It’s been a good week in the garden with many wildlife visitors. Alice has been busy making perfume in the mud kitchen and we worked together making bird feeders. I made the gardening press for the second week running. I had feedback from my first RHS assignment which was very positive and my plant profiles were good enough so that’s nice to know.
1. Fern fronds
The fern fronds are spectacular in my garden currently. Many of the ferns are in there second or third year in the garden so they established into nice large clumps. The fresh green fronds unfurling is one of the great pleasures of spring. A sign that warmer weather is coming and it really brings the garden back to life.
2. Hostas
Along with the ferns, the spikes of hostas are emerging. Most are in pots to give some slug and snail protection but I have risked some in the border.
3. Tulip ‘ballerina’
This was a new addition for this year. I bought a bulk bag of this and I’m glad I did with all the time we are spending in the garden. These have been lovely at each stage, so I’m covering the full cycle within this week six and making no apologies for the mass photos. Starting as nice tight curls.
Then opening with a nice warm orange. Orange was a colour lacking in my garden so thought I’d try some. They are a nice size. Not so small as to be lost in the border but still delicate looking. I’m not a fan of the really massive tulips that open and look messy straight away.
Then they have picked up more a red tinge as they’ve opened fully.
4. Implementations-Castor trowel
I was given a bit of birthday money and since we are going to be stuck in the house and garden I went with a few tools. I had upgraded my secateurs previously so thought I’d look at a decent trowel. As one of the most commonly used tools, it’s nice to have a well made one. Implementations in Nuneaton specialise in making copper tools. They are recommended by Charles Dowding for reducing slugs and snails. This is based on the theories of Viktor Schauberger about different metals having an energy effect on the soil. While this is probably new-age nonsense the tool is well made, looks nice and feels good to use.
5. Japeto knife
I wanted a sharp knife as working at the garden centre I’ve realised how useful a decent knife is for many jobs. From opening parcels and flat packing them and compost bags, along with cuttings, it is a useful tool for the back pocket. I ordered this one from Japeto with the personalised letters. There was a mistake in shipping so I’ve ended up with one with my initials and one for free which was decent of them. It is wonderfully sharp and has been used lots dismantling all the boxes from the many deliveries we are currently getting.
6. Bulb lasagne
The Tesco bulb lasagne has done well. The crocus got it off to a good start. The Muscari have kept going well. The tulips got a bit crisp in the morning sun so I relocated the display table to the opposite wall so it doesn’t get the morning sun. The tulips are triumph tulips ‘purple flag’. They go nicely with the Muscari but have been flattened a few times by seagulls dive-bombing. They seem to have suffered with seagull poo more than any plants normally have for some reason.
Hope you are all coping alright. I think having Alice is giving us a routine to our days and making sure we stay busy. I’m looking to pot on a few bits from the mini-greenhouse and start the dahlia seeds off. Then looking to finish reading Alexandra Campbell’s new book on garden privacy. Hope you all enjoy whatever you have planned.
Nice pictures – lucky you to be able to grow hostas!
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Here’s something more consistent! Your hostas are at the same stage as mine and I was surprised to see that of the Prop already open in his Six this morning …
Nice combo muscari /tulip !
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Hostas are at almost every stage. Potted ones further on as they get sun. Front garden ones are only just emerging as more shades. The Muscari tulip pots have been nice. I’ll empty the pots in a few weeks and tuck the crocus and muscari in the front of the borders.
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Those Ballerina tulips are beautiful. Great photo of four of them in a row. Nice to some some unfurling ferny fronds too.
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The ballerinas are looking better for being good solid masses. I tend to have my tulips too spread out so focussed them on one part of the border.
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Loving your new tools! I am toying with buying myself a new pruning saw, but as I’m not working at the moment I really should save my money, but …. Anyway, Ballerina is a beauty and loving the fern fronds. Mud perfume sounds interesting!
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I’ve got a Japanese pruning saw and Laplander one. They only really get used once a year in my garden but they do make the job a lot easier.
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*saw envy* 😉
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They didn’t used to be very expensive. Laplander used to be just over a tenner. Japeto ones not badly priced. But I only really need to do the cherry currently and was going to do that with loppers mostly this year. Just a bit off the top to shape.
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I’m going to check them out, you have inspired me!
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I think my ferns have been held back by dryness, hope we’ve had enough rain now to get them moving. This year I’m loving everyone else’s tulips but not coveting them. Love your tulips.
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I’ve been watering the borders lots with the extra time and trying to prevent damage from the drying sea winds at the moment. I planted quite a variety of ferns the last few years but got a good idea now of which are survivors.
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Now I’m jealous because you’ve got more Ballerinas than me. My six-year-old and I had words this week when he picked a fern frond and then said he didn’t know he wasn’t supposed to because he’s not a gardener!
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Alice knows she can take the forget-me-nots as there is no shortage. But she’s got her eye on tulips she wants to take for perfumes. Might need to grow her some herbs she can keep cutting.
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Love the bulb lasagne! I would like some nice hand tools, but I keep losing mine, so have to make do with cheapies. Hand tool envy!
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The bulb lasagne has done pretty well. Should be able to empty into the front of the border to bulk out the muscari and crocus already growing there.
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Ballerina is my favourite tulip it has to be said, but mine are more flute shaped than yours. I have some in my header photo on this week’s post, but there will be a post next week where they feature more prominently and you’ll see what I mean. They are one tulip that does seem to keep coming back and have a lovely citrus orange scent.
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They’ve been a good bulk buy. I’d be happy if they keep coming back for a few years.
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Lovely tulips. Google keeps sending me little reminders of “This time last year ” when my garden had plenty of different, colourful tulips! Never mind, they may come back next year. Lovely trowel. My sister gave me one about 20 years ago. It has been through a lot with me and my clay soil. I’m sure you will enjoy yours too….nothing beats a good trowel!
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The bulb lasagne seems to have produced some lovely blooms.
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They’ve done well. The crocus and muscari should keep coming back when I move it to the border. Not bad value since it came with the pot and compost.
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The colour combination of the tulip and Muscari is delightful! They look so good together. Your tulips are beautiful and it was lovely to see the opening sequence. I too like your new gardening tools, but unfortunately mine usually get composted, especially the secateurs. You’d think by now I’d be more careful?
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Beautiful Tulips. I must get a decent knife for in the garden. Herbs for Alice to cut sounds a good idea
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It’s one of those tools you don’t really think about and then hasn’t left my back pocket since getting it as it’s been in use constantly.
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Tulip ‘Ballerina’ ss such a graceful tulip, they’re beautiful when closed, and pretty spectacular when they’re opened.
Glad to see that the bulb lasagne is still doing well – I just love the props beside it – so perfect.
You must let us know if the trowel makes any difference to the slugs and snails – they all know the road to my hostas!
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I have planted most of my Hosta’s in plant pots at the moment and it seems to be going well at the moment fingers crossed.
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