The Menace for GBBD February 2020

Posted on February 15, 2020 by Pauline

I made the most of an opportunity of quieter weather yesterday to nip out into the garden and take my photos for todays post. Our latest storm, Storm Dennis, arrived overnight and once more the wind is howling through the trees, and the rain is lashing down the windows. Never mind, I’ll just stay inside and finish catching up with all my housework !

Iris reticulata Pauline in the tin baby bath ( yes, I know I keep saying that I will move them!) always flower much later than the ones on the alpine scree, they were over weeks ago, I wonder why?

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Paddling in the garden.

Posted on February 13, 2020 by Pauline

We are used to the rain here in the UK, but not of such biblical proportions! Talk about non stop rain, day after day after day, when will it all stop we are asking, but there is no respite on the horizon. This coming weekend, another storm, Storm Dennis is following hard on the heels of Storm Ciara. I donned my wellington boots and waterproofs and ventured forth to paddle my way round the back garden and woodland.

I hope my snowdrops can swim!

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The calm before another storm.

Posted on February 8, 2020 by Pauline

Having been warned that there is another large storm heading across the Atlantic towards us, I made the most of a nice sunny day to take some photos before the storm hits us and maybe flattens everything!

Starting my usual wander at the side, I can’t help but be amazed at G. Trumps striding across the flower bed. New bulbs are forming each year, a little way from the previous years. At this rate he will soon be out the front gate and down the road!

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January drops and other friends.

Posted on January 31, 2020 by Pauline

Once again I am in my element, wandering through my little woodland each day, looking at all the snowdrops that are flowering at the moment. We have had so much rain over the last month, the rest of the garden is sodden, but thankfully the woodland doesn’t seem to suffer the same as the rest of the garden and being lower down it is quite sheltered from any wind..Some of the early special snowdrops have finished flowering already but lots have just started and now the wild doubles have joined in. The wild singles are almost there, but I think it will take another week before they really make an impression.

The view from the bridge over the ditch at the entrance to the woodland.

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Beating Brendan for GBBD

Posted on January 14, 2020 by Pauline

On Monday,  our first named storm of the winter arrived, Brendan was roaring through my trees, trying to create havoc, a wander through the woodland to see if any damage has been done will be necessary as soon as I have had my breakfast. Fortunately it was a lovely sunny day on Sunday and I was able to get out and photograph the flowers that were enjoying the calm before the storm.

Snowdrops are popping up everywhere now, this one is Angelique which is on the rockery, but I think needs replanting as the bulbs are starting to push up out of the ground.

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A new decade.

Posted on January 1, 2020 by Pauline

What will this new decade bring I wonder, there are bound to be changes, hopefully for the good of all. Will there be changes in the garden here, hopefully not many, just the planting that needs improving in places. The structure that I made with the undergardener many years ago still makes me happy, so won’t be getting changed. I think any changes will be for ease of mmaintainance, as I know that eventually it will be the size of the garden that will defeat me and make me move house, hopefully not for a few years yet.

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Just in time for Christmas.

Posted on December 24, 2019 by Pauline

After more weeks of non stop rain, we have at last had a lovely sunny day, but I have been too busy getting ready for Christmas to enjoy it properly. The lawn once more is absolutely sodden, it really isn’t worth walking on it to take photos, so these are the flowers that I can see from the various paths that I have.

Viburnum bodnantense Dawn is still looking good in spite of a couple of frosty nights.

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December wander.

Posted on December 3, 2019 by Pauline

We are having some beautifully sunny days, frosty, cold and crisp but at least it isn’t raining! We had so much rain in November, I just want the garden to dry out so that we can cut the grass once more, dig up a tree roots and finish 101 other jobs that I couldn’t do with the daily rain. A wander round the garden proved to me that there are plants that have carried on in spite of being soaked.

Viburnum bodnantense Dawn was looking good yesterday when this photo was taken, I must go and see what the frost overnight has done to it.

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The first for this winter.

Posted on November 30, 2019 by Pauline

I’m still raking and sweeping, but now I can see an end to the leaves that are keeping me so busy. Having a little wander in the woodland, but really to have a rest, I found Galanthus Faringdon Double already in flower, this is a week earlier than last year.

G. Faringdon Double

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The Big Sweep.

Posted on November 20, 2019 by Pauline

As fast as I am sweeping up the leaves, they are still falling, but I feel I have to get out there every few days to at least try to stay on top of them. Thank goodness we have had a few days without any rain, it makes it so much easier if the leaves are dry.

I keep telling myself that sweeping up is good for the waistline, but I haven’t seen any improvement so far!

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