May's end

 

So much has happened in the garden since my last entry. Almost all the photos have been taken by TMTC as I've been resting following surgery to place pins in my foot.

The Yen and Mugwart's Retreat have been no-go areas for me as I'm currently unable to venture down the steps without assistance, despite the new railings we've had installed.  Normal access will be resumed soon, however.

TMTC stepped up diligently and has planted all the containers this year.

I decided to step out of my comfort zone and used bright, zingy shades.

Dahlias, French marigolds, osteospermums, bidens and begonias in firey oranges, reds and yellows, with blue lobelia, salvia, catmint and purple calibrachoa to contrast. The containers and baskets are filling out now, although the fleece is to hand for the odd chilly night.

The aquilegia turnout has been decidedly low this year but the colours are still very good. 

There has been a distinct absence of any foxgloves in the front garden this year. I will rectify this for next year.

The forget-me-nots however, have been spectacular...

...along with the rhododendrons

and alliums.

The first blooms on r. Gertrude Jekyll have been fabulous already, with so many more buds yet to open.

Down in The Yen, the wisteria has put on a fabulous display, thoroughly enjoyed by the bees

However, since I cannot sit beneath the pergola this year, I have enjoyed the fragrance immensely, from the main patio above:

In the autumn last year, we removed all the plants from the terrace border and extended the patio. We then changed the plants in one of the troughs as the diorama were performing so poorly.  Now we have a lavender "Twickle", a salvia and an erigeron. Hopefully these will fare better in this sunny spot.

The canopy is closing in Mugwart's Retreat, creating great dappled shade.

We've added a little more fruit to the garden. On the terrace, in ericaceous compost, are two blueberry bushes. This first one is called "Gold Traube":

And the second is "Pink Lemonade":

Fruit has started to swell on the cherry trees but there won't be much of a crop this year due to some branch dieback.

There was a tree-shaped gap following a standard photinia snapping in a storm last autumn - now filled with a small Victoria Plum! There are about 8 fruits on this which I'm hoping will ripen nicely.

I nearly forgot to share this!

In the extended seating area on the patio, TMTC has planted a jasmine. It will need to be brought under cover in the colder months but there are lots of buds waiting to open and release their unmistakable perfume.

It's a bank holiday weekend, which means it's going to be wet. I'm hoping for a warm and sunny June 🌞 

Spring 2024

 As we near the end of March, the longer days have triggered the wildlife into reproduction and the flora into growth. I love this time of the year because every day reveals something new in bud or flower.

In late February, the wisteria received its winter prune. The stems we had pruned to 7 buds in August are now pruned again but this time to just 2 buds. This will enable us to have the greatest number of flowers in late spring. 

Irises are already thrusting up their blades in The Yen. 

We've pulled the Buddha forward as he was lost in the foliage last year.

All the cornus stems have been cut back. New stems will soon replace them for next winter's display. 

Rhubarb. Ready.

There's a couple of large clumps of frogspawn in our still relatively new, larger, pond.

But pond weed has also been blooming with the warming weather.

A newcomer. Prunus Kojo No Mai. Soon to be planted in the front garden...

...along with these vivid primulae, nodding chequerboard snake's head fritillaria...

...and eye-catching orange ranunculus, which will lead the flowering period onto the yellow-gold of rosa Maigold. I'll take some photos when these have been planted. The idea is to be able to view them from my chair while I convalesce post-surgery, after Easter.

Another new addition to the front garden, in it's first proper season, is Prunus Collingwood Ingram. Bought as a nod to a very dear friend so I can see the brightly coloured blossom from inside.

"Colly" replaces the staghorn we lost a few years ago in a storm; she never fails to lift my spirits. 

There's been another new addition to the garden. I've had stair rails installed in order to enable my safe descent into the sunken part of my garden where the workspace, Mugwart's Retreat and The Yen lay.  Once they've been painted to match the rest of our iron work, I'll share with you.