PLANTING

As part of an article, I've been asked to do a planting list for the railway, which is VERY interesting as I've got no idea (in most cases) what the plants are - I acquired them (don't buy unless I can absolutely have to) because they "looked right"! So I asked one of our more knowledgeable local garden railway plantsmen, Keith Vernon (here pictured struggling with one he couldn't identify!) to come over and supply some answers.

The first plant we could identify, which has covered much of the ground above the curve from Lathkill Dale to Alport Junction was identified as a Hebe, but what variety we weren't able to tell.

The group of conifers above Alport Junction are various "compressi" forms: the only identifiable one is the very small one on the right, which is Chamaecyparis "Boulevard".

As part of the Railway's policy of "We'll have whatever's going" we've acquired a fair colony of self-set wild foxgloves...........

............ which produce varicoloured spikes of flowers.

One plant which thrives well and needs constant pruning is only known to us by its common name of "Creeping Jenny" (Latin: Lysimachia nummularia) also variously known as Creeping Charlie, Creeping Sally, Downhill-Of-Life, Herb Twopence, Money Myrtle, Money Plant, Moneywort, Twopenny Grass, Wandering Charlie, or Wandering Sally. Hence the preference for the Latin!

Good use has always been made of various types of sedum. This one's made a very hard clump by the track (intermingled with some Creeping Jenny), but again we've no idea of the variety - perhaps summer may give us more clues.

Mossy saxifrage has colonised the trackside well, too, but has to be kept in check by the frequent operation of trains or more drastic surgery with a pair of scissors. The plant on the other side of the tracks is Polygonium "Affene" in its winter colouring.
You didn't notice the tunnel mouth in the background, did you?

The polygonium in flower.................

.......... and the mossy saxifrage demonstrating its rampant growth (and white flowers)

The Sedum and Sempervivum on top of the tunnel appear to be thriving well.

The Juniperus compressa above Haddon Yard needs a little pruning, 'cause it's got a bit out of hand............

Every year, the line is blessed with tall stands of aqualegia...................

........... which really are quite beautiful.