Sunday 2 May 2021

More to enjoy in the garden

 Despite the continued night frosts, the garden continues to grow and change.  The days have been sunny and the garden has appreciated this, although it has been very dry. I think that is due to change tomorrow (a bank holiday, of course it will rain!)

The always lovely combination of Magnolia Susan against the lilac and a bright blue sky.
Tulip 'Danceline' in the border - I have three of these which have come back for two years so far.
A pot of tulip 'Ronaldo' which I love.  (My favourite Ballerina tulips, bought new and planted in a pot last November have been really disappointing, stunted and not happy, unlike the ones in the border.)
My patio apple tree has beautiful pink and white blossom which lifts the spirits.  Tulip Brown Sugar and Ballerina are in the background.
I removed the flowers last year as it was a new plant but have left them this year. I may even get an apple or two.
An unnamed double camellia which had its earlier flowers attacked by a marauding caterpillar (rude!).  However, this one makes up for the loss of the previous ones.
Finally, a touch of sunshine at the front door from this pot of tulips.  I have been busy in the garden this morning, repotting a saxifrage and a palm; broadcasting some annual seeds, just to see whether they will grow anyway, despite not having carefully drawn rows to be planted into; planting some hardy geraniums and watering a few things.  I also removed a couple of roses in pots which were not happy and which had black spot already.  Sometimes, you have to admit defeat. but on the plus side, it gives me more planting opportunities!

I hope May will bring some rain and good growing weather.

12 comments:

  1. I do love wandering your garden with you. I do the same here - delighting in some things and mourning others.
    Mind you, I find that unless I wander around with my camera in hand I see what needs doing rather than what is there. Do you suffer from that tendency too?

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    1. Thanks, EC. I love seeing your garden too - some differences, but some similarities too. I agree that if you have a camera, it makes you concentrate on what is in front of you. If I sit down in the garden, unless I am reading, I can't just relax as I always see things that I think need doing. I am trying to make myself just sit and enjoy the moment, rather than being distracted by jobs. That's ongoing!
      Have a good week
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. Oh Ellie, the new life on your homestead is absolutely breathtaking. Don't you simply adore spring! ~Andrea xoxo

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    1. Thanks, Andrea. Yes, I love Spring - from now until late June is my favourite part of the year - everything is so full of life and growth.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. I think it is only fair when you have a lovely garden and richly coloured flowers are in bloom to give back through your own appreciation and time spent there what that garden is giving you. I am convinced your garden will benefit also from your presence there. Happy garden meditation! Amanda x

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    1. Thanks, Amanda. I do spend time just looking at plants in the garden and appreciating them. I do this more when I have a camera and am taking photos for my blog. There's so much to be grateful for.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. Beautiful. We are out of the tree blooming stage and if these little winters would stop moving into Nashville we might be able to enjoy the summer stuff..

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    1. Thanks, Pam. It has been incredibly dry but frosty at night during April and now May has brought a lot of rain (which was needed but not all over a couple of days!) The garden seems to be coping, despite the weather at the moment, so I am celebrating that.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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    2. One of my roses is prone to blackspot, it starts the year off with glossy green leaves but looks terrible once it takes hold. I do love the flowers though so I'm loathe to let it go. We've had quite a bit of rain since the bank holiday, where did all that lovely weather go? More showers forecast for this coming week.

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    3. Thanks, Jo. I don't like having to remove roses, but these obviously weren't happy in pots, so I had to let them go (not having any more space in my borders, so couldn't replant there).
      I keep telling myself that the rain is needed by farmers and growers, but it would be nice to have a bit of sun too!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. How pretty. This is such a nice time of year, so many flowers.
    Amalia
    xo

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    1. Thanks, Amalia. It is a lovely time of year. We have had some rain now, so the garden has suddenly burst into more growth.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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