It hasn't rained here today so managed to get both lawns cut and edged. Also did some weeding. I have so many seedlings to go out. This time last year they were all planted and I had my conservatory and dining table back.
It actually dried up late afternoon so I started to prune the early flowering viburnum. It finished flowering a couple of weeks ago, and has put on a lot of long shoots. Sowed some more lettuce in the greenhouse.
Was up early while it was dry. Planted another 4 salvias (all black and blue). Weeded areas of 3 perennial beds. Cleared away all the flopping leaves from 8 patches of cardoons and from the base of the lupins. Managed to fill half a compost bin with all that. Rain set in by 730 so a good job done
Thankfully, it was a dry and warm day here so after a massage and lunch I was able to get out in the early afternoon. Cut away tall grass around three newish bushes on the verge outside our fence and then planted plugs of a wild flower mix. Have no idea if they will survive, will have to wait and see. Then I made a cup of tea and sat in the arbour admiring the new paving I had done on Monday - some tidying up to do still and perhaps some planting but I'm pleased with it. The birds were singing their hearts out in the sunshine and it was all very peaceful.
Been working on a client's garden. He was asked whether he wanted box balls... NO. Some big multi stem shrubs? NO. Clipped osmanthus? NO... I WANT THIS. [Flings picture of Tom Stuart Smith scheme with late season perennials and grasses at us]. Client now flipping his lid because that sort of scheme doesn't look much in May, especially after a very cold spring. Our fault of course. Tulips and alliums would have helped enormously but we only started planting a couple of weeks ago, we would come back and do them in autumn, along with Pulmonaria, Omphalodes etc. Some of the stock should be in flower now but is a little late this year.
So we have had to scour a local nursery for stock that's in flower now to sprinkle in, and grab (you guessed it) lots of box balls and clipped osmanthus. Super frustrating. The stock we had already planted only needed a month to get going I reckon. But must admit the changes have improved the look of things right now, and I'm very pleased we have added the clipped evergreens.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Pottered in/on my potager area, planted out peas, made hanging baskets - one strawberries, one cucumelons, cleaned pond filter (delegated that), sowed basil in tin cans. Failed on splitting an Agapanthus - the roots must be totally stuck to the terracotta pot. I could sacrifice the pot and smash it, but want the pot really 🤔
Did an hour of weeding/pulling up a patch of Spanish bluebells I let flower but have now culled. More to do tomorrow. I might bark mulch the area when it’s done.
Doing a garden cafe and nature hunt for sister and niece tomorrow.
Planted out the tomatoes, squashes, couple of cabbages and broccoli into the veg beds. Then I potted up my pacino and vanilla sky sunflowers into their pots. I then picked up a couple of new pots for my chillies and potted them up. Finally removed the covers of the garden furniture after all the rain recently and am sitting out, all be it a bit over cast, enjoying a cold one, listening to the birds and contemplating whether or not to cut the grass...
I was in and out like a yo-yo all afternoon as we kept getting frequent wet bits, not really showers as such, more like threatening heavy drops of rain - just enough to make you think you were going to get drowned. I managed to finish edging the lawn/weeding one side and need to do the other side tomorrow. Another 30 garden ready plug plants arrived today, which I'd completely forgotten about, Erigeron k. 'Stallone'. Beautifully packaged from Woolmans and look very healthy. 15 for my daughter and 15 for me - perhaps.
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So we have had to scour a local nursery for stock that's in flower now to sprinkle in, and grab (you guessed it) lots of box balls and clipped osmanthus. Super frustrating. The stock we had already planted only needed a month to get going I reckon. But must admit the changes have improved the look of things right now, and I'm very pleased we have added the clipped evergreens.
Hoping to go to allotment tomorrow
Another 30 garden ready plug plants arrived today, which I'd completely forgotten about, Erigeron k. 'Stallone'. Beautifully packaged from Woolmans and look very healthy. 15 for my daughter and 15 for me - perhaps.