Wettest year on record

Fed up with the rain

Is everyone else as fed up with the rain as me? 66″ and counting so far!

I can’t remember when we had our last dry week.  Vainly I check the weather forecast each morning only to see the same. Rain and more rain. Every so often the sun comes out and I dash outside thinking spring is here. Then I race back indoors pursued by raindrops.

Unseasonal snow

We even had some unseasonal snow. I had woken up early and was listening to the rain pounding the windows. At 5.15am it all went quiet. Oh good, I thought. It has stopped. Then I wondered what the big white shapes falling from the sky were. Luckily it did not stick around for long.

Everywhere is saturated. Local roads are flooded. The garden is a bog. And every time I venture onto the vegetable patch I leave a trail of puddles behind me.

Spring is not far away

Galanthus Trumps one of my favourites

However spring can’t be far away. This year’s magnificent display of snowdrops is over. But they were so good I have bought some more which I plan to propagate this year. Now is the time to divide them and spread them around. You can plant two or three bulbs together and they will bulk up into sizeable clumps within a couple of years.

Daffodils and dashes of colour

The snowdrops have been replaced by daffodils and camelias. Under the trees I have wood anemones, self-seeded cyclamen, primroses and primulas. I love the way they pop up in unexpected places. A dash of purple here or white over there. I am sure if I had planted them there in the first place they would not have done so well.

Anemone virescens AGM

Glorious birdsong

Every morning I wake to the most glorious birdsong. The mallards have paired up on the pond and tits and robins are busy collecting nesting material. My bird feeders are mobbed.

Busy time for gardeners

It is a really busy time for gardeners. Now is the time to sow seeds, pot up early seedlings and take cuttings. There are so many jobs to do in the nursery I hardly have a moment for a mid-morning cup of coffee. I now have my own ducks!

When I am not busy in the greenhouses I am clearing up the mess left by the rain or catching up with sending out orders.

Grateful for winter-flowering clematis

This year I have been particularly grateful for my winter-flowering clematis. They have given me a welcome splash of colour. I particularly like the pale pink blooms of Clematis armandii ‘Apple Blossom’. They contrast well with the luscious off-white Clematis cirrhosa ‘Wisley Cream’. I think my favourite though has to be Jingle Bells. It has delicate green and white flowers which look just like snowdrops.

Clematis armandii

Elsewhere the red edge of Epimedium grandiflorum ‘Bandit’ catches my eye as I walk by. It is an excellent groundcover plant and its white blooms light up the woodland floor. They contrast well with the ruby marbled leaves and yellow flowers of Epimedium x perralchicum ‘Frohnleiten’.

Lupins are on their way

The lupins will be arriving soon. They are a sure sign that summer is coming. I can’t wait to see the magnificent displays of Beefeater, Blacksmith, Blossom and Gladiator. I can guarantee they will cheer up any garden and make you forget about all the rain we have had.

Lupintastic!

Good to catch up with other growers

When I can I like to get out to visit other nurseries. It is always good to catch up with fellow growers. I also try to get to as many local flower shows as I can. They are a continuing source of inspiration.

Gardening tips  

Let the foliage of spring bulbs die back naturally to allow them to store up energy for next year. Sow vegetable and annual seeds in your greenhouse. Clean greenhouses if you didn’t do so in the autumn. Continue watering plants which have been dormant in the greenhouse over winter, to stimulate new growth. 

#clematis #appleblossom  #wisleycream #jinglebells #frohnleiten #dry #rain #spring #sun #snow #daffodils #woodanemones #cyclamen #purple #seeds #seedlings #orders #lupins #beefeater #blacksmith #blossom #gladiator

New beginnings

Getting my hands dirty again

Over the last few months I have been thinking about West Country Nurseries’ future. Since I started the business the nursery has expanded beyond my wildest dreams. We have extended our range of plants. We have exhibited at shows all over the country. Our lupins have won four gold medals at Chelsea. We have employed local people as we have grown. And I have met hundreds of customers who love our plants.

Chelsea with friends

There have been challenges

However, we have also faced challenges. Covid put an end  to all the exhibitions. Rising fuel costs made us reassess how many plants we need to nurture with artificial heat. And, I have spent more and more time on admin.

It is time for a change

It is time for a change. I want to get back to basics. Get out of the office. Get my hands dirty again. It has been a hard decision. It was particularly difficult to let people who have worked with me go. I wish them well.

I have always wanted to work outside

When I changed career from music to horticulture it was because I wanted work outside. I love being in the garden.  The warm sun on my face. Wind in my hair. Dirt beneath my nails. The satisfaction of seeing seeds germinate and seedlings grow into healthy plants.

Getting back to basics

I need to run every bit of the nursery. I want to be the one to propagate all my own lupins. Raise clematis from seed. Tend the dieramas. Nurture the thalictrum.

I can only do that by going back to basics and being my own labourer.

A big step, but worth it

It is a big step and quite daunting. But so far it has been good.

I love being outside with my plants. There is so much variety and colour in nature. The cherry red, silky flowers of  Schizostylis Major make my heart sing every time I spy them.

Colourful agapanthus

Agapanthus Big Blue also provides a welcome splash of colour. Beautiful extra-large blue and white flowers, above dark green strappy foliage. What’s not to like?

The gauras are flowering abundantly. Belleza is a rich cerise pink. The Bride is pure white. Everywhere I look the colourful flowers confirm I have made the right decision.

Moving grass sculpture

It is always good to have different shapes and textures in the garden. This week I have enjoyed watching the golden wands of the Stipa tenuissima sway in the breeze. They are so silky and have an inflorescent shimmer and gleam. It is like having a moving sculpture in the border when the wind blows.

Starting to think about spring

As we move further into autumn I always start to think about spring. This year I will be planting wood anemones to give me some early colour. They are also good ground cover.

We’ll have clematis soon

I am looking forward to the first clematis flowers. Winter Beauty will be out in a month or so. It has beautiful Evergreen foliage and small nodding white bell-shaped flowers.

Business as usual

Despite the changes at the nursery you should not notice any difference. We will still have high quality plants. The mail order business will continue as normal. And we will still have the best lupins in the country. Thank you for continuing to support us.

Gardening tips Plant bulbs including snowdrops, crocus and daffodils. Remove dead and dying foliage.  Keep dead heading flowers to prolong displays.  Water pots sparingly. Bring tender plants into the greenhouse to overwinter. Plant wood anemones.

#goldmedals #chelsea #plants #garden #seeds #seedlings #lupins #clematis #dierama #thalictrum #schizostylis #agapanthus #gaura #stipa #autumn #spring #anemones #colour

Women in horticulture at Chelsea flower Show

Our lupins will be at Chelsea

Westcountry Nurseries won’t be exhibiting at Chelsea this year but our lupins will be there. We are delighted that Pollyanna Wilkinson will be using our lupins in her tribute to women in horticulture.

Her tribute will be at The Monument and Masterpiece and Salmon Star will be on display. I can’t wait to find out how she is going to use them. I am confident they will not let her down.

I will miss meeting you at Chelsea this year but my lupins look forward to seeing you there.

Spring has been a disappointment

Spring has been a disappointment. We’ve had frosts, rain and endless cold weather. Thank heavens for the glorious early flowers which have helped keep everyone cheerful. Daffodils put on a wonderful display and the tulips are still blooming.

Lupinus ‘Salmon Star’

The garden is full of blossom. Cherry and crab apple trees have put on a magnificent show. Lilac is in full bloom and the air is heady with fragrance.

Promise of more to come

There’s the promise of more to come. Dahlia shoots have appeared. Rose bushes are budding. And, the peonies are now well over a foot tall.

Tropaeolum tricolorum

Clematis is best in show

But it is the clematis which has put on the best show of all. Empress has been particularly spectacular. It has beautiful double flowers. Pink outer petals with gorgeous, creamy, pompom-like centres. It keeps on flowering from now until well into the summer. It is a winner.

Avalanche Blavaal is also a great performer. Its creamy-white flowers sit on top of dark evergreen leaves.

Flowers from spring to autumn

If you choose your clematis carefully you can have flowers from spring to autumn. Armandii is flowering now. Diana’s Delight will bloom from early summer. Abundance will produce claret flowers well into the autumn.

Rainbow colours

Clematis come in a rainbow of colours. There’s purple Jan Lindmark and red Nubia. Michiko has striking yellow centres. Blue Dancer lives up to its name. There is a colour for everyone.

Clematis Jan Lindmark

Warm weather is needed

Clematis Jingle Bells

We must be due some warm weather soon. Everywhere I look there are signs of better days to come. Seeds in the greenhouse were slower than normal to germinate, but the trays are now full of bright green shoots. We just need a couple of weeks of warm sunshine to bring everything on.

It is not too late to plant for summer colour. Although you can sow lupins as seeds. You can also get them as plugs. Plugs cost a little more but they are much easier to handle and give great results.

Lupin plugs to plants in no time

Gardening tips  Water seedlings daily. Once the danger of frost is over transplant vegetables and flowers from the cold frame or greenhouse into their final spots in the garden. Dead head spring bulbs once they have stopped flowering but do not cut back their leaves. Harden off tender plants.

#lupins #chelsea #spring #flowers #fragrance #bulbs #dahlia #clematis #colours #warm #summer #plugs #seeds #Masterpiece #SalmonStar

Winter blues

Cold weather at last

At last we have had cold weather. It was unnatural to have such high temperatures in November although I appreciated the warmth. Flowers like dahlias which should have been long-dormant were still providing gorgeous colour. That is until winter swept in with a vengeance.

Icy blue skies and snow in December

Winter arrived suddenly

Ice, snow and temperatures of -10 arrived in a chilly blast. They killed off the whitefly and other pests. The cold weather put a stop to the last of my summer blooms. And it encouraged the final leaves to fall off the trees.

But then they outstayed their welcome. It continued to be cold and icy. With the cost of living crisis many felt unable to put their heating on and it was a shivery run up to Christmas.

It is British to moan about the weather

But, we’re British. We like to moan about the weather. As long as you are in the right clothes cold weather is fine. I love walking in the snow under cloudless skies. I prefer cold and crisp to damp and wet any day.

Hope 2023 will be good

Here we are in 2023. I hope it is going to be a good year. Hopefully we won’t lose another monarch or have three different prime ministers but I am not making any predictions.

New Year Resolutions

I have however made some resolutions.

I will try to make time to enjoy my garden. Sometimes it seems we are so busy we don’t have the luxury of just sitting and admiring all our hard work. This year I want you to join in me in taking time out. Sit back and appreciate your garden.

Grow my own

One of my resolutions last year was to grow more of my garden flowers from seeds I had harvested. I carefully collected seeds from astrantias and placed them in envelopes. In the spring I planted Roma which has large, silvery pink flowers. They germinated well and gave me a fabulous display. The butterflies loved them.

In the spring I took cuttings of Campsis radicans ‘Flamenco’. I grew them on and now have vigorous new plants which gave me brilliant red flowers from July to September.

Campsis Flamenco

Plan for the future

In these winter evenings I like poring over catalogues, planning future planting. This year I want to plant some new clematis. I fancy Empress. It is an early large flowered pink clematis. I will also go for Michiko which is one of the earliest varieties and has almost pure white flowers.

Clematis Michiko
Clematis Empress

I will plant more lupins too. Pale pink Blossom, purple Blacksmith and white Polar Princess will all look lovely together.

Lupinus ‘Polar Princess’

Signs of spring

As I write this it is dark and cold but there are signs of spring. Bulb tips are poking through. A cherry has started flowering, the earliest it has ever done so. I bet it was shocked by the freezing weather.

Bulbs just poking out beneath the trees

Stay warm and keep the bugs at bay. There is a nasty cold going round which has knocked out me and my neighbours. Still at least it is the first cold we have had for three years.

Rosemoor Glow December 2022

Gardening tips

Keep an eye out for the tips of spring bulbs which will soon be emerging. Water overwintering pots in the greenhouse sparingly once a week. Plan next summer’s purchases with our 2023 catalogue. Rake up any fallen leaves.

#cold #warmth #dahlia #colour #chilly #blooms #trees #christmas #damp #garden #flowers #seeds #astrantia #Roma #campsis #clematis #lupins #bulbs

Warm winters

My garden is confused

My garden doesn’t know what season it is in.

Christmas markets in full swing

Summer flowers are blooming

Summer flowers are still blooming. Leaves have turned every shade of orange and red. Some have dropped but others are clinging on. Tips of bulbs are peeping up in the flower beds. At the same time there are still clouds of white flies on my brassicas. What is going on?

Anemone flowers for spring colour

I’m not complaining. I am delighted I still have dahlias. I know they will only last until the first frost which surely can’t be far away. Until then, Bishop of Llandaff continues to show off its resplendent, red blooms. Roxy still has luscious magenta flowers.

Salvias still flowering

Salvias and verbena are also flowering. Verbena Lollipop has clusters of lilac flowers. The velvet red flowers of Salvia confertiflora continue to provide much-needed colour. We are really in a topsy turvy world.

Verbena bonariensis
Clematis Winter Beauty

Some winter flowers are also out. Clematis urophylla winter beauty is putting on a fantastic display. It has evergreen foliage and white bell-like flowers which nod delightfully in the wind.

The cyclamen are in full flow. We have carpets of pink, Ruby Strain and white Album.

Christmas preparations have started

Cyclamen in full flow

I’ve started my Christmas preparations already. An enormous box of fat balls has been bought. They will soon be filling the bird-feeder wreath on my gate. I will decorate it with pyracanthus berries too.

I’m already eyeing up ivy, bergenia and euonymus for the wreath for my front door. The scarlet leaves of euonymus Red Cascade will be fabulous.

Plants are on my present list

My Christmas present list consists of plants. I have enough socks and smellies. Plants are a much better gift. And they will last a lot longer. This year I want Santa to bring campsis, brunnera and melianthus.

I will also be giving plants. Lupins will feature heavily. This year my nearest and dearest will be receiving Blossom, Blacksmith and Melody.

Gift vouchers suit everyone

If I can’t think of the perfect plant, I will give gift vouchers. That way they can choose whatever they want.

Getting ready for winter

I have been getting everything ready for winter. Tender plants have been brought into the greenhouses for protection from frost. Perennials have been pruned. There is only spinach, sprouts and parsnips left in the vegetable patch. The lawn has hopefully had its final cut for 2022. 

Wishing you a happy Christmas and a successful New Year.

Gardening tips –Order seeds and plants for next year. Open greenhouse doors on dry days to encourage air circulation. Continue to rake up leaves and store to provide a free mulch for next year.

#season #summer #bulbs #dahlia #salvia #verbena #winter #clematis #cyclamen #Christmas #bergenia #euonymus #campsis #brunnera #melianthus #lupins #gift vouchers #perennials

Our Queen

Our shared love of dogs.

Memories of Her Majesty the Queen

Watching the funeral of Her Majesty the Queen brought back memories. I never had the privilege of meeting her but my flowers did.

I exhibited at the Chelsea Flower Show many times when she visited over the years. But, to my knowledge, she never came to our lupin stand.

Lupins for a Queen

However, my lupins though went to her. Beefeater and Masterpiece were used by Rachel du Thame to decorate the Royal Barge for the Diamond Jubilee in 2002. It was an enormous honour and a source of great pride to all of us.

Although I didn’t meet her I did see her at Chelsea. She always wore brightly coloured outfits so that she would stand out. She was a constant at Chelsea and she will be greatly missed.

Sedums are popular for late colour

Beautiful garden flowers

It was lovely to see flowers from Royal gardens bedecking her coffin. I particularly liked the dahlias, pelargoniums and Sedum. Most of the nation I was transfixed by the little spider that had stowed away in the greenery.

Plenty of colour still

Gardens at this time of the year still have lots of colour. Another very reliable autumn flower is crocosmia. Rosea has delicate pink flowers. If you want a dash of red, plant Lucifer.

Aster ‘Monch’
Penstemon flower for months

Preparing for Harvest Festival

Like many others our village is getting ready for harvest festival. We are no longer asked to provide fresh produce. It’s a shame as it has always been a good way to send some marrows to a new home. Instead, we are asked for tinned and dried goods for the local foodbank.

Room for flowers too

There will be flower displays too. I will contribute Echinacea. I have some very beautiful Hot Papaya which has orange pompom-like flowers on dark stems.  Southern Belle’s dark magenta flowers are also striking. I will also throw in a few squashes, pumpkins and courgettes from the vegetable garden. After all it is a celebration of harvest. If the food bank doesn’t want them, I can always bring them home again.

Echinacea ‘Hot Papaya’

Glorious year for apples

It has been a glorious year for apples. All varieties have thrived. I have never seen so many crab apples in every colour from pale yellow to deep purple. The cooking apple trees are groaning with fruit. And, I have more eating apples than I have ever had before. There are too many to eat, stew or press into juice or cider.

Autumnal nursery

Fabulous penstemons

Penstemon ‘King George V’

Penstemons are fabulous plants. They are easily cultivated and flower for months on end. They don’t mind drought, although this summer was a challenge. And they are not bothered by pests. As an added bonus they are robust enough to stand on their own without needing staking. What more could you want? The flowers resemble foxgloves and are from the same family. My favourites are the purple and white Charles Rudd and the scarlet King George V.

Gardening tips – Keep dead heading flowers to prolong displays.  Plant bulbs including snowdrops, crocus and daffodils. Keep mowing the lawn. You never know when it will be too wet to mow until next spring. Water pots sparingly. Remove dead and dying foliage. Bring tender plants into the greenhouse or a cold frame to overwinter.

#chelsea #lupins #flowers #dahlia #pelargonium #colour #crocosmia #harvest #echinacea #penstemon #bulbs

Raindrops …..

Magical rain drops

Those first few drops of rain were magical. I wanted to dance outside for joy. You could hear the grass and flowers imbibing the much-needed moisture.

Summer of flowers
Summer of ’76

I was a teenager in the great summer of 76. It was much easier being a care-free child than a nursery-owner. I spent the entire time on the beach rather than in a sweltering greenhouse.

Echium Blue Steeple outside the greenhouses

Plants perked up quickly

Having looked very disconsolate in the heat, it was amazing to see how quickly plants perked up once they had had a drink. Dried out dahlias put on new growth. Verbena raised its head. Astilbes had another push. Cosmos which had been very reluctant to bloom all summer were suddenly a riot of colour.

Dahlia ‘Bishop of Llandaff’

The grass which had been brown and crisp underfoot turned green. It has even started growing which is a shame as I have enjoyed my break from mowing the lawn.

Deschampsia ‘Tatra Gold’

We still need rain

Although we have had some rain we could do with some more. The rivers are running low and more and more hosepipe bans are being introduced. Maybe we need a Minister for Drought. When one was appointed in 1976 the heavens opened immediately.

Gaura The Bride has been a superstar in the hot weather. It is drought tolerant and loves the sun. I will plant some more for next summer.

Gaura ‘The Bride’

Autumn is upon us

Autumn is coming. The leaves on many trees have already turned orange and dropped. Cyclamen is flowering. Ruby Strain and Album are providing a gorgeous pink and white swathe of colour.

Cyclamen Ruby Strain
Cyclamen hed. album
Schizostylis Pink Princess

My schizostylis are already flowering a few weeks earlier thanormal.Viscountess Byng is a vibrant pink. For something a little softer try Pink Princess.

Thinking of bulbs for spring

I need to plant bulbs for next spring. Anemones are top of my list. Virescens produces a carpet of unusual greens blooms and does well in woodland areas.

Anemone virescens

Room for more lupins

I shall add some more lupins too. Beefeater, Manhattan Lights and Desert Sun will all be found a place.

Lupinus Desert Sun
Lupinus ‘Rachel de Thame’

I am down to do the flowers for the church at the end of September. I don’t think there will be much left in my garden. But, my two week stint covers harvest festival. So hurrah for vegetables which will have pride of place. Anyone for a marrow?

Gardening tips – Keep dead heading flowers to encourage more blooms.  Divide perennials for more colour next year. Start next year’s planning for next year. Keep watering

#dahlias #verbena #astilbes #grass #autumn #cyclamen #schizostylis #bulbs #spring #anemones #lupins

NGS and other garden openings

Tis the season of open gardens

What a fabulous success the Jubilee weekend was. There were village lunches, fetes and concerts. Beacons as far as one could see. But, the highlight was the open gardens.

Around us dozens opened their gates to the public. Many for the first time. It was wonderful to be able to see these hidden gems.

Simply stunning

Some were simply stunning. Beautifully manicured with no sign of a weed or mildew. Others had aphids, slugs and black spot. It didn’t matter. This was a chance to peek over the garden walls and delight in the flowers and vegetables that were on display.

Fabulous lupins

It was wonderful to see so many lupins. One garden had ranks of Persian Slipper, Rachel de Thame and Blossom. The pastel shades of blue and pink really complemented each other. In a tiny cottage garden I spotted a magnificent red display consisting of Beefeater, Red Rum and Towering Inferno.

Lupinus ‘Beefeater’
Lupinus ‘Polar Princess’

Elsewhere I saw Terracotta, Salmon Star and Masterpiece. It was great to see so many gorgeous lupins on my visits.

Lupinus ‘Persian Slipper’
Lupinus ‘Desert Sun’

Other gems

Other gems in the open gardens included geraniums, astrantia and geums.

Geum ‘Pink Petticoats’
Astrantia major ‘Buckland’
Echium pininana ‘Blue Steeple’

Tallest ever echiums

There were also the tallest echiums I have ever seen. They must have been well over three metres high. Their blue and pink spires were absolutely covered in bees. Truly magnificent.

As well as the flowers I enjoyed looking at people’s vegetable plots. I was reassured to see that my spinach was not the only one to have bolted.

Enjoying the warm days

It has been lovely to have some warm days. I do like sitting outside. First thing in the morning I take my tea out to a peaceful corner of the garden. I sit there watching the blue tits harvesting greenfly from my roses. Feeding their broods is a never-ending job. It might not be efficient as using chemicals but it is much better for all concerned.

I love the smell of early morning. The sweet perfume of lonicera wakens my senses. I have Simonet and Tellmanniana both of which are delightful.

Lonicera Simonet
Lonicera tellmania

Mid-morning coffee

If I get a chance I’ll have a coffee under the pergola mid-morning. It is currently draped in clematis flowers. The light-purple of Amethyst Beauty complements the deep pink of Barbara Harrington.

Clematis ‘Barbara Harrington’ AGM

In the evening I might have a cheeky glass of wine in the sun.

Lovely country wedding

Last weekend I helped a bride decorate the church with flowers. She had grown them all herself. There were enormous creamy-white ammi. Beautiful cornflowers provided splashes of blue and purple colour. Glorious sweet peas gave a heavenly scent. The only things missing were lupins. But then I would say that!

Gardening tips

Feed tubs and hanging baskets regularly. Stake tall plants to prevent wind and rain damage. Plant out annuals and summer bedding. Start sowing seeds for next year’s flowers.

#gardens #flowers #warm #lupins #geranium #clematis #lonicera #echium #astrantia #geums

Maytime

Don’t be fooled

Don’t be fooled by Easter’s warm weather. My neighbour was. She planted out all sorts of tender flowers. Sadly, they have been hit by the colder temperatures and most of them have died. Here we have had late frosts. I try to stick with the old rule ‘ne’er cast a clout til May is out’. I’m usually itching to plant out at the beginning of April but I bide my time.

Salvia Caradonna – one of the few hardy Salvias

Garden centre are full of colourful annuals

Garden centres and nurseries might be full of colourful annuals. But they will still need protecting for a couple of weeks yet.

If you have a greenhouse or a cold frame you can put your more tender plants in there. My greenhouse is full of young seedlings. I have lupins, geraniums and dieramas. They are all growing nicely and I will plant them out soon. I have grown some lupins from seed

Dierama igneum

Glorious year for blossom

The garden is springing back into life. It has been a glorious year for blossom. The apples, cherries and plums have put on a magnificent display. It was a different tale for the magnolias though. They were hit by the frosts and their gorgeous blooms all turned brown.

Showy clematis

Clematis are putting on a good show. Amethyst Beauty lives up to its name. It has light purple flowers which often change to a deeper purple as they mature. It looks as if it is a multi-coloured flowering clematis which adds interest to the garden.

Clematis Armandi is one of my favourites. It is covered in highly scented creamy-white flowers. The bees love it too.

Another fragrant white flower is Phlox May Breeze. If you want a more colourful phlox try Chattahoochee. It has bright blue flowers with a red eye.

Preparation, preparation, preparation

I spent Easter getting my garden ready for planting. My vegetable patch had been invaded by moss. A sure sign that it is waterlogged and the soil is compacted. I’ve taken all the moss out by hand but this autumn I need to dig lots more compost into the patch. I might invest in some sand and grit to aid the drainage too. If you want good results you need to prepare properly.

Gunnera manicata – a great moisture lover

We could do with some rain

It has been lovely out in the garden. Warm weather although the wind has been cold. But, we could do with some rain. We have had a very dry winter and spring.

First wild ducklings

For the first time in the 30 years I have been here a wild mallard successfully hatched eight ducklings on my pond. They were so cute. Unfortunately I wasn’t the only one to think so. Magpies decided they made a tasty snack. By day two we were down to five. By day three there was just one following Mum around. Now they have all gone. There is a chance she might lay a second clutch. I hope she does.

Not a Mallard but a baby pheasant chick

Gardening tips  Dead head spring bulbs once they have stopped flowering but do not cut back their leaves. Harden off tender plants. Water seedlings daily. Once the danger of frost is over transplant vegetables and flowers from the cold frame or greenhouse into their final spots in the garden.

#warm #flowers #lupins #geranium #dierama #clematis #phlox #planting #dry #seed

Little things

The garden gives so much pleasure

I am getting so much pleasure from my garden. The early sunrises and my advancing years mean I am often up before everyone else in the house. But I don’t mind being on my own.

I like to sit outside with a cup of coffee. The air is cool. There is dew on the grass. And the birds ignore me. I have the place to myself to listen, watch and enjoy. It is my time.

So many birds

This morning a young thrush was looking for breakfast. A pair of robins were arguing. And mummy and daddy blackbird were frantically sourcing worms for their brood in the clematis.

Clematis ‘Minuet’

Up high the sky was full of swifts, swallows and house martins. The swifts shriek as they fly overhead. Just like noisy teenagers.

None of the birds paid me any attention and that’s how it should be.

Heavenly scents

I love the scent of the garden in the early morning. Everything is so fresh. The honeysuckle has a wonderful perfume. It is full of bees and looks very pretty too.

Magnificent dahlias

The dahlias have been magnificent for weeks. If I keep deadheading them, they should last until the first frosts. I am very lazy and leave the corms in the ground every year. Almost all of them survive. I just need to keep an eye out for slugs and snails. If I do lose some, I have the perfect excuse to buy new ones next year.

Lupin displays

Lupinus ‘Masterpiece’

The lupins have given a marvellous display but they have come to an end now. I particularly liked the claret and china blue flowers of Melody. It has a wonderful mossy, peppery scent. It contrasted well with the purple and orange flecked Masterpiece. Red Rum is also very colourful.

Plan for autumn

Agapanthus ‘Big Blue’

Now is the time to think about what will look good in your garden going into autumn. Agapanthus are always a good bet. Big blue has large blue and white flowers.

Thunderstorms bring welcome rain

We’ve finally had some thunderstorms which have brought welcome rain. They’ve also encouraged the clover in the lawn to flourish. I really ought to get out on the mower, but the bees love the white and purple heads, so I’ll leave it a few more days.

Grasses look great after rain

Marvellous summer

Despite the disruptions of covid it has been a marvellous summer. Lots of sunshine and just enough rain to keep everything in top condition.

Returning to normal

It is good to be singing and playing in the orchestra again. Although with social distancing the conductor is a long way away and difficult to hear. At least that’s my excuse! I hope all the hospitality venues and small businesses are able to recoup some of their losses of the last 18 months. It has been a very difficult time for everyone. Let’s hope we are over the worst now.

Gardening tips – Start planning next year’s garden displays. Keep pots watered. Dead head flowers to encourage new blooms. Encourage seed pots on annuals you want to grow from scratch next year.#dahlias#summer#lupins#honeysuckle#clematis#agapanthus#bees#scent#rain