Friday 19 April 2013

Arabis For April

This year, I'm taking the late Geoff Hamilton's advice and visiting a nursery each month with a view to buying a plant which is in flower for my garden. Doing this should ensure that I have something blooming in my garden every month of the year.

I visited a garden centre last Saturday and was impressed by all the Arabis which was blooming. This is a plant I've never grown before, and I'm wondering now why I've previously overlooked it. There was a lovely white variety, but the one a chose won because of it's name, Spring Charm. I just love it, because it is charming. It's scented too, another thing in it's favour.

This is one for the front of the border where it will, hopefully, trail over the edge of the wall. There's lots of buds on the plant, so plenty of flowers yet to come, it should go on blooming for a while yet.

40 comments:

  1. I love the idea of buying a plant each month based on what's in season. The Arabis plant you chose is really pretty.

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    1. I love the fact that it's scented too. I'm hoping that by buying a plant each month, I should have more colour in my garden throughout each season.

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  2. That's a good tip for having flower throughout the year, but I'd find it difficult to limit myself to just one plant :)

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    1. I have to admit to popping more than one plant in my shopping basket each time I buy a plant for my Plant Of The Month post, but at least it gives me a good excuse to go plant shopping and takes away the guilt of buying yet more plants.

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  3. I did this for my pebble garden - the only trouble is that this year things haven't really co-operated! Maybe next year.

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    1. I'm hoping that the weather will be back to normal next year and then the plants will be too. Fingers crossed.

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  4. Love Arabis, saw a gorgeous white one growing out of a wall in Lorton yestgerday.

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    1. Hmmm, I think I may have to go back for that white variety. It was the name of this one which tempted me.

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  5. Scented plants are a bonus - maybe you should get a white one as well, although the plum colour is pretty...? Next month, perhaps? I look forward to seeing what you choose for May!

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    1. I may very well get a white one to go with this one when I next visit the garden centre, I actually think they'd look very nice together. I do love scented plants, always a bonus.

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  6. How pretty and the fact that it is scented is a bonus. Will have to have a look for some for the containers on the deck xxx

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    1. Apparently, it grows well in containers, so it would be lovely on the deck, especially as it's scented.

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  7. It's not a plant name I recognise but it looks, and sounds, like a real winner. I think that I'd go with the white one though. Flighty xx

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    1. The white was lovely, and I'm regretting not buying both now. I can feel another shopping trip coming on.

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  8. You've just reminded me that I used to have a variegated arabis - sadly I think it's gone now. yours is lovely, I might have to replace mine!

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    1. I really don't know why I've never grown arabis before, I think I'll get the white one to go with the one I've already bought.

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  9. Beautiful colour. I would have come home with the white one as well.

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    1. I think I'll be making a return journey for the white one, I regret leaving it behind now.

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  10. This year I've decided to forego the national garden shows, even Malvern which I adore, and go to local nurseries instead. Saving the petrol and exorbitant entrance cost I can spend more money on plants and support local businesses too.

    Going once a month and buying plants in bloom is a really good idea.

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    1. Our local nursery shut down last year and I really miss it. Most of my plants this year have come from garden centres, but I'd much rather use somewhere local and independent, there just isn't anywhere nearby. I'm hoping that I'll have year round colour next year.

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  11. Geoff Hamilton was one of my gardening heroes. We enjoyed a visit to Barnsdale a couple of years ago.

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    1. By a couple of years ago - Martyn means in 2007!

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    2. I'd like to visit Barnsdale. There's so many people who miss Geoff and his great advice.

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    3. Time flies so fast. 2007 only seems like a couple of years ago.

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  12. I'm pretty sure I have posted before about following your example & buying a flowering plant each month.I will have to start tomorrow.

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    1. Enjoy your trip to the garden centre. I bet you don't only come away with a flowering plant, it's hard to resist everything else on offer. I look forward to hearing what you choose.

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  13. Gorgeous! I'm doing the same thing now. A fantastic idea!xxxx

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    1. Our gardens should be a riot of colour next year. Buying a flowering plant each month is a great excuse for a trip to the nursery.

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  14. You can't go wrong with advice from Geoff Hamilton, I used to love watching Gardener's World when he presented it and have many of his books. Great plant choice.

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    1. Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment. Geoff was always full of good advice, that's one of the reasons he's so well remembered. I'm pleased with my plant choice for April, it should go on flowering for a while yet.

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  15. This is a beautiful plant Jo. I think I should be writing a list in order to gt plenty of colour throughout the year on my garden too!!

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    1. It's tempting to look what should be flowering month by month, but I'm trying to go to the garden centre or nursery with an open mind so that I can buy whatever's in bloom. I'm pleased I'm doing it this way otherwise this arabis would have probably been overlooked again. I really like the colour of it but I may return for the white variety.

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  16. I've never come across Arabis before, but it looks lovely and I will definitely be on the lookout for it on my next plant shopping trip.

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    1. There were a few different varieties in the garden centre, and they were all blooming. It looks to be a great plant for this time of year.

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  17. Colour and scent Jo - the prefect combination :)

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    1. You can't ask for much more, can you? Well, unless you ask for the white variety too.

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  18. What a lovely idea, Jo. The arabis was a good first choice! P. x

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    1. I'm happy with my choice for April, though I realise now that I should have bought the white one as well. I'll have to pop back for it.

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  19. Such an amazing colour. There was a village near where we used to live and all of the stone walls were covered in pinky-purple arabis. It was stunning.

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    1. That sounds wonderful. I've planted this near the front of the border and I'm hoping that it will trail over the front of the wall.

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