Seeds, Rabbits and Orange Peel

Walking around the garden, I have noticed quite a few seed pods, namely Agapanthus orientalis, a very free flowering variety with pale blue flowers.

Also some Agapanthus ‘Headbourne hybrids’, which have flowers in varying shades of blue, including a very dark blue, and also white. These only grow to 12-15 inches high so are suitable for the smaller garden.

Galtonia candicans has set a lot of seed. If you are prepared to wait a couple of years, sow it now as I did. I prefer a large pot rather than a seed tray. Hardy perennials and bulbs set in a shady place will need very little watering and if you use sterile sandy soil for the top two inches, anything that germinates isn’t smothered with weeds.

I am hoping that the seed from Cobaea scandens (pictured left) is viable. Most seeds I prefer to sow when fresh but as they are tender I will sow these in early spring.

I have had great trouble with rabbits this year, decimating many of my plants (my friend Anthony has decimated some of the rabbits with his shotgun). With a large garden, it is not possible to protect everything. I have just recently heard that if orange peel is placed near a plant the rabbits will avoid it. Hopefully this will be effective.

Autumn tip - this is a good time to be thinking about making alterations to the garden and changing plants that have been disappointing because of size, colour or performance. Take out or reduce the size of shrubs that are smothering nearby plants.

Cobaea Scandens

I have found most gardeners are willing to share their experiences and seeds and cuttings with like-minded people.


This year, I was given two small seedlings in May of a plant I had never grown before, namely Cobaea scandens. One was labelled pink the other blue.


As this plant comes from Mexico (it is a tender perennial climber), it will probably not survive the winter without protection.


They are only now showing some flowers. One has pale green foliage and is growing through a large silver box Buxus argentea. The flower which is like a cup and saucer (cobea is also called the cup-and-saucer plant), is beautiful - translucent cream and green. The other plant is planted at the base of a wall covered with the golden ivy 'Buttercup' and has dark purple foliage. It is only in bud but I imagine the flower will be purple. The white one Cobaea scandens alba is quite rare so I am hoping to get some viable seed.


They are probably blooming so late because of a lack of sunlight and were sown too late. They are well worth growing.

September Photos

Cobaea scandens var. alba? A woman who I looked after as a little girl came to visit the garden and gave me this plant, which I think is a vigorous climber from Mexico. Also known as the cup-and-saucer plant. Strictly a perennial, but I intend to grow it as a half-hardy annual.




Phlox maculata 'White Admiral'. I have increased this by stem cuttings, round about the same time as the Chelsea Flower Show, therefore known as the 'Chelsea chop'. Reduce some of the sideshoots in May when the plant is about 12 inches high. 6 inch pieces root very easily.

Bulbs of Colchicum speciosum. Flowers from September onwards. Also known as 'naked lady'. I read that the flower contains a poison similar to arsenic.




Foliage of the native Euonymus or Spindle tree beginning to turn red. So called because its hard, yellowish wood 'serveth
very well to the making both of Prickes and Spindelles'.

Cylcamen as big as a dinner plate by stump of horse chestnut, grown from my own seed.









(c) David Lewis 2008