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www.ilkestonlife.com ILKESTON LIFE February 2022 14
Columns

during the dormant season of trees Boyhood memories less we were chattering about other
with and shrubs. I always try to encour- things. If you used the swing you
Life in the Garden Gardener age interest through the winter by Larry Pique had to get as high as you could. The
Steve so here are five of my favourite object of the exercise was to get the
plants for winter interest. Playing swing above the height of the cross-
Hello Gardeners… as Asparagus, Artichokes and 1. Cornus alba ‘Sibirica’ ( red bar whereupon the tension in the
Welcome to February’s Life in the Rhubarb with well rotted manure stemmed dogwood) chains would loosen and you would
Garden. The winter hasn’t been or garden compost. 2. Prunus serrula (Tibetan cherry plummet down until the tension was
too bad for us over the last month. Start chitting early potatoes - stand with mahogany bark) on the taken up with a snap of the chain
The winter sunshine on frosty them on end in a module tray 3. Salix alba var. vitellina (colour- causing the swing to careen wildly
mornings has made our gardens or egg box and place them in a ed stemmed willow) about. The bravest among us would
sparkle. January was also very bright, cool, frost-free place 4. Acer griseum (grown for its in- rec’ do this whilst standing on the seat,
dry and I don’t think we saw any Start sowing vegetable seeds such teresting bark, paper bark maple) not sitting like …. well, like a ….
rain, so I had to do a little bit of as leeks , onions and celeriac 5. Cornus sanguinea ‘Midwinter wuss! Then the ultimate daredevil
watering! Don’t forget things like under cover. Fire’ (glowing fiery stemmed stunt. Leaping from a moving
evergreens in pots, winter annu- cornus). From the age of 5 in the late swing. You get the swing as high as
als and newly planted trees and Plant of the month 1960s to my mid-teens in the you dare then let your momentum
shrubs like a drop of water. HELLEBORUS ORIENTALIS Snowdrop Quiz late 1970s we kids “played out” propel you from the seat forward
There is no greater feeling than (Christmas or Lenten Rose) 1. What is the botanical name for from just after breakfast till the onto the grass or tarmac depending
to get out in our gardens on a Helleborus orientalis is one of Snowdrops? sun went down and then, moving
winter’s day even just for an hour, the nicest plants I can think of for 2. Unscramble this Snowdrop closer to home, we played on the on which way you’re facing. If
makes such a difference. colour in the garden in February species.. VAIL SIN streets till bedtime. there were too many of us to have a
As we enter February the nights - that is why its my plant of the 3. When is the best time to divide Often our play took us to the rec’ – swing apiece there would be “two
are slowly starting to draw out. month. Hellebores produce large Snowdrops? the recreation ground off Oakwell ups”. One sitting on the seat one
And the gardens are starting clusters of saucer-shaped flowers 4. Which author of fairy tales Drive – where we spent many a standing with their feet either side
to wake up as the spring bulbs with white, pink, green, mauve or wrote the short story “The Snow- summer’s day footling around, and of your bum driving the swing ever
make an appearance and, in some smoky purple flowers. The large drop“? not just in the summertime but all higher, the added weight giving
places, the early daffodils are in leathery, evergreen leaves persist 5. What Is the name given to year round. In those days the rec’ increased momentum.
bloom. throughout the year but should someone who collects Snow- was surrounded by an eight foot Two roundabouts, one with seats for
Hellebores, which I absolute love, be cut back in the spring when drops? wooden fence which was its own toddlers, one with bars for the big
are showing plenty of colour at flowers and new foliage emerge I would love you to get in touch to playground to be climbed and used kids. Both were there to be spun as
the moment and February is the so then you can really focus on the share your gardening stories, news to repel all other boarders, or to fast as possible. All aboard except
month for the Snowdrop, so enjoy magnificent blooms. Hellebores and photos from around and about quote George Mallory, explorer and one who would stand at the edge
what colour your have coming in are perennial, long-lived, and or to ask a garden question. I look and get it going at breakneck speed
your garden and remember, Spring become larger each year. They forward to hearing from you. mountaineer, to be climbed simply until one or all were flung aside
is nearly here!! bring colour to any border and Email me at gardenersteve24@ “because it’s there”. collecting bruises and grazes. I have
In this month’s issue be looking at can be used in a rock garden and live.co.uk First stop the playground. The scars to this day on my knees, shins
winter interest for your gardens, woodland garden and will even Gardener Steve swings; perhaps 12 feet high, four and elbows from my days on the
my plant of the month and why naturalise. swings hung from the arched steel rec’.
not have a go at my snowdrop Flowering period: Late winter to Answers to quiz frame with wrought iron chains and Lastly the slide. It seemed moun-
quiz, but firstly here’s a few jobs early spring. 1. Galanthus brightly coloured plastic seats. The tainous then but was perhaps 15
you can be getting on with through Height and Spread: 30cm (12”) - 2. Nivalis framework was there to be climbed feet high on a grassy mound with a
out February. Happy gardening 90cm (36”). 3. In March after flowering – again, because it was there. We view over the landscape to Shipley
everybody. Position: Sun or shade. 4. Hans Christian Andersen would wrap our legs around the Park ahead and just next door, the
Continue to plant bare-root trees, Soil: Humus - rich, well drained. poles and shimmy to the top to fire station where we could watch
shrubs and roses as long as the Hardiness: Hardy perennial. sit upon or hang from the cross- Pugh Pugh and Barney McGrew et
ground is not frozen or water- Propagation: By division in early bar. We would try to unseat one al being put through their paces on
logged. spring after flowering or in later another from the top or leg-wrestle their training tower. We would take
Soak sweet pea seeds in tepid wa- in the year in September. Divide our mates until one gave in and old candle stubs and wax the slide
ter overnight before sowing them, the clump into several pieces of a dropped to the ground and it was until it was so slippery we could
this helps to speed up germination reasonable size and replant. hard tarmac in those days, none of shoot off the bottom like a shell
Cut back the old foliage from Pruning: Remove faded flowers your spongy-soft tarmac look-alike from a cannon. Cue more bruises
ornamental grasses before the new after flowering and keep plants that today’s pampered kids enjoy. and grazes and a bath with a capful
growth begins - trim them to with- tidy by removing damaged leaves. We would sometimes even use the of Dettol before bed. Oh! You poor
in a few centimetres of the ground Pest and Diseases: They suffer swings for the purpose which they pasty youths with your Playstations
Prune winter flowering shrubs from certain pest and disease were intended. Of course, a simple and Xboxes, you’ve never lived!
such as Mahonia and Viburnum problems such as hellebore aphid, sit and swing was not enough – un-
x bodnantense after they have hellebore black death, hellebore
finished flowering. leaf miner and leaf spot. Remove
Football club can serve alcohol
Plant new rhubarb crowns now affected leaves. Football club can serve alcohol
and established rhubarb plants can
be forced for an early crop Winter interest in the n Ilkeston football club has
n Ilkeston football club has was karaoke past 11pm and more was karaoke past 11pm and more
Prune Winter Flowering Jasmine Above: Snowdrops; music on another night.
Above: Snowdrops;
music on another night.
won permission to serve
(Jasminum nudiflorum) after flow- garden Below: Helleborus Orientalis A Awon permission to serve He added: “We didn’t move here
t move here
e didn’
He added: “W
Below: Helleborus Orientalis
alcohol despite the worries of
ering to encourage new growth Winter is often thought of as a dull alcohol despite the worries of to have a night club near my back
to have a night club near my back
25 neighbours.
for next year’s blooms. Cut back time in the garden but there are 25 neighbours. garden.”
garden.”
Officials will also be able to play
the previous years growth to 5cm still plenty of plants that offer col- Officials will also be able to play Another neighbour Adam Wool- -
ool
W
Adam
neighbour
Another
from the old wood our and interest and not by flower music until 1 1pm but the club - ley wrote: “W e would have to
music until 11pm but the club-
ley wrote: “We would have to
Mulch perennial vegetables such colour but by the stems and bark house will have to shut 30 minutes contend with people parking over
house will have to shut 30 minutes
contend with people parking over
later . our drive, driving up the street too
later.
our drive, driving up the street too
Erewash councillors agreed the fast. Whilst I support this being a
Erewash councillors agreed the
fast. Whilst I support this being a
move after building work on land
move after building work on land football club for the kids, unfortu- -
football club for the kids, unfortu
between Derby Road and Dale
between Derby Road and Dale nately the adults cannot behave.”
nately the adults cannot behave.”
V iew . But Judy Barrett, secretary for the
View.
But Judy Barrett, secretary for the
It is the home of Stanton Ilkeston
It is the home of Stanton Ilkeston women’s teams, said they mainly
women’
s teams, said they mainly
FC, which has 300 players and
FC, which has 300 players and wanted to provide after match re- -
wanted to provide after match re
runs 25 teams, mostly for people freshments and stage presentation
runs 25 teams, mostly for people
freshments and stage presentation
under 18.
under 18. evenings. The meeting was told
The meeting was told
evenings.
But neighbour Justin Clarke told that the clubhouse would be open
But neighbour Justin Clarke told
that the clubhouse would be open
a Licensing and Public Protection to members and their guests.
a Licensing and Public Protection
to members and their guests.
Panel that he moved to the area She told councillors: “W e are
Panel that he moved to the area
She told councillors: “We are
because it had been “a quiet neigh
because it had been “a quiet neigh- - aware of our responsibilities in op- -
aware of our responsibilities in op
bourhood.”
bourhood.” erating a licence. W e are not open
erating a licence. We are not open
But he said that family life had
But he said that family life had for everybody .”
for everybody.”
been disrupted three times last
been disrupted three times last
. One one occasion there
summer
summer. One one occasion there