Our guest speaker was Mr Edwin (Ted) West, who is an expert on Hellebores (winter roses).
Firstly, Ted shared some of his own tips with members, including hints on gardening when afflicted by arthritis. Ted recommended some remedies that he has found effective including ‘Cool It’ and Goanna oil. Ted had brought some of his favourite small tools and gadgets and explained their uses – a putty knife is excellent for removing weeds and various other implements for chopping and weeding. He recommends sitting on a milk crate covered with lambskin while gardening.
Ted’s shared photos of his garden in Upper Ferntree Gully, which has won ‘Champion Garden for the Southern Region’ and has been filmed and photographed for programs by Don Burke, John Patrick and Jane Edmondson. The garden features many hellebores of all varieties. He explained that Hellebores originated in Germany, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Italy, Russia and Czechoslovakia.
There are numerous types, including green and spotted varieties, and some also have marbled leaves, which can have smooth or ragged edges. Some species have leafy stems with flowers on top; some have huge seed pods as well as the more common varieties. ‘Hellebores Nigra’ has long, black cord-like roots. Some varieties can be difficult to grow and sometimes die off. When this happens, water and mulch the plants and feed with seaweed fertilizer, which will often revive them.
Hellebores like mulching and watering and Ted feeds his with cow and sheep manure, Osmocote and seaweed fertilizer. They prefer some shade and a fairly rich heavy soil – you can build your own soil up where you are going to grow them. When it’s time to divide them, simply dig up, slice with a carving knife, ensuring that each piece has a bud and some roots and rub the cut surfaces with powdered sulphate, which can be purchased at Bunnings. This is best done in August.
Ted explained that he loves perfumed plants in his garden, and also uses the principles of Feng Shui in his plantings. He likes to plant miniature cyclamens as a backdrop for his hellebores; behind these he plants azaleas and camellias. Seating is also important in the garden, as we need to take time out to enjoy its beauty.
Ted then showed us slides of his travels through England, including the Kew Gardens, the Thames, herbaceous borders, roses and Hampton Court. Ted found Edinburgh Botanic Gardens to be beautifully balanced and very tranquil, and Anne Hathaway’s cottage at Stratford-on-Avon had a colourful cottage garden. The gardens inSingaporehave flamingos and an impressive selection of palms. Ted then fielded questions from members.
