I started last week referring to the beautiful spring weather…… I am shivering and avoiding the garden this week!
Our daughter from Dubai is over this week with one of her sons visiting a university for his interview.
(This is what happened when I offered my grandson some raspberry jam on his toast at breakfast! That’s the last of Granny’sGardenHimIndoors’ favourite – oh dear!)
She stopped overnight on Wednesday with the intention of going for a quick (or slow) run with me on Thursday morning before heading off to have lunch with Mrs P then on to stay with her mother-in-law in Hampshire. Unfortunately, we woke to gales, sleet, hail and heavy rain so decided against it, especially since the temperature here is 30° lower than in Dubai!
We had a lovely meal with our son and daughter-in-law on Mother’s Day last Sunday (or should it be Mothers’, I’m not sure where to put my apostrophe!). I will start my Six-on-Saturday with the present they gave me.
1)
This pretty shrub is Leptospermum scoparium. I am not planting anything until the fence posts have been sorted, as I mentioned last week, so this stays in the pot a little longer.
2)
Cerinthe major looking really healthy again. It seeds itself down very successfully, but mostly at the front of the flowerbeds. It doesn’t like being moved around so I will leave it until it’s finished flowering, then dig up those that are in the way.
The heuchera behind is showing new leaves, the fritillaries are going well and the perennial geranium is looking good.
3)
These tulips were beautiful and upright on Monday before the wind and rain got going. I think you can still see what the flowers look like – multi-layered and most unusual. I don’t know what variety they are but they are yet another batch from our kind relative last year.
4)
The Dicentra Spectabilis surprises me every year……one day there’s nothing then the next time I look, it is in full flower! Very pretty and the Hellibore is going on and on.
5)
Masses of buds on the two apple trees. Last year the russet on the left had one pathetic apple, but this year is much more promising! In the front of the picture, the first peony bud showing colour.
6)
This week’s mystery.
I noticed this raised bit of lawn a few weeks ago and just patted it down and mowed the lawn as usual. Then yesterday, I noticed it had been “redone”. Any ideas? I don’t think it can be a mole.
Meanwhile, a couple of Six-on-Saturday participants asked what the two new clematis plants were last week. The purple one is called Purple Rain and the white one is Elten (Montana). They are still waiting to be planted but I am hoping the work in the garden will be done soon……….then I will have no excuse!!
Have a good weekend.
My new neighbour has spoken of removing their giant apple tree. I can understand why, it shades half their garden. I will miss the apples though. Am thinking of putting in a couple of small trees like yours to compensate!
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I have been very pleased with these, generally. There is the occasional lean year but the main problem is/are branches needing support due to an abundance of fruit!
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My bleeding hearts are just coming into flower. Lovely plant, reliably coming back each year.
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I have Leptospermum scoparium envy. What a lovely gift! Having taken delivery of a couple of new clematis yesterday plus numerous other plants I really need to go outside and get planting, but although the sun is shining today, IT IS NOT WARM!
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I do like the Leptospermum scoparium that you received as a gift… I have to google because I didn’t know it ( Tea tree as the French name it)
My bleeding hearts are starting to bloom here but they will be pink… Whites are nice too !
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What a great gift…I am sure that its a gift that you will enjoy for years to come. That must be a mole…catching all those lovely worms.
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I wish he would leave them alone! I like worms in the garden. I don’t see what else it can be but I am most surprised.
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Moles are a real nuisance, I don’t have any in the garden but am plagued on my allotment. I feel quite protective toward my worms, they’re my workforce. The Leptospermum is lovely but I’d advise putting a bit of fleece over it in really cold spells for the first year or two. They seem to get hardier as they get older.
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Thank you, Jim. I will keep a watch on the forecast which is variable at this time of the year. I haven’t seen moles anywhere in the vicinity, not even in the cemetery behind us.
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Lovely gift and the Dicentra Spectabilis is beautiful. Hope your fencework is sorted soon.
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In breeding season (now) horny male moles tunnel nearer the surface than normal which leads to raised runs rather than the more likely collapsed runs resulting from deeper tunnels. Tho if you can’t see mole hills in the vicinity then where are they disposing of the excavated soil? Mystery indeed. But you’re near a stream. Any chance of having water voles? They burrow near the surface but don’t make big hills like moles. They don’t eat worms but they love seeds, bulbs and brussels sprouts (they’ll strip the stems clean). Often active above ground at night. And their underground activity can cause banks of streams to collapse!
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I love the Leptospermum with its pretty double flowers. They’re favourites of mine as they grow so easily here, and I hope yours grows well for you. I discovered Cerinthe major via SoS last spring, planted it myself, and mine is coming up now! I’m wondering if it could be a bit of a nuisance in time.
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It’s definitely not a nuisance but just in the wrong place! I leave it until it gets rather scruffy then dig up those that are not wanted.
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Lovely six Granny – that Leptospermum is new to me. What a stunner!
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Mmmmm home made raspberry Jam. That Leptosperum is booming!
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Yes – but the next batch won’t be until at least July! I may have to buy a jar. Never mind, we shouldn’t grudge our lovely grandson the jam should we?
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The tulips are a stunning colour. Some of mine are at jaunty angles after a couple of hail storms this week
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