Welcome

Julian showed us of the wonderful variety of plants that are at their best in the winter season.

· In the wild Himalaya, Daphne makes a large suckering shrub, in the UK the most popular variety is Daphne Bholua Jacqueline postill

· Sarcococca confusa has a pervasive scent, these shrubs fruit and flower at the same time, some varieties of have red fruits others black.

· A classic suburban garden tree is Magnolia Soulangea. The variety Etienne soulange bodin is a hybrid from 1820 named for a French Cavalry Officer who after the devastation of the 1stWorld War was quoted to have said “We would all have done better to have stayed home and planted cabbages”.

· Justin had 2 tips for anyone who wants to grow Trilliums but struggles – they like a humus rich soil in light shade, don`t buy bulbs, buy from a nursery where the plants have a well-established root system; the best types for our climate are the sesile species.

· Hazel catkins are a harbinger of Spring – especially on the twisted stems of Corylus avellana.

· We were all fascinated to see images of the Toothwort Lathrea squamaria - a parasite which feeds on willow. It has pink flower spikes in spring.

· A later flowering Magnolia Campbellii is Betty Jessel, but this isn`t grown in domestic gardens as it usually reaches 50 foot in a landscape garden. There is a magnificent fully grown tree at Lukesland Gardens near Ivybridge that the society has visited twice in the past and is planning to visit again in April.

· Witch hazel Hamamelis mollis, in particular, is highly scented and also has good autumn leaf colour.

· Cornus mas, also known as Dogwood, has showy yellow flowers on bare wood.

· An acid yellow flower, with big bold butter yellow leaves in autumn, Lindera obtusiloba, is quite a rare plant from Japan.

· The Spurge laurel has evergreen leaves and lime green standout flowers.

· Ghostly white edges of the divided leaves of Fatsia polycarpa shine when the veins are picked out by the frost.

· A plant originally from N America, the Skunk Cabbage looks glorious in the snow, although it stinks to attract pollinating insects.

· Looking best in winter is Arum italicum Sandy McNab, because it has white markings, the variety Chui has Leopard spots on its foliage with a splendid flower spike.

· Justin then moved on to varieties of bulbs that give of their best in winter such as Snowdrops which had a wide distribution from the Pyrenees in Europe to the Balkans, before being brought to Britain.

· They also grow in a variety of habitats, such as riverbanks, snow melt and open ground. Some like to bake in summer and have a cool wet winter, they are very adaptable to different conditions.

· Other bulbs of note for this season are Scilla which are ideal in raised beds, Daffodils in many different varieties and shapes, Iris, Cyclamen Coum and Erythronium.