I don’t want to alienate myself, of course everyone’s entitled to an opinion but don’t you sometimes think there is a bit of inverted snobbery going on. I have always loved gardens and gardening, I like the subtle garden with foliage of different hues and perhaps white flowers giving that relaxed feeling. I am mad about the Summer mixed perennial borders which give that great to be alive feeling. The Rose borders are charming, the Scottish Heather borders can look great. Here’s the crunch, I absolutely also love the in your face loud, brash, garish front gardens which are packed with blindingly bright Summer bedding, makes me smile, makes me laugh. Picture of our front garden, I promise it was once more packed when the flower borders were wider than this. Whats not to like.

Stipa Arundinacea  This evergreen ornamental grass is referred  to as being frost hardy, an indication that it may not survive in the North East of Scotland.

The Himalayan blue poppy is simply ideal for the Scottish climate.

Courtyard Garden in Fife Scotland! well, its really part of our drive sectioned off. Take a look, see if it qualifies.

This eye grabber Filipendula Rubra Venusta with large panicles of deep pink blooms in Summer demands attention.