It’s amazing what some warm sunshine and a bit of light rain can achieve in a few days, especially at Nymans Nursery where bulbs are bursting into flower and dormant shoots are starting to appear and put on new growth. We are gearing up for a busy spring and summer!
Over the winter we have been sowing seeds, nurturing some of our more tender species and generally making sure our plants – inside and out, have been receiving a bit of TLC. As the days are getting lighter and the temperature warming up, our plants are putting on new growth and soon the nursery will be even busier as we juggle space and plants alongside growing the annuals for the spectacular Nymans summer borders.
Here are some of our tender exotics in their temporary Winter home in the Nursery
Always aware of the experimental nature of gardening employed by the Messel family, the nursery is growing some firm favourites, but some new varieties too. Currently we are growing Chilean plants from seed for the wall garden and some exotic climbers for the front of the terrace. We have to be patient as seed germination can be erratic and take months – although we can’t wait to see which seeds will pop their heads up first!
We are also growing plants for the sunk garden, rockery and our salvia display near the rose garden which comes into its own from mid summer onwards.
Here are a few highlights that you can expect to see in the garden over the coming months.
Alonsoa incisifolia
A native from Chile, where it is grown more frequently as a shrubby perennial, here this bright orange annual provides a splash of colour contrasting against its dark green leaves. Look out for it in the wall garden this summer.
Lobelia tupa
Another native from central Chile, this striking plant is grown as an annual and a perennial. The red tubular flowers can be seen in the wall garden and form an eye-catching display from mid summer .
This tall architectural plant makes a striking addition to the Wall Garden.
Berkheya purpurea ‘Zulu Warrior’
You may already be aware of this South African flower as it has been grown in our South African bed for the past two years, and has proved a talking point with visitors to the garden and in our plant centre. Seedlings are coming up in the nursery and soon they will be ready to be pricked out.
This beautiful purple flower will be gracing the South African Bed this summer
Dianthus carthusianum
A bit closer to home, we are growing two species of dianthus this year for the rockery and the sunk garden.
This species originates from Europe and has a long history. Originally named after the Carthusian monks in France who grew the dianthus in their own individual gardens, the plant gradually spread through Europe. The dianthus species has gained popularity in recent years and this bright splash of magenta is sure to flourish in a sunny position.
Dianthus cruentus
A striking plant of almost crimson flowers, clusters of heads are held on willowy stems in early summer. Some of these will be planted in the rockery later during the summer and will form part of a perennial planting scheme for next year.
Salvia patens
A familiar favourite in both the summer borders and in the salvia bed around the rose garden, this lovely bright blue salvia is one of our most popular salvias. Flowering slightly later in the summer, it can often flower until the first frosts.
Salvia patens is a tender, tuberous rooted tender perennial from Mexico that has soft, hairy petals and leaves
Salvia patens ‘Cambridge Blue’
This delicate blue plant was Nymans nursery’s most popular seller in the plant centre last year.It is being grown again this year and visitors will be able to see this and the darker Salvia patens in both the summer border and the salvia bed around the rose garden.
S. patens ‘Cambridge Blue’ is a variant on the species with a lighter, more delicate shade of blue
So a whistle-stop tour of some of the continents where our plants originated from. These are just a few of our many and varied collection. We hope you spot some more over the coming months.
nymansgardenblognt 