Taken from Lynne’s weekly column ‘Green Scene’ for the Western Mail
20th April 2019
Happy Easter
Not having children, I am never sure when the holidays are. It seems that most families split their year up into kids, or grandchildren’s, school holidays and term time – I just go season by season. I have to rely on some clients being at their homes, or just a sheer increase in the volume of traffic going through Crickhowell, to know that it is an annual holiday.
Easter Sunday can fall on any date from 22 March to 25 April as it is based on the lunar calendar (or cycles of the moon) rather than our more well-known solar one. It always falls on the first Sunday following the Full Moon (the Paschal Full Moon) after 21 March, or Vernal equinox. If the Full Moon falls on a Sunday then Easter is the next Sunday.
The history of Easter reveals rich associations between the Christian faith and the practices of the early pagan religions. We are all familiar with the traditional symbols of bunnies, chicks and of course, Easter eggs, but I particularly like the fairy-lore that suggests to leave food and drink out for the fairies on the nights of our festivals; it is believed that if the fairies are not honoured with gifts at these times, they will work mischief in our lives.
Fairies have favourite foods associated with each festival, and for Ostara, or Easter, it is customary to leave something sweet like honey, mead or sweets themselves. Perhaps a gift of sweets corresponds to the sweet nectar gathered from new spring flowers, who knows, but it does seem a good trade to secure a mischief-free zone.
Eggs-ellent Easter Present
And talking of mischief, my ‘terrier-ist’, currently has problems with her leg and/or hip so is on ‘light duties’ for a while. Funny how all the anxieties and frustrations about ground elder, bad weather and the chickens not laying, pale into insignificance as soon as your dog is poorly.
Ground elder is blanketing most of my flower beds at the cottage but I have found that the stunning Camassias seem to ignore its bullying tactics and are thriving amongst it. They also rise above the dense green foliage blankets, so the blue flower spikes will be really pretty when they flower amid the fluffy white ground elder flower-heads next month. You gotta work with what you’ve got!
Camassias are my new favourite plants, as they are just so self sufficient and uncomplicated. They will thrive in damp places and yet mine are also doing well in dry-ish beds. They love full sun and yet mine are in semi shade. A large local garden has used them to naturalise a large orchard and the mown paths between the tall, blue swathes are stunning. They are also available in white and pale pink which are both great for ‘lifting’, or brightening up, shady areas. And they make fabulous cut flowers.
So if you aren’t fussed on receiving an Easter eggs this year, ask for some Camassias, or garden gift vouchers, instead! Better than chocolate, and much longer lasting.
Happy Easter.
Evergreen Screens
A reader recently emailed me for advice about choosing shrubs to provide a tall evergreen screen to block out a busy road at the bottom of their garden. The funny thing was as I was running along the canal bank (with my new Road Noise vest) and considering all the evergreen options, I could smell the unmistakable scent of the laurel trees that are in all their glory at the moment. Nan used to hate the smell, likening it to cat’s pee, but I really like it and can’t see the connection at all! But then I like the smell of the Choisya too, and which my brother hates. When we are working together, I have to childishly squish the leaves and stick them under his nose.
The laurel I’m referring to is Prunus laurocerasus, the Common or Cherry Laurel, and will reach 15 feet or more. It can be kept in check quite easily with regular pruning, and makes a good thick hedge. The white candle-like flowers are scented, as mentioned and there are several varieties to choose from including ‘Castlewellen’, which has white-splashed leaves. But don’t confuse this laurel with Laurus or the Bay Laurel, which is used in cooking, as the Common laurel leaves are poisonous.
Elaeagnus is another good choice for an easy to grow, undemanding evergreen screen, as is Pittisporum, which is also great for flower arranging but will need a sheltered site to thrive. And both also host small scented flowers that definitely don’t smell of cat’s pee.
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