MID APRIL IN THE GARDEN

It's been a bit dry hasn't it? You can usually count on not having to water the garden in April.  But apart from no rain, what has been happening in the garden this week?

1. Trough of Miniature Bulbs

Although this was in my Six on Saturday two weeks ago, I'm featuring it again as the daffodils have opened up fully now and more importantly, it is one of my favourite things in the garden at the moment.  I can't take all the credit for it as the combination of Narcissus Sailboat, Muscari Cupido and Pushkinia was put together by Sarah Raven.


2. Tulip Exotic Emperor

Tulips are taking over from the daffodils in providing the main floral interest in the garden.  These tulips are going strong for the second year in a row.


3. Amelanchier

This rather elderly Amelanchier puts out some delicate airy blossom, although the birds seem keen to eat the buds.

It forms a halo around Mercury's head, although sadly that seems to be impossible to capture in a photograph.


4. The Front Garden 

I've been working on this border this week.  It's one that has never been satisfactory.  It was occupied by some overgrown Laurel, Viburnum and golden Cupressus. Once they were crown lifted or removed, I was left with very dry soil under the yew trees and yet quite a lot of sun.  I wanted something quite quiet and green, but with the exception of the Hebes, it's been difficult to get plants to establish successfully.  

I've had another try at plugging all the gaps with plants from other parts of the garden and I'm hoping this year they will 'take'.  The soil has also been mulched with garden compost, so I consider that I've given them the best chance I can.



5. Tulip Ronaldo


Or is it Havran?  Four years ago I planted a mixture (from Sarah Raven again) of tulips Ronaldo, Havran and Flaming Spring Green.  I replanted them in a spare patch of garden with the intention of cutting them for the house.  ( I understand that a 'cutting garden' is practically obligatory these days).  Anyway for some reason I can't fathom, I never do cut them.  



6.  Enough already

One advantage of the current run of colder weather is that flowers that have opened have tended last well.  It seems ungrateful to think 'I've done daffodils.  It's time to move on', even if I do feel at bit like that.  So here they are at number 6.  







They are low maintenance, cheap to buy, pretty, reliable and long lasting. Here's to daffodils!

That's it from my garden for this week.  Many thanks as always to The Propagator for hosting Six on Saturday.







Comments

  1. The tulip looks very like Havran which is coming into flower here.

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  2. I love it when the tulips get going, though it normally signals warmer weather than we've been getting this year. I think Exotic Emperor looks lovely backlit by the light, but am also fond of the deep shades as in Ronaldo or similar. Some areas of the garden seem to remain relentlessly tricky - I spy a big tree trunk there in your front border - I often find that the big trees in our neighbours garden make certain areas very dry and difficult. Best of luck with it, hopefully as you say things will take this time.

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    1. There's a Scots Pine in the border and a couple of mature yews, so it is a bit of a tricky site, but the lawn grows well there so I'm hoping some things will grow, and at least I've not spent any money on them this time.

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  3. I know what you mean about cutting flowers from the garden, I've always had trouble with that myself. I am sure that Mercury's halo is beautiful, amelanchier is a wonderful tree. Lovely tulips.

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  4. Loving your tulips, especially the Ronaldo!

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    1. Or is it Havran - see Paddy's comment above. Either way they are good enough to earn themselves a space in the border.

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  5. Tulip Exotic Emperor is rather splendid. It's odd how the camera sometimes fail to do justice to what are eyes see in real life.

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    1. It's a good tulip but doesn't seem 'exotic' to me, but apparently it has been renamed 'White Valley'.

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  6. I love troughs especially when they are filled with flowers like you beautifully did.
    Tulips 'Ronaldo ' will be arriving here soon too… With the temperatures going up it should be fine for (maybe )next weekend

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    1. I'm so looking forward to a few nights without frost. I hope the seedlings in the greenhouse will put on a bit of growth then.

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  7. I must admit, I have difficulty with the idea of cutting things from the garden. The two exceptions being: our daughter occasionally strips the garden of flowers and leaves them in a box somewhere and cutting sunflowers from the allotment (where we only see them once a week anyway).

    It's such a pain about the birds eating the amelanchier buds. I work for someone who's tree gets pretty much decimated every year. They got me to hang CDs all overcast year it which sort of worked - it looked completely ridiculous though!

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  8. I hope your border takes off this year. As you say, you've done as much as you can to give everything a good chance. I love your bulb displays - they really sing. Glorious!

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  9. The birds have been pecking at the Amelanchier flowers here as well. I also find that they eat the berries before they’ve even turned red (the berries, not the birds!)

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    1. They must get to the berries quick here too. I don't think I've ever seen one.

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