Is it a bird, is it a plane.....
By AndrewR
9 comments
…. no, it’s a melianthus (I hope)
So far in balmy Bracknell, our lowest overnight temperature has been -1C. My melianthus major, which usually looks pretty battered and tatty by now, has survived intact so far. There’s even signs of a flower bud forming. This was how it looked last October.
But with -3C forecast for the next two nights, I am taking no chances.
With our Open Garden at the end of April this year, it would be wonderful if it was in flower. This was the display in April two years ago after an equally mild winter.
I’ve got my fingers firmly crossed.
- UPDATE *
Three days later and the temperature here is going back up. Took the fleece off earlier this afternoon.
A couple of shoots are a bit crooked but it’s otherwise fine. So far, so good
18 Jan, 2016
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Comments
Hope it keeps going until April Andrew. Looks beautiful.
19 Jan, 2016
What a spectacular plant it is Andrew....good luck in keeping the frost damage to a minimum!
19 Jan, 2016
It only needs a hot water bottle...
19 Jan, 2016
Good thinking Andrew, you are opening early this year.....we are by appointment's only this year!!
19 Jan, 2016
DD - my co-opener Gill prefers to "get it over and done with" so we have an early date this year. Now she's fretting "will there be anything in flower?" Women!
19 Jan, 2016
Typical woman lol....we had a bad frost last night, much lower than we thought it would be.....good job you covered the Melainthus, ours has caught it!! just hoping the NZ plants are ok, too large to cover now!!
20 Jan, 2016
UPDATE - the fleece is now off (see the latest photo for the current state of the plant)
21 Jan, 2016
Will do....
21 Jan, 2016
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28 Jan, 2014
Beautifully wrapped Andrew, that should keep it cosy. -3C forecast for here in Hertfordshire too so I've fleeced my Coronilla glauca which is still flowering, so I'll cross my fingers for us both.
18 Jan, 2016