Sowing plenty of seeds!
The garden is coming to life now. I’m really enjoying spending time outside, no matter what the weather. We’ve had heavy downpours followed by brilliant sunshine and then rainbows! Unfortunately, all my digging in the garden has, so far, failed to reveal a pot of gold! Luckily, as well as the greenhouse I retreat to when it rains, I’ve got a potting bench in an open-fronted shed, so I’ve been getting on with sowing plenty of seeds and potting up cuttings taken last autumn. The spring borders are full of colour from daffodils and hellebores, with more opening daily. This year, we’ve taken the precaution of fencing off this area while the spring flowers are blooming. With two very lively springer spaniels, who have a route around the garden to be taken at top speed several times a day, this temporary fence has preserved all the flower heads firmly on their stems! Once the early flowers are over, the fence will be removed and put up around the vegetable beds, again to keep the dogs at bay. If only it were as easy to stop pigeons pecking all the buds off the cherry trees! I’ve now weeded all the flower beds for the first time and am starting on the second circuit of the garden. I’ve also cut back all the perennials, pruned buddleias and shortened some of the growth on the shrub roses, as they were getting a little unruly. I’m pleased Iris unguicularis is flowering well this year – it’s taken a few years to settle in but was worth the wait. My husband has pruned the wisteria hard back and hopefully, it will flower well again this year.
Tales from a Country Garden 