Lonicera Week

During a few weeks away from the garden, I hear that a late March bout of snow is setting back budding. Returning at the end of week 2009/13, it is time to take stock of frost damage: the Phormium tenax in particular stayed green into February, but has now been completely ravaged and has gone limp. Its fellow New Zealander Libertia looks dry and yellow, but at least remains stiff. I clip back both to about 20 centimetres from the ground. Ribes 'Atrorubens' is getting ready to blossom with drupes emerging, and the first spring azaleas are in full flower. This is remarkable, as vireya rhododendrons and other late-flowering types are still in autumn flower in the same week on the streets of Auckland, New Zealand: a testimony to the remarkable adaptability of the magnificent, hugely various Rhodedendron genus. Early witch hazels have finished their run, but 'Jelena' is still at a peak of ripe flowering and Lonicera x purpusii (pictured) next to the street again provides a delicious vanilla perfume for passers-by as it climaxes. It may be possible to underplant this with Erica carnea, which begins to flower at this time: there is a fine example a few doors away.