A late posting this week due to unexpected 48 hour lurgy having struck. Feeling better now but the task of planing out the main crop potatoes does not sound that appealing. I think they can wait another week. I’m hoping to have the energy for planting out the sweet peas, dead heading the daffs and sowing a few annuals. If the thought of gardening is exhausting you too go to The Propagator’s blog for armchair gardening or the inspiration to get out there for real. Here’s my six for the week.
One
The first of the irises have opened. These were divisions from a neighbour’s garden at the old house, brought along in pots when we moved and now in their third summer in this garden. They are putting on a better show than last year so perhaps they truly feel at home now. Just in time for another division?
Two
Six on Saturday is a good thing to get involved with! Thanks go to Sedums, dahlias and hayfever for sharing their enjoyment of the Edinburgh Botanical Gardens some time back. It went onto the list of places to visit and this week was ticked off. It’s a fantastic place with a series very impressive glass houses. Thanks also go to the Rivendell Garden blog for regularly sharing alpine plants in his sixes. Having spotted armeria maritima last week what chance did I have when I saw three pots of the stuff for sale in the plant shop. Purchase made. The alpine section at the Botanic Gardens is also very much worth a visit. In fact I may have to do a separate write up – I must be feeling better.
Three
Four
This interesting collection is the result of sowing 45 seeds of euphorbia oblongata last summer. Only four germinated and very late in the season. I had really given up on them but somehow they struggled on so I potted them up to overwinter them in the greenhouse. They have all made very different progress. One fatality. I’m keeping them in the greenhouse for a few more weeks before they go outside but their place in the garden has been lost. They were intended as the underplanting for the Darcy Bussell roses. I’ll scout around for a new corner for them. Looking at them here I am tempted to pinch out the tops.
Five
The first of the lettuce seedlings are ready to be moved on. I will plant some in the greenhouse and some outside. These were sown at the end of February if I remember rightly.
Six
I found this growing on the compost heap and with a gardener’s optimism planted it up. I am hoping it is sweet woodruff. Any thoughts?
Well that’s my lot for this week. Back with a bit more vim next week. Those potatoes must be planted by then.
The trees in the garden are beginning to put on a show. First up is the persimmon tree. There was a bumper crop last year but I’m not a fan. I inherited it with the garden and it does look fabulous in winter when the leaves have dropped and the orange fruits remain.
I also inherited a number of apple trees and here is some delightful apple blossom from one of them. Again, there was a bumper crop last year, we don’t store the apples and there are only so many we can eat so the majority of them are taken off for juicing. We are still drinking the 2017 vintage.
The leaves on the fig trees are just opening. Not such a good year for figs for me last year and the squirrels always get the best of them. I managed to bag a handful!
And after my winter pruning efforts it is always a great relief to see new leaves on the vine. It does produce grapes but so far they have split before we get the chance to taste them. The grape variety is Black Muscat, which I understand is also known as Black Hamburg. Again, I was fortunate enough to inherit this well established vine which shades the pergola.
There is a great foaming wave of Choysia in one sunny corner of the garden. It’s perfectly lined up with a view from the window. Many thanks again to the previous owner.
Finally, all my own work! The white triumphator tulips are still hanging on and are a great companion to the irises that have just begun to flower. There is also a glimpse of the almost open allium ‘purple sensation’ – something for next week!
n20gardener 