We have had some very pleasant days this week, warm and mostly sunny and never uncomfortably hot, so lots of gardening jobs have been done – perhaps as well, as our open days are suddenly creeping up really quickly. I still took time out to go for a walk on one of the days, choosing a route I have avoided for some time because it crosses fields which will have been muddy and difficult to walk through for many weeks. Taking a slight detour, I entered a small woodland which from experience I know is host to naturalised bluebells. Unfortunately, a fallen tree and overgrown paths meant I failed to get the full experience this year, but it made me aware just how realistic our own little woodland is. Despite being planted with trees, bluebells, wood anemones, wild garlic, fritillaries, snowdrops, comfrey and more, many other things have arrived uninvited and there is a real woodland feel to it, even more so at this time of year, as the green canopy closes in and brings an air of coolness and greenness. Lovely…
Super Speedy Six on Saturday
04.05.2024 - 17:37 / ramblinginthegarden.wordpress.com / Cathy
Having mentioned before that the rhododendrons seemed to be flowering better than any other year, I can also say that I don’t recollect ever seeing anything with blooms as dense as this before – R. yakushimanum ‘Vintage Rose’ is absolutely astounding! Mind you, I don’t think I remember seeing destruction quite as quick or efficient as that experienced by Fritillaria imperialis either!
The tubs of tulips on the paved area continue to bring pleasure when I gaze out of the kitchen windows….
Elsewhere, spent hellebore blooms have been removed today to limit self-seeding, a quick job, despite the large number of hellebores!
It didn’t take long to begin planting up the cutting beds either, with no sign of frost in the offing – here, with a new configuration of the beds to work around, I am trialling underplanting the outdoor sweet peas this year:
And finally, for Jim’s Saturday meme, we have the first rose, R Darcey Bussell – I spotted it on Wednesday, but I suspect it may have been open before then, which means potentially in April … Good Grief!
Six on Saturday: a Burning Bush and the Three As
Once again, a large degree of editing was required to get today’s selection down to six or thereabouts, to meet the rules of Jim’s Six on Saturday meme. Why not visit his blog to check out his six and those of other bloggers around the world?
6 Super Tips to Grow Bigger Monstera Fast
I don’t know about you, but I love plants that have large foliage! They make for a lovely centrepieces indoors, and outdoors, they end up being an awesome focal point! Monstera is one of my favourite plants for the job, and I will tell you some secrets to make it grow bigger in a limited time frame!
Six on Saturday: Excitement Mounts
We have had a few days away visiting my Mum, and although I wouldn’t usually choose to leave the garden at this time of year it was a case of needs must. Fortunately, one of our neighbours can be relied on to water everything in the greenhouse in our absence, my main concern, and this is where I hot-footed it to on our return. Not only were the seedlings still thriving, but they looked increasingly sturdy and bursting with health, necessitating several hours in the last couple of days potting them on.
Six on Saturday: Galloping in the Graden
Although winter and early spring flowering plants might have started flowering a little earlier this year than some, they were not unseasonally early; this is not the case with Rhodendron ‘Wine and Roses’ (above) and the large unnamed specimen below, which is light pink in bud but white in boom. Unlike last year, when blooms were sparse on all but ‘Cheers’, all our rhododendrons are smothered in swelling buds.
Six on Saturday: Little Beauties and Other Things, Mostly Beautiful
Having photographed several contenders for today’s Six on Saturday, the popular meme hosted by Jim of Gardening Ruminations, I then had to do a cull – but suggest you don’t actually count how many have been included in today’s post!
12 Super Important Palm Tree Growing Tips
Though palm trees are not that fussy, but they do suffer from slow growth and issues if you ignore certain maintenance pointers. Here are some tips to keep them at the best of their tropical beauty!
7 Super Effective Vinegar Pest Control Recipes
Fruit or other flies can be a nuisance, especially in kitchen or garden areas. Create a trap by filling a small bowl with apple cider or white vinegar and adding a few drops of dish soap.
13 Super Secrets on How to Make Mums Bushier
Imagine your Chrysanthemums not just blooming, but flourishing with an enviable bushiness that makes your neighbors do a double-take. This isn’t just a gardening fantasy; it’s entirely achievable! Read on to discover tried-and-true methods and some out of the box ones on How to Make Mums Bushier!
Giveaway: heidi swanson's ‘super natural’ recipes
If you have not “met” Heidi, she lives, cooks, and writes in San Francisco, where she began 101 Cookbooks in early 2003. It quickly grew into one of the most-visited food blogs, with a look and approach that’s at once ultra-modern and old-style homey, not unlike the food she prepares.Heidi won’t proselytize or badger with her vegetarian philosophy in her book or online, but rather draws you into a happy day of Yogurt Biscuits or a handsome Frittata of seasonal produce and goat cheese, with a stop perhaps at Chanterelle Tacos—use any mushroom you like—along the way to a savory supper (Stuffed Tomatoes loaded with couscous, or Weeknight Curry with a splash of coconut milk, anyone?). These are recipes that take only a couple of short paragraphs to expla