I am always receiving new plants during the year, many of which can’t thrive in this climate. One of the most interesting has been a plant commonly called the Calla lily, but more properly Zantedeschia aethiopica which is found thriving naturally in swampy land throughout east and central Africa, and known in the Transvaal as the Arum lily. It belongs to the same family as the philodendron and the anthurium, producing a large white ‘flower,’ and large spear-shaped green leaves. It forms quite a large clump and is excellent for that rather damp, shady spot in the garden, and I mean shady.
I was very happy to get some plants of Begonia ‘Iron Cross,’ which a friend of mine called Maurice Mason found in Brazil many years ago, and after whom it is named. Its proper name is Begonia masoniana ‘Iron Cross.’ Its light green leaves are marked with a pronounced dark brownish cross, which you might have seen on old pictures of German fighter aeroplanes of the Great War. This begonia is excellent for hanging baskets or for a large pot in a cool part of the house. I often receive bulbs, most of which don’t do anything after their first flowering. These have included tulips, hyacinths and daffodils. The scent of the hyacinths is very strong but not unpleasant. The trouble with these bulbs is that they need a resting period of several months like they get in Europe. Here they only last for a week or two and then you might as well throw them away.
I have in the past received many of what I call ‘sunshine’ plants, all of which are required to be grown in well-drained soil, not in pro-mix. Especially good are the Transvaal daisies (Gerbera varieties), which once they have settled down can be planted out. Also in this group are the dianthus (a small carnation which grows superbly in a well-drained rockery), some good plants of Salvia splendens with spikes of scarlet flowers, and a good selection of good quality petunia plants, excellent for hanging baskets, tubs or window boxes. The petunias are very popular in Guyana as hanging basket plants in the parts of the house not exposed to the sun. Our herb collection has been improved by the addition of a small and interesting number of herbs in pots, especially thyme, parsley, sweet basil, and spearmint, all of which are used regularly in cooking in this house, and all having the most delightful scented leaves. ‘Erbs’ as our American cousins insist on pronouncing it, have become a great feature in many of our great gardens, many being displayed with collections of other scented plants for the sight impaired.
I have spent many hours getting seed out of the pods of Cassia javanica,(the Apple blossom cassia), which I collect each year, and my fingers are always sore afterwards. First, of course, you pick the pods and then leave them until they start to rattle when shaken, a sure sign that the seed are ready to grow. They then should be put into a very well-drained soil and left alone, but it can take many weeks and sometimes months before you see signs of life. But it’s getting the seed out of the pods which is a trial.
My brother who lives on the edge of Saddleworth Moor in south Yorkshire (not far from my home in England) writes to tell me that he is under about five inches of snow, and it is still falling. His gardening has come to a complete stop.
He managed to dig over his vegetable section and prune his blackcurrants and then everything had to stop. We are in a luckier position, with the prospect of some good entertainment from the world’s cricketers – we hope.
Some really sad news got to me this year. One of the best workers I ever had died a short time ago. Charka was quite unable to speak or hear but could understand everything that I wanted him to do, he had such a fine mind.
May his God go with him and with you all as well, wherever you are in my adopted home.
