What a difference a month makes! Not only is the garden alive with fresh, springy growth but the puppy is about twice the size and very keen on ‘dancing’ with her big brother on the lawn.
The Spiraea japonica which was just twigs last month, is now beating the massive Coleonema in the foreground for zingiest green award.
In the Veg Patch the various rhubarb plants which were moved last year from the Strawberry Bed (as I thought they’d get more water) are still looking pretty pathetic. Admittedly they still haven’t had much water nor their manure mulch.
However, look what’s doing far better – one plant accidentally found its way on to the compost heap and is far happier that any of the planted ones! Why do I bother?
Meanwhile the Strawberry Bed is in serious danger of being overcome by the Agapanthus and requiring a name change!
In the Swing Beds the ‘Pink Impression’ and ‘Menton’ tulips have returned almost as well as last year, and are joined by ‘Jenny’ Narcissi. I finally got round to pruning all the roses and also had a very brutal cut back of the Clematis ‘Freckles’ planted up both front posts.
I can confirm the damage to the grass was done by the OH, not the dogs, as he rather zealously cut out various weeds. Annoyingly, the replacement seeds have just fed the local pigeon population, rather than being allowed to germinate.
In the Grass Bed the ‘Peeping Jennys’ (with the larger brighter yellow trumpets) are starting to go over, but they are being replaced by the softer coloured, flatter trumpeted ‘Lieke’.
Normally these bloom together with the Forget me nots, but whilst the Narcissi are much earlier than last year, the Forget me nots have barely started.
In this photo, looking from the Mid Century bed across the Lavender Bed, you can see two big clumps of ‘Red Jep’ Erysimums. I’ve taken quite a few cuttings of this as they are getting rather leggy, and have introduced them into other areas of the garden.
Over to the greenhouse and the two Greenhouse Beds have been tidied up and mulched with just the Agapanthus above ground at the moment.
The Greenhouse Pots are a bit depleted this year, but I still love the soft pink of the ‘Bellsong’ trumpet together with the terracotta of the pot.
Into the greenhouse and, marvel of marvels, not only has it been cleaned inside and out, but also repainted. I can’t take any of the credit apart from paying the bill, but it’s been a massive weight off my mind as I just couldn’t see when I was going to find a whole weekend to do it myself. I can’t remember the last time I was so chuffed!
I’ve had a few issues with seeds this year. I think some have been eaten, probably by mice (see the terracotta coloured pots only one of the seven ‘Soleil’ courgettes has come up) which has never been a problem before. I’ve replanted various, but annoyingly that was all of the yellow courgette seeds.
The OH is very proud his citrus trees are finally bearing fruit, so I have to point them out below.
At the other side of the garden the Wisteria is just on the cusp of flowering
and the Narcissi (‘Cragford’ and ‘Yazz’) are crowding out the Bronze Bed.
The Melianthus major is back (hurrah!) but being rather squeezed out by the Acanthus (which I’m far less keen on) so think I need to address that.
And to finish, a tray of succulents that has just been moved out of the greenhouse. Looks like a couple haven’t made it through the winter so I’ll have to keep my eye out for replacements…..