NEARLY MAY

One joy of gardening is visiting other gardens - last month we went to Holker Hall to see their daffodils and hellebores. 

They also had developed some interesting topiary a la Levens Hall.

There is something about in the garden, the blackbird is chattering its warning. It could be the stoat or a neighbour's cat? The buzzard has just passed by mocked by two crows. I have moved one of the nesting boxes as they are all still empty.

 

The pulmonarias, purplish and white flower on forming ground cover and we regularly count the cowslips - how many now? We have given up counting primroses, the abacus is too small. Most of the daffodils are going over, a small clump in the shade under one of the cherries lingers on. So, dilemma, do we dead head or not? Dead heading means all the energy from the leaves will go into the bulb for next year but those that will naturalise from the seed need the head left alone.

And then there are the bluebells in swathes in and at the edge of the small wooded area.

Our scented rhododendron we bought in Matlock is flowering and filling the garden with its gingery aroma.

Elsewhere the skimmia is covered in bees and there is blossom on the weeping silver pear and the feeble cherry R bought many years ago from a Netto. I keep thinking it is time to put stout of its misery but - perhaps next year?

 

We are eating asparagus and, of course, rhubarb. 

The monstrous geranium that A and P gave us is flowering outside the kitchen door - purple flowers and stems.

Now, R dislikes celandines in the flowerbeds - unlike me and I do not object to the odd daisy amongst the self sown forgetmenots.

We are also in a semi drought state and things are very dry so some watering is necessary though we had a light frost last night so I am wary of tender plants going out yet.

The wheelbarrow is broken 😟.

SPRINGING FORTH

 Yesterday we sat out in the garden for lunch in the sunshine, this morning as I went out to prune, belatedly, one of the hydrangeas I found the temperature has dropped 10C to remind me that the danger of frost is far from over.

The daffs are going over but they have looked great.

Concern over frosts and blossom always emerge at this time of year and I fear for the damsons and especially the greengage - we are a bit far north for the latter.

The stars of the garden are, apart from the trees, white honesty, flowering currant, fritillaries and the wild flowers like celandines and wood anemone.

I. saw several newts in the pond and the jay was back in the garden as was the greater-spotted woodpecker (though I have heard it drumming for a while).

Other plants doing well are the self sown white comfrey and we have flowers on the rosemary.

The garden never ceases to amaze me, not really organised and planned but just evolved whether the view up the garden or back to the house.

And then I think forwards - there are two spears of asparagus just poking up out of the soil, will we get lots of fruit this year (and if so where do I put it as the freezer is still fairly full from last year)? Will the flower meadow be a grass and reed meadow instead after all the work?

The lambs are out in the track again, the amaryllis are over and R failed to sell or give away at church all the aloe vera plants I potted up, still have four.

The bonfire needs lighting again . . . 

THE PLAGUE GARDEN

 Yup! We have it. The Covid has struck, even despite three jabs. I got it first then R so now it is my turn to be nurse. And we have been under siege all week with the cock pheasant attacking his reflection in all the low level windows. Tap, tap, tap and a quick messy deposit as he leaves.

All the blossom seems to be coming out all at once bar the apple tree, so I was praying for no frost - but no luck, three nights on the trot and I fear for the damsons.

This is the damson blossom but we have half a dozen trees or more.

The garden is neglected. 20 minutes of dead heading daffodils and we are exhausted.

Not much happening veg bed wise, not up to digging yet but the rhubarb is thriving - the bright stuff was under the forcing pot and was sweet and delicious. The only thing really thriving down there are the chives.

Here are a few pics to get out of the way - camellia, forget-me-nots, and cherry.

One thing about having a largish garden and a woodland area is that we can let wonderful wild plants flourish (though some can be a bit invasive like the bluebells.) These are already starting to flower - very early this year. Other wild plants are the daffodils, dandelions, wood anemone, primroses and the dog violets are everywhere this year

All this time the house plants keep going (with a little help) like the glorious aeoniums and our clivia, yet again in flower.

It is at times like this that one wonders where it all comes from? All winter there is so little happening and then whoosh! Flowers and new growth all around.

We have vases in all the downstairs rooms and halfway up the stairs. Our daughter's family come later this week but they do not know yet that they will be looking after us - (that is actually not true but sounded rather good.) (One can always hope?)

I am surprised at how much better I feel on a gluten free diet but do miss my cakes and biscuits and pies and . . . . . 😢

WILDLIFE AND BLOSSOM

Newts in the pond, peacock and Brimstone butterflies, the pheasant still pecking the window though he has also taken to nipping off the flower heads on the Madame Lefebre tulips so I have put them up on a table.

Very dry, today Friday 20.5C and watering the pots.

Monday and 12C, rain.

Thursday and some light snow flurries. Ah! British weather.

Today is Friday again and I am sitting by the garden doors when a stoat with a baby rabbit in its mouth strolls past and up into the wood. Probably storing it. Then it wanders back ignoring me - probably bit big for prey - probably back to the rabbit hole for more.

C and G came to see the garden and C saw our tree creeper which pleased R. Heron on the pond this morning and the fox has been back.

But we are now into blossom weather, the Prunus Shirotae is splendid.

Elsewhere we have camellias out, white honesty on the way down to the pond, the damsons are almost flowering as is the greengage and the Victoria plum is loaded with flowers.

There are swathes of primroses at the wood margin and fritillaries on the banking.

S the gardener has been and the surrounds for the veg beds are completed. I have started to dig and top dress the soil. He has cleared the last of fallen tree stuff from the woodland path but we now have yet another bonfire to try and light.

Having spouted about wildlife earlier the only thing I managed to photo was the cock blackbird enjoying the sun.

I keep feeding the birds and seem to go through a lot of seed - we must have very fat birds here - it is a wonder they can fly.

So let me finish with a few flower pictures -

This is Tom Jackson's flowering currant at the back of the house - we bought the place from him sixteen years ago!

And so to a repeated view from the house up the garden, no straight lines here if I can help it.

All right, not quite done - here is our moorhen on the pond.