Weather

After 3 lovely summer days we are back to pouring rain, what a dreadful climate we have.
Just as I thought things we shaping up in the sunshine, oh well, here's hoping, summer must surely start soon.
Whilst the sun shone I have been able to get the garden into trim.
The front raised bed that I had split and transplanted some Hosta, to have as a permanent edging, well I didn't have them in quite the right place so have moved them into place, they look fine now, just need something in the centre to give colour.
The Geranium plugs I bought are for the first time ever, a disaster, have contacted the grower but will need to rethink this.
 In the front garden the Mahonia that I trimmed earlier has lovely reddish young leaves, at least that likes the wet.
Just reading an article about the awful winter weather washing out all the nutrients from the soil, our sandy soil especially, so adding to the feeding programme  slow release fertiliser and hoping it does the trick.

Red Bird

Well of all the things I write about I never thought it would be a bird.
It really is lovely, seems to be a small type of Parrot. Scott went round to take a photo or two as ever.
It appeared on the garden fence in next doors garden, looks like an escapee, so Allison has bought feed for it.
Unless we catch it the R.S.P.C.A. don't want to know,  we will keep an eye on the local paper to see if anyone is looking for it.
Just hope we do not have any more frost, can't think it could survive that.

What a joy to see the garden in bloom, the Apple trees are covered in blossom, just hope the Bees etc. do their bit this year, I have almost run out of Crab Apple jelly as the John Downey really suffered last year,

The new Rhododendron that my son bought last year and didn't flower!! I thought oh dear he has been sold a pup, but no, this year it is lovely. The nearest to the colour would be Apricot with darker edges.

Hope it doesn't quickly out grow the very large planter which I filled with Ericaceous compost, I'm really delighted with it. 

I have now hardened off most of the Fuchsia, al are now in their baskets and pots, just wish the wind would ease off.

Wed. 1st May

Can't believe at last sunny warm weather, the garden is looking great and the greenhouse is now bursting with plants that really need hardening off. Starting now to do this but keeping them under cover at night, just can't believe that the frost is over. I usually have my baskets outside by now.
Just received the Geranium plug plants I ordered so will pot on tomorrow.
The bowling season has started, what a pleasure to be bowling in the sun.

Sunday April 21st

Can't believe all this sunshine, it really has made such a difference. The Apple trees are bursting into life and the Hosta are popping up nicely, began to wonder at one spell as I had split them to plant around the edges of the front raised bed, this will save me planting annuals, have had to face facts and admit that I need to reduce the work in the garden. Must admit I really like the Hosta, they give a great display all summer and other than keeping the slugs away are trouble free, in the centre I am planting Geraniums as a change.
In the back garden I have now thoroughly weeded and cut the edges. Spring is when I usually do this then in the Summer the basic trimming is all that is needed.  Whilst amongst the shrubs in the back garden I got tangled up and ended flat on my back, more bothered about the the plants than me, we all survived except an old Hydrangea, this was in the wrong place any how, so it had to go to the great compost in the sky, or rather the tip.
Every where looks good and the Daffodils, Primroses, Hyacinths etc. are really looking so colourful, really cheers the soul. Good that all is ship shape as the Bowling season is now upon us. Hope the good weather continues, make the early bowling season a joy.
Took a chance and planted out the new Alstroemeria, Hellebore and Foxglove, which I have I hope, hardened off properly, they all look okay, just hope the frost is well and truly over.

Thursday 11th April

Well what a month March turned out to be, thank goodness its over.
Went to a garden centre to see if there were any new Fuchsia I could be tempted to try, there were not. About to leave sitting in the car park and a man reversed into my car, said he didn't see me, by the way I was static!! He however did admit fault, but the ensuing month was stressful as my son would not except the repair, its taken just over a month for the job to be completed satisfactorily.
I have during the month now planted up all the baskets and all but two pots, they are all doing well, I also plant up baskets for the family, "Gran will do it".  What would I do without the greenhouse and the portable one that I use each spring to start the hardening off.
As spring is so late I have planted some more Primroses to add more colour, the Crocus and Hyacinths and latterly the Daffodils are a such a cheer at this miserable time.  Can't believe that it is so dry I have had to water.
I have decided to grow more Herbs and my husband and son have added a set/ tower of herb planters, in advance of course, as part of my birthday present, have decided to have it by the back door, so much easier than trailing down the garden.
A new mower as the cost of a complete service was so high, good excuse to give my old one to my youngest Grandson, who is just starting his first garden.

Wednesday 6th March

This last few days the weather has been so lovely, really cheers me and the garden up.
At long last the Daffs. are in flower and along with the Hellebore, Primroses, Snowdrops and Crocus there is now at last colour in the garden.
All the shrubs are now trimmed ready for spring, heaven knows how the Green Bin Men ever empty ours it so tightly packed.
The remaining Hosta have all been split and given to friends along with other bits and pieces.
Went to see if there were any new Fuchsia at the two local Garden centres. Very disappointed nothing to tempt me. To make matters worse a chap reversed into my car whilst I was stationary!!!!!

Sunday 24th  February
What a good week, the plug plants I ordered arrived, in excellent condition.
After the Chelsea Flower show I was impressed with and ordered the Foxglove Illumination Pink, these are sterile and are continuous flowering, they claim, for 6 months, to be divided in time as with other perennials, really looking forward to seeing these in bloom. The Hellebores also arrived,  different colours to the one I have,  problem is as ever I am running out of space. Still potted on they are safe in the greenhouse for now.
 Had another brainstorm today and bought some more Primroses and Crocus, you can never have to many!! at this time of year they bring so much colour to the garden.
A friend popped round so was able to off load some plants I had divided and didn't have a home for, can't somehow throw away good plants. She had a bit of a disaster last year and was looking for new plants thank goodness.

Tuesday 19th
Well at last the first snowdrops and crocus have appeared, surely spring is near, or is this sunshine just to kid us along.
The Hellebores are also in flower .
This week we have started the hard work, last summers constant rain has produced an amazing amount of Moss between the paving blocks, the tedious job of clearing it is now well under way and I have sprayed weedkiller just in case any escaped.
The Tomato seeds are now germinating well in the propagator as are the Peppers, the French Marigolds are yet to show but there's plenty of time for these.
In the greenhouse the Fuchsia, Sweet Peas and Alstroemeria are all looking good, hope this cold spell doesn't set them back.

February 14th - Pancake Tuesday
Well things are really beginning to come alive now, makes me feel that Spring is on the way, can't come soon enough for me, still wondering if the roses are going to have a nasty shock, they seem very far advanced at present, though the bulbs are slower than usual.
The Primroses continue to look really bright and cheerful, they are so reliable.
The Fuchsia cuttings in the greenhouse are all looking good, haven't lost any, hope I am not speaking to soon. Just transplanted the Sweet Peas, shall start pinching out next week, if as forecast it is milder, they really are ready now.
The new Alstromeria roots are beginning to show growth, still wondering if these are going to be taller than I wanted, time will tell.

February 2013

Well the New Year certainly started with a bad news, I hope February is the turning point.
The two friends who ended up in hospital are now improving.
This is the time I start thinking of sowing my Tomato seeds, mind you it helps if you have bought same, or can remember where you put the half a packet from last year.
I  as usual will be sowing French Marigolds for protection against Aphids in the greenhouse.
Last season I was pleased with the red, green & yellow Peppers, I seem as time goes by to use them more and more. This season I shall try the larger Chili Peppers, the small ones did very well last year but I fancy trying the larger ones.
Seems strange not to be up to my neck in material for the opening of the Bowling Club, though must admit it has given me chance to do other things.
Looking forward as ever to the outdoor bowling, the Short Mat at Dunes on a Friday is fun but there is nothing like Competitions and Leagues.

New Year News
I hope every one like us had a great Christmas and New Year.
Yesterday I checked the greenhouse, first time since before Christmas, what a surprise, having read about sowing seeds in Autumn I did a tray of seeds, taken from my own sweet Peas in the front garden, to my surprise they have germinated well and are now one and half inches tall and look really strong. This is the first time I have  tried this, wish I had also done the Marigolds and Petunia, still a lesson learned.
The Roses are are all sprouting, I guess if we have a really cold spell it will set them back. Strangely  the Daffs and Tulips are not as advanced as usual, still plenty of time for these.

December

Not a lot going on at present except as ever the Mahonia is in full flower, this will flower for some weeks, with all the recent frost the flowers look great edged with frost.
I am always glad at this time of year that I planted it facing the kitchen window.
Everything in the greenhouse looks fine, I tend not to go in there whilst its so cold, just peep through the windows.
Just in case I do not get back before.

Merry Christmas 

and a 

Healthy Happy New Year.

Well the frost has finally finished off the Sweet Peas, though a few flowers were still hanging on. 

I have cut them down and saved most of the ripe seeds for next spring, I have sown some now in the greenhouse as I believe this can result in earlier flowers, we will see. 

I read recently that if you leave in the roots the break down providing much needed nutrients, saves digging so worth a try.

Alice gave me a Rhubarb root, I know its a good one as I gave her the original, this now has its own dedicated place in the border, away from the Arum Lilies, last season they went mad with all the rain, choking the Rhubarb. I know it odd putting it in a border but space is rather short, it worked very well until last year.

  

Christmas is rushing forward, one of the joys being the Mahonia just in front of my kitchen window, the large yellow flowers are about to open, just what is needed during these drab days, the display usually lasts over Christmas giving me constant pleasure.
They are a very hardy ever green shrub and will grow in most soil types including heavy clay, though of course here I am on dry sandy soil.  The down side is if like me you plant near a path the prickly leaves will impale you so take care. The window cleaner is not a fan of Mahonia which he gives a very different name!!!,  I prune hard after flowering, when the frosts have past to keep it a manageable size.

Well I have taken the bull by the horns and cut down the Pink Lacy Edged Hydranger, it really has over grown its place this year. Pruning it properly would have still left me with a problem, hence the kill or cure chop.

Would you believe it the Yucca has developed a flower, can't think it will open but who knows. This is how it looked earlier this summer. The only problem is Blackfly, oh boy do they love the flowers. Cutting the flowers as soon as they go off is one answer.

I noticed yesterday that the Sweet Peas are still going strong, even after the frost last week,  will leave and note how long they keep going.
The Fuchsia pictured above is Dancing Flame, really happy in the strong sunlight on the patio, when we have some that is. It is very strong growing and flowers virtually non stop up until  the end of October early November.