MANY MAYS

We have now been here for over 14 years, since Feb 16th 2007 when we first moved in.

By May 2007 the outline of our evolving garden had begun. The first veg beds were double dug and manured but much of the rest was rough grass and so on.

 

By May 2008 the path structure was in place and there were flower beds by the house. Lawn, or even mowed as opposed to strimmed grass was yet to come.

By May 2009 the garden was beginning to flourish. Sam's rhubarb was being pulled and the asparagus bed, in the foreground, was starting to mature. The various damson trees given to us by Kerry and Steve were on the march and the ash tree to the left of the image had not yet been felled. We had a new shed to the left of the house.

Now we are at May 2010 and this is the view from the house along the main curved path with shrubs and herbaceous plants, roses and our great white cherry painted on the left. In the distance you can just make out the line of the stream - it was later moved to the hedge line.

2011 and the Cherry Prunus shirotae is flowering above tulips Madame Lefebvre and Queen of the Night, forgetmenots and wallflowers. We have had to fell a large ash tree infected with honey fungus.

2012 and the Wendy House is down by the small pond, a writing retreat for R. The trunk of the ash tree has been roughly made into a seat (though we rarely used it until I did one year and found it had become a red ants nest!)

2013 and the flower beds are maturing well. On the left the copper beech hedge I gave to Andrew and the end of the willow tunnel are visible. The latter got too big and was grubbed out.

2014 and Prunus shirotae is a Wow! Several bits of fencing are in to try and divide the garden into areas. Lawns actually look like lawns though all I have done is cut the grass.

2015 and with encouragement the woodland is glorious, full of red campion, pignut, woodruff and bluebells. The spread of daffs and snowdrops has begun. Our son Roland has made us a path up between the trees.

2016 and we now have a new big pond and an old plastic heron from my brother. It does not deter wild herons and the mallard on the pond is studiously ignoring it. The seat on the decking is there best (only) place to catch the late evening sun. We face south east with our backs to the sunset. (But do get spectacular sunrises).

2017 and then self sown aquilegias have taken over. The sundial, carefully placed in the shade, has come all the way from Liverpool and  R's family. The tree behind is the great white cherry and it is getting big. Every year I put off pruning it.

2018 and I cannot resist putting another photo of the wood in this blog.

We have a paining of our wood done by Fiona Clucas - a touch of magic.

2019 and the damson to the left is now overshadowing the veg beds, However Sam's rhubarb seems to be quite happy and our first asparagus of the year is showing in the bed in the foreground. The house has an extension to give us a large living room with big windows and sliding doors out onto the garden. Upstairs is a new writing room for R.  The rosebud is now paved and a new bed has been made further out with the help of a gardener  Just a half day a fortnight but a godsend with heavy work and strimming etc. 

The Wendy House by the pond now houses a forlorn sofa bed and table for seedlings and cuttings. 

2020 and the new extension is a delight, especially on cold but sunny days when it acts like a heat sink. The two cherries arch over the long path though the shirotae to the right has had two branches reduced as they were getting too big.

Now many of the trees we planted are maturing there is a different play of light and shade throughout the garden.

 

ALMOST MAY

 So, here I am sitting inside the garden room with the doors wide open and a gust of wind fills the place with cherry confetti, petals everywhere.

Today is Saturday an it is warm - 20C and the garden is watered.

I have moved most of the seedlings from the top shed top the Wendy House by the pond and watered them too.

The air is full of goldfinches. 

Some trees are in leaf like this cercidphyllum on the left, unlike the old ash clad in ivy and an old  Rambling Rector rose on the right. This will be the last photo of daffodils as they are going over, R has decided to be economical with deadheading, hoping they will seed.

Except for this photo.

We have blossom, Victoria Plum and greengage, magnolia stellata, blackthorn, weeping silver pear and wild cherry.

 

One plant that delights us is the pink rhododendron from Matlock Bath whose scent pervades everywhere and the three yellow azaleas.

The later flowering camellias are also lovely, I just wish they were scented then they would be amazing.  

Elsewhere there are tulips, green alkanet from Plockton, kingcups by the stream, humble daisies in the lawn, ferns beginning to uncoil their croziers.

Not all flowers are yellow white - the quince, odd tulip and flowering currant are in full glory.

An evening walk by the pond, no sign of tadpoles but a large newt plugging through the weed. No sign of the house martins nor swallows yet and the garden is so dry. At least it allows me to postpone the mowing.

I sometimes muse on what old friends would think of the garden, those we have lost, and Stephen S springs to mind - I think he would have loved it.

Still April though and what does April usually bring? (Though little this year).

GLORIOUS SPRING

Every year or so we get given hyacinths at Christmas and then what to do with them so here and there in the garden are where they were put. I never remember where so it is always a surprise when they flower.

Autumn leaves have colour, we know, but so can spring growth, new and fresh, acer on the left, spirea right. 

Then I examine the main flower bed - and - there is a new rabbit burrow!

It is only when one looks at the size of the trees and shrubs we have planted that I realise how long we have been here - over 14 years. The eucalyptus just grows and grows and the white birches, planted in two tranches are looking so mature.

There are wild flowers in our garden many purists would not allow - particularly the wood anemones and lesser celandine. The leaves of the latter are quite quickly gone.

With leaves beginning to emerge on the trees especially such as the hawthorn (flowers first on the blackthorn) the big sycamore still looks skeletal from down the road.

Even in hidden corners there are gems, quince and bronze fennel leaves.

The damson blossom is coming out and we are praying for no frost.

Seedlings keep arriving - petunias for pots, dahlia seedlings and other plants I had forgotten I had ordered.

Went to meet friends at Holker Hall and walk the gardens on our RHS free entry. The gardeners there have changed a lot, filled the ha-ha by the field and chopped down the huge eucryphias by the cascade. It had got a bit neglected with staff cuts due to Covid.

Here is a Nook panorama shot from the seat at the far wall looking back to the house -

Makes it look much bigger than the 1.8 acres we have.

Blossom is everywhere, amelanchier by the pond, the damsons, and the great white cherry is better than it has ever been.

Time to get out the sun brolly and stick it in the table by the benches?