Cheerfully bright and looking very yellow in the sunshine, my first tulip of the year has arrived. It is the aptly named ‘World Friendship’. A virtual high five to that! I’ve spent the week being very virtual – virtual meetings, virtual events, virtual exercise and virtual language classes but I have also spent more time in the garden. Here are six things that caught my eye.
One
The aforementioned World Friendship. New to the garden last year and standing strong again this year. Long may it last
Two
Narcissus ‘Bridal Crown’. A few years back, when I was new to this garden, I squeezed a few of these into the border. No real idea why and no particular plan. They deserve to have had more consideration, either more of them or some other plants to work with. On the ‘to do’ list.
Three
The first of the plum blossom is opening out. This tree was in a bad way three years ago. Oozing from a large split in the trunk. The split is gradually healing and the oozing has stopped but last year the leaves withered, you can just make them out in the background. I’m giving it one more season to see if it can pull through. I’ve lovingly fed it with bonemeal once a quarter and my fingers are crossed. While it flowers like this there is hope.
Four
The tomato plants have been potted on. I keep meaning to sow a few more seeds – some cherry tomatoes and some yellow ones. That’s a job for the weekend then.
Five
During my morning fast walk round the garden I spotted a drop of pink under the rose bush. Closer inspection revealed the first flower of geranium sanguineum var. striatum. This seems very early and it is a little darker than usual, but hey, who’s complaining.
Six
The online gardening community is doing a great job of keeping us all going. Thanks to Mr P for hosting the links to all the SOS posts. I’d also like to give a thumbs up to twitter gardener @GardeningGent who is organising a Sow a Sunflower event. I was very pleased to finally locate some seeds so that I can take part. Sow seeds on April 1st – no joke- and post a weekly photo of progress. I’ll be there.
Here’s hoping your gardening activities are helping you to spread seeds of happiness. Cold weather forecast but I think it may be time to take the plunge and prune the hydrangeas.