SHADE & SHELTER FOR THE SPRING FLOWERING BULBS
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With the propagating almost complete there are still a lot of things in the garden that needs attention. All the spring bulbs are finished flowering now and the foliage has died back, any seed required has been harvested, so it is time to put them into their summer quarters.
With Snowdrops, Crocus, and the like, that have adapted to our summer weather conditions without any pampering, it is just a matter of finding a spot somewhere to hide them until the autumn.
The South African bulbs are a different matter altogether, as they have adapted to a Mediterranean climate and don't like summer rain. (I do have some of them planted out in the garden and they have survived for two years now, including -7ยบ C last winter and last summers rain). So not wanting to tempt fait with such things as Moraea Aristata I place them in the bulb frame that is covered with glass. Sometimes as is the case this year when space is at a premium, with over one hundred trays of potted bulbs, they are shoved under the bench of the alpine house. Here they enjoy the company of such things as Cyclamen Purpurascens, which is just coming into flower at the moment. Recently potted cuttings of Primula, and lewisia that do not appreciate a lot of sunshine in the summertime.
Actually a lot of sunshine is the last thing I need at this time of the year as it gets much too hot for some of the plants that I like to grow.
Such things as Asiatic Primulas, must have all the shade the can get, and I had to pot on two trays of Primula Edgeworthii that had outgrown their allotted space and were suffering from overcrowding.
Primula Magellanica that was potted on two weeks ago are still sitting on the path at the back of the house by the kitchen window. There is nowhere else to put them that is shaded from the sun for most of the day.
The frame at the back of the potting shed is full to capacity with such thing as Shortia soldanelloides, Various Cassiope, Soldanellas, a whole range of Asiatic primulas, such as P Aureata, P. frimbiata and P. Sonchifolia Dodecatheon , and various other bits and pieces that would only last a few hours in the scorching sunshine at this time of the year.
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