Wiltshire Garden

Fern unfurling

2011-04-10T17:20:00.002+01:00

Lady Fern - Athyrium filix-femina

Last week there was just the remains of last year's leaves. In the last couple of days this clump has an explosion of new leaf fronds.

This week has been very warm and dry - not conducive for the normal spring activities in the garden of dividing/moving perennials. Good weather for digging up weeds though; but then again even better weather for just sitting and enjoying the new growth all around the garden and the sunshine!

First swallow spotted yesterday. Time to put at top of the to do list the painting of the fascia boards above where the house martin's nest as they'll be here within the next couple of weeks.

2011-04-03T20:22:00.005+01:00

Rhubarb forcer lid forced off by rhubarb

.. as it should be! First crop of rhubarb pulled today.

Wild garlic

.... part of plans for lunch tomorrow.

Sunshine for most of the day yesterday. Today started with sun and clouds and then we had sharp showers in the afternoon.

Epimedium

2011-03-27T20:27:00.005+01:00

Epimedium Sulphureum

One of my favourite plants for various reasons: it is happy in dry partial shade - this one is growing in close to full shade - and is evergreen through to when leaves are cut back to show the new leaves and the dainty flowers in spring. Some Epimediums also have leaves that turn rust red in autumn to add to their all year round charm. This week's weather has been glorious wall to wall sunshine. This is set to change mid week this week - much as it is nice to enjoy the sunshine the garden is in definite need of a watering. Some of the seeds planted in the greenhouse last weekend are already sprouting (mainly lettuces both in modules and in the greenhouse beds)! Have needed to cover the root and onion bed with mesh to stop the sparrows dust bathing and disturbing/eating the seeds - the other sowings in the veg patch are already covered in cloches.

Dwarf Prunus in full flower

2011-03-20T19:52:00.006Z

Prunus icisa Kojo-no-mai. A dwarf prunus - height and spread 120x90cm. Happy spring!

Was planning on a day in the greenhouse as the forecast was for a cloudy day. Do love it when the forecast is wrong in favour of glorious weather! Sunshine all day which coincided with the first day I am feeling well enough to spend a full day in the garden. Greenhouse prepared for sowing of various seeds; soft fruit beds ready for training of new growth (and last year growth fully pruned out); etc etc. I even ended up wearing shorts ..... that'll be a frost being on the forecast for tonight then!

Spring Clean

2011-03-06T18:59:00.003Z

Glorious day today. Spent a couple of productive hours clearing some of the stems and seedheads from last year. Have left the last of the asters as their seeds were being attacked by a flock of goldfinches this morning.

Young DayLilly leaves in spring sunshine

February Gold - part two

2011-02-27T17:53:00.008Z

This time the Daffodil of that name.

Daffodil 'February Gold' with a self seeded cow parsley 'Ravenswing' seedling

Mild weather at the start of the week with a couple of lovely days of sunshine encouraged the appearance of these joyful flowers late in the month of their name. The rest of the weather this week has been showers, some very heavy, which strangely happened to coincide with days when my menfolk could have 1) cut the tall hedge 2) cleared the driveway of leaves.

Cleaning in the greenhouse

2011-02-20T19:05:00.004Z

Not me doing further cleaning just yet - although plan on getting some planting of seeds happening in the next couple of weeks. 'Cleaning' in two variaties via my 4 chooks using the main bed in the greenhouse for a dust bath and them ensuring that the greenhouse is clear of any bugs.

Columbian BlackTail overseeing the dust bath exercises of the three Speckeldy's

The chooks have had the run of the garden over winter but will need to restrict this soon as more tender shoots start appearing.

PS Weather this week has been a right old mix of sun with some warmth and rain with cold winds. Typical unpredictable week in February in the UK.

February Gold

2011-02-13T13:58:00.008Z

Weather was wonderful yesterday and is foul, as in rain and strong winds, today. This time last year we had covering of snow. Whatever the weather there are some stalwarts in February:

Winter Jasmine

The last flowers. Growing through the apple cordons.

Will try and see if it wll grow under the yew tree at the end of this year.

Euonymous foutunei

The colour shines through despite it being in a corner that gets very little sun.

February flowers

2011-02-06T21:16:00.003Z

Mild at 10C. The front that has been feeding off the E Coast of US is throwing rain and wind across the midlands; we're getting just a bit of wind and very little rain. A touch of sun thrown in every now and then.

Snowdrops with the buds of Hellibore Orientalis in the background

November colour

2010-11-06T20:57:00.000Z

Purple vine in late autumn colours and sunshine

October colour

2010-10-02T20:53:00.000+01:00

Hardy Plumbago and penstemon 'Garnet'

The early fruits

2010-08-01T20:14:00.001+01:00

A good year for currants. Red ones first

June - July 2010

2010-07-24T19:49:00.000+01:00

Variegated Jasmine in June

Pernnial Salvia

Border against back wall

Eriginum

Oriental Poppies

2010-06-12T17:14:00.004+01:00

I have two types of oriental poppies in the garden. I don't know the formal names of either. One is a bright red the other a salmon pink. (Neither colour is a personal favourite but they are far enough away from my pink flowers to not clash.) The former is behind the bird bath, the latter by the trellis around the oil tank.

With all types of oriental poppy, when they have finished flowering cut flower stems and leaves to ground level which should result in more flowers later in the year.

Canary Creeper

2009-09-12T10:19:00.000+01:00

Canary Creeper growing up around the oil tank

Penstemon

2009-08-29T16:41:00.000+01:00

Penstemon 'Garnet'

Photos taken in June - but still flowering in September.

Echinops Ritro

2009-08-15T10:24:00.000+01:00

Echinops Ritro in front of aster

Japanese Anemones

2009-08-08T10:26:00.000+01:00

Japanese Anemones

Mini Squash

2009-07-26T14:23:00.001+01:00

Surprisingly nice on Saturday and the rain held off today until the afternoon.

Weekend was spent mainly on the vegetable beds including finally planting the purple sprouting plants out (I had potted them on to large pots whilst waiting for the broad beans to finish) and putting up the 'Environmesh' to protect them from cabbage white butterflies etc. Had to hand pick off a number of clusters of eggs and small caterpillars first. Note for next year - autumn planted broadbeans are great but not to be followed by spring sown purple sprouting/other brassica!

The first of the mini-squash fruits developing

This is one of the three plants that I am growing as part of the GW? trial. All 3 plants are in the new vegetable bed and are interspersed with sweetcorn. The latter much prefer the shelter from wind that they get in this new bed.

Day Lily 'Sammy Russell'

2009-07-26T10:22:00.004+01:00

Hemerocallis 'Sammy Russell' with hoverfly

So here we are nearing the end of July and I have two months worth of posts in draft. Change in tack for these busy months - photos only with some notes for myself for next year. Will do this properly next year. For now will 'publish' the photos in the drafts and save some of the actual text for the autumn.

This clump of Sammy Russell is in the narrow bed by the chicken run that starts the year with Leopards Bane. The clump of Sammy Russell in the bed at the back of the house is not doing as well for some reason (it has heard my thoughts on moving it?!).

Lillies

2009-07-06T13:00:00.004+01:00

Growing in pot on the patio

Clematis and Vine

2009-06-25T10:20:00.000+01:00

Early June scent

2009-06-14T16:32:00.001+01:00

Difficult to decide which one is favourite. Nice problem to have!

Sweet William 'Sooty'

Philadelphus Manteau d'Hermine

Hemoracalis Golden Chimes

2009-06-13T16:49:00.000+01:00

Hemoracalis Golden Chimes - perfect with a purple leaved plant to show off the mahogany tones on the backs of the flowers. I grow with Heuchera Plum Pudding.

Eryngium

2009-06-07T16:46:00.001+01:00

Bees love them!

Otherwise known as Sea Holly

Summer starts - the smell of roses

2009-06-06T16:45:00.000+01:00

Rambling Rector - hefty climber, delicious smell!

Scent in late May

2009-05-25T15:44:00.003+01:00

Scent is from the poached egg plant

Chelsea Flower Show Week - May blooms in Wiltshire

2009-05-25T15:29:00.007+01:00

Planting Plans: Other planting pockets around the patio

2009-05-09T19:34:00.001+01:00

After a week of weather that ranged from sunshine through rain and wind to hail, today has been glorious. An afternoon of pottering. Having netted the fruit cage last weekend I had to rescue a great tit that had managed to get in so one task was to try and secure it fully. 'Try' is the operative word - once the fruit starts to ripen the birds seem to still find a way of getting in. The rest of the afternoon was spent doing some weeding, deadheading, and then pulling up stinging nettles from the chicken run.

Around the edges of the patio away from the house there are a range of planting pockets sizing from miniscule to small. None as big as the border against the back wall of the house. Working from furthest away from the back door around the area that has the table and chairs: the first very small pocket of soil has 'Lambs tails' and Campanula portenschlagiana ' Resholdt's Variety' a blue low growing campanula (also known as Dalmation Bellflower) that should spread but doesn't here as it is in deep shade most of the day. Erigeron karvinskianus (Fleabane - what an unfortunate common name for such a chraming dianty plant) has self seeded into two further miniscule pockets of soil. This is one self seeder I very rarely pull up. It grows in the tiniest of cracks where you would think there are no nutrients at all. Once it starts flowering it doesn't stop until the frosts really hit in autumn.

White shrubby Potentilla

I don't know the name: I rescued it from a friend who was going to throw it out

At one corner of the steps upto the circular lawn, this Potentilla is already covered in flowers. It will keep blooming throughout the rest of the year. Below it I planted what I thought was a deep purple Dianthus (garden Pink). Turned out to be scarlet. Not a colour I find easy in a garden. Three years on it is still there. The concrete it appears to be growing against is actually a statue of a dove. I will talk about my statues at some other time.

On the other side of the steps is the Lady Fern pictured here. This is at the edge of a planting group that will come into its own in a few weeks time: Hemerocallis (Day Lily) 'Golden Chimes' and Heuchera 'Plum Pudding'. The latter accentuates the mahogany backing to the golden flowers of the Day Lily.

Between this planting group and the pond on a slope that takes the bed from the paving stones to the height of the pond and the circular lawn, there is a tall white geranium (one that I bought so hopefully can find the name somewhere) which was fronted by a couple of Japanese Painted Ferns (Athyrium nipponicum var. pictum). These ferns were not happy here so am moving them to a location behind the pond where they have more shade and will not be baked by heat off the paving slabs. I see from some reference points that these ferns prefer neutral to acid soil, so I will add some ericaceous compost to the planting hole for them to feel more at home! I have replaced them with Alchemilla Mollis (Lady's Mantle) - plants that had self seeded themselves elsewhere - and will review the combination later in the year.

The plantings in the pockets around the pond have been mentioned elsewhere. The first one has Hellebore Sternii underplanted with an Erica as described here . It is currently backed by

On the other corner of the pond is a grouping that is at its best late winter, with the violet adding to it in spring. Under the leaves of the Hellebore Orientalis, which is the main plant in this group, the 'sensitive' fern is now showing its form. I probably need to add something like a Diascia to scramble through the more permenant planting to add a hint of colour through the summer.

At the front of the pond I have three Corkscrew Rush which did have dwarf wallflowers planted between them earlier this year. Bidens, as mentioned in that post, are waiting for last chance of frosts to be past before being planted.

I will leave the other three beds, albeit small, for another post.

Solomons Seal and Primula

2009-05-09T11:20:00.000+01:00

Solomons Seal (with Hostas and Ferns) next to the pond

Primulas in the bog garden

Bedding plants

2009-05-03T17:54:00.000+01:00

The photo I said I would take this weekend:

Berberis, Leopards Bane, parrot tulip and yet another clump of that red/green grass!

In the local town there is a wholesale plant provider who rents a school car park for two mornings over each weekend and sells bedding plants, and a few shrubs, to us public at close to wholesale price. Not a huge choice, but sufficient for my needs as there are only a few holes that I like to fill with bedding plants each year.

My standard purchases were made: Impatiens for gaps in the pots by the front door and also for the deep shade under the yew tree, Bidens to grow through the Juncus and some blue bush Lobellia for the very narrow bed under the hedge.

I did fall for a couple of fuschias as well, but selected ones that had enough non flowering growth that I could take 4 cuttings from each. At a starting point of £1.50 per plant, if all cuttings take it will be 30p per plant! A good description of how to take fuschia cuttings can be found here. This is more or less how I took my cuttings - I put them around the edges of a pot filled with a compost and perlite mix, 3 cuttings to a pot and I didn't use rooting hormone compound.

Nicotiana to grace the back of the border by the house, some scarlet pelargoniums (hmm, think I've given myself a challenge) and some double petunias that claim to be scented completed the haul.

All are in the Greenhouse as we are still getting the odd night of low temperatures.

Slugs

2009-05-02T17:36:00.001+01:00

Wind has died down and it promises to be good weather for the bank holiday weekend. Coming out of the front door this morning and the perfume from the Rowan tree provided an olfactory delight!

The flowers of the Rowan tree or Mountain Ash

Time in the garden was spent weeding and watering the area I wanted to spread the slug nematodes across and then applying said nematodes. This is the first year I have used this slug control. Last year the slugs ate more of the vegetable crops than we did.

Elsewhere in the garden slugs are kept under control by frogs and toads. The vegetable patch is that much further away from the pond and is probably not helped by being slightly raised, ie there is a barrier that doesn't make it easy for the frogs/toads to get an easy meal.

I grow the real treats for slugs and snails (lilies, hostas and the like) in tubs which have a ring of copper tape around them. This has proved to be very effective.

Have also tried coffee grounds in the past. Not convinced. Is it because we drink a virtually caffeine free variety? I note from a recent GW? report that coffee grounds aren't rated from their trials as a good slug control, so the caffeine content is probably not the issue!

April foliage

2009-04-30T19:07:00.000+01:00

On the last day of April 2009: Some of the eye catching foliage in the garden in April.

The emerging fronds of the Lady Fern, Athyrium filix-famina

This is one of many perennial ferns I have in the garden. It's preference would be to be in shade but tolerates its sunny position at the foot of the steps upto the circular lawn.

Astrantia major 'Sunningdale Variegated' with golden feverfew

The leaves of this Astrantia positively glow in the evening at this time of year. They become more subdued later in the summer as the white flowers start to appear. With all Astrantias: cut back close to ground after flowering. This will give new foliage and a late show of flowers.

Golden Feverfew self seeds through out the garden. Any sign of the plain green variety are pulled up.

April flowers

2009-04-30T19:00:00.000+01:00

On the last day of April 2009: Some of the photos of flowers in my garden during April that I haven't included in other April posts.

White snakeshead fritillary (Fritillaria meleagris alba)

This Fritillary grows in the grass under the Rowan tree where I just leave it be. It gets included in lawn mowing routine only when it has finished flowering. I also have the basic type of Snakes Head Fritillery.

Tulip 'Queen of the Night' in front of a grass with a red potentilla at its feet.

This plant combination has changed in the two weeks since I took this photo, with the potentilla sending out taller flower stalks.

Spirea Arguta 'Bridal Wreath'

On the other side of the grass from the last photo, this shrub was planted last year. As it grows I will remove the grass and look at what I can underplant its arching stems with.

Leopard's Bane (Doronicum orientale)

Another photo from two weeks ago: the Berberis the Dorinicum is planted in front of is now in full flower (as can be seen here). The orange and yellow planting group is added to by a parrot tulip which is just coming into flower.

I will take a photo of the group as a whole over the weekend when, hopefully, the tulip will be fully out.

Apple blossom and other April smells

2009-04-26T21:49:00.000+01:00

The forecast was always touch and go for us today. Windy and overcast all day. Time spent in the greenhouse pricking out seedlings where more than one had mistakenly been sown in one plug. Also sowed some cos lettuce.

The late narcissi start the month off from a strong perfume point of view. At this end of the month the Daphne by the back door (photo is here) vies with the Apple blossom. Last week the Daphne was the strongest as the apple blossom was still in bud.

What a difference a week makes! The apples are in full bloom and fill the garden with scent despite the strong wind. I have six apple trees that are grown as esapliers providing a screen between the main part of the garden and the vegetable patch. One day I hope to come across the list of the types of apples I planted, some 15 years ago now. I can only remember two of them - 'Katie' and a Russet.

Apple Blossom

Malus 'John Downie' (Crab Apple) in the front garden

The Berberis can't compete, at the moment, unless you are up close to it!

Berberis x stenophylla (Hedge Barberry)

The Berberis grows as part of the back hedge. We inherited it with the garden and it was some years old then. It gets cut back when we prune the hedge over the summer months.

Planting plan: along the back of the house

2009-04-25T18:34:00.001+01:00

Very windy today, and has been for a few days now. Some rain overnight. Heard the first cuckoo today, although others have reported hearing it a week or so back.

Along the back wall of the house there are two borders which face SE so get the sun until mid afternoon. With the patio to the front of each border plants can overflow the boundaries - within reason.

The smallest border, more of a planting pocket as it is all of 1m square, has one of the water butts on one side of it. Growing behind/over the butt is a variegated Jasmine: this Jasmine is slightly tender but appears to have survived the hard winter. Two Rosemary plants should mask the front but aren't obeying orders. At ground level Hypericum reptans - an alpine variant of St John's Wort - and a light pink Diascia that peeps through the rosemary during the summer (normally sold as a hardy annual, I replace if it doesn't survive the winter).

The main border is about 7m long by 2m deep - the depth is an average as the front edge is staggered.

I have roughly divided the description of the plants I have in this border into blocks. It is by no means as rigorous as it sounds with many of the plants repeated in other 'blocks'. It also makes it sound larger - but this is the easiest way I can see of describing it without a picture. Photos to follow later in the year of course!

From left to right (when looking at the house):

- The first planting block is not very deep. On the wall growing up a trellis is the purple vine vitus vinifera 'Purpurea' (grows to 6m tall) through which the late flowering Clematis viticella Venose Violacea (hard prune in spring) grows. In front of this there is Philadelphus Manteau D'Hermine. The daylily 'Sammy Russell' overlaps between this area and the next....

- The second block steps out a bit further into the paved area. At the back Echinops Ritro with Astrantia Major 'Hapsden Blood' and the deep purple Geranium pheum in the front. The last two are just coming into flower. The glorious Geranium 'Ann Folkard' scrambles through the whole of the two middle sections during the summer. Self seeded golden feverfew add additional gold highlights.

- The third block was backed with Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) last year. This is a binennial plant that has self sown in the past - no signs of seedlings as yet. Gladiolus byzantinus (common name Sword Lily) is centre stage early summer surrounded by Astrantia Maxima, and more hardy gernanium (pink flowering) later on. The Eryngium I planted a few years back showed its form for the first time last year and the growth is showing strong and promising for a good display of its blue heads for this year.

- Rosa 'The Fairy' is meant to be a low growing variety (75cm with similar spread). Mine is a 15 year old specimen that stands at closer to 1.5m. It blooms all summer long and last year had a few flowers on it at Christmas! Chives and the species osteospermum (hardy in my garden) front it.

- The last block, closest to the back door, has Euonymus fortunei 'Silver Queen' growing up the wall (it grows as a shrub but willingly grows upwards when placed against a vertical structure). Daphne tangeutica (in flower now and scenting the air), Penstemon (similar colouring although not actually 'Heavenly Blue') and a splendid hardy deep pink Geranium that I must get the name of from my mother front it.

Daphne tangeutica backed by Euonymous 'Silver Queen'

To do in this border in 2009:

Find replacement for Clary Sage if they do not appear.
If Clary Sage does flower then collect seed from it.
In autumn split the Astrantia Major 'Hapsden Blood'

Plant an annual that has brick red colouring in it to stop the Daylily standing out so much. OR split and move it next year.

Sowing and planting in April

2009-04-19T18:04:00.003+01:00

Weather today started off very unpromising - strong cold easterly wind - but developed by early afternoon into what was forecast, a sunny day with light wind.

Tiarella 'Braveheart' newly planted into the space cleared amongst the spurge

Tiarella is a member of the Heucheura family. I have much admired the small spikes of flowers in other gardens in previous years and now, finally, can admire them in mine!

In the greenhouse

Last weekend I sowed:

- Sweetcorn Conqueror. I tried these last year and they weren't happy with the wet windy summer we had. Seeds left over, so I am trying again and hope for better sucess.

- Courgette Defender F1

- Runner Bean 'Scarlet Emperor'. Sown in the cardboard inners from loo rolls

- 'Summer flowers' a freebie from a UKTI event I attended. A picture of a sunflower on the front but the seeds inside (embedded in a paper circle) look too small. Always nice to have a surprise... I think.

Today I sowed:

- Cosmos. I am taking part in a Gardeners Which? trial for this variety of Cosmos and also for a new mini squash (to be sown at the end of the month).

Just after the start of April I also planted summer flowering bulbs/tubers into large pots

- Dahlia Canary Fubuki - Height 130cm/52" - a tall yellow variety

- Dahlia Purple Haze - height 70cm/28" - picture shows more fushia pink than purple

- Dahlia Chic - height 40cm/16" - 'peony' yellow flowers with dark foliage

- Eucomis Bicolour, the Pineapple Lily - height 50cm/20" - flowers July to Sept - not frost hardy (as for dahlia really)

- Tigridia Canariensas - height 30-60cm/12-24". Plant 3" deep, 2" apart. Needs lifting and storing overwinter

- Leucojum Astivum Gravetye Giant (Summer Snowflake) - height 30 cm/12". Bought these bulbs in the autumn and never got round to planting them (they should be in flower now). Hope they will forgive me and flower next year!

In the flower borders
Today: Tairella - see above! Saxigrage in front of the Daylily 'Sunnybells'

In the Vegetable Patch

One row of Spring Onion 'White Lisbon' and another of Carrot 'Nigel F1 Hybrid' between the red onions. I have room for a couple more rows of each.

Two half rows of Beetroot 'Boltardy' and Turnip 'Golden Ball' in between the parsnip rows.

I will update this post over the next 2 weeks so I have one place to refer back to for April!

Last of early spring flowers and going potty

2009-04-18T20:01:00.003+01:00

The weather today has been as predicted - early light rain and cloud clearing to a sunny afternoon. Two of the three waterbutts are full. The third isn't, which makes me suspect a blocked drain pipe, and the pond is still a good inch plus below full. The House Martins have a lot of repair work to do on their nests so do hope that there is enough mud around for them.

The arrival of the House Martins made me aware of the last of what I would deem early spring flowers. The last of the Narcissi in my garden are the most perfumed.

Double flowered late flowering narcissi

Very last blossoms on Amalanchia lamarckii (Snowy mesipilis)

Amalanchia is my favourite spring flowering shrub, one of the reasons being that it has an added bonus of red autumn leaves. It can grow to a small tree - mine got moved as part of the redesign 5 years ago and pruned back heavily at that time. It has stayed shrub height ever since although I would love for it to be a small tree again!

The first of the photos of the mid spring flowerings is a pairing I particularly like - pure green and white. Taking it made me aware about how the Hosta leaves had rapidly appeared in the last few days. I have a number growing in pots that have overwintered against the house wall. Lo and behold the pot grown hostas were even more advanced than the one below, so my main task today has been to top dress all pots and move those that have been in shelter further out towards their summer placings.

Dicentra Spectabilis Alba (White Beelding Heart/Dutchman's Britches) behind variegated Hosta

in the small bed to the left of the pond

The Dicentra is happy in light shade but also in full sun, which is where this grouping is, as long as it stays moist. It dies back after flowering (mid-late summer). Penstomen 'Garnet' then covers the area. Dicentra needs a 'do not disturb' sign on. Its brittle roots do not lend well to splitting or moving. In theory you can take root cuttings in spring.

I think the Hosta is named 'Francee'. At the least it is very similar. It survives the sun as it will be shaded by Solomon's Seal, Penstemon and ferns within a few weeks. Being so close to the pond this hosta is protected from slug damage by the resident frogs and toads. The pots with Hostas and Lilies in them have a ring of copper tape just below the rim. Very effective!

My big tip for Hostas - to retain the leaves as the main feature remove all flower spikes. If you don't then the plant will lose vigour much earlier. Hosta flower spikes last well as a cut flower.

The House Martins have arrived!

2009-04-17T17:09:00.000+01:00

We have had some decent rain today - finally. The water butts should be full again by tomorrow and the pond getting close to being at a decent level. Don't think I have had such low levels in both in April before.

Turned over the compost heap yesterday: it has also been suffering from lack of rain and was very dry in the centre. I will check it again this weekend and add a watering can of water if it is still dry.

An exciting week for the bird life in the garden: the first House Martins arrived back on Wednesday! Each year we have at least 6 nesting pairs under the eaves at the back of the house. Their chatter and aerial acrobatics more than compensate for the mess they make of the window sills and ground under their nests.

The bird feeder attracted new visitors:

-a pair of Siskins at the start of the week. Such a pretty bird, more delicate and vibrant in colour than the greenfinch

- a pair of what I am sure were Lesser Redpolls a finch with a red patch on their heads. I tried to take a photo of them and ended up frightening them away :(

A relatively frequent visitor: the Greater Spotted Woodpecker enjoying the 'fat balls'

Spurge out

2009-04-13T18:36:00.001+01:00

Gardening in shorts (no one was watching) and first bbq of the year today. AKA nice weather!

Tackled the narrow bed at the foot of the hedge at the back of the garden. The chickens added encouragement for the first part until they got bored with the lack of worms attached to the weeds I was throwing them.

Then moved to the bed under the silver birch (mentioned in a number of earlier posts but photo in this one) to remove some of the spurge that has spread beyond where it should be including into the ferns that are now beginning to unfurl.

Tulip 'Fur Elise' in front of an ornamental grass

Last weekend - as in 4/5th April - lawn feed and weed

2009-04-13T18:34:00.000+01:00

Some rain finally. 'Some' as in the weather forecast was for torrential rain but we only got a light overnight shower. 'Finally' as in the ground is parched; on heavy clay this is not good.

Although Mr B is, in theory at least, in charge of the lawn I took control of the spring 'feed and weed' to make the most of the first rain for weeks. Used Evergreen's complete formula and scattered on Friday 3rd April. Could have done with more rain to water it in and I can still, some 10 days later, see some of the granules. The first four cuts of the lawn after application will be put on the field side of the hedge as mulch and to avoid adding weedkiller to the compost heap.

Forcer off rhubarb and first stems harvested (twist off rather than cut btw!)

Springing bursting out - in yellow

2009-04-02T13:13:00.000+01:00

The colour that is most associated with spring!

Epimedium Sulpheureum

The display of flowers and new leaves are the main reason for cutting back the old leaves. Always glad when I have remembered to to this.

Dwarf Narcissi 'Tete a tete' in the border against the back of the house

Daffodils and spurge under the silver birch

Those nodding heads!

One of my favourites - common primrose

Forsythea

Spring bursting out all over - in blue

2009-04-01T13:33:00.000+01:00

Forget-me-not self seeded at the edge of the bed under the silver birch

Scillia

Bi coloured Grape Hyacinth

Seed Sowings in March

2009-03-31T15:50:00.000+01:00

I am going for 95%+ use of module planting this year. About 75% of seeds in the greenhouse were planted this way last year and I still managed to not get seedlings sown in trays pricked out on time. So have invested in a few more modular planting trays

.... and then sowed:

21st March in the greenhouse

Vegetables

Perpetual Spinach - last year sown direct but ended up with no spinach due to slugs so starting off in greenhouse this year.

Flat leaved parsley

Lettuce various

Kale 'Scarlet' (T&M) needs protecting this year from Cabbage White butterfly

Purple Sprouting (Suttons) - ditto re Cabbage White butterfly

Flowers all new (ie haven't tried these before) annuals/half hardy flowers all of which are for planting out after last frosts:

Cerinthe major purpurascens - a hardy annual with blue-green foliage and bracts that, in theory (haven't grown them before) appear through the summer. Height is 12-18inches and they need to be planted out 12 inches apart. 10 seeds in the packet (from T&M) so ideal for my module planting only resolution!

Canary Creeper (Trpaeolum peregrinum) - yellow flowered annual climber. My plan is to cover the trellis around the oil tank with yellow flowers (promised summer - autumn). Long germination time for these seeds of 21-30 days. Plant out 12inches apart.

Chrysanthemum 'Summer Festival' - mix of colours and double/semi-double/single flowers. Good as, and my reason for growing, a cut flower. Gap between plants 6 inches min. Meant to be sown in situ, but sown in modules in greenhouse as slugs would adore the seedlings.

Cosmos All Sorts Mixed - half hardy annual that will grow to over 1m (40 inches) tall. Germination 7-14 days. Plant out 12-18 inches apart. Plan is for these to grow in the bed at the base of the Leylandii hedge.

31st March in the vegetable patch

Parsnip F1 Albion. Germination is long (10-28 days) and seedlings should be thinned to 6 inches between plants. In practice I sow thinly and thin out plants so gaining some baby parsnips.

In between the parsnip rows - from the RHS:

one full row of Radish Cherry Belle. I will thin seedlings as the thinnings are good added to salads. Thin to 1-2 inches between plants.

Two half rows of Rocket. Thin to 8 inches between plants. Needs watering frequently

'Bottoms Up'

Spring bursting out all over - in pink and white

2009-03-30T13:28:00.000+01:00

Dwarf Prunus

Cyclamen Hederifolium - has been flowering profusely under Viburnum Davidii for the last month+

Helebore Orientalis under the silver birch

Bellis perennis

Hmm - thought these were a perennial. Well their cousin the common daisy are..

Will enjoy these for as long as they are around for (split from one plant my m-in-law bought me)

Moving and dividing

2009-03-29T20:02:00.000+01:00

The forecast for last night was for a heavy frost. Thankfully this didn't happen in this part of Wiltshire. The neighbour's Magnolia flower buds are safe for a bit longer! After strong bitter northerly wind yesterday, today was brilliant sunshine and a light breeze.

Tulip 'Fur Elise' - small early tulip in the main bed

The yellow stemmed dogwood finally moved to where the Mahonia Japonica 'Charity' used to be. (starting and final location will be easier to understand later on, if you happen to be following this blog).

As with all such moves it sparked off a chain move reaction. Geranium pheum, Knautia and Rudebkia needed to be lifted prior to the dogwood being dug up. These then needing splitting and moving to.... oh that bit of ground needs to be dug over first ...and that plant moved etc etc

Headline movers/dividers:

Stipa Gigantea ('feather grass' or 'quaking' grass) failed to plume last year: now split into 4 and put into pots of general compost in the greenhouse for each, hopefully, new plant to establish. It is joined by Japanese Painted fern (on a partial move) and Hecheura Purple Plum (pieces from parent plants that are 4+ years old.

Spring bursting out all over - in purple

2009-03-28T14:16:00.000Z

Last weekend was the most glorious weather. I had my mother in law staying (it being mothering Sunday) so not as much actual gardening done as could have been, but a very happy couple of hours spent going round and discussing every plant. It is from her that I have learnt the Latin plant names over the years.

Spring bursting out in purple:

Periwinkle (Vinca Major) growing under the yew tree

Must get some of the less rampant Vinca Minor so I can enjoy the flowers elsewhere in the garden!

Labrador Violet (Viola labradorica 'Pururea') growing under the Hellebore at the corner of the pond

The leaves of this shade loving violet age to a deep purple/green. It self seeds happily, some would say a bit too happily but I have not found it a problem. It's not as if it is difficult to pull up if I discover it has jumped a flower bed or two. Did spot it being sold in a pot at a garden centre a year or so back - felt like leaving a note telling whoever was tempted to buy it come and get some plantlets from me!

Crocus 'Ruby Giant' in the bed at base of trellis around tank.

Cheating slightly - this photo was taken a couple of weeks ago. Although one of the last crocus' in bloom it is now over.

Hellebore Orientalis in bloom

The same clump that was featured in an earlier post!

Rosemary

It always takes me slightly by surprise when rosemary blooms in spring. Use the flowers as an edible decoration for rhubarb fool.

Clean dog and greenhouse

2009-03-16T09:19:00.000Z

The weather yesterday turned out to be as promised and then some. If I hadn't been tackling pruning of the rose 'The fairy' I would have been in shorts! Made the most of the warmth and washed the dog and also the greenhouse - using different washing solutions for each of course! The dog now smells neutral and the greenhouse is ready for seed sowing to commence.

Frog and the first set of spawn (excuse the glare from the water)

Going to have to think quickly about how to protect the frog spawn from the fish (see Saturdays post). At the start of the day the first clump of frog spawn had been produced - see photo above. By the end of the day it had been significantly added to. My work on the border along the back wall of the house, which was my main gardening activity yesterday, was accompanied by a frog chorus and then some. They are still going today, and probably will do so for at least another week.

Dwarf daffodil in front of Spirea Goldflame which is beginning to show its colourful leaves

Love songs and haircuts

2009-03-14T17:46:00.000Z

Weather has been wet on and off for most of the week. Today was a mixture of overcast and sun with quite a strong wind. Tomorrow promises to be sunny. Just half an hour in the garden today, but another half an hour in a garden centre buying some summer tubers and bulbs. Combining hobby and retail therapy - bliss!

Chaenomeles (Ornamental quince) coming into bloom on the front fence

Love songs: amorous croaks from the first frogs in the pond. If this year is anything like last year we will have pounds of frog and toad spawn - not that I weighed it I hasten to add! The big downside of having fish in the pond is that, between them and the newts, very few of the eggs get to be adult frogs/toads. Next door have a new pond with no fish so hopefully I can transfer at least some of the spawn there. Need as many slug eaters as possible! I am also thinking about using some fine mesh to segment part of the marginal shelf as a tadpole nursery. Needs more thought..

Haircuts - aka pruning:
- Caryopteris x clandonensis 'Worcester Gold' and 'Heavenly Blue' cut back by about a third today. The key requirement is to take it back to the main shape making sure the centre doesn't get overcrowded as well.
- Epimedium. An overdue haircut as I missed the key time last year. ALL of last years leaves off to show off the emerging flowers and new foliage. I have two forms Epimedium x versicolor 'Sulphureum' and another which I think is x warleyense (has a taller orange flower). Sulphureum flowers stems already coming through so quite proud that I only snipped off one by accident in the whole clump.
- Clematis - need to do tomorrow!

Hellebores

2009-03-07T17:16:00.000Z

Glorious weather for most of the day. The rain hits tonight with potential for hail etc. Mr B gave the lawn the first cut of the year (the lawnmower started without too much coaxing!). I started the shifting of the recycled compost - which arrived during the week - to the beds I have completed removal of the aforementioned buttercup. As this compost is very dark in colour it provides a great foil to the emerging foliage. The way that it is produced means that it is quite sterile - great as a soil structure improver or mulch - so I have added a pelleted chicken manure to the beds prior to applying the mulch.

I have a number of Hellebores in the garden:

- 2 clumps of a purple flowering type of Hellebore Orientalis (although I do like the naming of this type to Hellebore Hybridus as given here) shown in bud in an earlier post. One clump by the pond and the other under the Silver Birch at the front of the house.

- White flowering Hellebore Orientalis which grows under the Silver Birch as well. The common name for this type of Hellebore is 'Lenten Rose' so, as you would expect from the name, they are both just coming into flower. Both the purple and the white variants had their old leaves cut back at the start of February. This, in theory, stops black spot but, more importantly, also shows off the buds and emerging stems.

- Hellebore foetidus. The photo above was taken a couple of weeks ago so the purple edging to the flowers haden't formed. It grows under the Silver Birch. Before you think that I only have Hellebores under the Silver Birch, they are surrounded by Spurge and Daffodils in the spring followed by hardy geraniums and ferns for the rest of the year. Hellebore foetidus self seeds with abandon, but amidst the tree roots this is somewhat tempered. No cutting back of leaves for this variety - just keeping the seedlings in check.

- Hellebore Sternii (above) which loves full sun, unlike most other Hellebores. I thought I had purchased a H. x sternii 'Blackthorn Group' but ended up with the taller variety. It is on the other side of the pond from the purple Hellebore Orientalis and is over 2 feet in height. The aim of the small planting pocket it is in was to have H. x sternii 'Blackthorn Group' with an underplanting of a winter flowering heather. 'Underplanting' has taken on the full meaning of the word as the Erica carnea 'Ann Sparkes' (tolerates my neutral-alkaline soil) is dwarfed by the H. Sternii but still complements the pink-purple stems of the Hellebore whilst glowing in its own right.

Erica carnea 'Ann Sparkes'

Whatever variant of H Sternii my speciman is, it makes a bold statement. Cutting back the stems that have flowered reveals the pink-purple new stems and leaves. I have been sorely tempted to move it and find a true Blackthorn Group variety to put in its place but have never quite worked out the ideal spot for it and have also just found out that they do not like being disturbed. Not that this has bothered me before but....

Digging companions, worms and sprinting buttercup

2009-03-02T12:57:00.000Z

The good weather lasted over the weekend - overcast on Saturday but glorious sunshine back again yesterday. Saturday was spent moving compost made over last year onto the fruit and vegetable areas, including the area for the new raised bed, and sorting through plastic pots and plant trays so I can take all excess and broken ones to the recycling bin at the garden centre later this week. Resited the wormery by the shed, which itself is next to the compost bins, to see if it is more successful there.

Sunday saw many more bucket loads of creeping buttercup being shifted concentrating mainly on the area alongside the back hedge. The theory being that the chickens, who have their run under the hedge, scratch up the weeds between the field and the garden and the strip I was clearing will act as a secondary 'weed break' .

Why has it been such a good winter for the buttercup to spread? It feels as if it has been sprinting rather than creeping! Maybe I have left a few main roots behind even though I feel as if I have been thorough.

The weed break is where I managed to get this photo of one of the companions I have whenever I am digging.

I know the garden is split between at least two Robins. The one who proclaims his territory from the Rowan tree at the side of the house has lost his tail feathers somehow, whilst this chap ('chap' being gender neutral here as both male and female have the same colouring) has a full set of tail feathers and is possibly the one who sings from the walnut tree at the back of the house. Both seeing and hearing a Robin sing reminds me of the film of The Secret Garden. Delightful!

I did, however, rescue as many of the worms as I could during the compost moving process to put into the wormery prior to the Robin(s) guzzling them all.

Planning time!

2009-02-27T10:17:00.000Z

Glorious sunshine today. Weather forecast for the weekend is mixture of sunshine and cloud with potential for rain overnight on Saturday.

The local garden centre has one of it's regular 10% off days next week. I missed the one in February so must make sure I make this one to get all the seeds I need for the year at a reduced price. So a pleasurable task for an evening over the weekend is to work out what I will be planting in the vegetable plot for the year so I have my list ready for a lunchtime outing!

Corkscrew rush - 'Juncus effusus spiralis'

This evergreen rush is meant to be grown in a boggy area. In my garden it is happy at the bottom of the pond wall even though it gets semi baked by the paving during the summer. There are 3 of these plants in this planting pocket. They are on their own in the winter when their quirky form is admired from the kitchen window. This spring I have dwarf wallflowers planted amongst them (you can just see them in the photo) and I will probably repeat the summer planting of trailing Bidens from last year. Normally a plant for hanging baskets, Bidens is a delicate yellow flowering plant that scrambled through the stems of the Juncus to great effect, flowering well into autumn.

Crop rotation and Winter crops

2009-02-24T08:58:00.001Z

In general I plant vegetables in rotation to avoid build up of diseases in the soil. I base it on three groupings (a fourth grouping would include potatoes):

- Roots and Onions
- Brassicas
- Others (beans, courgettes, beetroot, leaf crops such as lettuces and spinach ...)

Lettuces are one of the exceptions as they are quick to mature so fill in gaps, when the slugs don't get to them first of course!

Autumn sown Broad Beans

The main part of the vegetable patch is one long bed which runs along the south side of the house.

Last year the planting (from West to East) was

- Roots: mainly parsnips of which I still have some to dig up
- Brassicas: Purple Sprouting which would have still been going if the Cabbage White caterpillars hadn't beaten me
-Others: dwarf French beans, climbing flat beans and runner beans. I planted broad bean 'Bunyards Exhibition' at the start of November (my grandfather always planted them on November 5th) once I had cleared the last of the dwarf beans. As you can see from the photo they have come through the frosts and snow well and should crop in May/June before the blackfly hit, and before I plant out the brassicas. Note to self - remember to pinch out the tips when in full flower to deter any early blackfly

So this year the order will be Others, Roots, Brassicas.
Task for this weekend is to dig up the remaining parsnips and incorporate a load of compost into this area ready for the beans. The Brassicas area will get an organic fertiliser added prior to planting. The Roots area has nothing added to it, just a thorough digging over to ensure the parsnips and carrots roots are straight.

Another smaller bed, new last year, follows a similar 3 year pattern. Last year it had courgette and Swiss Chard in it ('others' group). Overwinter I planted it with a red onion 'Electric', which will have matured in Apr/May, and will continue with the 'Roots and Onions' group. The red onion variety is meant to be a heavy cropper.

The planned new bed for the year will have a goodly quantity of compost in it so will be perfect for courgettes and maybe a squash or pumpkin for a change.

In the greenhouse I always grow tomatoes ensuring that they are never planted in the same soil to avoid diseases. I tried to grow winter salad crops in the greenhouse but suspect I left the sowing too late as the 'lambs' lettuce is only just beginning to germinate! Must sow winter salads mid September this year

Spring Fauna and Cover Ups

2009-02-23T15:49:00.000Z

Fauna: The first bumble bee of the year bumping up against the kitchen window.

Cover Ups: ended the day yesterday putting the cloches (metal hoops covered with plastic to make a tunnel) onto the middle section of the vegetable patch. This will allow me to make an early sowing of, at least, lettuces and radishes in a few weeks time.

Rhubarb forcer (put in place early Feb)

Peaked inside the rhubarb forcer. Although I couldn't actually hear the rhubarb growing, as you can if you go to the growing sheds in Lincolnshire, the pink stems are developing nicely. Haven't a clue what variety it is. My clump is from a root division from one my parents had many many years ago.

Will order the main 'cover up' this week. This is compost created by the local recycling company from garden waste. It makes an excellent mulch as well as soil improver and remarkably cheap, as well as eco-friendly. My own compost will be dug into the part of the vegetable patch designated as bean growing area this year (once I have dug up the remaining parsnips) and mulch the base of the fruit bushes/canes.

Unseasonable weather

2009-02-22T14:04:00.001Z

.. both from general February temperatures and the fact that it is a weekend and the sun has been shining. Believe me, as someone who works Monday to Friday the latter is more of a surprise (very pleasant of course) than the former!

Naturalised Crocuses enjoying the early spring sunshine

A weekend of further clearing of creeping buttercup in the flower borders. The cold winter appears to have encouraged them rather than the hoped for natural cull. It has been slow work as the borders tackled have a number of plants that need moving and/or gaps to be filled. Many an excuse to stop and ponder on the scheme of things!

Winter smells

2009-02-16T17:40:00.000Z

What a glorious day! The winter sunshine and no wind meant that the air by the front door was heavily perfumed by the Christmas Box .

Christmas Box (Sarcococca hookeriana humilis) Feb 2009

Small, evergreen and shade tolerant shrub: my one specimen thrives in a pot. I am going to take cuttings from it this and year and, assuming they take, plant an informal edging or hedge of them next year. Subsequent amendment - by the path by the oil tank for at least 2 plants.

Good few hours in the garden following the sun mainly tackling clumps of creeping buttercup before new growth makes it tricky. Spent the last hour digging over where the brassicas were. 'Roots' will be in this patch this year.

2009 garden projects

2009-02-15T15:24:00.000Z

Main projects for the year are:

Additional raised vegetable bed where the fruit bushes were. By the time this is done it will be for veg in 'Others' group ie courgettes, sweetcorn....
Associated with this is the remaking of the 'wall' for the main vegetable bed. Ideally including removal of concrete path this runs alongside of and replacing with a mix of paving slabs as per 'patio' and gravel. Would love to see if can also include a slim border to make the most of the south facing house end wall.
Doing something with the grass/weed patch between us and neighbours. This gets the very last of the sun of an evening so a 'bench' (made of slab of something on top of blocks?) incorporated would be nice.

Ideally would also like to get the area under the front window of the sitting room sorted - but that could, and probably will, wait until next year.

Plants in need of TLC. List probably to be added to as damage caused by coldest winter for 20 years becomes apparent.

Camelia in tub by garage. Didn't flower last year doesn't look like it will this year
Standard Bay. Looking better from tlc last year but needs more

Not going to list border by border projects - they are ongoing year on year after all!

2008 highlights and lowlights

2009-02-14T15:02:00.000Z

As the new garden year starts now is a good time to look back and record the successes and failures in the garden last year.

Start with the good bits:
Fruit and Veg
- The vegetable patch was more productive than in 2007 despite the downsides listed below.
- Currants moved successfully to new fruit bed.
- 'Italian' tomatoes in the greenhouse. They look ugly but taste glorious!
Ornamental Borders
- spring in the bed under the Silver Birch outside the front door. Hellebores, spurge and daffodils made a stunning display.
- Dorinichum flourished. It needed the right place - I have been through a couple of plants in the wrong place. At time of writing new growth is looking good!
- ... number of other areas of the beds that worked very well. Will highlight as we go through this year.
Pond
Deep water and bog plants (latter had a thorough overhaul early in 2008) with a particularly splendid display over months from the water lily. Lots of wild life enjoyed both the water and the bog garden.
General
- The construction of permanent location for the bbq so I don't have to put up with it being in way of the view - let alone me!
- Compost. Succesful composting of ALL lawn clippings without creating a general sludge. Have created enough compost (from lawn clippings, kitchen waste and chicken coop bedding) for the veg and fruit patch at least.

Bad bits
Fruit and Veg
- Slugs slugs and more slugs. Second and subsequent sowings of lettuce all munched. Beetroot, perpetual spinach and chard demolished whether sown directly or planted after growing to reasonable size in greenhouse. What I tried and what I plan to do will be in a later post.
- Cabbage white butterflies. So much for the brassicas. Constant rubbing off of eggs didn't work; neither did regular squashing of caterpillars. Scraggy plants is the most I can say I was left with.
- Fruit cage allowed in a blackbird just when the currants were close to cropping. One very fat blackbird released and very few currants picked. Strawberries another victim of slugs.
Ornamental Borders
- In the battle against couch grass I probably came out slightly ahead. Against creeping buttercup slightly behind. First year of having bindweed - we're equal I would say.
- Ostrich grass didn't 'plume'. Didn't manage to find out how to split or otherwise invigorate
Pond
- Heron loves it. Pity it takes as many fish as it can. We now have a semi permanant cover over the pond to stop it.
- Marginal plants not as good as last year

Post snow clear up

2009-02-14T14:24:00.000Z

Snow has all but disappeared. Weather is overcast but no wind and above freezing for a change (6 degrees just outside back door).

Hellebore buds at the corner of the pond - February 2009

The beds are too wet to do any digging which has the benefit that I was focused on cutting back the old stems of perennials left for ‘winter interest’ but now way past their best. Have left the sedum heads for now as they are still upright and we do have frost forecast.

Chickens had one of their last outings into the garden pre the start of spring growth. They will be banned from then on. I hasten to add that they do have a very large run under the hedge along the back of the garden (the theory was that they would keep all weeds from moving from the field into the garden – works well apart from the nettles which they do not like). As well as general scratching around they did a good job at attacking the 'goose grass' shoots. Am sure that I will still be, carefully to get the roots as well, pulling up the actual plants out later in the season.

Assuming the weather is similar tomorrow I must cut back the Autumn Raspberry, Japanese wineberry stems and hellebores (last years leaves) prior to getting out the shredder for all stems not put straight on the compost.

Must also work out how to store the chunks produced by the shredder for adding to grass clippings later in the year. (Composting will be covered at some point later!)

Snow is melting

2009-02-11T15:01:00.000Z

... and oh boy does it expose both new growth and old. Snowdrops are beginning to bloom but some of them are hidden by old leaves I should have removed at the end of last year. One of the 'must do jobs' for the next non work day that is fine must include cutting all of last years leaves from the hellibores various around the garden.

Snowdrops

Blog entries to follow will include:

Compost - in particular how I manage to compost lawn clippings

Bird life in the garden (including pond usage)

Pond life – pros and cons of having fish

Each ornamental bed – planting plans current and future thoughts

Plans for vegetable plot for the year

Greenhouse

Propagation including cuttings