Pear Tree Cottage Garden: Lighting up with Leaves!

The green and rolling countryside of Worcestershire, England, is home to the cider apple orchards which surround the gardens of Pear Tree Cottage. They enjoy a sunny south westerly aspect with sweeping views across to Martley Hillside, Woodbury and Abberley clock tower. The Teme Valley lies just over the hill and, not far away, is the Herefordshire border. Although our climate is temperate, our seasons are often uncertain and always a challenge to a gardener! This began in 2010 & follows the weekly ups and downs of garden work chronicling both successes and failures but, above all, demonstrates the fun enjoyed by three people who regularly garden in all weathers

30 April 2018

Lighting up with Leaves!

Arum italicum Marmoratum

On yet another dark and freezing cold spring day, it was a variety of leaves that stood out. The daffodils are fading fast and maybe that's why they all caught my eye on such a dark day. It was exciting to find a single Smyrnium as I've been trying to establish a small colony in the Woodland Border for a few years and it's taking ages. Still, there's only a single plant. I understand that these plants are a triennial and that once established, they'll be everywhere. I wish I could speed them up - we need their lime green colours in a shady border on a really dark day.

Also of interest is the highly poisonous Veratrum with its concertina-like leaves. These were a present and I can't wait for them to flower down in our Poison Patch. I understand that the sap was used by Indians on their arrow tips. Leaf well alone, I say!!