My Nanning Horticulture and Garden

Spring has well and truly sprung in Nanning

It's here, that official.
It started about 3/4 weeks ago but now the evidence is clear for all to see. Here in Nanning spring has sprung.

Fresh green shoots everywhere, even in our roof garden area where we did suffer a couple of losses, the plants that looked pretty sick have now started to shoot fresh greenery.
Ain't nature a wonderful thing…

As I look about it is apparent that the expected casualties, have in fact succumbed and will probably be removed and replaced some time soon.
There is nothing worse than a dead tree or group of brown, dead or dying plants to look at.
On the plus side, because of our sub tropical climate here, any replacements will soon fill the spaces.
Nanning being the 'Green' city of China has her reputation to think of...

Finally, it is warmer here in Nanning Guangxi China

Well, we got through it.
The cold spell.
Not really that cold - just felt like it.

It is only now that the extent of the damage to the plants is becoming apparent.
As it warms up the plants, mostly evergreen, that would be susceptible to the cold will be shedding their leaves in copious quantities - no surprise.

Some of these plants would not have experienced such a prolonged cold spell in their lives.
Being in a Sub- tropical environment means to most, fast growth.
So even the larger specimens are not necessarily all that old.

A lot of the street trees are of the Ficus genus and leaf drop is evident all over the city. Also other trees that I must confess to not knowing the name of, are also shedding their green coats very quickly.
Recovering will be swift and I am certain no permanent damage to the perennials has occurred.

Chinese New year usually means lots of Poinsettias displayed all about, they were this year, although not for long…brown leaves and bracts do not make a pretty site.

Interesting, as I suspect the Nurseries were not hit too hard as most would have sold the plants and had them out on display before the cold, hit.

The usually fantastic Bedding schemes in and around the Nanhu South Park lake area are a little worse for wear in places but overall they escaped the worst, probably due to the vast area of lake water.
Also I notice a lot of pansies planted, these would have with stood a degree or two of minus temperatures.
Also Chrysanthemums of the Bedding type.
The busy lizzies came through, albeit very tatterly and not without some casualties.

It's cold on the Horticultural front here in Nanning Guangxi China

No doubt about it - China is suffering from an extremely cold spell in regions not used to seeing such extreme.

At the moment it is difficult to estimate just what damage has or will be done to the Horticultural industry.

It's the South that has suffered worst and it’s the South that has rarely experienced this amount of cold before, being considered in most parts to be sub-tropical.

Here in Nanning, Snow fall is predicted, for the first time in living memory, if it does occur.

Nanning being the Green City of China has a vast array of wonderful plantings.

I am fearful of the damage to some of the Planted areas consisting of Bedding plants and what we would consider in the west to be Tender Subjects, Ficus and the like.

Although I doubt the cold will result in any long lasting damage, probably only leaf drop as it will hopefully not be a prolonged spell.

The gardening seasons so far in Nanning China

I arrived in July 2007 not knowing how the seasons would pan out here in Nanning.
I knew the summers were hot and wet and the winters cooler, cold and dry.

July was hot humid 32/35 degrees most days with a night time temperature of 20. Some rain, not much but sometimes hard and prolonged.

August was similar with a little more rain, day and night.

September saw more rain, six or seven times a week, day and night and heavy at times.
Temperature now fluctuating between 28/35 degrees daytime and the first part of the nights 20. By the morning though a lot cooler, maybe around 15 degrees some days.

October the temperatures were between 25/34 daytime with the evenings cooling down quickly, by morning on some days it really felt quite chilly.
A lot less rain and the air becoming noticeably dryer.

November was a lot more windy, sometimes a cool wind and occasional rain, not many times did it rain but when it did, it was heavy. Now the daytime temperatures are down in the mid 20's most days.

December was dry I only think it rained once and not particularly heavy. A lot cooler now, some days around 15 degrees and some nights around 10. But the occasional day the temperature rose to a giddy 25.

It does feel chilly now most days, especially night and morning. Some windy days.
Worth noting, this year has been particularly dry by past levels, especially the Autumn/Winter period, so far.
I'm learning all the time...

Poinsettias and Multispans in Nanning Guangxi China

A visit this week to a newly built Glasshouse Complex on an existing Nursery in Nanning

(actually a very large Multispan poly structure of some 5000 sq metres each, four are being built)

A very large amount of Poinsettias in production being grown mainly for the New year period as the Multispans are erected and covered the Poinsettias are moved in.

This particular crop is a tricky one to say the least when being grown in the UK.

Here it all just looks so easy...

This is I believe the largest complex of its kind in Nanning to date. The rest of the site is a mixture of Bedding plants Trees and Shrubs of various kinds.

All in all, a huge site with some 280 staff.

Interestingly next year marks the 50th anniversary of a Nursery in this location.

Plenty of growing here in Nanning

Over the past few weeks I have been travelling around the local area looking for suitable sites for establishing a plant Nursery.
There are plenty of sites already established with up to date infrastructure and equipment much in evidence.
I love to see plants growing and most of the workers I have seen are smiling.

This tells me that people the world over are happier when amongst plants…

Leaf Pruning my newly acquired Bonsai Tree in Nanning China

Leaf Pruning my newly acquired Bonsai Tree in Nanning China.
This was done for a couple of reasons, one so I could see the structure of the tree much better for consideration of re-shaping the tree.
Two, by stripping the leaves from the tree the growth will be slowed and new growth, side shoots will be encouraged.
This action of leaf stripping is popular here in Southern China and the process is considered essential.

A delightful peaceful morning garden scene in Nanhu Park Nanning Guangxi China

Topiary or Tree Sculptures in Nanning

I'm stumped...how would you describe these ?
Topiary or Tree Sculptures, ?...whichever.
They certainly make a pleasing sight to my sore eyes. situated in Nanhu Park in Nanning. A huge landscaped area of Lakes and Gardens with mainly sub tropical plants ( probably house plants for those in the west ) ...a short bus ride for me perhaps a plane ride for you, either way, well worth a visit if in this neck of the woods.

Those are roots you can see at the base !!!