It’s tantalising, so nearly there, one more week surely and the garden will take a leap forward. I’m impatient and yet wanting things to slow down at the same time. The sun has some warmth but cold winds and rain suggest it’s not a wonderful Spring yet. Perhaps May will arrive with a burst of energy. I took inspiration for my subtitle from a poem by Philip Larkin The Trees. Well worth a read. Here’s six from the almost there garden.
One
I was tempted at the garden centre by this low growing weigela, called ‘Pink Poppet’. It could be a replacement for the dying daphne you can see in the top corner. It supposedly flowers from March to August and is ‘perfect for pollinators’. I hope it’s a no-nonsense space filler. I could do with a few more things that just get on with it!
Two
The first rose opened and was immediately drenched by overnight rain. One step forward…. The rose is Jacqueline du Pré. I will surely be revisiting this corner of the garden to share with you in May.
Three
Definitely in the ‘just getting on with it’ category, the reliable geranium phaeum. It’s spread itself enough here that it is time to move a few on to other shady spots in the garden.
Four
The tiarella is also in flower in a shady corner. This one is tiarella cordifolia, planted in 2021 in a dryish shady spot. It doesn’t flourish but it’s an inhospitable corner. It should be snuggled in with some hostas but those have been dug up and placed in pots in a vain attempt to save them from slugs.
Five
This is not the aforementioned hosta but another one, well established in a large pot – ‘Francee’. The new leaves are just unfurling and look wonderful. Vigilance is my motto and there are regular inspections for the slimey lurkers.
Six
Lastly a tale of woe from the fruit and veg patch. Before I left for Dorset I noticed flowers on the currants but I didn’t get round to netting them. The white currants have survived this unforgiveable negligence and fruit is forming. But sadly the red currants seem to be seriously depleted of flower. Picked off by pigeons is my bet. I’ll be netting both this morning. If the rain stops.
It looks like rain all day Sunday, which means that my weeds will grow even more luxurious. The tall ‘Maureen’ tulips have put on another 5 cms and seem amazingly resilient to the wind. I am planning to pot on tomato seedlings this weekend and that I can do even if it rains. Cucumber seeds have germinated and I have potted up rocket getting stronger before I risk offering them up to the slugs again. Flower seeds in a gappy and unheated greenhouse are going slow. I may sow again but keep them on a sunny window sill inside. Jim hosts all the SOS links and shares his own wonderful garden each week. Take a look and join in! And Enjoy your gardening space this weekend.
n20gardener 
I’m a late convert to the charms of geranium phaeum and that lovely dark one is a treat. I don’t usually care for wiegelia either but that one looks lovely, it could be a nice easy space filler, couldn’t it? The colour of the flowers is great.
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Im hoping it will be an easy space filler and if it really stays in flower until August I shall be delighted!
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Even in my ungappy (but unheated) greenhouse, I have mixed results. You are not alone. Lovely Wiegelia.
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I was feeling a little anti seed sowing! But I’ll try to fit another round. 🤞
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I’ve suddenly started having trouble leaving comments on blogs so I’m trying a different browser to see if that fixes it – apologies if my comment is left twice!
Pink Poppet is gorgeous, and as it’s good for pollinators too it’s definitely going to end up on my wishlist!
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This colour of weigela is really very interesting. We don’t see it often because there is often red or pink ones. The geranium phaeum : a beauty, a guaranteed success!
Finally, I’m surprised to already see the currant fruits so well formed. I’m not sure it’s that early here. Have a good week-end.
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Isn’t it interesting that some things are ahead. And that end of the garden in half shade.
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Get on with it plants are rather good. The new weigelia is a lovely colour. I have a geranium phaeum in flower and I have no idea where it came from – it first appeared last year.
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I love the phaeum colour. I hope yours settles in well.
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I’ve had two or three Geranium phaeum varieties and they’ve all gone. It grows happily enough in hedgerows hereabouts so I don’t know what the problem is.
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Strange. They just settle in here. These came with me as divisions from the old garden.
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Some of my double Tulips look like your poor Rose. I’m also a fan of the Weigela
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I have to choose my spot for the weigela. It’s already been with for at least a week !
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Tiarella cordifolia and hostas do so well in the shady pats of my garden.
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If only the slugs didn’t love the hostas.
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Your opening sentences ring so true. Part of me wants everything to hurry up and emerge and bloom, and part of me wants the season to slow down and pass more slowly. It looks like your garden is a little ahead of mine. That rose is a beautiful color. ❤
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It is so true. The tulips have almost gone. But patience and new things will soon arrive ☺️
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The currants are such an asset in the garden, but I did not realise that pigeons would go for the small unripe fruit. Hope you manage to protect them and have some sort of a harvest later in the year.
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I think the unripe fruit is okay. It’s the flowers they like! Then of course the ripe fruit.
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White currant looks tempting. Currants became available here only a few years ago. Although they had been available online, I had not considered growing them earlier because I was unfamiliar with them. When I did procure one of each, black, red and white, I gave them to a colleague before they produced. I really should try them again. I am told that they do not perform well here, but that sort of makes them even more tempting. This is how I started with non native elderberries.
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I have a Geranium phaeum in a similar colour, but it’s not making much progress – I wonder if it is telling me that it is in the wrong place? I like your idea of getting plants that just get on with it. My philosophy entirely! I’m so over mollycoddling plants.
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