Today's post has been inspired by Michelle over at 'Veg Plotting'. I've being making use of some welcome dry sandwiched between the wet to spend some time in the garden.
Amongst other activites I've been debating whether I can cram any more into our green waste bin, before its first much anticipated emptying of the year on Friday. I can see it being full again by the end of next weekend. The top layer reveals recent activities - belated removal of old hellebore leaves, cleaning up debris left behind by that femme fatale 'Doris' and evidence of a tussle with a truculent string of clover stem.
I've been wondering about the gap in the middle of this pan of crocus sieberi 'Firefly'. I definitely planted bulbs there!
I've been despairing over the stinging nettles, ivy and cow parsley that are creeping in, noting the blind daffodils and chastising myself for not picking up last year's leaf fall.
I've been admiring how some hellebore plants are bulking up and deciding that this patch of cardamine pratense definitely needs dividing sooner rather than later - just need to research when.
I've made a start on planting one hundred eranthis hyamelis and continuing with the annual sycamore seedling cull. I've been pleasantly surprised by the emergence of the aptly named galanthus 'Baxendale's Late' which I had forgotten I planted last year. It's about to open now that the most of my other specials are shutting up shop. I've been gazing intently at my sweet peas in the greenhouse in the hope that it will make more of the seeds germinate. Above all I've had some much welcome fun in my garden today.
Why not join in Michelle's imaginative challenge to share what's going on in either your garden or allotment right now. You can either blog or post a photo on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter making sure that you use the #mygardenright now hashtag. You can take participate either today or tomorrow. Full details of how to join in can be found here. I'm off out again whilst there is still daylight out there, but will return later to browse upon what other other folk are up to in their patches of earth right now.
That hellebore is a cracker. My sympathies with the stinging nettles Anna, they're on steroids this year it seems.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jessica. The nettles are certainly showing themselves early this year. I believe that their presence is an indication that the soil is fertile but I can't help wishing them away :)
DeleteThose gloves look very clean. Did you wash them specially?
ReplyDeleteNope Sue :) They are last year's unwashed which have been lurking in the greenhouse all winter. The fingertips are much grubbier.
DeleteFirefly is one of my favourite crocuses. I'm sure it will bulk up and there won't be a hole next year.
ReplyDeleteOh I do hope so Julieanne - they're a most attractive flower. Thanks for visiting and for your comment.
DeleteI love your photos Anna, and your subtle presence in some of them ;) I wonder if the squirrels have been at your crocuses like they have with mine? I have no more room in my garden compost bin... transfer of non-mulchable compost to the allotment is imminent... Thanks for taking part in #mygardenrightnow - it's lovely to have a snapshot in time of what everyone's up to this weekend :)
ReplyDeleteThanks VP :) I wouldn't be surprised if a squirrel had sneaked in when my back was turned. The bulbs were planted in the autumn and I forgot to cover them with chicken wire :( I have another compost bin in the garden as well as a couple at the allotment all of which are pretty full at the moment so will be pleased to see the bin emptied. Thanks for hosting such a thoughtful meme.
DeleteI've had blind daffodils too this year. It's very frustrating waiting for them to open ... and then nothing. They'll be heaved out this year. Love the idea of planting lots of Eranthis, would be a good sub for the daffs. I'll have to check whether they can be planted now. Odd to have a hole in your crocuses - mice, possibly? Too many cats here to keep mice on their toes but therein lies another problem ... Caro x
ReplyDeleteIt's rather annoying isn't it after all that anticipation. What's odd is that other patches of daffs planted at the same time in the same area are in flower. No rhyme or reason at times. I took delivery of my eranthis only on Friday Caro. Squirrels or mice could be responsible - I will have have to see if there any paw prints left behind :)
DeleteI second the hellebore comment! Planted a lot of bulbs last fall so I'm hoping for a good show but must wait a couple of months yet (my part of Canada is hard for gardeners).
ReplyDeleteWelcome Mary and thanks for your comment. You must need much patience to wait for spring to arrive in your neck of the woods! It's not quite here yet but edging in. I hope that your bulb planting is rewarded with wonderful colour and scent.
DeleteNettles are awful! I don't envy your clean up.
ReplyDeleteOh I am glad I titled my Happy Days post before I saw you 'Having Fun'!! Cmes to the same thing, I think, and isn't it wonderful to be out there, being busy? Such a good time to take stock too, although it's a shame if taking stock means realising how many nettle and cow pasley seedlings you have :( Interestingly, I planted a later batch of sweet peas last week and forgot to soak them first as I usually do and they actually germinated in less time
ReplyDeleteWe have had some lovely fun days in the garden, nothing can be nicer. Not today though, wet and windy is no fun. I love your hellebore.
ReplyDeleteDo you have any Galanthus plicatus? They are late- blooming.
Lovely to hear what you've been doing in the garden. That Hellebore is a gem!
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