May's end

The last days of May brought two surprises.  The first was that our hidden gem flowered at last. You may recall we found this rhododendron hiding among overgrown shrubs in the front garden.

We are now the proud owners of a new fence. Once it stopped raining, we could fix support wires ready for the new rose 'Maigold'

Now to make the rest of the front garden just as smart.

So to work.  Plants removed, soil forked over, weeds and stones picked out, 

A weed suppressing membrane laid

And a bed of sand set 

All the plants have been replanted and with the exception of sambucca nigra, everything seems to have coped with the move.  I'll leave it until tomorrow evening and if it hasn't perked up I'll cut it back hard. If it then revives, it's unlikely it will flower this year but that is a small price to pay.

Oh yes, I mentioned two surprises - this little frog tucked up under a rock in the pond.

Very happy but very tired and achy.

May revisited

A busy weekend.  The compost bins needed emptying of all the lovely crumbly sweet compost that has been created over the last year.

We took the opportunity to move the bins to the opposite corner of the work area which is hidden from the top garden due to the level change.

Two little Robins also took the opportunity of having a good furkle through the compost for bugs and worms for their chicks.

Work was constantly stop-start as we tried to get some good shots of the Robins, but eventually they didn't care about us moving about and weren't a bit afraid of us!

The job complete and the smallest bin cleaned to pass to one of The Man That Can's cousin who has just moved to her first property with a garden.

The side of the bottom shed was relieved of all the old bits of fence for the brazier and the bricks tidied up ready for the next planned flower bed edge.  We disturbed a couple a buff tailed Bumblebees living under the shed...Something Angel is fascinated by.

Additional vine eyes and wire for the r. New Dawn and the new growth tied in laterally to encourage more flowering shoots.  The same goes for clematis - an ad hoc purchase with lovely white blooms to really lift the corner.  It's in flower now but because it was trussed up to the nines, its potential is lost for this year.

Bumblebee's plot is already showing great potential; the flowers above of strawberries and calendula below overwintered well.

Two small fuchsias that have overwintered successfully up a quiet corner have finally shown signs of life.  They have a spot ready in the front garden when the new fence is erected.

Along with lily of the valley,

A dark leafed hebe,

A scented yellow rose 'Maigold'...

... and a whole host of new lovelies from the Botanical Gardens. 

I love gardening!

May...

My favourite month of the year.

Everything is filling out nicely. There is already so much colour from both flowers and fresh new foliage.

The acer that stood up to being chopped down in our first year is becoming a good shape. I plan on keeping it as a shrub rather than a tree.

There are still quite a few gaps to fill around the garden, particularly in the far side of this bed.  All the wires are fitted ready to accept a climber or two.  This side is quite shady apart from early morning and late afternoon.  Ferns work well, as do dicentra and fuchsia.

Whereas this side is pretty much in sun most of the day with a little dappled shade from the sorbus tree.  The bed to the left is purposely dry, poor soil for drought tolerant sun loving plants.  The bed at its far end towards the arch was much improved when we started the garden.

Watching the trees come into leaf is always a joyous occasion, not least because they lend so much to privacy.

Dicentra is certainly in my top 5 plants for late spring - early summer.  They are easy to divide after flowering and in this garden in particular not only thrive, but out perform almost any other herbaceous perennial at this time of year.

This little rose began life as a broken stem from a friend's rose. She struck it as a cutting and it took. Then it found a home with us. 

Whilst hacking back next door's ivy, it appeared that it was covering an old bit of fence that was completely rotten.  A little heft and hey presto - more planting space and more light!

The pink garden is also filling up nicely but there is still so many areas that need filling, preferably with some shrubs to make it less flat.

Lily of the valley. I hope it's happy here, I would like to be able to enjoy it inside too.

The Man That Can ties in the r. New Dawn along with the clematis either side of the secret doorway. The Roses had produced a couple of suckers which were neatly removed.

We were lucky enough to rehome quite a few containers this week, along with this ornament.  She needs a name!

The pond isn't very happy. The Man that Can has promised to to give it a good clean, but not today. It's very cold and wet.

As I create this blog entry, a new princess has been born; 4th in line to the throne.

This new addition brings me to my last photo - crates ready to carry my own new additions from the plant sale at our local Botanical Gardens tomorrow and pots gifted to us.