New Trees!

We now have 18 trees.  If you view the blog as the web page version (scroll to the bottomof this page and it gives you the option of viewing the full blog), I've created a list of our trees on the right, along with their care since the labels are discarded and names can be forgotten over time.

A few weeks ago we ordered 3 new pot grown trees from an online supplier.  Last week however I received an email to refund my payment as the order could not be filled.

Thankfully, the garden centre where we usually go reopened this week, so we decided that we would kill two birds with one stone, buy the trees and take Daisy with us to help with her socialisation.

We queued for about half an hour, spaced according to the social distancing measures.  It operated on strict numbers within the garden centre with a one-in-one-out system, and everyone in the queue around us were in good spirits.  I guess like us, pleased to have the garden centre open again.

This centre of choice is in the countryside, about 20 minutes drive away and was a lovely run out in the sunshine, giving Daisy a chance to settle on the journey.

Once in, we didn't dilly-dally,  like we usually do, and went straight to the trees. We were able to find 2 out of the 3 varieties I wanted.  The third was a similar variety to the one I had ordered online.

Straight back to the tills which are in a hut at the exit, again queuing as per the social distancing measures.  We pushed the trolley up to the lady behind the screen then stepped back to the box marked on the floor to allow the assistant to tell the cashier what to run through the till.  As we were having them delivered, the assistant then took our trees away, moving the trolley into the cleaning station to prepare for the next customer.

And off we went, allowing the next people to enter.

I suppose now would be a good time to show you these new additions.

The Man that Can set to planting them up straight away. 

With a little help from Daisy who wanted to play with the pebbles. 

On the Terrace and patio, prunus Stella and prunus Athos, both in large green glazed pots.  There is fruit already on Stella, albeit small and green.  Both of these varieties are self pollinating. 

The third tree is p. Fragrant Cloud, an ornamental cherry with, as the name suggests, scented blossom in white that ages to pink.  This has been planted in the Long Border. 

Of course the blossom has passed but next year should be a real treat.

If we're lucky, and beat the birds, we may be enjoying our own cherries come July!

Stay safe and enjoy your garden. 

May - a force to be reckoned with

So far it has been quite warm and sunny, however May often has a trick or two up her sleeve.  

22c one day....then a cold arctic blast reminds us that we do not control the weather. 

This was actually an empty shell, beneath Angel's shrub (Weigela Wings of Fire), in the corner of the Long Border and Patio Borders. 

Globes of allium Purple Sensation above,  and peony Bowl of Beauty below about to burst open. 

The bearded iris have begun to join in the display in the Terrace Border. 

Oh and the wisteria is in flower!

Next week, I'm going to buy some bedding plants for us, mother-in-law and TMTC's aunt.  We have a local nursery that has just released appointment times to ensure social distancing, and if your name's not down, you ain't getting in.

It's Saturday morning as I create this entry.  Tomorrow Boris Johnson and his government are expected to announce certain restrictions to be relaxed. I hope they don't go too soon and too quickly and the mortality figures respond in the same inevitable manner. 

Stay safe and well.

The final touches

It's the last few days of September and between showers the final touches take place in the Yen. 

The two hydrangeas, 'blueberry Cheesecake' have been planted and the euonymous elata has changed into its autumn attire. 

This gloriously tactile grass is a pennisetum and should link the colours in the opposite side of the Yen rather nicely.  It's considered a tender perennial in these parts so I'm not sure if it will delight again next year. I guess it will depend on how long and hard the winter is.

With the repositioned Buddha head and tsukubai water bowl, all that remains is replacing the setting stones "ishi wo tateru koto" which represent Buddha and his two attendants. 

The gravel has been evenly redistributed and the banana and cannas positioned in place to enjoy what is left of the frost-free weather.

As the weather is about to turn much cooler, the rattan companion seat has taken up its winter position again behind the terrace seat and is now enveloped in its waterproof jacket.

The two Viburnums are placed either side of the patio arch and the washing line has come down. 

The garden is being prepared for the quieter months.

But wait...here and there, the plants and trees are making adjustments for their exit party.  They're not done just yet.

Cotinus in Mugwort's Retreat. 

Acer and euonymous elata in the Yen. 

Old papery birch bark peels in Mugwort's Retreat. 

And the staghorn tree in the front garden. 

There is so much interest in the autumn months yet to be revealed, all it needs is the temperatures to drop a little more. 

But summer is not going down without a fight. 

Scented white phlox and blue hardy geraniums peek through the glowing weigela Wings of Fire foliage in the corner of the patio border/ Long Border 

A pretty fuchsia scrambling through fading peony leaves in the Long Border. 

And in the front garden, r. Tall Story and a magenta hardy geranium, along with the final blooms of crocosmias hang on to every last moment of summer.

An anniversary.

Not much has happened this week due to the appalling weather. In fact there have been warmer days in winter than during the early part of this week!

I thought a glimpse of what we've managed to achieve in the time we've been here might be of interest, particularly since this week saw our 6th anniversary of moving into this house. Each will have a before and after photo.

Front garden 

Pond

Terrace 

Terrace Border 

Patio

Patio

Long Border 

Yen Garden 

Mugwort's Retreat 

Mugwort's Retreat 

Of course most of these areas have had multiple alterations during the last 6 years and I'm sure the next 6 years will reveal a few more.

Earlier in the week, The Man That Can tidied up the workspace as it had become cluttered with pots and bits of old wood, which were taken to the city refuse tip.



And finally, before the next downpour, a couple of floral shots of mid June's irises beside the pond and r. Shropshire Lad.