Another few weeks pass where I don’t have time to snap photos or blog. Last minute changes to plans this morning gave me back some time unexpectedly. Once again, I’ve decided to share more ‘view’ shots rather than focusing in on six specific things. Lazy, but I’m beginning to think this is what my style of gardening is all about – the bigger view of dense borders rather than individual feature planting. That’s my excuse anyway, and I’m sticking to it. Hope you like these, I’m really pleased with how things are looking, despite my endless neglect.
The cutting patch is not much use as a cutting patch, but it’s the best show of hardy annuals I’ve ever had, and I’ll develop this approach to growing further next year. It’s also an absolute food festival for pollinators of all varieties. Kitchen garden remains productive. Lots of beans growing well (mostly for drying) and a new round of brassicas gone in. I’d left them too long in modules so they might not do so well, but we’ll see. Getting much better at successional sowing. Broad beans out, climbing beans in, garlic out, quick heading calabrese in. This riotous mess looks even better in strong sun (which we did actually get yesterday, but not this morning when I finally had time to take photos!)Another shot of the cutting patch.
I have not had the right combination of inclination, energy or time to garden at all for some time, nor to photograph it nor blog about it. I didn’t have it today, either, having been laid up with a savage cold all weekend, but I couldn’t ignore the sorrowful contents of three greenhouses any longer, so I shuffled outside to force myself into action while the sun looked kindly upon us, much to the delight of the Under-Gardener, who has been seriously missing the opportunity to warm his old bones. A salutary lesson here: the garden is always there, patiently waiting for us, when we are ready again. And of course five minutes turned into a little longer. And of course I enjoyed it and felt better for it. I came in utterly exhausted but was glad to have ventured out. And, you know, the main border isn’t looking too bad at all. My cutting patch isn’t a roaring success, but that’s not looking terrible, either. The produce could be a lot worse – some things have been truly excellent (and some, like the strawberries, have come in huge quantities and gone without getting photographed!) Here’s a selection of shots from today, just to give a flavour of the sort of blowsy jumble that’s going on here under the Under-Gardener’s ever watchful eye. Chief Engineer has taken a better set of shots, too, and I will share those as soon as I can get the blasted tech to work.
Here is the cutting patch. It’s useless as a cutting patch – it isn’t giving me neat, solid, harvestable blocks of single species at all – but it is a very pretty and pollinator-friendly jumble of various annuals that have all mixed themselves together. I’m not really sure what happened but I suspect my complete lack of discipline is to blame, somehow. Following the advice of Fred, fellow Six On Saturday blogger, I persisted in my attempts to get supermarket ginger to grow, when potted up in an unheated greenhouse. It has taken many months, but it’s actually worked, although it’s not the most robust-looking specimen I’ve ever seen. Is there any discernible culinary benefit to growing your own ginger in such paltry amounts, when it is cheap and readily available in the supermarket? Well, obviously not, but that’s not the point, is it? On the left: too many beans, grown for drying, and too much empty space in front of them, due to me running out of energy for filling it, despite the trays of seedlings that are in wait, sulking in the greenhouses, and are now well past their prime. In the middle, a new position for sweet peas, and it is probably the success of the year, I have cut armfuls of them for the house for weeks. On the right, too many peas. Every year I grow too many, get daunted by the prospect of harvesting and shelling them, leave them too long on the plant and then end up with over-large, starchy peas to harvest or, worse, pea-moth gets them. I don’t know why I bother – frozen peas are perfectly good. I think I just have this thing about finding vertical crops so satisfying to grow! It is probably time to inject a little realism into my garden planning and seedling raising. Really I should just grow lettuce. I have never once succeeded in producing a continuous supply that does not need supplementing with supermarket purchases. Here is today’s plentiful bunch of those sweet peas. The smell is divine. With the freshly cut ends seared in boiling water, they last a good few days in the vase and the scent wafts around the house deliciously. Here follow several repetitive shots of the long border from slightly different angles. The Under-Gardener finds the wooden bed-edging just the perfect height for resting his weary head, all the better to keep an eye on the garlic which is flopping over after the heavy rain we’ve had. The garlic, broad beans, butternut squash and the remains of last year’s chard that I didn’t uproot properly are all doing battle with the weeds I’ve failed to keep on top of, especially that borage that is threatening to take over in the middle. It doesn’t matter, there will still be a harvest of some sort or another. The garden is very forgiving like that.
I managed to cut a good selection for an arrangement yesterday, mainly because an iris flopped in the heat and I felt obliged to rescue the stems, then various bits of cutting back followed. So here is my arrangement for this week, brought about by the two stems of iris in the middle, ably assisted by thalictrum, nigella, nepeta, two different types of geranium and that best friend to all flower arrangers, alchemilla. Pop along and see what other people have in their vases this week via our host Cathy, here: https://ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com/2024/06/03/in-a-vase-on-monday-dining-out/
Rather than post pictures of specific things in the garden today, I’m going to take a moment to just post six(ish) shots from different angles. Despite the lack of time to spend on it, I’m loving how the garden looks at the moment and I’d like to take the time to appreciate it and share it. Hope you like these views as much as I do.
Returning to IAVOM after a winter hiatus, here is a barely arranged bunch from me. Sometimes less is more. I wanted to combine these candy colours whilst keeping things simple and retaining the airy effect of the geums and the euphorbia. I also didn’t want to deplete the garden too much, as it’s really only just starting back into life! It’s lovely to have some flowers for the house once again, though, and I hope to produce many more bunches this year.
Blimey! It’s a scorcher. The good weather landed for us on at the same time last year. I know this for a fact, because it was my best mate’s wedding and the good weather took us all pleasantly by surprise. The garden has responded by going absolutely crazy and we now embark on my favourite time of year in the garden and, of course, the busiest time. Indeed, I’m typing this in a short break between tasks (I have realised that I tend to forget to stop, and then I do myself a mischief). So, while I pause for breath, let’s take a look at what’s happening. And remember to go here: https://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/05/11/six-on-saturday-11-5-2024/ to see what our knowledgeable host Jim and the rest of the gang are up to this weekend.
The wisteria is fabulous this year but I simply cannot seem to take a photo that really shows it in all its glory. Nor can I share the scent with you, sadly – it is really lovely and perfumes the breeze at the moment.
I share these iris every year: I make no apologies for this, they are majestic. And they are also scented, a fresh smell like nothing else I’ve ever smelled. I wish it were captured in a perfume, smelling like a cloud of these would be so elegant.
I shared Soggy Bottom this week, but I wanted to point out the lovely white corydalis, bought from the indefatigable Derry Watkins at Special Plants. Derry has it throughout her woodland in drifts and I’m rather hoping it will oblige and do the same here (and perhaps give the sweet woodruff a run for its money – oh how I regret planting that!)
One of the SOSers gave me some tips on perking up my failing London Pride – I’m so sorry that I can’t remember who it was, but if you’re reading, thank you so much! I have finally been rewarded with flowers and it is gently spreading exactly as I’d hoped.
The first rose of the year. This bloom of Zepherine Drouhin is nestled in the hedge, in the exact spot where the morning’s first rays of sun land. There are plenty of buds so I’m hoping for a nice show.
The long border is colouring up nicely. I’m behind with all my veggies, but I don’t care – I decided to focus more on flowers this year and I’m really enjoying it. It’s an endless delight out here, I can’t wait to see what it looks like at its peak in a few weeks. Hope everyone else is buoyed by good weather this weekend! (Do you think I got away with exceeding my six? My excuse is that there are 6 things here, it’s just that two of them have two photos apiece…)
A bit of a cheat on this bank holiday weekend, as we are away, so I am sharing some pictures taken through the week. Knowing we would be away and given that I had an unusual period of relative calm at work, I took a day off mid-week to take Soggy Bottom in hand. Soggy Bottom is the sunken garden at the very end of our garden. The previous owner dug and built (by hand!) a swimming pool for his kids. By the time we moved in, the kids were adults, the bottom of the pool had cracked due to a neighbouring ash tree’s roots, and the whole thing did not hold water and would have been something of a death trap if it did, not to mention being a real eyesore. As soon as I saw it, my first thought was to partially fill it with soil and create a damp shade garden. The neighbours had some earthworks done, so we took their spoil off them and I enriched pockets of it with home compost and leaf mould for planting holes. It is now a rich moist green oasis, albeit one that floods occasionally due to being very low-lying and next to a stream. In fact, it’s a little too successful, and if I don’t take it in hand at least twice a year it turns into a jungle and the paths and pond in it disappear completely. Here are a few before and after shots (admittedly not a huge difference, but the paths have at least been regained) plus a shot of me standing in the pool when we first moved in. The Under-Gardener was a bit dubious about being outside in the damp cool grey weather, but he did deign to keep an eye on the equipment and supervise from a distance for a bit.
The weather weighs heavily upon the frustrated gardener and life in and out of the garden overwhelms this one, hence me missing a week’s blogging last week. It feels cold, it’s raining AGAIN, nothing will germinate successfully yet several things in the garden seem bafflingly early… these are confusing times. The garden soldiers on regardless. I should perhaps take a leaf out of its book and relinquish my pervasive need for control: as usual, the garden has a life lesson for us, if we are only open to receiving it.
The gooseberries are setting fruit. This seems very early to me. I failed to prune them when I should have and now I have sprawling beasts. I have far too many bushes. Neither of us are even huge fans of gooseberries. I like a gooseberry fool but Chief Engineer is not a huge fan, though smothering most things in custard and/or crumble topping will usually persuade him to eat them. I should give some bushes away, really. Or open a nursery, but I suspect that is a truly thankless task!
Also seeming very early to me, strawberries flowering their socks off. Chief engineer diligently netted them last week. I am now anxiously patrolling, as the little wren has a habit of finding the tiniest of gaps and wandering in, however hard we try to pin down the entire edge. Fingers crossed for a good crop.
Potatoes coming through (and a fair few weeds too, in need of hoeing). Behind, Chief Engineer has put the nets on the walk-in fruit cage, just in time too since the blackcurrants are also setting fruit (and also seem very early to me, and these DID get pruned in good time). Despite this cage being harder to net well, the wren doesn’t seem to get stuck in here. Perhaps it’s just easier for her to get out of unaided!
Continuing on that theme of earliness (is that a word?) the geums seem to have opened early this year too. I like to see them alongside the bright pink corncockle and the lime green euphorbia oblongata, but I have some concerns that they will not all be in flower at the same time this year. Oh well, nothing I can do about that (except perhaps assiduously deadhead the geums in hope of prolonging their season…)
Quite seasonally appropriate, I believe, is the apple blossom, which is looking lovely on the two Golden Delicious trees (or Golden Just About Tolerable, as I prefer to call them). The prettiness of the blossom almost compensates for the thoroughly underwhelming fruit, which is adequate for a crumble but barely passable as an eating apple. Another thing I should replace, really, but I can’t bring myself to get rid of the existing ones, it seems such a waste.
I am not terribly fond of the camassias – the time they spend looking messy far outlasts the time they spend in peak performance. Yet they thrive in our rich moist soil, often to the detriment of their neighbours. That lilac-y blue does seem to shine on a dull grey day, though. Another year of me dithering about whether to bin them or not.
I’m feeling rebellious so I’m chucking in a 7th, to return slightly to the “is this early?” theme. Honeysuckle, granted in a sheltered sunny spot, but it seems quite early to me? Honestly I can’t tell any more, I seem to have lost all perception of what is normal. I suppose normality is subjective anyway.
The Under-Gardener has the right idea, I think. He’s staying indoors and dreaming of warmer days.
Meanwhile, let’s have a look around the Under-Gardener’s manor…
Look at this beauty! Can’t quite do it justice as it’s quite blowy here today and it keeps moving in the breeze so most of my photos are a bit blurry. I’ve got no idea where it came from. I certainly don’t remember buying or planting it, but I’m very taken with it. I hope it returns.
My exceptionally miffy martagon lily only bothers to emerge on occasional years. It looks like it has decided to grace us with its presence this year. Whether it goes to the bother of flowering or not remains to be seen. Jim and others have been warning of lily beetle sightings already this year: this baby is very near the kitchen door so I can maintain a vigilant eye.
Actual baby figs on the fig tree! First time ever! I had completely given up hope of ever getting any fruit. Of course they’ve got a long way to go yet before reaching the edible stage but this certainly looks promising.
Obviously, last year, when I needed the lilac to bloom in early May for my best friend’s wedding flowers, it steadfastly refused to appear until later that month. This year, because I don’t need it, here it is, out and smelling wonderful. Never mind. Lilac is very uncooperative in bouquets anyway and I am far from being an expert florist so perhaps it’s just as well!
Looks like I tidied and fed the strawberries just in time, they’re flowering already! We’ll need to net next week I think. I noticed some flowers on the redcurrants too. It seems quite early to me but perhaps not, I can’t really remember what a ‘normal’ growing year is like any more.
The Under-Gardener, working tirelessly to maintain this veg bed. How would we manage the garden without him?
It’s been a bumper week for gardening for me, with a bank holiday on Monday and a last minute decision to start the weekend at lunchtime on Thursday in order to get outside and make the most of some DRY WEATHER! Yes that’s right, we’ve actually had some. Luckily I also have a very accommodating boss and a fabulous team-mate at work, so I was able to drop everything at a moment’s notice and get my dungarees on. Seeds have been sown, divisions planted out, dandelions uprooted – I’ve even managed to give my friend’s garden its twice yearly day of attention. Every bit of me hurts, but it’s been so good for the soul. Six on Saturday is good for the soul, too: go here http://gardenruminations.co.uk/2024/04/06/six-on-saturday-6-4-2024/ to catch up with our host Jim and the rest of the gang, and see what’s going on in gardens around the world. In the meantime, here are a few pics from ours.
I can hardly believe my good fortune, but the paeonies transplanted in haste a few months ago are actually budding up! The buds are still small, but clearly that isn’t dissuading the ants, who are engaged in their annual activity of milking the sweet juices that are forced out of the bud by the pressure inside it. I’m excited to see how many blooms I’ll get – I’ve moved all my plants to a much better location. I am usually away for my birthday in late May and thus invariably miss them at their best: I’ve insisted on staying put this year, specifically so I can see the garden instead of missing all the best bits.
Delighted to see this little cowslip return, as although it is rather modest it was a gift from a very dear friend who died last year and who I miss terribly. I have a few different plants dotted around the garden that were either transplants from his garden or were gifts he bought me, and they never fail to make me smile and think of him.
Dicentra, one of my most favourite flowers (and I WILL keep calling it dicentra, because the new name for it is stupid and ugly and I really do hate it when plant names change). I have a terrible track record with these, despite adoring them, and I invariably either dig them up by accident when they’ve died back, or I just kill them – they never really seem to thrive for me. I keep trying. They’re cheap and readily available. And I might succeed in keeping one alive for more than a year or two eventually.
A cacophony of wild self-seeders underneath the currant bushes, inside the footprint of the (currently un-netted) fruit cage. A fair amount of lemon balm and nettle mixed in here too, I will take those (and the dandelions) out eventually, leaving the primroses and forget-me-nots, but there’s no rush. I have seen countless bumbles and multiple other bees plus several different species of butterfly in the garden this week (including multiples of my favourite, the peacock) and I am sure the combination of nettles and plenty of early nectar sources helps. And anyway it’s so pretty.
I dithered about whether to take this wallflower out – it is leggy and ungainly and flops about, being at least 3 years old. I grew lots from seed a few years ago and really only meant to use them as single-season bedding to under plant tulips, but this one somehow tugged at my heartstrings and got a reprieve, whilst all its siblings didn’t. I’m glad now, as the strong scent is heavenly, and it looks very rich and jewel-like next to the yellow tulips, which are one of the few that really do return reliably for me (no idea what the name of the tulip is but I do know they were cheap from Wilko!). The wallflower really is coming out when it’s done flowering this time though (well maybe I’ll let it set seed first…)
It wasn’t just me working hard today. Chief Engineer has done a stellar job of sprucing up my little greenhouse with a paint refresh and a general smarten up. The Under-Gardener returned from a sleep over with his best friend Max today and clearly felt that following an evening’s absence, he’d better enforce some very close supervision…
Notes from the Under-Gardener 