Saturday 4 April 2009

SIGNS OF SPRING

With all the glorious weather what to do first is the problem. I spent some time potting on plants from the terrace into bigger pots. Then when I was tired and weary I walked around the garden. My trees two Gleditsia and a Robinia Fresia are all budding. The Robinia was looking sick last year not sure if it could be the virus they are prone to or over watering as it was a newly planted tree two years ago. I have decided not to use tap water and sparingly this summer so fingers crossed. All three trees have a similar lime green colour and look wonderful. Planted in the wrong place near the greenhouse and can grow 60ft I think but not in my lifetime. Robinia seems to fair well to pruning from what I have seen in local gardens. My intention is to screen out the housing estate behind but actually I don't notice the houses as I have my head down in the plants.
I digressed there I was just going to say that when I was too tired to do any more I noticed the bindweed already a foot high and trying to get into some of my clematis. Some years back I visited Lamorna garden in St Mawes, Cornwall. A must to visit but check the opening times. I noticed some bindweed and asked the head gardener, who happened to be weeding what he would recommend. He said he just pulled it out as and when he sees it. Having tried all sorts of ways with systemic weed killer and stuffing it in bags of this, I am afraid I will follow his advice.
My first photo is of The President (rather appropriate don't you think) look at the rampant success so far (I'm expecting much from it's name sake too). Mike took the hedge cutters to it last autumn before I could warn him off but thankfully no permanent harm. There is a photo of The President in the Clematis section earlier. The President grows in a Banksiae Banksiae rose a must for a large South facing wall a bit tender as it comes from China. Grows nearly as much as a Russian vine but keeps it's leaves in winter and the first rose to flower. Also takes well from cuttings and one of which festoons the front of the house by the door amongst the Wisteria.
(I have just read what I have written and had a chuckle with the possible connotations in view of G20.)
I love flowers that pop in at you through the window.



The following is a picture of an Amelanchier next to an Acer. The Amelanchier is a must it has three seasons of interest. In the spring the flowers are delightful although my photography doesn't do justice. In the summer the small red fruits, edible and taste like strawberries, attract the birds, which do such somersaults trying to get at them on the wing. Then the best of all is in the Autumn when the lovely Autumn colours compete with any Acer.

The Rhubarb is coming through nicely and Mike keeps asking why he hasn't had any to eat yet. I have to confess I still have bags from last year in the freezer, I think they will end up on the compost heap yet again. What a waste!

The last photograph is of some of my Hostas these seem to shoot before my all green ones. Yes my only non organic weakness is slug pellets. I keep thinking of a good substitute but not quite got there yet. Hostas in particular I find exciting to watch and enjoy having them in pots near the house. Helps to do slug watch there too.

13 comments:

  1. It's looking great there! The President sure would be a nice rose peeking in at you! I really like your path.

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  2. Hi Joanne, I enjoyed the read! Your hostas are way ahead of mine. But ours are very unusually late this year. I think in other years, they would be on par. By the way, thank you so much for your comments on my blog. I did give you a brief answer there.
    Take good care, I will be back.
    Sincerely, Pauline

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  3. Catherine sorry The President is the clematis the rose is Banksiae Banksiae. I must try and coordinate my posts better, haven't quite got the hang of the writing with the photo. Just get it right but then it changes when I publish.

    Pauline Thanks for your comments. It is hard to refrain from bleating on about Lyme when you have sufferred so much pain and know that a few days antibiotics at the start could have prevented 6 years of hell.

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  4. I think I am a very lucky person!! I get to experience spring in your garden and then soon ( I hope) I will see signs of growth in my own garden. The flowerbeds are finaly clear of snow so soon I should be seeing signs of growth, nothing as exciting as your garden though.

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  5. Hi Joanne,
    Your garden is coming along beautifully-some of mine is still under snow.Thankfully we had mild temperatures for a few days making a big difference.
    I see from your profile you are a Geoff Hamilton fan. Just last night I dug out an old vhs tape that I had taped A few of his shows on - I love watching them and wish I had them all but I see where I can send for them.
    Thank you for visiting me and leaving a comment so now I can follow your garden also!
    Carolyn

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  6. Hi Carolyn I love your house and garden and your selection of music.

    I have just watched Gardeners World on tape as we missed it Friday. What a disappointment. I am still a Geoff Hamilton fan, did you see my earlier post when I visited his garden in July last year. I only posted it a few weeks ago. Have you got Geoff's books Cottage Gardens and Paradise Gardens? They are both lovely as are the videos but can you get ones to play in USA I thought they were different than in UK. The garden was a real delight. I also enjoyed Monty Don's presentations.

    Thanks for joining my blog.
    Joanne

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  7. Hi Alison
    Thanks for your comments. (Just had an e mail from Charlotte on Eurolyme).

    I look forward to seeing more photos from you. Hope you are busy with all the Ancestral research since you got back home from UK.

    Joanne

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  8. One of the photos that I can see in my feed reader ( of the path with primrose, daffodils, Helleborus and rhubarb) doesn't show on your blog. It is a lovely section of your garden, with all of the spring blooms.

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  9. Hi Northern Shade Nice of you to join me. I am sorry you did not get my blog as intended I am afraid IT is a bit beyond me except for the basics so I am on a steep learning curve.

    I guess you will empathise with my post on Snow of which we had about a foot this year more than the last 30 years. My friend Alison from Canada sends me pictures of her garden where she has snow like you for many months.

    Joanne

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  10. Just stopping by to say hello from Norway. You realy have a loveley garden.

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  11. I really enjoyed reading your post Joanne. Interesting to hear the headgardener's recommendation for bindweed, as I am plagued with the stuff especially at the allotment. The more I read about amelanchiers the more I want one :)

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  12. Hi Signe Nice of you to stop by. Your post looks lovely but I cannot translate.

    Anna

    Thanks for your comment. i am sorry but I can't immagine anything worse than bindweed on an allotment because it is so deep rooted. I guess winding round sticks and putting systemic weed killer on selectively might work there but not in my untidy garden.

    Yes an Amelanchier is a must i see Joe Swift planted one in last weeks Gardeners World program.

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  13. This is my first visit to your blog. I like what I see. You have a lovely yard and garden. I love me some hosta. Your look good.

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