One late afternoon we heard a loud humming noise, looked out of the window and saw a swarm of bees which eventually settled on the gravel area in the back garden. The dark shape like a pair of lips is thousands of honey bees.
Elderflowers with attitude.
The common elder plant, Sambucus, is found in most country hedgerows, where we all pick the lacy flowerheads to make Elderflower cordial, a lovely refreshing summer drink to enjoy when the temperature rises. The hybridisers have been working on the shrub and produced a number of variations – my favourite being “Black Lace”.
Cutting shapes in the grass.
Its amazing what happens if you stop cutting the grass in the usual way. If you are organic, as we are, then the lawn as such, probably isn’t just grass. I’m happy if it is mainly green.
Countdown to opening for the N.G.S.
This is our 5th year of opening for the National Garden Scheme, we had to be asked 7 years in succession before we finally gave in and agreed to open for them, because we didn’t think the garden was ready or good enough. Obviously weeding is going on all the time to get ready for the opening but this post is about preparing my woodcarvings that are in the garden, so that they are fit to be seen by the paying public.
The last of the bunch – Meconopsis Grandis.
Having waited 2 yrs for this plant to flower, we were waiting with great anticipation when the flower bud was formed and started growing. Having seen the amazing blue of M. betonicifolia and “Lingholm” in other parts of the garden, we knew what to expect – or thought we did –
It’s Orange Blossom time.
As soon as we step outside the back door, we are greeted with the most beautiful smell of oranges, wafting on the breeze. Philadelphus coronarius “Aureus” is performing once more.
Time to clip the Box balls.
Any book or magazine that I have read concerning shaping the box plant, Buxus, says to clip them back on Derby Day.Not being interested in horse racing, it took me a while to work out when this was, it appears that the Derby ( famous horse race in the UK ) is run on the first Saturday in June. The landed gentry would always go off to the races and leave instructions for their gardening staff to clip all the box while they were away, was this just to keep them busy or to stop them going and betting on the race !
More Meconopsis.
This time it is Meconopsis betonicifolia that is standing out from the surrounding planting.
Let’s hear it for Clematis montana.
Do you have a plant that has survived in spite of all the odds stacked against it, and that includes a gardener who has neglected it for years ?!!!
May flowers.
At last, we in the UK have had some serious rain and the garden now looks so fresh and green again. My water butts are now full once more, we are on a water meter here and have to pay for every drop that comes out of the tap, so are very thankful when the rain fills them up. There are so many flowers out at the moment, just don’t know where to look first, but I think we can start with this Dicentra which has grown so much since we planted it last year.
Posted in News
Tagged bluebells, Californian Iris, Camassia, Cytisus, Dicentra, epimedium, Exachorda, Iris japonica, Meconopsis cambricaLewisia, narcissus, Paeonia, Rose, Solomons Seal, Viola cornuta
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