Pelargonium:  Skies of Italy.

 

From a very early age growing up in the Irish countryside and particularly so in my case as I was born and raised under a thatched roof that even by then more than seventy years ago now were beginning to disappear from the landscape. Rarely would you find any of these centuries old dwellings without a geranium on the windowsill throughout the summer months, and later on returned to the inside sill when frost threatened. Never in my memory was there an occasion without a white or red, but in particular a white geranium to be seen. And sure struggling it might well be after a winter in poor light and drying out from the heat of a kitchen fire, but given a drink and the onset of spring it perked up and was prepared to take its place once more on the summer windowsill.

Resilient,  is how I would describe these wonderful plants as they seemed to thrive on neglect and when old-age and abuse got the better of them and on their last legs so to speak, a cutting or two was propagated and in a matter of months you had a flowering new plant to start all over again. We need not rehash here all this business of our geraniums being strictly pelargonium’s and we know why it must be stated in officialdom, but I would safely say my late mother and indeed her mother before her both of whom loved geraniums hardly ever heard of the word pelargonium.  I got my love of geraniums from my mother who as I have explained always seemed to have a few plats in the very worst of economic times in Ireland, that is to say during and just after the second world war; geraniums and pot marigolds (Calendula) all pretty much self-perpetuating was the staple of our cottage garden. I hope to include here a photograph of my late mother’s kitchen window displaying some of her geraniums with other plants in a window box.

Over the years my interest in the ornamental flower garden grew to include all types of plants depending on location and what might best suit the situation at hand; whether they be herbaceous perennials, woody shrubs, annuals, etc. Then out of the blue two years ago (2010) suddenly, and for no apparent reason that I can recall, my interest in geraniums I can’t say returned, for up to then my interest could best be described as  latent or dormant but was now present and here with a passion. I looked up geranium nurseries at home and in the UK and following on from that I ordered about a dozen mostly of the “zonal” variety from Fibrex Nurseries, Pebworth, Stratford-upon-Avon; they hold the Pelargonium National Collection. Plants are grown to order for you and are delivered at an optimum time for the growing season; usually in early spring. Young rooted cuttings (in my case) were delivered in due course; all in good order for potting on. Of course one has selected from the website which of necessity has minimal information and is not at all the same as seeing the plants in the flesh so to speak.

In August of 2011 with my geraniums growing well I went to visit friends in Birmingham, UK, and having been there for a few days my host asked if I would like a drive out into the countryside. I asked if he knew Pebworth, Stratford-upon-Avon.  He knew Stratford and surely we can find Pebworth, was his reply. Stratford-upon-Avon is a pleasant motor ride from Birmingham and Pebworth is just round the corner from there. Mind you, it is a little backwater right in the countryside and we found ourselves making a couple of inquiries before finally driving in the entrance to Fibrex nurseries (sure what else would you expect from a couple of Paddy’s and their wives?) The hustle and bustle of summer planting was by now over for the general public and as a consequence I would say with the exception of staff who were busy the place was almost devoid of visitors with just a few others to keep us company. The first section to greet you on entering the nursery and no doubt for good reason is the sales section. And even now in late summer, set out in rows on benches close to waist high are hundreds of all types, and all colours in both leaf and flower of the geranium world. Looking into the distance and with my selection already in progress; realization dawned of the drawback of “air” transport and the limitations it imposes. A brief chat with a member of staff to inform of my purchase earlier on and to remark that all were doing well, after which I was invited to visit the ‘National Collection’ housed deeper inside the nursery.

Inside the large structure were hundreds of plants grown to perfection. All were in deep pots sitting on a gravel bed on a knee-high bench. If I were to guess I would say the plants were at least a year old. Looking in wonder at all these beautiful plants the thought did occur to me; how difficult it must be to keep them in such condition over a severe winter. On this occasion my attention was directed in particular to the “fancy leaf” zonal geraniums. And there was a very large collection all grouped together on one stand. After many uh’s and aw’s I came to the conclusion that one of the very best in my humble opinion was one called, Skies of Italy, it just stood out for me and I will explain why in the context of my own plant presently. After about an hour or more with the National Collection I returned once more to the ‘sales’ section where I was pleasantly surprised to find a fine specimen of Skies of Italy which I purchased.

Skies of Italy is described on the nursery website as a, “Golden tri-colour, Double orange flower, Vigorous.”                              I love the habit of growth and the vigour as already mentioned. In just one year my plant has reached 60cm high and as much across. I love how the large coloured leaf stands boldly out from its leaf axle, there is no hint of a droop at the edges and what a fantastic leaf it is; fully 14cm that is 5 ½ inches for some of the larger ones. (See photo) For me it’s the leaf, its habit of growth, size and colour that is the highlight of this geranium. And while the flowers are pretty in red/orange it would not bother me if they stayed away. I have photographed my own Skies of Italy that you see here with an emphasis, close up, on the lovely leaf growth. There is just a hint of the flower perhaps one petal in the upper centre of the picture.

I would love to present this pelargonium as a standalone feature in an ornate terracotta pot in bright arid conditions and with a sandstone background – I just think it would look spectacular.

This is Danny’s Quaint Ireland and it is Cóipcheart © Cois Má 2012