Last weekend saw a good amount of rain so my gardening efforts were limited to moving a few self-seeders around the border and adding some extra foxgloves. I planted some Japanese Anemone but bare earth doesn’t make for an interesting six. I’m not feeling to well so don’t intend to do much beyond contemplating the front garden plans.
1. Daffodils
The daffodils flower in a ribbon across the garden over a few weeks with the sunnier borders flowering first and the shadier bench area flowering last. I’m not a massive fan of the daffodils but Amy likes them and they come up reliably with little to no effort on my part.
The first patch was planted in the first year and are pretty well established now.
I added a few patches of smaller varieties to the border too. Quite pretty but none of the fried egg variety I like have flowered yet.
2. Foxgloves
I have a few established patches of foxgloves, some grown from seed last year and some self-seeded in the border. However, I still don’t feel there are enough so I’ve added a few more. If I end up down near the florist/pet shop later I will probably get a few more. These two have been placed around the hollyhock with the lupins in front. Should be a good classic cottage garden combination. But again, it probably needs a third as these things work better in threes or more.
3. Forget me nots
As mentioned already, I have spent time moving some of the self-seeders around the border. Forget me nots form a carpet on one border so I moved a few to the opposite border. They were one of the first plants I added to the border when I moved in. Three small patches became a mass carpet but that’s how I like it. Every so often I rip large handfuls out and they return again to fill any spare gaps I leave.
4. Lilac
The lilac is a sold part of the background of the garden near the bench. It has leapt rapidly to life over the last few weeks with buds coming on quickly. Between the lilac and honeysuckle, this corner is one of the best for scent.
5. Muscari
Last year I planted muscari in pots and then moved into the border after flowering. I’d forgotten about these so it was a nice surprise to see one poking up. It is, however, the only one I’ve seen so we’ll see whether anymore appear.
6. Blossom
I’ve been unsure of what the red-leaved tree at the bottom of the garden is so I opened up the question on Twitter. The consensus was a prunus of some variety possibly black cherry. Either way, it has a handful of little blossom flowers that are rather stunning. Though not enough that I’m going to stop pruning it back each year as it could reach twenty feet. Though admiring the blossom all around it would be nice if we made as much fuss as the Japanese. Well worth celebrating.
Tomorrow is my birthday. So, next weeks six will hopefully be featuring new gardening gifts. Failing that if I haven’t received six gardening gifts I will have to gift myself the difference.
Check the guide to take part in six on Saturday.
It’s tricky with prunus. This year ours had loads of blossom. Next year I suspect it will be patchy as it was given a ruthless prune to keep it within bounds. Foxgloves are great. I’ve not noticed as many foxglove seedlings in the garden as usual which is a pity. Love lilacs. Fantastic fragrance.
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Yes the lilac smells great then is followed by honeysuckle growing through. A dwarf lilac bush near the house gives off the scent too near the back door giving the scent closer to home.
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Lilac and forget-me-nots are ahead of mine (still small buds here)
As for the prunus, you’ll see if you get any fruit this summer … My father-in-law has the same (or so it looks like this one) and he gets some fruit in the summer.
(and Happy Birthday a day before !)
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The forget me nots seem to to flower starting near the house where it’s sunnier and working there way in a ribbon to the shadier tree under the cherry. There were a few flowering already last month.
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I hope you are feeling better now. Pretty blossom – I am still not sure what to replace the dead willow with so you have thrown another candidate into the mix!
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After working out what it is I’ve spotted loads around. Can grow to a good size but will take a good many years.
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Happy birthday! I hope you have a marvelous one.
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Thank you Anne. Will try my best.
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I hope you feel better soon -loads going around at the moment!
I have noticed loads of lilac off shoots coming up all around my pond which I made last year. I was going to pull them out but have decided to βwait and seeβ. Your grape hyacinths will multiply next year Iβm sure. Have a great birthday tomorrow -weather should be good.
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I dug up a few lilac shoots last year and potted up. Two have gone to school. Seem to be establishing alright.
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Here’s hoping you receive gardening gifts for your birthday. My son once asked me what I wanted for Mother’s Day. Excited I said a gardening voucher. MD morning arrived and I was excited by the prospect of visiting a garden centre to spend my voucher. I opened my card, no voucher. He then presented me with my present – a freestanding toilet roll holder. I still have it… π
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Cheers. Hopefully won’t get a toilet roll holder.
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Happy birthday for tomorrow. Your foxglove, HH, lupin combo should be good
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Cheers. I made it out to get a few more foxgloves but now I’m thinking I should add more lupins too. The hollyhocks are gradually succumbing to rust but still flowered well last year so see how they go this year.
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Am growing all 3 from seed this year so hope to see it come together next year.
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All are easy enough to grow from seed. I ended up giving hollyhocks away as there are limits to how many 3 metre high plants I want to spend time staking. They really thrived with the hot weather. I’ve got some foxglove seeds to grow for next year but with the building work I’ve got gaps to fill this year and lack of space for seedlings. Be using more plugs than normal.
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Happy birthday! Hope you got your gardening gifts. Agree with you that we should make more of the cherry blossom season here. Love Forget-me-nots – I want to get some established in the garden this year.
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I don’t think you’ll struggle to establish forget-me-nots. They’d establish whether you want them to or not. But have served me well as ground cover that can be pulled out once I have something to put in.
And I have got lots of nice gifts will feature next week.
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I think I have some already – I found a clump in the garden today which seem to have sown themselves. Look forward to seeing your haul next week.
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Happy birthday to you πππ
Hope you are feeling better and having a lovely day. Sunny here and everything in the garden is blooming π
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Our gardens look neck and neck in terms of progress. It’s funny how vast geographic disconnects change nothing in the plants natural cycle. Daffodils are a reliable indicator of spring! Happy birthday!
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