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Sex
In The Garden
by
John Cushnie
Nowhere
is immune and the ornamental garden sees more
than its share of the goings on. Many of the
occupants cast off their clothing in the autumn
and bare all to the elements. Rose leaves nothing
to the imagination resulting in a thorny problem
not to be resolved for many months. There are
enough sex problems in the garden to tax an
army of agony “ants”.
IÂ’m
not one to gossip but did you hear about Skimmia
japonica? It simply refuses to perform without
a male partner resulting in yet another year
without any berries.
Its
cousin Skimmia reevesiana is a bit funny, it
has turned out to be hermaphrodite. Enough said,
but it has male and female flowers on the same
plant so it unashamedly bears berries and it
isnÂ’t even in a relationship! Gaultheria
mucronata (she used to be called Pernettya mucronata),
also needs a partner but is happy to share him
with her friends.
You
have heard of Holly and Ivy? Well, donÂ’t
you believe everything that you hear. As far
as I can find out most holly prefer another
holly for company, although J C van Tol is one
that has plenty of time for ivy as it is also
hermaphrodite.
No
garden would be complete without its propagation
and fertilisation and Violet, Heather and Daphne
are all good at it but occasionally Jack Frost
puts his foot down and cools their ardour.
I
blame the birds and the bees.
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