A CHANGE OF SEASON IN THE GARDEN

September is the month when some things start to slow down in the garden and others are just waking up from their summer rest. All the bulbs including those from South Africa are left exposed to the elements at this time as the first of the autumn rains starts them into growth. This is very important especially for those from the southern hemisphere because if they are not started early they may not flower before the warm days of late spring which usually brings on dormancy, and then flower buds are aborted.

Cyclamen also enjoy the cool damp nights at this time and soon push up numerous flower buds before the leaves appear later in the season. The large white form of cyclamen Hederifolium now called Albiflorum is still the best of the species that I have got. It never fails to produce hundreds of crystal white flowers long before any foliage emerges. The various pink and red forms never come near the white one for flower size, quantity and foliage effect. Every seedling is carefully natured and now I have several hundred offspring, which are identical to the parent. Any rogues are immediately dispatched to the compost heap, as I want to keep this strain as pure as possible. The parent plant is in the front garden well away from any other Hederifolium and only in the company of Cyclamen Coum, with whom it will not interbreed.

Cyclamen Mirabile Tilebarn Anne is a beautiful plant and is usually brought into he alpine house at the first sight of flower buds to avoid weather damage, and also to try and secure a good crop of seed. Those plants left outside seldom-set seed for some unknown reason. Cyclamen Africanum is another plant that appreciated the shelter of the alpine house at flowering time. This one also produces all its flower buds before any foliage appears if water is withheld for the summer season. Africanum is reputed to be frost tender but where I live it will survive outside in a sheltered spot as my mother plant did last year, and is now occupying a 36cm pot. The first flower buds are just opening as I write this article and will continue for two months at least.

Most of the alpine plants in the old alpine house have been dispatched to the compost heap to make way for cyclamen seedlings. In future this house will only accommodate Cyclamen and Bulbs as both require much the same treatment and will make the summer holidays a simpler task to arrange. The other alpine house will house Lewisia and Primula, which can live side by side with much the same treatment.

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