22ND MAY 2018 - NORTH YORKSHIRE
The pleasures of Country Cottage Gardening – there are
no conventions, just plant whatever takes your fancy anywhere you like – and, if
you have dogs that dig, make sure it’s in a tub or hanging basket. Pleased to say, have planted up over one hundred tubs (retired - little else to do) and ten
hanging baskets – so far!. The seeds sown in the green house were mainly
successful, but some resounding failures – mainly due to too much cold, too much
heat, too much or not enough water, or just my shear incompetence. (The art of
Green House propagation very rusty after ten years in the sunshine).
 |
| Just a few of the many many tubs and baskets planted |
The preparation of two new flower beds – possibly the
last I will do after the aches and pains all due to advanced age and miss-spent
youth – has been completed and the planting completed. Amazingly, everything is
growing or, at least, not dead yet. Managed to acquire and plant around forty
five varieties for the ‘Gertrude Jeckyll Emulation’
in the front garden; lots of old favourites, including ‘Fireglow’ Euphorbias,
Pacific Hybrid Delphiniums, Russell Lupins, Hostas too numerous to name, lots of
herbaceous Geraniums, bearded Iris, Poppies, Forget- Me- Nots, Astillbes, and many
more. Lots in flower already after four weeks, and many more on the cusp of
blooming.
 |
| Two views of the "new" herbaceous bed requested by the Head Gardender! |
The rear garden bed, designed to cover a most unsightly
LPG tank, is mainly instant growth ‘Annuals’(has had to be fenced due to the interest
of two dogs –Ferdy And Rudi- who considered it their mission to rearrange or
excavate all new plantings. Some of the patch of forty Gladioli bulbs will possibly appear
somewhere in Australia sometime in the near future as they have been dug up
some many times and are now growing in every direction, including straight down.
Hoping the numerous Clematis and Honeysuckles planted to grow up the trellises will hide the ‘B&Q’
effect, and that the melange of seed sown bedding plants will fill the space by
July.
 |
| The re-arranged Gladioli - half going down to Australia! |
 |
| The Culprits. We were only helping - honestly |
To ensure the unguarded plants survive the canine onslaught
in the back garden, all other plantings are in tubs or baskets filled with
Dahlias, Fuchsias, Sweet Peas, Petunias, Nasturtiums, Lobelia, Nicotiana,
Salvias, Geraniums, Bizzy Lizzies, Ivies, Geums, French Marigolds et al. Now
condemned to a daily regime of watering and feeding till end of August at
least.
 |
| A little trough of geraniums |
 |
| Trying \mirabilis this year - hope it likes the Yorkshire climate |
 |
| One of the HG's specials! |
 |
| Nicotiana, petunia and white loboelia getting ready to provide lots of colour |
The Roses, both bush and climbing, planted last
October (the first occupants of the new patch) are all thriving and with a few
more days of sunshine will burst into magnificent perfumed glory (wrapped them
all with ‘Floss’ during the cold frost months of January, February and March
to protect the burgeoning buds, which has paid dividends so far).
 |
| The first rose of summer! |
The main
Climber Rose bed has progressed with the addition of Clematis (now in flower
and planted in ‘bottomless’ tubs in the hope of preventing ‘Clematis Wilt’) and lots of
Euphorbias in Grey, Yellow and Red leafed varieties. The winter Pansies and violas, tub
and window box planted, are now early summer Pansies and violas. The Tulip and Daffodil
bulbs have been removed from display and are now ‘Dug In’ around the garden to
return next spring.
 |
| Winter baskets turning into summer baskets - still lovely |
 |
| First year and this clemetis Montana in in full bloom - and smells of chocolate |
i
n |
| Colourful Euphorbias underplant the new and very young climbing roses |
t
 |
| Farewell Tulips - you were lovely |
Just about getting used to cutting lawns at least
once a week, great exercise – bit like Golf but, unlike Golf, does not tend to
spoil a good walk!
r
Well, lots more to do and lots of flowers to enjoy. Think I heard that coffee is on its way so must dash to avoid the wrath of the
H.G.(and cold coffee).
See you soon,
Stuart.
