Hallelujah! It’s a dry day here, or at least forecast to be. But can I make the most of it? No. There are other things to do today and I must hope that tomorrow stays dry too. The great dilemma is whether or not to plant the potatoes. The long range forecast is for more rain so I feel I might as well get on with it while it is dry. That’s tomorrow’s job. For today, here are six things from the garden.
One
The plum blossom quietly opened last weekend. It seemed to appear just after the photos for last week’s SOS were chosen. It looks like being a bumper crop this year.
Two
The relentless rain has had an amazing effect on these ‘Negrita’ tulips. I have never seen them so tall and strong. They have been in the ground for several years and have a done a good job of returning.
Three
The same cannot be said for narcissus poeticus ‘Actaea’. Undeniably beautiful but so few of the many I planted have shown up this year. Perhaps they will surprise me next year. I can be patient.
Four
Dicentra spectabilis ‘Alba’. This was another disappearing plant, succumbing to slugs in it’s first year but fighting back the next year. This started out in the garden as a one litre pot in 2021 and hasn’t really bulked up at all. But I am pleased that it seems to have dug in and hopefully it will become stronger over the next couple of years.
Five
A few weeks back I showed the bronzed foliage of the old leaves of an epimedium, promising that I would be cutting them back to reveal the new growth. No, wasn’t done, too much rain, didn’t have the time and so here it is again with flowers – epimedium x versicolor Sulphureum. As you can see, this week I have been checking my notes in order to bring you the full names.
Six
This is another of those plants I intended to have more of. Erythronium ‘White Beauty’, just opening. I decided to share this before the slugs get to it. Even with this downside I will put it on the ‘Do not forget to buy more of’ list.
Some gardening jobs were started last weekend, the pruning of the hydrangeas has begun, red onions were planted in sets and the greenhouse was swept out in preparation for seed sowing. The grass has been mown again, the lawn is definitely enjoying the warmth and rain. I am beginning to feel like a gardener again and a great feeling it is too! Join the other SOSers at Jim’s place and don’t hesitate to join in, everyone welcome.