Peter Dowdall looks at some perfect sun-loving plants
Whatever the explanation for the origin of the universe, be it the Big Bang or God or something that we haven’t even begun to realise yet, it is a certainty that the sun is the most important element essential to life on earth.
It seems foolish to even write it as it is probably the most basic precept of all — if the sun didn’t exist, neither would we. But do we stop and think long enough to realise exactly what impact it is having?
During a wet and miserable summer with poor amounts of sunlight, we all seem that bit more down in ourselves and likewise, in good sunny weather our spirits lift and the world seems a nicer, friendlier place.
Our crops depend on it, our ornamental gardens depend on it, our every waking moment is defined by it, as our calendars and clocks are all synchronised around its movement.
Tomorrow is Midsummer’s Day, time to celebrate the importance of this life giver and there is something special about the longest day of the year, no matter where you are. It symbolises high summer.
The days are getting shorter from now on as we progress towards the winter months. Midsummer has been celebrated for many thousands of years, originally as a pagan festival and later, with the spread of Christianity, it has become associated with the Feast Day of St John the Baptist which falls on June 24.
It is celebrated in many religions and traditions, the Chinese marking it as the Festival of Li, the Chinese Goddess of Light. All the traditions and believers have different ways of understanding it and explaining it, but it is in essence a day of sun worship.
The Celts used to burn fires all around the countryside on hills and mountains to add to the sun’s energy — and we still do that up to this day, with Bonfire Night.
So many plants performed better last year than previous years with apples blossoming profusely and yielding more bountiful harvests than normal, other flowering trees and shrubs and even perennials all seeming to offer more last year.
This year looks like something similar in the garden, the apple and cherry blossoms were spectacular once again and the May trees, albeit later than normal due to the exceptionally cold month of May this year, have been abundant once again, the countryside blanketed in white blooms, the roadsides in rural areas having been brushed with a heavier than normal stroke of nature’s white paintbrush.
In my own head, I explained much of this last year as being due to the particularly good summer that we had in 2013, high temperatures and extended levels of sunlight.
I have no idea if that is right or not as I have only a slight comprehension of the workings of the sun, but it makes sense to me. If that is the case, then this year’s harvest should be sensational after the amount of sun we saw in 2014.
Stonehenge and Newgrange are the two most famous alignments or temples (for want of a better word), to the sun in these islands but there are many stone circles and monuments aligned to the sun still in existence.
In deference to the mighty star, let me tell you about a plant that likes to be grown directly in its rays. Like in all aspects of the garden, to get the best out of plants depends on putting the right plant in the right place.
For example positioning a Camellia facing due south is foolish as the flowers will be burnt while still wrapped up in bud by the rays of the winter sun burning off the icy dew. The leaves too, will be scorched by the harshness of the direct sun during summer.
No, Camellias, Rhododendrons, Azaleas, Magnolias, indeed many of our spring favourites will prefer a position somewhat more shaded. So too Hostas and many of the woodland-type perennials that give pleasure during summer will prefer a more shaded and damp position under the canopy of trees.
But the ones that love to bathe in the sunshine, like an Irish tourist on the Costa del Sol, include some of the brightest additions to the garden.
Papaver or Poppies will thrive in the most exposed and open of positions and so too, the sought after shrub Romneya coulteri or Californian Tree Poppy. A real gem of a plant, native to southern California which in itself should give a clue as to where it should be positioned.
It thrives in open, very well drained soil in hot sunny conditions and will survive coastal planting. It is a plant that I adore — growing to over two metres in height and with a vigorous spread.
Grey/green leaves are topped with open, papery white flowers of the simplest kind, opening up with masses of yellow stamens at its centre.
I have to be honest and admit that I have had difficulty establishing this plant. I have tried now several times and given it the correct conditions under a south-facing warm wall and other full sun locations but always, so far, without success.
It galls me to read many of the textbook descriptions which then describe it as a plant that can outgrow its space, sending up shoots quite a distance from the parent. Not a problem I have experienced.
I have no idea whether the botanist Thomas Coulter who founded the herbarium in Trinity College was a pagan, a Christian, a worshipper of the Sun God or otherwise.
I do know however that this physician and fellow of the college, did much work in Mexico and South America in the field of botanical research and conservation and his name is commemorated in the naming of this particular species of Californian Tree Poppy after him — Romneya coulteri.
AS WE are in the middle of high summer and the days are at their longest don’t forget to look at ways of conserving water.
Certainly rain water butts and other more substantial rainwater harvesting systems should be looked at but there is one very simple addition we can all make to our gardens that will help to conserve water by reducing the loss of moisture through evaporation.
Ensure that beds and areas around trees and shrubs are adequately mulched. Be it a bark or gravel mulch, if it is applied at the correct depth a good mulching will substantially reduce water loss and ensure healthier plants.
Now is the time to top up beds where the mulch may be looking a bit sparse.
(Pictured: rattan water butts from www.waterbuttsdirect.co.uk )
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