We are now moving on to the shrubs and bedding plants phase, and a first instalment was delivered today, to be planted on Sunday. In the meantime, I have them lined up in the shade on the north-east side of the house, and shall keep them nice and moist until then.
More photos will appear when we've done something, but in the meantime I have to mention that one of the new arrivals is a cherry laurel, bred in Germany, named Prunus laurocerasus 'Bonaparte'.
Well, it had to be done, hadn't it?
This is a stock photo for the moment, but no doubt Bonaparte will be standing proud in the long bed by next week. Nine new potted shrubs to go in this week. I hope to publish the evidence here.
Good name for the strain/cultivar Tony!
ReplyDeleteYou did, of course mean Prunus laurocerasus :) (a teasing, anal-retentive correction, of course)
Of course. Thank you James.
DeleteExcellent stuff. Hopefully the shrub will be short of stature, but very energetic.
ReplyDeleteI think I bought a plant once because it had 'Macedon' in the name. Whether it invaded the whole garden for a brief period before dying quite young, I can't recall.
Magnificent comment! Loved it - brightened my day!
DeleteIn similar vein, there does exist an antique rose named after Archduke Charles.
DeleteThis is great stuff - I need to start investigating the idea of setting up a flower bed of military heroes. I thought that there might have been a rose named after Murat, but it turns out it was named after some woman named Murat in the 1860s.
DeleteThere is a plant named Napoleon's Hat, which bears an edible fruit, but it grows in the rainforest in West Africa, so that's definitely a non-starter for the Scottish Borders. As a side issue, there are now all sorts of regulations about the origins of plants (this stuff is new to me), and it seems I may be required to keep some kind of "passport" certificate for any plants imported from overseas. I'm not sure what sort of credentials make them OK.
There was a Marechal Davout rose, but it seems no longer to exist. The Comte Foy rose, in contrast, endures - there is at least one supplier, Rosiers du Berry.
DeleteI am touched to note that at last there is just a little justice in the graceful world of rose breeding. Thanks for this.
DeleteIf you want the emperor in your garden shouldn’t you grow some violets to encourage him?
ReplyDeleteExcellent - what a cultured, educated hang-out this blog is becoming! Thank you very much.
DeleteBonaparte! Time to put on your wellies and get out the weed-killer.
ReplyDeleteOh yeah - oops - I thought that name was familiar.
Delete