One Day to Go

One day to go and this is how the garden is looking. We seemed to have a peak about 2 weeks ago and since then a few plants seem to have gone over and got a bit straggly (excuse me if this is not the correct hortcultural term but this is Dave posting and I'm definitely NOT a gardener). But now after a lot of deadheading and even more weeding the garden is looking it's best again.

Having said that, some areas seem to growing a bit too well and we are torn between leaving this area intact or cutting back a bit to allow access to the sunken area.

One of the hard working staff (head gardener actually) making a few last minute adjustments

The newly cleaned out mill wheel should hopefully prove of interest to gardeners and no gardeners alike.

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In the wheel

Next week we are opening the garden for the first time, to a local gardening club as well as the public, so I thought it was about time I did some work rather than leaving it all up to Elaine. As the millwheel hasn't been cleared out since just after we got here the weeds, elder in particular, were starting to obscure the wheel. I had to climb right down in to the millrace to clear it out and found a part of the mill, some sort of governing rod, in the process.

Tulips Galore

The bottom borders tulips are in flower, mostly pinks of various colours of course. The growth generally in the garden is good, won't be long and we won't be able to see any soil .

The colours in the tulips really brighten up the garden at this time of year, and remind me what colours the borders will progress too.

These really dark tulips are 'Queen of night', and 'Hero' a lovely peony type. I'm waiting to see if they will come up again and if they do will they revert to their viral colour of pink ?

Spring is definitely here.

Lilies are starting to erupt everywhere now, they looked stunning last year when they were put in late, so hopefully being in a year they have multiplyed amazingly, hemerocallis are appearing everywhere, and the lupins and delphiniums are putting on masses of greenery.

Some colour in the main borders other than green! Hyacinths, I think, blue sky jacket, the smell is lovely.

The euphorbias in the foreground looking towards the blue/purple section of the main borders.

The tree shadow was so clear today, I just thought it made an interesting photo.

Grass is getting greener.

Things are definately starting to happen in the garden, its getting greener, the borders have considerable new growth in them and I am mowing the lawn once a week already.

Quite a lot of new growth down this end of the garden too. I've planted a lot of new roses and clematis down by the bottom wall to get growing up the fence work. It might take a year or two to get established but hopefully it will soon be covered.

So much colour in this bed still, I'm waiting for a lot more spring bulbs to come into flower, the daffs in the bed behind have not done too well this year, I suspect this is being commercial throw outs (for mothersday) they did not have time to die down naturally, so this year they will be left for six weeks, so hopefully they will bloom like mad next year.

These are my £2/or free bargin shrubs. As the boys still like playing football I've decided I can't take over the back garden yet. So as a compromise I am just planting shrubs and substantial plants. They have asked for some paths to run round in, like in the front, but they will need to establish for a year or so to get the desired effect.

Are things starting to grow?

A sunny, wet day produces yet another rainbow, since moving to Wales we see so many rainbows now, especially in this valley. The garden still seems to be in dormant state.

Still not much happening in the garden, the euphorbias are starting to open their buds, but thats about all.

This is Euphorbia wulfenii a lovely bright acid yellow/green, it really brightens the garden up, I must try and cut back the euphorbias this year, they just look so lovely all year that I don't like to spoil them.

The woods at the back of the back garden, bluebells and primroses are starting to inhabit this area, after the last strong winds a lot of trees were uprooted so we intend to get in their and tidy up a bit, I'd like to make a short woodland walk.