There is so much gloom around at the moment, I need the garden to pick me up. It is trying very hard, many things are on the edge of flowering, the perennials are forcing their way up through the mulch and the birds are singing. I have much to do so the mojo just has to get going. This was how I started out yesterday but an energising night out in Shoreditch – yes I know, too old for all that really! – has got me going again. The potatoes are chitted and ready to go. This is the number one job for the weekend. If I do nothing else, this will be done! Here’s what is happening in the garden without my help.
One
The Thalia are just opening out on the south side. Those in the north facing border are about a week behind.
Two
The fritillaries have joined the throng. I did mean to plant more of these but I had such fun trying to squeeze in extra tulips that I just didn’t get round to it. On to the list that goes.
Three
My primrose border is filling out very nicely and I planted some anemone blanda ‘white splendour’ in amongst them. Just at the bottom right are the shoots of some white phlox warming up for later in the year.
Four
The onions started off in modules are going in the ground this weekend. The red ones have been slower to get going. Not sure why! They have been coming in and out of the greenhouse all week so should be well acclimatised. There are a few self sown cornflowers making themselves at home in the space allocated for onions. It seems a shame to move them on. Maybe they can grow companionably side by side?
Five
Pulmonaria ‘Sissinghurst White’. I have nurtured this plant for three years. It wasn’t doing very well in the first planting spot and so last year I moved it to a slightly shadier space. It is still very small but I think I have to give more time in it’s new home before I uproot it again.
Six
The north border of the garden is the focus of attention this year. There are two choisyas there which I have left alone until now, but the time for action has arrived. One of them is poorly. One side is yellowing whilst the other looks green and glossy. The plant has been hacked about in the past, with evidence of limbs having been cut off. As there is a very happy choisya not too far away I am not too sorry to say that this one is getting it’s marching orders. I could just cut off the yellow side and see what happens but no, decision made. Out with the old and in with something new.
I’ve also managed to throw out the new block editor and go back to the old classic editor. Yipee! More reasons to be cheerful. I hope you are feeling cheerful in your garden this weekend. Don’t forget to see what fellow sixers are up to, go to The Propagator for all the links.
n20gardener 
Beautiful progress!
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From what I remember of choisya there’ll be a nice herby scent when you’re chopping it up. It has been a bit grey lately but the sun is shining a little at the moment. Those onions are looking good.
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Yes the scent of choisya is lovely. Don’t make me change my mind!! Onions are now in the ground and looking lovely! Much satisfaction.
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You have 2 different Choisya : C. Ternata ‘ Sundance’ with golden leaves, less floriferous and rather for shady corner and the common one with darker leaves for full sun.You can prune both but I don’t know if it’s the right time because it blooms on the stems of last year.
Thalia and fritillaria aren’t open yet here…
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My other choisya – the one I’m keeping is some distance away. I’m pretty sure the one in the photo is one plant, but I’m going to double check!! But interesting that you and John mention golden leaved choisya. Maybe it is reverting? But I still think it’s going!!
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Phew! I’m not the only one with unplanted bulbs. I found a bag of rather expensive tulips that had fallen behind something in the garage. They’re still nice and firm and free of mould. The question is do I try and store them till November (with no guarantee they’ll not decide to go soft) or plant them now (with no guarantee of anything)? That’s an interesting Choisya. I wonder was it originally a golden leaf variety (which doesn’t flower so well but may grow stronger) which sort of “reverted” to the darker leaves (the darker varieties flower better but can be slower-growing) or the other way round? Or did someone actually do something like I do sometimes – shove two plants tight together in a single hole?
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It’s definitely one plant with two branches (the rest having been cut off!) going off in different directions and one is yellow. This is the branch with the most pruning cuts on it. The other choisya is very mature ans flowers well so I can let this one go quite easily. It’s going!
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Those Choisya look healthy in your photo and they are great for a north facing wall. What will you do in this spot instead?
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The one that is in my sights is very misshapen and one branch of it really does look sad. I may try another choisya – Aztec pearl but I’m also trying to understand camellias, and I’d like some kind of low growing pine….I do have a bit of space to fill. I really need to get out and see some north facing borders!
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I love the way people jump to the defence of a plant under threat of removal. I’m looking forward to seeing what you plant to replace the Choisya, is it gone already?
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I knew I could rely on you to support me! It’s not gone yet but I have some free time today! The choisya is in the area where I am thinking of adding camellias so you will be metaphorically on your way with a chain saw now!
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The garden is a great place to find peace in times of stress and reviving the spirit.
I love the fritillaries. Wow, they are so dainty! Your onions also look good. Did you plant from seeds
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The Onions are from sets. I started them off in modules in an unheated gh. I planted them out yesterday morning and the weather was beautifully warm. It did do me good!
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Thalia look lovely. I want some white ones next year, but do these grow tall? My garden is very windy so short stems fare better. And I also want some fritillary in part of my lawn (the bit that remains). Seems there are always plants we desire. Had to laugh at Jim’s comment. I actually want a Choisya for my north courtyard, seems a shame to destroy one, but that’s gardening for you. Some things have to go to make way for new things and it’s no good putting up with a plant that doesn’t make you happy.
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I’m sure the choisya is slowly dying so time to move it on – after it has flowered!! The Thalia are short in my garden and I do think shorter in general. I love them.
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Glad to hear your northerly Thalia have yet to bloom as the ones I planted in the autumn in a shady spot have yet to flower.
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They’ve just come through this week. It’s a spot that gets afternoon sun and last week’s warmth just pushed them on.
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Yes indeed there is so much doom and gloom around it is nice to escape from it all in the garden.
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Wow, did you feature these choisyas earlier? This is a plant that I really would like to see do better here. It looks so woodsy among the redwood forest, but just never does well. When I see it in pictures elsewhere, it is enviable. I grow only a few, and if they eventually need to be replaces with something that does better, it would be no big loss. I will do what I can to try to restore them.
Anyway, the ‘Thalia’ narcissus are rad! I have not grown them yet. I just stick with paperwhites or ‘King Alfred’ daffodils. All the other odd varieties out there were contributed by others. Fortunately, I have not met a narcissus or daffodil that I dislike.
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I love the paperwhites but they seem to be grown more indoors here. Too tender for outside?!
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That’s a hoot. Our climate is barely harsh enough for them. They get just enough chill to bloom annually, but sometimes get stunted bloom.
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Gosh I am behind the curve with my onions. I tried to grow from seed with poor results so bought sets the other day. I have just planted them straight into the ground, hopefully it is warm enough for them to get going. I did bury them a bit deeper than yours, hope they’ll be ok….
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Every year I grow onions I dither about how deep to plant them!
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The Thalia are so beautifully dainty. Sadly mine seem to peter out after a couple of seasons.
I’m with the get rid of the Choisya and open up a new planting opportunity gang
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Interesting to hear that your thalia disappear. Mine have only been in a couple of years plus some extras planted last winter. I’ll have to see how they go.
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