The Gardener's Rest

The first weekend of April has been one of change. Not only have we finally seen signs of spring (after what seems the longest winter in my life), but the Rambling Rose and family are on the move. I would imagine there is not a single gardener who does not try to take at least couple of their favourite plants with them from old garden to new.

We dug up and divided the specimens chosen in order that we could pot up what we want to take, but still ensure a good display for the young couple who have bought our garden (and house of course). We have taken the opportunity to also replan parts of this bed in the front garden to ensure it fills out more evenly with little attention from the new owners until they put their own stamp on things.

Angel keeps watch over the potted up plants (and yes that is a lump of snow; all that remains from yesterday and today's much needed thaw).

The garden is also given a general tidy up, here the ferns

The new bed at the bottom of the garden now cleared of the debris of annuals. I am so pleased to see the tulips have turned up this year. Not as many as was planted, but some are better than none.

Time to empty the water butts for cleaning, using most of the water around the garden.

Nothing says spring so much asthe cheery yellow narcissi...

The last blooms of snowdrops (these came into flower just as the snow fell, so we missed most of them!)

Fat buds of peony. These won't be moved with us, but since their parents come from the oulaws' garden, they're easily replaced later in the year.

I think these will flower before we go...

...and I'm really hoping the delay in spring won't set this stunning clematis back too far. I haven't cut it back so this year should be a cracking display! I shall miss it.

Another plant staying is this honeysuckle. It'll really perform this year, but it doesn't have quite the scent I was longing for, so I'm not going to be too heartbroken.

Plants in pots are always transferrable. This pot has been brought round to be enjoyed on the front steps. Beneath the violas lay a treasure trove of spring and summer bulbs that Bumble Bee and I planted last autumn.

Grape hyacinth under way. I have potted up a clump of these to be moved, but this little chap will stay to be part of the sea of blue along the drive.

More hyacinths, but these are the highly scented ones in a large container at the top of the back steps. Again underplanted with more spring and summer bulbs

Hellebore. A gift from a very dear friend. I couldn't leave them behind so I hope they will be happy in a pot for a wee while.

Another pot of bulbs below a sea of violas.

The only clematis coming with us, and ony because it is growing in a pot. It has a deep red flower, but has never really had a proper go at putting on a display.

One red, one blue. I cannot for the life of me remember which hydrangea is which, but they are definitely coming with us.

Now to the biggest wrench. The greenhouse. It just will not be feasible to be moved to our new garden, so today a chap who is teaching his young family where vegetables come from on their new allotment came to give it a new home.

It didn't take very long for it to come down with the help of his mate.

And then it was gone.

Looks a little bare down there now.

The chap has also taken our last hen, Hedwig. She will be happier on an allotment eating her way through someone's vegetables. She has also begun to lay again.

So there we are. The end of an era. Onto pastures new.

Watch this space...

The new school term sparks a desire to plan for the year ahead. There are plants that need lifting and dividing and this time I have decided to make a note of what where and when on my blog.

I cut all the hardy geraniums (cranesbill) back to next to nothing last month. This has resulted in a flush of new growth and new flower buds. I came across this tip a couple of years ago quite by accident and it works for all my hardy geraniums.

Later this month I am going to dig this one up and divide it to make new plants to fill gaps in other parts of the garden, along with a good few other perennials.

Japanese Anemone - root cuttings from the new young roots.

Astrantia major Ruby Wedding - divide in spring

Fuchsia (unknown, light pink over dark pink) - Tip cuttings in a glass of water - anytime on the kitchen windowsill. From seed to get possible different variations - cut open ripe pods, scrape away jelly and sow seeds onto moist compost. Cover with damp vermiculite, pop somewhere warm and light and do not water until germination.

Daylilies - division later this month. 3-4 fans for each new planting. Cut the leaves back to 1/3 to prevent water loss.

Another clump of hardy geraniums, magenta this time. Taken just after the haircut, but this clump is going to also be divided this month.

Astrantia major, unknown white variety - divide in spring

Heuchera - Division, tip cuttings or leaf with heal in autumn or spring

Bergenia - baby pink flowers - divisions with at least 1 rosette in autumn or after flowering

'Grandad's rosettes. I cannot for the life of me remember what this low-growing plant is, but if memory serves, grandad just pulled up clumps of this to give to us...

Saxifrage - masses of tiny pink flowers. Propagate by pulling away a few rhizomatous clumps.

Another Bergenia. This is just starting to settle and increase, so this could probably do with being left a while longer before dividing as before in autumn or after flowering.

Not long before the roses get their winter trim. This is a light going over to remove anything rubbing or diseased. The proper pruning is done in March.

Sedum. This isn't particularly happy here and apart from a interloper with the odd yellow flower, this one has yet to flower. It needs somewhere sunnier, so I will dig it up, divide it and replant in full sun.

Crocosmia - division in spring ideally. Replant the corms about 10cm deep in full sun.

A quick respite from the recording to enjoy the yellow violas that will hopefully greet us throughout the coming colder seasons.

Muscari - lift bulbs this month and replant at same depth in full sun.

Fuchsia - light pink over dark pink - tip cutting in water as before.

Hellebore - can be divided, but this might be a bit small yet. Late spring or early autumn.

More sedums - bright pink fading to white, as before pull out clumps and replant. Other ways of increasing stock include leaf cuttings. Potentially each leaf can create a new plant if you pull it off with a 'heel' and pot up.

Euonymus. Dreadful shot. - semi-ripe woody cuttings with heel

Box - after its first haircut. These should begin to thicken up now that they will be trimmed regularly. Heel cuttings.

Bottom bed - stem cuttings from non-flowering shoots in spring.

Hydrangea - deep pink - in autumn by non-flowering stem cuttings

Potentilla - semi-ripe cuttings in mid summer

Weigela - semi-ripe cuttings in mid summer
Hydrandea - stem cuttings in autumn
Hardy geraniums - this one is too small at the moment, but I might lift it and replant it somewhere sunnier as it doesn't seem to like it here.

New box hedge is taking shape.

Hardy geranium, pale pink - divide later this month.

Euonymus - heel cuttings

More sedums, this time large fleshy upright ones. A green leaved with pink flowers and a purple leaved with purple flowers - these will be propagated with leaf cuttings with heel.

The Man That Can busy spreading a thick layer of bark mulch at the lawn borders.

I must admit, the neighbours patch at the bottom of our garden is beginning to annoy me. They have never bothered with their garden in the 6 years we have been here. We cut back, nay HACKED back their thicket of brambles and weeds well into the rear of their garden when we put the new fence up. Unfortunately, plants of this nature have a habit of re-growing and they are beginning to become a nuisance again. We've tried the 'wipe-on-the-leaves' type of systemic weedkiller, but it's not done a great deal. We've bought some heavy duty stuff now to water onto them.

There is a vine that grows from within a tumble-down greenhouse somewhere in the depths of a scene from Sleeping Beauty, winding itself around blackberry smothered brambles and what worryingly seems to be bindweed.