Looking east from the roof

 On the left is a leafless beech which used to be in the hedge. It will soon be a big tree, The white blossom in the centre foreground is the ancient damson/plum. Rhododendrons behind it are all doing their thing at once. Penjerrick is the pale yellow hybrid with large bells and the red is a Chinese form of R. arboreum.  The pink on the right is R. davidsonianum that China Wilson named after his surgeon, Dr Davidson who sorted Wilson's leg in Shanghai.  The blue one behind is a Bodnant selection of R. augustinii. Click on the image to see the detail better.
In the middle of the picture you can see the path to the woods with the new white gate. Moving right, you look into the new garden with its new lawn and a few herbaceous plants just coming up. The bare area behind the chairs is where the old ivy-covered Wendy house used to be hidden away. Dense planting up there will increase the protection from wind.  Eventually that little garden will be nicely sheltered. One will enjoy one's g and t in the summer evenings.

Top of the garden, Moel y ci in the background

With scaffolding set up for access to the roof, it was a grand opportunity to look down on the whole garden. On the left a big sycamore has just come into leaf.  The new garden beside the wood is a good spot for summer evening sun.   In the middle, Lord Lambourne apple tree, with possibly a few blossoms left after the usual ravages of the bullfinches. The poly tunnel on the right is full of raspberries, and behind the tunnel Corby in a pink hat is doing something in the vegetable garden. The bare space in front of the tunnel will be a bed of high-octane dahlias later on. On the far right, the beech tree in the hedge still holds on to last year's leaves. Click on the image to enlarge it.

April resolution

Make a note of everything planted, date and place.  We have been peering at the bits of straw in the border of the new garden, wondering which ones of last year's new plants have made it through the winter. this is the place to write down that several clumps of Iris sibirica moved from the base of Rosa mutabilis are now transplanted to this new border.

Another note: Ceratostigma, Corrine's recommendation.

Corby is tackling the ivy in the bed by the rose arch. The aim is to eliminate all the ivy from this defined area, which includes the retaining walls at the side of the patio. Ivy's had a free run through the stones, plants and trees since forever. The dry stone walls have been rebuilt by Dave Grundy and Corby and will now stand up without the help of the ivy, so that's a good start.

An old plant given a new lease of life

Rhododendron pachysanthum is an asian species with many good features in the garden.  It is compact and its new growth has a silver indumentum that turns a bright rust colour later in the season.  The flowers open pink and fade to white so the effect is 'apple blossom'.  Sister Shirley grew this plant in Pencaitland (I think) and we inherited it and we remember slinging it from a broom handle to ferry it to Bangor on British Rail.  A large ash tree in the back hedge gradually stole its light and it stopped flowering.  We cut down the ash two years ago.

The New Gate is Hung

At last we have replaced the ancient gate with a renovated one, enamelled in white.  It makes a fitting end to the path to the woods and should help keep sheep out of the garden - once we get the latch figured out.

Spring clean

It's fairly unpleasant to be working outside, but the stronger sunlight through the glass in the conservatory tells us exactly what to be doing today.  We took everthing outside and then got to work with a broom and soapy water inside the glass roof and windows. Then rinsed all off with the pressure washer. Then scrubbed the floor tiles and vacuumed up with the wet-and-dry.  Now you can see out the glass and see that spring is on the way. The lawn outside the conservatory is dotted all over with Crocus tommasinianus.  Most shrubs are starting to slowly slowly show their new leaves.

We removed the 30 yr old Chasselas dore de Fontainebleau, and will be replacing it with a new seedless Lakemount grape planted outside the glass and coming in underneath, as before. This year's hanging begonia will be Million Kisses Amour, a valentine from Corbie. Bright red this time, it'll be placed up in the leguminous tree to look as if it is dripping with tropical red blossoms.

Crocus time

The C. tommasinianus are at their best just now and although they are shaded in the lawn, a mild sunny day brings them out.  Without sun they open up within minutes if you cut them and bring them into the warmth.  You can watch them perform and you have to admit it is magic even although you do it every year.
They are really photogenic as you can see.  And what is that I see - a new species growing out of a puffball.  I know you don't believe it but it's true.